THE LEFT AND THE CENTER.

109 ing, but the position taken by Corse was never yielded. Morgan L. Smith gained on the left spur of the Ridge, while Loomis pushed with unfaltering courage, his way until opposite the tunnel and railway embankment, and by concentrating upon his command a portion of the enemy's fire, relieved in part the assaulting column.

Bragg hurled his forces against our column, but Corse held his ground until about 10 A. M., when he was severely wounded and borne from the field, the command devolving upon Colonel Wolcott of Ohio, who gallantly held the position and continued to advance. On the right, Loomis fought his way. There was a temporary falling back of two of John E. Smith's reserve brigades, causing a report that Sherman's left had been repulsed. Sherman awaited with some anxiety the moving of Thomas on the center. Grant kept watch of the contest, but held the troops of Thomas as in a vice. Sherman says, "column after column of the enemy was streaming toward me; gun after gun poured its concentric shot on us from every hill and spur that gave a view of any part of the ground." Hooker moved along the Rossville road to assail the rebel left and his appearance moving north on the ridge was to be the signal for the assault of the Center. And thus, until three P. M. Sherman fought alone, and it was evident that his weared troops could not abide much longer the fearful strain upon their endurance. Hooker's detention was occasioned by the necessity of building a bridge. Grant learned that he was coming, and seeing the rebel center weakened gave orders to Thomas to advance. The division of Granger's Corps, upon the signal of six guns was to cross the wooded valley between Orchard Knob and Mission Ridge and carry the intrenched lines at the base of the Ridge, and then halt, under the belief that the Ridge was too formidable to be carried. It is a bold rugged hight, towering 800 feet above Chattanooga, and was crowned with a skillfully constructed line of defensive works bristling with veteran-bayonets and buttressed with famed batteries.

Sherman saw the white line of smoke and knew the wearily waited movement was made.

Onward rushed the heroes of the army of the Cumberlandthrough shot and shell they gained the pits and swept them clear. Bragg appears not to have suspected that men would be mad enough

to attempt to climb that bold ascent, rugged, steep, and with a fire like the lava-streams of Vesuvius rolling over its rocky side. But they did. Granger led his men to the mountain side and with shouts they began to climb-to climb in a cataract of fire. Upward-upward, they bore their torn banners. Grant and Thomas stood side by side at Orchard Knob. The latter exclaimed "I fear, General, they will never reach the top." Only puffing the smoke of his cigar, the hero of Vicksburg quietly said "Give 'em time, General, give 'em time." By sunset they had planted their standards on the crest of the Ridge, the enemy was defeated and his Gibraltar carried! No wonder that catching the afar-off shouts of Granger's men, those in the valley responded with such cheers as only strong-lunged soldiers can give.

The enemy was soon in full retreat. All the succeeding day pursuit was made, and more than seven thousand prisoners, and fortyseven guns were captured. Among the brave men of Sherman's command, who fell on that field of honor, were Colonel Putnam of the 93d Illinois, Colonel O'Meara of the 90th Illinois and Major Bushnell of the 13th Illinois, while among the wounded were Colonel Raum, 56th, Lieutenant-Colonel Patridge, 13th, and Major A. P. Welch of the 56th.

Colonels J. M. Loomis of the 26th and Raum of the 56th were recommended by Sherman for promotion as Brigadier-Generals, for gallantry and competency.

Bragg had been beaten. The best army of the rebellion, save Lee's, had been broken; the most difficult positions had been taken; the Tennessee was our own, and the gateway into the South was open. President Lincoln wrote thus to Grant:

"Major-General Grant:

"WASHINGTON, December 8th.

"Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, my more than thanks-my profoundest gratitude-for the skill, courage and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all! "A LINCOLN."

Here, as elsewhere in the battle-fields of the west, Illinois blood was shed like water. The shouts of victory upon its prairies were mingled with many a sob of bereavement. Its soldiers were present

RESULTS OF MISSION RIDGE.

111 in great numbers, and never were they more willing to assume the post of honor and peril.

They were among the first to lead Sherman's advance, and among the first to surmount the crest of the Ridge. Captain Guthrie of the 19th Illinois, captured with his own hand a brave rebel Brigadier.

We cannot specify their deeds of daring. It is enough that the record of Illinois on November 25, 1863, was one of the most glorious it has made during the war for the Union.

Grant the former Colonel of the 21st Illinois, thus addressed the army:

"The General commanding thanks you individually and collectively. The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you. Their hopes and prayers for your success against this unholy rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will yet go to other fields of strife, and with invincible bravery and unflinching loyalty to justice and right, which have characterized you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can withstand you, and that no defense, however formidable, can check your onward march."

His name was spoken throughout the land. Congress voted him. a gold medal, and soon after, reviving the grade of Lieutenant-General, his name was sent in by the President and he was confirmed.

Bragg was chased to Dalton. A stand was made and a desperate show of resistance opposed to Hooker at Ringgold, but his impetuous bravery made it unavailing, and the enemy was compelled to fly. Again our victory was complete. Sherman and Howard pushed for the railroad and cut it up.

Grant could have marched his army to Atlanta, or anywhere else, but Burnside was sorely pressed in Knoxville, and must be relieved. General Granger, who was designated to march to his assistance, did not march with energy, and Sherman was assigned the work. True his men had traveled from "Big Black" to Chattanooga, and without rest had gone into the battle of the 25th, true they had been active in pursuit of Bragg and were without tents, comfortable clothing or supplies, but Burnside was in Knoxville with 12,000 fellow soldiers, and that was enough. With rapid marches they went forward, and found that Longstreet, hearing of Bragg's defeat, and anticipating the approach of our troops, had raised the siege and was in full retreat. Sherman's cavalry reached Knoxville Dec. 3d.

This virtually closed the Union campaigns of 1863, for only the attack upon Charleston was subsequently of general interest. Had General Grant's daring plan of the assault upon the rocky hights of Lookout and Missionary Ridge failed, the consequences had been most disastrous. It was fraught with peril, but was a stupendous success. It saved our cause.

CHAPTER VI.

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION--MISSOURI.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS- -SABINE PASS-Loss-MCPHERSON'S DISTRICT-THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA-DE RUSSY-GRAND ADVANCE-RANSOM'S ADVICE-DISASTROUS ENGAGEMENT NEAR MANSFIELD-HEAVY SACRIFICE-PLEASANT HILL-SMITH'S CHARGEREBELS GIVE BACK-SUMMING Up-Retreat-GRAND ECORE-THROUGH THE DAMSTEELE'S ARMY-RETREATS ON LITTLE ROCK-SABINE CROSSINGS-ROSECRANS IN MISSOURI-HUNDRED DAY REGIMENTS-PLEASANTON'S COMMAND-PRICE ESCAPESUNION CITY-COLONEL HICKS AT PADUCAH-FORT PILLOW-NORTH CAROLINA.

YREAT results were anticipated from an expedition under Gen

GRE

eral Banks. After the fall of Vicksburg he had been reinforced from the troops under General Grant, and every facility was afforded by the government to enable him to strike a severe blow destined to be a costly and disastrous campaign, losing heavily, gaining lightly. In September, 1863, General Banks was ordered to lead an expedition against Sabine Pass. It was to be a combined land and naval attack-General Franklin with 400 men, and Lieutenant Crocker with four steamers, transports, &c. On the 8th, the attack was made by the naval force and failed, losing the steamers, Clifton and Sachem. The expedition returned to Brashear City. General Franklin had his headquarters at New Iberia. "The Nineteenth Army Corps under the immediate command of General Weitzel, had crossed and camped at Berwick. The Thirteenth (formerly McClernand's) followed, leaving sufficient force to hold the base at Brashear."

There was some sign of activity in McPherson's district. In October, a rebel force of infantry and horse, numbering about 2,500, were seen on the east side of the Big Black, and continued a series of feints and threatened advances, sometimes approaching closely