The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-09-16

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monuments were dedicated by William
Mckinley and other notable men at
ceremonies held on the battlefield
Sept. IS, 1895.
The southern states have spent a
great deal of money here also in erect
ing monuments, tablets and markers
The battle of Chickamauga had, ac-
cordinG to men who gave the subject
careful and painstaking study, the
highest percentage of loss known to
wars, for two days fighting, The ar.
mics threw themselves upon each 9th.
er with fury that is probably not ex-
ceeded in the history of wars. The
battle, beginning in earnest on Satur-
day, Sept. 10, lasted until Sunday ev-
ening about dusk, when Gen. George
Fl. Thomas withdrew his forces from
Snodgrass hill and abandoned the field
to the confederates.
There was an intercession of the
fighting, of course, Saturday night, be-
cause of darkness, but hostilities were
resumed early Sunday morning. The
two armies fought back and forth oy-
or the field all of Sunday strewing the
ground with the dead and wounded
and setting high water mark for casu-
alties. The loss in this battle will new
hka In hut porOftI octi
mates place the number of dead,
wounded and missing at about $4,000,
or about one-third of the number en-
gagged. Some commands lost as high
as 10 per cent of their men.
After this battle the federal forces
began strengthening their fortifca
tions around Chattanooga. The con
federates moved nearer to the city and
also fortified their position, throwing
their lines in front of the city from
the river above to the river below. The
two armies occupied practically the
same position for two months. Hos
tilities were resumed actively with a
movement by the federals, on Nov. %
against Orchard Knob.
Gen. Grant had reached Chattanoo
ga, month earlier and assumed com
mand of the army. His plan of cam
paign was to surprise the confederates
at the north end of Missionary Ridge
by sending Gen. Sherman against that
position and carry the ridge, which
was held by the confederates, to the
railroad tunnel before it could be oc'
cupied by stronger force.
Gen. Hooker was kept in Lookout
valley to guard against a movement
from the confederate left. Gen. Thorn
as was to move the army of the Cum.
berland to the left, connect with Sher.
man If he reached the tunnel on Mis-
sionary Ridge, and then sweep south
ward, driving the confederates up the
valley, and out Of reach of their base
of supplies at Chickamauga, Tenn.
The union movement against Or
chard Knob was made to verify a re
port that Gen Grant had received that
the confederates were retreating. II
was a successful movement, and that
eminence fell into the hands of the
federals, becoming Gen. Grants head
quarters during the remainder of the
campaign.
Next day the battle Of Lookout
Mountain was fought. This engage
ment took place on bench of Look
| out mountain, below the summit, anC
| is known as the battle above the
clouds The confederates were driv
en- from their position. During this bat
tie cloud swept over the mountain
enyeloping the contending regiments.
The battle of Missionary Ridge wa
fought Nov 25. During the night o
Nov "a all of Gen. Bragg's troop
were withdrawn from Lookout noun
tain and the Chattanooga valley an
massed on Missionary ridge, About
o'clock on the evening of Nov, 25
general advance on Missionary ridg
was ordered from Gen. Grants heaG
quarters, One of the most imposin
spectacles Of the Chattanooga can
paign was seen here The union so
diers were advanced across leve
plain for a mile in plain view from tn
crest OF the ridge, and ordered to cal
ture and hold the confederate rife pit
at the base,
The lighting on the slopes of thi
ridge was among the hardest of tn
civil war. The confederates wer
driven from the ridge, This victor
left the union army in undisputed po
session of the Chattanooga valley. Tn
confederates retreated into Georgia.
These military operations, from b.
ginning to end. extended over a wild
scope of territory. A circle draw
about Chattanooga to cover the groun
over which the armies oontended de
perately for the mastery, would
about thirty miles in diameter, or Il
teen miles In all directions from IL