where; and at the point where they so manfully went to relieve the pressure in other parts of our assaulting line they exposed themselves unconsciously to an enemy vastly superior in force, and favored by the shape of the ground. Had that enemy come out on equal terms, these brigades would have shown their mettle, which has been tried more than once before, and stood the test of fire. They re-formed their ranks, and were ready to support General Ewing's division in a very few minutes, and the circumstance would have hardly called for a notice on my part, had not others reported for my wing of the army at a distance of nearly five miles, from which could only be seen the troops in the open field when this affair occurred.

I now subjoin the best report of casualties I am able to compile from the records thus far received:

First Division,
Second Division,

Third Division,..

Fourth Division,

FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS.

87

364

66

.10

90

2

497
102

89

253

122

499

72

535

21

.....

628

As soon as communications with Bridgeport had been made secure, and the question of sup plying the army at this point rendered certain, preparations were at once commenced for driving the enemy from his position in our immediate front on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total. Ridge-and if possible to send a force to the relief of Knoxville. To enable me to dislodge the enemy from the threatening position he had assumed in our front, guns of a heavier calibre than those with the army were needed; also additional means for crossing the Tennessee River. Brigadier-General Brannan, Chief of Artillery, was directed to send for the necessary number Burkbank Brigade,...... .87 of guns and ammunition, and, after consulting General Jeff C. Davis has sent in no report of with Brigadier-General W. F. Smith, Chief-Engicasualties in his division, but his loss was small. neer, to prepare the batteries for the guns on Among the killed were some of our most valu- their arrival. While awaiting the arrival of the able officers-Colonels Putnam of the Ninety-guns and ammunition, work was prosecuted on third Illinois, O'Meara of the Ninetieth Illinois, the fortifications around the town. In addition Torrence of the Thirtieth Iowa, Lieutenant-Colo- to his duties of superintending the work on the nel Taft of the Eleventh corps, and Major Bushnell of the Thirteenth Illinois volunteers.

Among the wounded are Generals Giles A. Smith, J. M. Corse, and Matthews; Colonel Baum; Colonel Wangeline, Twelfth Missouri volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel Patridge, Thirteenth Illinois volunteers; Major P. J. Welch, Fifty-sixth Illinois volunteers; and Major M. Allen, Tenth Iowa volunteers.

Among the missing is Lieutenant-Colonel Archer, Seventeenth Iowa.

My report is already so long, that I must forbear mentioning acts of individual merit. These will be recorded in the reports of division commanders, which I will cheerfully indorse, but I must say that it is but justice that colonels of regiments who have so long and so well commanded brigades as in the following cases should be commissioned to the grade which they have filled with so much usefulness and credit to the public service, namely:

Colonels J. R. Cockerell, Seventieth Ohio volunteers; J. M. Loomis, Twenty-sixth Illinois; C. E. Wolcott, Forty-sixth Ohio; J. A. Williamson, Fourth Iowa; G. B. Baum, Fifty-sixth Illinois; J. J. Alexander, Fifty-ninth Indiana.

My personal staff, as usual, have served their country with fidelity and credit to themselves throughout these events, and have received my personal thanks.

Inclosed you will please find a map of that

fortifications, General Smith pushed vigorously the construction of two pontoon-bridges, to be used in the execution of the movements which were determined upon as necessary to a successful dislodgment of the enemy.

Guerrillas having become somewhat troublesome to the north-east of McMinnville and east of the Cancy Fork of the Cumberland, BrigadierGeneral Elliott, Chief of Cavalry, was ordered, November fourteenth, to establish his headquarters, with the First division of cavalry, at or near Alexandria, and employ the division in hunting and exterminating these marauders. Elliott reached Alexandria on the eighteenth, and on the twenty-seventh reports that his scouts met those of Burnside on Hint Ridge, east of Sparta, and that Lieutenant-Colonel Brownlow, with detachments from the First East-Tennessee and Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, attacked the rebel Colonel Murray on the twenty-sixth at Sparta, killing one, wounding two, and capturing ten of the enemy, including a lieutenant of Champ Ferguson's; he also captured a few horses and ammunition, and destroyed extensive salt-works used by the rebels. A company of scouts under Captain Brixir also encountered a party of guerrillas near Beersheba Springs, captured fifteen or twenty and dispersed the rest. Brigadier-General R. S. Granger reports from Nashville, November second, that "a mixed command, under Lieutenant-Colonel Scully, First Middle Tennes

see infantry, sent out from Nashville, attacked his crossing to be protected by artillery planted and defeated Hawkins and other guerrilla chiefs on the heights on the north bank of the river. and pursued them to Centreville, Dickman Coun- After crossing his force, he was to carry the ty, where Hawkins made another stand, attack- heights of Missionary Ridge, from their northern ing our forces while crossing the river. Hawkins extremity to about the railroad tunnel, before the was again routed and pursued until his forces enemy could concentrate a force against him. I dispersed. Rebel loss from fifteen to twenty was to cooperate with Sherman by concentrating killed and sixty prisoners; our loss, one severe- my troops in Chattanooga Valley on my left ly and several slightly wounded." Again, on flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend November fourth, that “Major Fitzgibbon, Four- the fortifications on the right and centre, with a teenth Michigan infantry, came upon the com- movable column of one division in readiness to bined forces of Cooper, Kirk, Williams, and move wherever ordered. This division was to Scott, (guerrillas,) at Lawrenceburgh, thirty-five show itself as threateningly as possible on the miles from Columbia, and after a severe hand-to- most practicable line for making an attack up hand fight, defeated them, killing eight, wound- the valley. I was then to effect a junction with ing seven, and capturing twenty-four prisoners; Sherman, making my advance from the left, well among the latter are one captain and two lieuten- toward the north end of Mission Ridge, and movants. Our loss, three men slightly wounded and ing as nearly simultaneously with Sherman as eight horses killed. He reports the enemy four possible. The junction once formed, and the hundred strong, and his force one hundred and ridge carried, communications would be at once twenty." November thirteenth, "Captain Cut-established between the two armies by roads runter, with one company of mounted infantry and ning on the south bank of the river; further a portion of Whittemore's battery, (mounted,) movements to depend on those of the enemy. belonging to the garrison of Clarksville, had a Lookout Valley was to be held by Geary's divifight near Palmyra with Captain Grey's company sion of the Twelfth corps, and the two brigades of guerrillas, killing two, wounding five, and tak- of the Fourth corps ordered to cooperate with ing one prisoner; Cutter's loss, one lieutenant him; the whole under command of Major-Genand one man wounded." November sixteenth, eral Hooker. Howard's corps was to be held in “Scout organized by General Paine and sent out readiness to act either with my troops at Chattafrom Gallatin and La Vergne returned, and re-nooga or with General Sherman, and was ordered port having killed five and captured twenty-six to take up a position on Friday night on the guerrillas, with horses, sheep, cattle, and hogs in north side of the Tennessee, near the pontoontheir possession, collected for the use of the rebel | bridge, and then held in readiness for such orarmy." ders as might become necessary. General Smith Brigadier-General Crook, commanding Second commenced at once to collect his pontoons and division of cavalry, was ordered, November sev-materials for bridges in the North-Chickamauga enteenth, to concentrate his division at or near Creek preparatory to the crossing of Sherman's Huntsville, Ala., and to patrol the north side of troops, proper precautions being taken that the the Tennessee from Decatur to Bridgeport, and enemy should not discover the movement. Gento hunt up bands of guerrillas reported to be eral Sherman then returned to Bridgeport to diswarming about in that region, arresting and rect the movements of his troops. robbing Union citizens. General Crook reports, on the twenty-first, that an expedition sent down the Tennessee had destroyed nine boats between Whitesburgh and Decatur, some of them sixty feet long. The expedition crossed the river and drove off the rebels, taking their boats. From the best information to be obtained, there were two small regiments of cavalry and one battery on the other side, doing picket-duty. Lee and Roddy reported as having gone to Mississippi.

Major-General Sherman, commanding army of the Tennessee, having been ordered, with the Fifteenth corps, to this point, to participate in the operations against the enemy, reached Bridgeport with two divisions on the He came to the front himself, and, having examined the ground, expressed himself confident of his ability to execute his share of the work. The plan of operations was then written out substantially as

follows:

Sherman, with the Fifteenth corps, strength ened with one division from my command, was to effect a crossing of the Tennessee River, just below the mouth of the South-Chickamauga, on Saturday, November twenty-first, at daylight;

Colonel Long, (Fourth Ohio cavalry,) commanding Second brigade, Second division cavalry, was ordered on the sixteenth to report at Chattanooga on Saturday, the twenty-first, by noon, the intention being for him to follow up the left flank of Sherman's troops, and if not required by General Sherman, he was to cross the Chickamauga, make a raid upon the enemy's communications, and do as much damage as pos

sible.

Owing to a heavy rain-storm, commencing on Friday (twentieth) and lasting all of the twentyfirst, General Sherman was not enabled to get his troops in position in time to commence operations on Saturday morning, as he expected.

Learning that the enemy had discovered Sherman's movements across Lookout valley, it was thought best that General Howard should cross over into Chattanooga, thus attracting the attention of the enemy, with the intention of leading him to suppose that those troops he had observed moving were reënforcing Chattanooga, and thereby concealing the real movements of Sherman. Accordingly, Howard's corps was crossed into Chattanooga on Sunday, and took up a position

By four o'clock on the morning of the twentyfourth, General Hooker reported his troops in position and ready to advance. Finding Lookout Creek so much swollen as to be impassable, he sent Geary's division, supported by Cruft's two brigades, to cross the creek at Wauhatchie and work down on the right bank, while he employed the remainder of his force in constructing temporary bridges across the creek on the main road. The enemy, being attracted by the force on the road, did not observe the movements of Geary until his column was directly on their left, and threatened their rear. Hooker's movements were facilitated by the heavy mist which overhung the mountain, enabling Geary to get into position without attracting attention.

in full view of the enemy. In consequence of tempting to carry the point of the mountain, to the bad condition of the roads, General Sherman's do so. troops were occupied all of Sunday in getting into position. In the mean time, the river having risen, both pontoon-bridges were broken by rafts sent down the river by the enemy, cutting off Osterhaus's division from the balance of Sherman's troops. It was thought this would delay us another day; but during the night of the twenty-second, two deserters reported that Bragg had fallen back, and that there was only a strong picket-line in our front. Early on the morning of the twenty-third, I received a note from MajorGeneral Grant directing me to ascertain by a demonstration the truth or falsity of this report. Orders were accordingly given to General Granger, commanding the Fourth corps, to form his troops and to advance directly in front of Fort Wood, and thus develop the strength of the Finding himself vigorously pushed by a strong enemy. General Palmer, commanding the Four- column on his left and rear, the enemy began to teenth corps, was directed to support General fall back with rapidity; but his resistance was Granger's right with Baird's division refused and obstinate, and the entire point of the mountain in echelon; Johnson's division, Fourteenth corps, was not carried until about two P.M., when Gento be held in readiness under arms in the in- eral Hooker reported by telegraph that he had trenchments, to reënforce at any point. How-carried the mountain as far as the road from ard's corps was formed in mass behind the centre of Granger's corps. The two divisions of Granger's corps, Sheridan's and Wood's, were formed in front of Fort Wood-Sheridan on the right, Wood on the left, with his left nearly extending to Citico Creek. The formation being completed about two P.M., the troops were advanced steadily and with rapidity directly to the front, driving before them, first the rebel pickets, then their reserves, and falling upon their grand-guards stationed in their first line of rifle-pits, captured something over two hundred men, and secured themselves in their new position before the enemy had sufficiently recovered from his surprise to attempt to send reënforcements from his main camp. Orders were then given to General Granger to make his position secure by constructing temporary breastworks, and throwing out strong pickets to his front. Howard's corps was moved up on the left of Granger with the same instructions, and Bridge's battery (Ill.) was placed in position on Orchard Knob. The troops remained in that position for the night.

Chattanooga valley to the "White House." Soon after, his main column coming up, his line was extended to the foot of the mountain, near the mouth of Chattanooga Creek. His right, being still strongly resisted by the enemy, was reenforced by Carlin's brigade, First division, Fourteenth corps, which arrived at the White House" about five P.M., in time to take part in the contest still going on at that point. Continuous and heavy skirmishing was kept up in Hooker's front until ten at night, after which there was an unusual quietness along our whole front.

With the aid of the steamer Dunbar, which had been put in condition and sent up the river at daylight of the twenty-fourth, General Sherman by eleven A.M. had crossed three divisions of the Fifteenth corps, and was ready to advance as soon as Davis's division of the Fourteenth corps commenced crossing. Colonel Long, (Fourth Ohio cavalry,) commanding Second brigade, Second division cavalry, was then ordered to move up at once, follow Sherman's advance closely, and to proceed to carry out his instructions of the day before, if not required by General Sherman to support his left flank. Howard's corps moved to the left about nine A.M., and communicated with Sherman about noon.

The Tennessee River having risen considerably from the effect of the previous heavy rain-storm, it was found difficult to rebuild the pontoonbridge at Brown's Ferry. Therefore, it was determined that General Hooker should take Osterhaus's division, which was still in Lookout val- Instructions were sent to General Hooker to ley, Geary's division, and Whitaker's and Grose's be ready to advance, on the morning of the twenbrigades of the First division, Fourth corps, under ty-fifth, from his position on the point of Lookout Brigadier-General Cruft, and make a strong de- Mountain to the Summertown road, and endeavmonstration on the northern slope of Lookout or to intercept the enemy's retreat, if he had not Mountain, for the purpose of attracting the en- already withdrawn, which he was to ascertain emy's attention in that direction, and thus with- by pushing a reconnoissance to the top of Lookout drawing him from Sherman while crossing the Mountain. The reconnoissance was made as diriver at the mouth of South-Chickamauga. Gen- rected, and having ascertained that the enemy eral Hooker was instructed that in making this had evacuated during the night, General Hooker demonstration, if he discovered the position and was then directed to move on the Rossville road strength of the enemy would justify him in at-with the troops under his command, (except

Carlin's brigade, which was to rejoin its divi- fied to meet and take the best advantage of sion,) carry the pass at Rossville, and operate emergencies, which necessitated material modiupon the enemy's left and rear. Palmer's and fication of that plan. It is believed, however, Granger's troops were held in readiness to ad- that the original plan, had it been carried out, vance directly on the rifle-pits in their front as could not possibly have led to more successful soon as Hooker could get into position at Ross-results. The alacrity displayed by officers in ville. In retiring on the night of the twenty-executing their orders, the enthusiasm and spirit fourth, the enemy had destroyed the bridges displayed by the men who did the work, cannot over Chattanooga Creek on the road leading from be too highly appreciated by the nation, for the Lookout Mountain to Rossville, and in conse-defence of which they have on so many other quence General Hooker was delayed until after memorable occasions nobly and patriotically extwo o'clock P.M., in effecting the crossing of the posed their lives in battle. creek.

About noon, General Sherman becoming heavily engaged by the enemy, they having massed a strong force in his front, orders were given for General Baird to march his division within supporting distance of General Sherman. Moving his command promptly in the direction indicated, he was placed in position to the left of Wood's division of Granger's corps. Owing to the difficulties of the ground, his troops did not get in line with Granger's until about half-past two P.M. Orders were then given him, however, to move forward on Granger's left, and within supporting distance, against the enemy's rifle-pits on the slope and at the foot of Missionary Ridge. The whole line then advanced against the breastworks, and soon became warmly engaged with the enemy's skirmishers; these, giving way, retired upon their reserves, posted within their works.

Howard's corps, (Eleventh,) having joined Sherman on the twenty-fourth, his operations from that date will be included in Sherman's report, as will also those of Brigadier-General J. C. Davis's division of the Fourteenth corps, who reported for duty to General Sherman on the twenty-first.

General Granger's command returned to Chattanooga, with instructions to prepare and hold themselves in readiness for orders to reenforce General Burnside at Knoxville. On the twentysixth, the enemy were pursued by Hooker's and Palmer's commands, surprising a portion of their rear-guard near Greysville, after nightfall, capturing three pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. The pursuit was continued on the twenty-seventh, capturing an additional piece of artillery at Greysville. Hooker's advance encountered the enemy, posted in the pass through Taylor's Ridge, who, after an obstinate resistance of an hour, were driven from the pass with considerable loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Our loss was also heavy.

trains loaded with forage; thence he proceeded to Cleveland, remaining there one day, destroyed their copper-rolling mill and a large depot of commissary and ordnance stores.

Our troops advancing steadily in a continuous line, the enemy, seized with panic, abandoned the works at the foot of the hill, and retreated precipitately to the crest, whither they were A large quantity of forage and some additionclosely followed by our troops, who, apparently al caissons and ammunition were captured at inspired by the impulse of victory, carried the Ringgold. On the twenty-eighth, Colonel Long hill simultaneously at six different points, and (Fourth Ohio cavalry) returned to Chattanooga, so closely upon the heels of the enemy, that from his expedition, and reported verbally that many of them were taken prisoners in the on the twenty-fourth he reached Tyner's Station, trenches. We captured all their cannon and destroying the enemy's forage and rations at ammunition, before they could be removed or that place, also some cars, and doing consideradestroyed. After halting a few moments to re-ble injury to the railroad. He then proceeded to organize the troops, who had become somewhat Doltawah, where he captured and destroyed some scattered in the assault of the hill, General Sherman pushed forward in pursuit, and drove those in his front, who escaped capture, across Chickamauga Creek. Generals Wood and Baird, being obstinately resisted by reënforcements from the enemy's extreme right, continued fighting until darkness set in, slowly but steadily driving the enemy before them. In moving upon Rossville, General Hooker encountered Stuart's division and other troops; finding his left flank threatened, Stuart attempted to escape by retreating toward Greysville, but some of his force, finding their retreat threatened in that quarter, retired in disorder toward their right along the crest of the ridge, where they were met by another portion of General Hooker's command, and were driven by these troops in the face of Johnson's division of Palmer's corps, by whom they were nearly all made prisoners. It will be seen by the above report that the original plan of operations was somewhat modiVOL. VIII.-Doc. 14

Being informed that a train of the enemy's wagons was near Charleston, on the Hiawassee, and was probably unable to cross the river on account of the break in their pontoon-bridge, after a few hours' rest he pushed forward with a hope of being able to destroy them, but found, on reaching Charleston, that the enemy had repaired their bridge, and had crossed their trains safely, and were prepared to defend the crossing with one or two pieces of artillery, supported by an infantry force, on the north bank. He then returned to Cleveland, and damaged the railroad for five or six miles in the direction of Dalton, and then returned to Chattanooga.

On the twenty-eighth, General Hooker was ordered by General Grant to remain at Ringgold until the thirtieth, and so employ his troops as