ville, an object now of the first importance. Sherman's force advanced toward Chickamauga, and Hooker and Palmer moved toward Ringgold. Gen. Grant was at the front, directing the pursuing columns. At eleven o'clock, our advance was at Chickamauga Dépôt. Here was witnessed a scene such as is only found in war. The station was in flames, and the vast stores of the enemy had been fired. Corn, bacon, gun-carriages, cheeses, pork, flour, molasses, powder, sugar, broken muskets, and pontoon-trains, -every thing used in an army, — had been given up by the enemy, who had not time to complete their destruction. Large and valuable captures of stores were made by our forces. Among them, one pontoon-train of fifteen boats, twenty armywagons, sixty thousand rations of corn, fifty thousand of corn-meal, two sixty-four-pounder rifled siege-guns, one thousand pounds of bacon, six forges, some ordnance-stores, artillery and small-arm ammunition. The rebel loss by fire alone amounted to fifty thousand dollars' worth of property.

All day long, the pursuit was continued. "Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys were marching;" and everywhere were the evidences of a defeated and routed army. Guns and ammunition thrown away, abandoned ambulances, tents, wagons, caissons, strewed along the road, told of the hurried flight. The rebel camps of the previous night were passed, the bivouac-fires still blazing.

Just at night, a sharp engagement took place between the rear-guard of the enemy and the advanced guard of our forces, in which the enemy gave way, and our army bivouacked for the night.

Ringgold, a small place of twenty-five hundred

inhabitants, the county-seat of Catoosa County, Ga., was five miles distant. It is situated at the base of the White-oak-mountain ridge. In the rear of the town is a gap, or gorge, about a hundred yards wide, with abrupt ridges on both sides rising five hundred feet high, and half a mile or more in length. Artillery planted on these ridges completely commanded the pass, and, manned by even a few hundred men, could hold an army of thousands.

The enemy seized upon the natural advantages of this place, and determined to make here a desperate stand. The forests which fringed the ridges were filled with sharpshooters and four thousand of the enemy, disposed in a manner to offer a most effective resistance.

Our guns were not yet up; but our men were flushed with victory, and impatient of delay: and, soon after eight o'clock, Gen. Hooker ordered an attack by Osterhaus, who led the advance, followed by Geary and Craft.

The troops advanced with determined bravery; but the enemy opened with musketry, and poured shot and shell from the ridges above them. After a time, our men were compelled to fall back. The enemy, surprised and delighted with their success, followed with great ardor. Several attempts were made to carry the position, but in vain. It was too strong to be carried without artillery; but the men were unwilling to be delayed even for a few hours by an enemy so recently beaten, and fought with reckless gallantry. The Thirteenth Illinois was specially distinguished for its bravery; and the Seventh Ohio lost all its officers, coming out of action under command of a lieutenant.

But our men were being slaughtered without gaining adequate advantage; and it was decided to wait the arrival of the artillery, which had not been able to cross the west fork of the Chickamauga.

About twelve o'clock, a section of howitzers was brought to bear on the enemy in the gap; artillery were sent to the southern side of the river; and Grant sent orders to Sherman to place a force on the east side of the ridge, and turn his position. But the artillery had done the work. The guns told with terrible effect. Osterhaus and Geary again advanced; and, before one o'clock, the rebels had taken up the line of retreat.

They were quickly followed, and three pieces of artillery, and two hundred and thirty prisoners, captured. One hundred and thirty rebels were found dead on the field. Our loss was sixty-five killed, and three hundred and seventy-seven wounded.

The railroad at Ringgold was destroyed; mills and military materials of various kinds; also a large tannery, which was not likely to escape Grant's eye.

Hooker followed the enemy toward Dalton, Ga., for several miles, but only to find pictures of the unwritten miseries of war, wounded and dying men, broken wagons, caissons, and corpses, lining the roads where the enemy marched.

The pursuit would have been continued, but for Grant's solicitude, which never ceased, to relieve Burnside at Knoxville.

To Thomas he wrote, "Direct Granger to start at once; marching as rapidly as possible, to the relief of Burnside."

A despatch to Burnside was sent in duplicate; one

copy to be delivered to Gen. Burnside, the other to be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy.

Gen. Grant became impatient with all delays; and on the 29th he placed the whole force moving on Knoxville, under command of the most energetic of his generals, Sherman. He wrote to him, "Push as rapidly as you can to the Hiswassee, and determine for yourself what force to take with you from that point. Granger has his corps with him, from which you will select, in conjunction with the forces now with you. In plain words, you will assume command of all the forces now moving up the Tennessee."

In our next chapter, we shall see the results of this march.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE.

K

NOXVILLE, formerly the capital of Tennessee,

is beautifully situated on the Holston River, a hundred and eighty-five miles east of Nashville. It is located on high ground, commanding a fine view of the river and the blue mountains of Chilhowee, thirty miles distant.

ans.

Gen. Burnside had thrown up a line of works around the city, from the river on the left to the river on the right. He had about twelve thousand six hundred men, and three or four thousand more loyal TennesseeLongstreet had with him about twenty-two thousand men of all arms. Beef, cattle, and hogs had been driven into the city, and slaughtered and salted. Useless animals were killed, rations were reduced; and the works were put in the best possible condition. Farmers, and Union citizens from the country, volunteered to work in the trenches, and did so bravely. Negroes cheerfully worked early and late, and many disloyal men were compelled to aid in protecting the city from assault. The farmers loaded flat-boats with grain and provisions. of all kinds, and sent them down the river, under cover of the autumn fogs, at night. Formidable ditches were