Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-07

from Chattanooga down the river to
cooperate with Hooker. By these two
movements it was hoped to drive the
C~onfederates from both banks of the
Tennessee and open that waterway to
the army supply boats. Hooker's adj
vance column crossed the Tennessee
at Bridgeport on the 26th and marched
up the south bank toward Chattanooga,
the Confederate barriers intervening.
Night Attack at Wauhatchie.
Hooker's column marched rapidly
along the valley two divisions, under
two miles frem Browns Ferry, the
third. General J. ". Geary's, hating
at Wauhatchie. two miles back, as e
guard. When Thomas i'll fed troops
saw Hooker's men coming they greeted
them with shouts from the hilltops.
Bands played and banners waved a
welcome.
Longstreet from Lookout mountain
detected Rockers march toward
Browns Ferry. The column appeared
to be about 5000 strong. although it
was much greater. Even that number
BODIED danger to the Confederates in
Lookout valley. Longstreet dispatched
General Micah Jenkins division to
move by stealth and fall upon Geary
from the real while his men lay sleep
ing In their b%ivouac. General e.. M.
Laws brigade. which had beer driven
from the ferry by Hazen and lay at
hand in the mountains. marched In the
darkness to a hill lying in the inter-
val between Geary and Towards BIZ
vouaes
As often occurs In night attacks, the
assailants failed In the program Of two
simultaneous separate assaults. Mid
night passed and no signal was given
that jenkins had struck Geary. Long
street stood upon the mountain ready
to order other troops to support Jen-
klns. He considered the enterprise a
difficult one and exceedingly hazard
GUS, owing to the rough country and
the darkness. Failing to hear from
Jenkins, he rode AWAY to his head
QudfltIS NltHouls uONtfCit OdhtS
manding orders to attack.
After an unavoidable delay. which
had puzzled Longstreet and the leaders
of the supporting columns. Jenkins
South Carolina brigade under Colonel
j. Bratton took up the fight alone and
rushed upon Geary's bivouacs. The
veteran General Greene, a soldier over
-s-Ax ro,u. Af ~ ftfr1aa6 ont hfc
brigade and handled Bratton roughly.
But the Confederates were determined
to smash Geary and rallied a second
time to the charge. Just then orders
came from Jenkins to Bratton to re-
treat. for the command was in danger
Of being cut off by a Federal column
which came from the ferry to the help
of Geary.
Federals Stir Up Hidden Foes.
The sound of fighting on Geary's
line reached the ears of General How
ard at Rockers camp, two miles away,
about ho'cloek in the morning. He
quickly put the brigade Of Colonel
Orland Smith on the road to Wau-
hatchie at double quick. The Seventy
third Ohio had the advance, followed
by the Thirty-third Massachusetts.
These troops knew that there had been
an interval left the day before between
Geary and the rest of their division
and were taken by complete surprise
ut receiving a scattering volley of bull
lets in their faces. These were fred
by Laws sk~irmishers.
Colonel Smith halted his line and
sent out skirmishers also. who locat-
ed the enemy Laws brigade) on one
of two contiguous hills. Facing this
hill, the Ohio and Massachusetts men
moved up in the darkness. and the
bold advance was met by another out
burst of firing. this time from the other
hill. The bullets raked the line length
wise. Colonel Smith wheeled his COM
mand to face the new enemy and
charged mp the hill.
Fortunately for the assailants, the
Confederate fire passed over their
heads as they climbed the hill. When
within forty PAGES of the summit the
ground was open. and the moonlight
revealed the line to the waiting foe.
The C~onfederates had slashed the
young forest trees to block the way
for the assailants and, while the line
toiled through the obstruction, poured
in a murderous fire. Replying to the
fire as they advanced. the Ohio men
moved up until the left of the regiment
was within two rods of the Confeder-
ate line of battle. Suddenly a terri
BILE volley from the Confederate left
swept down the line, and 1t was forced
to fall back or be annihilated.
Settled by Bayonets.
On the left voices were shouting.
"Don't fire into your own menp, Cease
firingl'' You are killing your own