assault upon Lookout Mountain, which was to come off to-day. Sherman was up. Pontoon-boats, one hundred and ten in number, had been safely lodged in the North-Chickamauga; twenty more were concealed in a ravine near Caldwell's Ford, just below the mouth of the South-Chickamauga; numerous wagon-loads of lumber for bridging were in the same vicinity. The Fifteenth army corps, Major-General Frank Blair commanding, was well massed behind the hills; the division of Jeff. C. Davis, of the Fourteenth corps, was prepared to support it, and all things were in readiness for crossing the river. It was two o'clock on the morning of the twenty-fourth of November, when the fleet of boats carrying a brigade of Morgan L. Smith's division, pushed carefully out of the Chickamauga, and dropped quietly down the Tennessee. So perfectly was the thing managed, so exquisite were the arrangements for silence and secrecy, that even our own pickets along the bank of the river did not know when the boats passed. Before daylight they had reached their destination; and the soldiers, jumping on shore, formed as soon as possible, and, advancing rapidly, captured the rebel pickets, who were sleeping unconsciously by their fires. No sooner was this accomplished, than our boys, who had landed, fell to intrenching them selves with the industry of beavers, while the boats began to take over other troops, and workmen carried vigorously forward the building of the pontoon-bridge. Just after daylight, I was over to the left of our line, upon the north side of the river, to witness the crossing. As I passed along the river, behind Stringer's Ridge, I saw that the tents of Sherman's men were nearly all deserted, only a few invalids, sutlers' clerks, and teamsters being left in the camps. Passing on, I finally came to a point where, from the road descending the ridge, you can catch a glimpse of some open ground in the vicinity of Caldwell's Ford. Here a spectacle of surpassing beauty met my eyes. they had been stationed, to protect the pontoon fleet while it lay in that creek. The whole scene was calculated to impress the beholder with a sense of beauty and power, and make him feel that, this time at least, the Union army would be irresistible. General Sherman himself superintended the landing, as he did all the subsequent operations of his troops. A quarter of a mile down the river from Caldwell's Ford, rises a high hill, the highest in that vicinity; and on the summit of this, was one of our signal-stations. By a series of tacks, now this way, now that, I urged my horse half-way up, fastened him there, and climbed on foot to the top. All the region around Chattanooga was visible from this eminence, and looking from it, one might get some idea of the immensity, the grandeur, the complication, and, at the same time, the simplicity, of the operations going on below. Those operations had for their theatre the whole country, from Wauhatchie, in Lookout valley, to the mouth of the North-Chickamauga, a distance of twelve miles! And one mastermind, with subordinates at once able and intelligent, was overseeing and directing the whole. While I was on this hill, it began to rain gently; a thick mist overspread Lookout, rolled in immense columns up the river. and gradually filled the entire basin of Chattanooga. The last object upon which my sight rested was Sherman's men still advancing toward the north end of Mission Ridge, without interruption, and extending their lines gradually to the right, until at last they came into communication with the left wing of General Howard's corps. The last sounds I heard were the crash of musketry and thunder of artillery in the direction of Lookout Mountain, which told that General Hooker had assailed the position from which the enemy had so long insolently menaced our army. As I descended the hill, I could scarcely repress an emotion of terror as the sound of battle toward the right became more and more awful and continuous, until it seemed as if some tremendous torrent had sapped the foundations of Lookout, and the mountain itself was crumbling into ruin. Our soldiers were storming Lookout. Let me trace the facts connected with Hooker's great exploit, as briefly and succinctly as Two score of boats were plying back and forth across the somewhat swollen river, each one carrying, from the northern to the southern shore, from a dozen to twenty soldiers. The splendid pontoon-bridge already stretched half-possible. way across, and the pioneers were just commenc- When General Hooker, with Howard's corps, ing work upon its southern end. Fifty-six pieces Osterhaus's division, and a part of Hugh of artillery, some brass and glittering, some iron Ewing's, crossed the river by the pontoonand sombre, were ranged along the shore and bridges opposite Chattanooga, on Sunday evenupon the sides of the hills, to protect the cross-ing, it was in pursuance of the bold design to ing; while ten thousand soldiers, constituting a splendid army, with music, banners, horses, and equipments, were massed upon the level ground by the river, ready and anxious to go over. While I was gazing at those already there, the fine brigade commanded by General John Beatty marched in column across the ridge, and entered the plain below. About the same time, Colonel Daniel McCook's and General Morgan's brigades could be seen advancing to the rendezvous down the river, from the Chickamauga, near which mass his forces upon our right, carry the rebel line of rifle-pits between Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, sever the enemy on Lookout Mountain from all support, and then, advancing boldly up one side of the mountain, while Geary scaled the other, plant the Stars and Stripes triumphantly upon its summit. General Howard's corps was sent to our left, as I have described. It was half-past seven in the morning when Geary's division, (part of the Twelfth corps,) supported by Whitaker's brigade of Stanley's (temporarily Cruft's) division of the Fourteenth corps, left its position near Wauhatchie, crossed Lookout Creek, and began to work down its right bank. Whitaker's brigade had, I believe, marched nearly all night the night before, from the neighborhood of Shell Mound, in order to be present at this attack. Almost from the moment our forces crossed the creek, their advance was stubbornly resisted. But Church's Michigan battery from Fort Negley, Naylor's Tenth Indiana from Moccasin Point, and the Eighth Wisconsin from the banks of Chattanooga Creek, played upon the rebels with such good effect, that, although not much hurt, they became confused and frightened, and Geary slowly and steadily pushed forward. Forward and upward! for he now began to ascend the slope, and never rested until he had reached a point so high that Hooker could see the flashes of his musketry from the other side. Then Osterhaus and part of Ewing suddenly crossed | Chattanooga Creek, and advancing in line of battle, carried the rebel rifle-pits near the foot of the mountain, swept like a whirlwind up the eastern slope, dislodged the rebels wherever they attempted to make a stand, and finally shook hands with Geary just underneath the mighty mass of rocks which crowns the summit of Lookout. The united hosts now moved on together, crushed the battalions of the enemy as they attempted to make one more stand, and at midnight finished the contest by capturing or dispersing the last band of rebels to be found anywhere upon the sides of the mountain. That night, in front of General Thomas's headquarters in Chattanooga, I stood watching the combat going on, away up there upon that mighty wall of limestone; and the long line of fires which marked the course of our intrenchments; the shouts of the combatants yelling defiance at each other; the fierce jets of flame from the muzzles of a thousand muskets; the spluttering sound of the discharges, muffled by distance; the great brow of the mountain looming dark and awful through the night; the single signallight upon the extreme crest, which, waving to and fro, revealed to the rebel leader on Mission Ridge the tale of disaster and woe-all these together formed one of the scenes, in that wonderful three days' drama, which will linger for ever in my memory, haunting even my dreams. The battle that night upon Lookout Mountain! Scen from Chattanooga, it was the realization of olden traditions; and supernatural armies contended in the air! But after the noise of combat had ceased, after nearly all (save the faithful sentinel and the wounded writhing in pain) had sunk to slumber, another scene occurred which even he whose weary fingers trace these records at the midnight division, came to their support. This was at half-past five P.M. Two days previous to the commencement of the battle, Colonel B. F. Scribner, of the Thirtyeighth Indiana, arrived at Chattanooga. I need not speak particularly of him here. The story of his deeds at Perryville, at Stone River, and at Chickamauga, (commanding a brigade in the last two battles,) is familiar to his countrymen. His regiment now forms a part of General Carlin's brigade, and the latter, with a nice appreciation of real merit which does him honor, immediately upon Colonel Scribner's arrival, requested him to take command of the right wing of his brigade. Scribner consented, and played well his part, both in the night combat on the mountain, and in the battle of the succeeding day. Far upon the mountain toward the city is a white frame house-a prominent and noted object. To this, after the struggle of Tuesday and Tuesday night, our wounded were conveyed. But there were no surgeons to wait upon them. Colonel Scribner heard of their condition. His noble nature was moved. The toils of the day were disregarded. He entered the hospital, and with a faithful few to assist, he labored until far into the small hours of night, like an angel of mercy, in soothing the pains of the sufferers, alleviating, as far as it was possible, their agony, and binding their bleeding wounds. In my varied experience thus far, I have known no incident of the war more touching, more worthy of remembrance, and more honorable to human nature, than this of a brave man who had led his troops unflinchingly through a half-dozen battles, forgetting his own somewhat feeble health, entering the house of anguish, standing over the wounded, and with the tenderness of a woman ministering to their wants. The nation may hereafter shower honors on his head for his heroism on the field of battle; but the recording angel, who notes alike the good and bad actions of all, will place upon the credit side of his account no worthier deeds than those kind attentions bestowed upon the wounded in the silent watches of that Tuesday night! The rebels lost in this engagement two hundred killed and wounded, two pieces of artillery, and one thousand three hundred prisoners. Our losses all told could scarcely amount to three hundred men. But before we have done with Thursday's story, we must return to the left. At seven A.M., General Howard ordered Colonel Orland Smith, commanding a brigade in the second division of his corps, to send a regiment to the extreme left of his (Howard's) line, to drive a body of rebel sharp-shooters from some rifle-pits, whence they annoyed our lines considerably. The Seventy-third Ohio was selected to execute the command. Forming line and throwing out skirmishers, this excellent command at once After Hooker's troops had ascended the slope charged the enemy upon the double-quick, with of the mountain, and were still engaged with the fixed bayonets, and drove them half a mile, tak enemy, General Carlin's brigade, of Johnson's | ing more than thirty prisoners. While this move hour dare not omit. ment was going on, Wheeler's Independent Kentucky battery shelled the rebels from the north side of the river with apparently good effect, and Captain Bridges's splendid Chicago battery, placed on the knob taken the day before by Willich's men, kept the enemy's attention occupied by a furious shelling of Mission Ridge. This movement, finished at half-past ten A.M., put Howard's left in communication with Sherman's right, as I have already mentioned. General Sherman's forces now continued to advance slowly over the fields toward the ridge. The Western or Atlanta Railroad was crossed, but no enemy appeared. A belt of timber near the foot of the range concealed no foe; and at last, making a bold push, the Sixth Iowa and Forty-sixth Ohio, belonging to General J. M. Corse's brigade, reached the summit of the ridge, followed by the rest of the brigade, and immediately commenced throwing up intrenchments. The eminence is just north, and within musket shot of Tunnel Hill. The rebels opened a fire from the latter, which was replied to by our men. Little damage was done, however; but when night came the eyes of the soldiers in other corps sparkled brightly when they learned that the numerous fires upon the north side of Mission Ridge marked the bivouac of Sherman's men. EVENTS OF WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH. Wednesday morning came, and as soon as the sun's rays were warm enough to disperse the mists from the mountains, all eyes were turned toward the summit of Lookout. A wild and deafening cheer ran along our lines. The banner of beauty and of glory was floating from the very crest of the mountain- from that gigantic pile of rock whence rebel cannon had so long been hurling missiles of death toward the city. The enemy on Lookout had not been able to rally after his disastrous defeat of the day before. He had fled during the night; and the disjointed fragments of his force, belonging to Stevenson's division, were moved around to the right of his line in order to withstand the storm which it was perceived would soon burst from our left. Captain John Wilson, Eighth Kentucky, had the honor of being the first to plant the flag upon the now deserted rebel citadel. Thus had Hooker and the brave men under him again established their claim to the gratitude and admiration of their countrymen. right; then Geary's; then Johnson's; then Sheridan's; then Wood's; then Baird's; then Schurz's; then Steinwehr's; then Ewing's ; then John E. Smith's, with Morgan L. Smith upon the extreme left. Whitaker's and Grose's brigades fought with Hooker; Jeff. C. Davis was in reserve on the extreme left; and Howard's two divisions might also be considered as a reserve. The enemy's line of battle coïncided with the line of Mission Ridge, he occupying all of it (with lines of rifle-pits at the foot) except the portion from which he had been dislodged by Sherman. Early in the morning, I took position upon the knob held by Willich's brigade of Wood's division, known as Bald Knob, from which the entire battle-field could be distinctly seen. The morning was raw and cold, but the sun shone brilliantly from a cloudless sky. The prospect was beautiful in the extreme. The entire valley was before you, surrounded by walls of everlasting adamant, and watered by the finest river on the continent. Toward the north, you looked across the low ground through which ran the railroads; feasted your eyes upon the winding Tennessee, glittering like silver in the sunlight; then looked beyond until the view was bounded by the giant Cumberlands. Westward you behold the town of Chattanooga, the nearer portion hidden, however, by the frowning battlements of Fort Wood, from whose guns ever and anon a puff of smoke burst forth, a thundering explosion shook the earth, and a screaming, shrieking missile went tearing through the air, bent, like a destroying angel, upon the work of death. Beyond Chattanooga, in the same direction, the winding river, never for a mile, apparently, pursuing the same course, again met the eye, tending southward to pass between Moccasin Point and Lookout Mountain; northward again, skirting between Stringer's Ridge and a low range in Lookout Valley, dividing itself into two great arms to embrace the beautiful William's Island, and then sweeping away majestically to the north-west around the point of Raccoon Mountain. South-west the point of the Lookout itself, always the most prominent feature of this landscape, rose grandly in the sunlight, while east and south the view was bounded by Mission Ridge, on which were ranged the legions with which Bragg expected to stay the march of loy But still grander events were hurrying onward, and leaving the Eighth Kentucky upon the sum-alty and uphold the cause of treason. mit of the mountain, "Fighting Joe" descended early in the morning, crossed Chattanooga Creek, and joined Johnson's division upon the right of our position. Breckinridge's corps was on the left of the enemy's line. Hardee occupied the centre, and part of Buckner's corps, with the Georgia State troops and other fragmentary bodies, held the Hugh Ewing's division had previously left its right. Bragg's headquarters, a small house on position upon the mountain, and passing over to Mission Ridge, in a south-east direction, was the left, had joined General Sherman, forming plainly visible, and served as a mark for many an upon his right. Thus was completed our im- ambitious artillerist that day. Singularly enough, mense line of battle, extending from the Knox- too, as if to attract special attention, the enemy's ville road on the right to the north end of Mis-largest cannon were placed in battery near this sion Ridge upon the left, a distance of about six house. miles! Osterhaus's division was on the extreme Let us glance around now, and see who occupy this little knob from which we are gazing upon the animated scene we have described. Since Napoleon stood in the midst of his marshals, on that eventful morning when the sun of Austerlitz broke from behind the eastern walls of the world, scarcely had a more distinguished group of personages been collected together than that which I there beheld. There was General Smith, Chief of the Engineer Department, a useful, industrious, scientific man, concealing, under a somewhat repellent exterior, a generous, kindly nature. There was Hunter, without command, but assisting by counsel-Hunter, honest, patriotic, conscientious, bold. There was Meigs, too, smooth, plausible, discreet, and wise. There was the keen, talented, energetic, capable Wood. Willich, brave, unselfish, and true-an old veteran, animated by the hopes and ardor of youth._ Gordon Granger, brave, able, sensible, rough. Reynolds, in whom courtesy and courage, gallantry and prudence, firmness and moderation, wisdom and enthusiasm, are all combined. Thomas, cold, stern, earnest, unbending, dignified, erect. upon their right, and instantly a massive column of their forces began to move northward along the crest of the ridge. It was a splendid spectacle, as regiment after regiment, brigade after brigade, filed off toward our left; and it was well for Sherman's brave men that they could not see these battalions, for they impressed each beholder with an idea of almost resistless power. Suddenly the storm burst upon Matthies's brigade and the left of Howard. The fierce flames from thirty pieces of artillery leaped athwart and across the ravine which separated the two hills, and a flash of lightning from ten thousand muskets blinded the eyes of our men. They rose from the ground and retured the fire; they even endeavored to advance, but, against such overwhelming odds, to persevere in either was annihilation; General Matthies was wounded and disabled; a score of officers were shot down; files of our soldiers were swept away at each discharge; and at last, unable longer to endure this useless slaughter, they broke and fled down the hill. For a moment the heart of the beholder was filled with anguish as he saw them hasten And there too was the king among his coming in wild confusion back across the field over peers, the "giant among giants," a man whose placid countenance, which apparently no care could disturb, was lighted up by a piercing eye, whose gaze nothing could escape - a mild, quiet, unassuming man the solid, sound, subtle, persevering, comprehensive Grant. Such was the stage-such were the actors. The battle began upon the extreme left, Sherman, about ten A.M., making an attack upon Tunnel Hill, a point in Mission Ridge just south of the one we had occupied the night before, and separated from it by a small ravine. General Corse's brigade and Colonel Jones's, supported by Colonel Loomis's brigade to the rear and right, advanced to the assault, fought gallantly for a time, fully developed the enemy's position, and then fell back to their intrenchments. An hour after, the attack was resumed, General Matthies and General Giles A. Smith's brigades, of John E. Smith's division, reënforced afterward by Ranne's brigade, stepped gallantly from behind their works, and marched as if on parade up the hill, on the side of which was a large cleared field, until, despite a plunging fire from the enemy's artillery upon the crest, they entered the timbered portion near the summit; were met by showers of stones and rifle-balls, as well as by a storm of grape; but still refused to retire, and lay down within a hundred yards of the muzzles of the rebel cannon! General Howard's troops also became engaged here, and though at times somewhat roughly handled, behaved in a manner highly honorable to themselves and the noble men who led them. General Baird's division of the Fourteenth corps, was at this time marching by the flank, in front of Fort Wood, for the purpose of taking position between General Wood's division and Howard's left. This movement of his, plainly perceived by the enemy, fully impressed them with the conviction that our grand assault was to be made which they had so gallantly advanced; but he felt reassured when he saw that the moment they had got beyond the fire of musketry, and while still in full range of the enemy's cannon, they re-formed their ranks and were ready for another combat! But their work for the day was over. And now came the great crisis of the battle. The men who held in their hands the destinies of the army, had marked from their position on Bald Knob the movement of the rebel legions toward the left, and in an instant perceived their advantage. In the face of three such leaders as Baird, Wood, and Sheridan, Bragg was repeating the old fatal error which lost the allied armies Austerlitz, and the Union Chickamauga-he was weakening his centre and making a flank movement in the presence of his enemy. In an instant Granger and Palmer hurled Wood and Sheridan down the slope of the ridge upon which they had been posted, and Baird across the lower ground to the left. Through the woods concealing the rebel rifle-pits they charged, and burst like a torrent into and over the same, scattering the terrified rebels who occupied them like thistle-down or chaff. Here, according to original orders, our lines should have halted; but the men were no longer controllable. Baird had carried the rifle-pits in front of his position, and the shout of triumph rousing the blood to a very frenzy of enthusiasm, rang all along the line. Cheering each other forward, the three divisions began to climb the ridge, A fiery mass Of living valor rolling on the foe! The whole Ridge blazed with artillery. Direct, plunging, and cross fire, from a hundred pieces of cannon, was hurled upon that glorious band of heroes scaling the ridge, and when they were half-way up, a storm of musket-balls was flung into their very faces. In reply to the rebel cannon upon the Ridge, Fort Wood, Fort Negley, and all our batteries that could be placed in position, opened their sublime music. The storm of war was now abroad with supernatural power, and as each successive volley burst from the cloud of smoke which overspread the contending hosts, it seemed that ten thousand mighty echoes wakened from their slumbers, went groaning and growling around the mountains, as if resolved to shake them from their bases, then rolled away down the valleys, growing fainter and fainter, until extinguished by echoes of succeeding volleys, as the distant roar of the cataract is drowned in the nearer thunders of the cloud. And still the Union troops pressed on, scaling unwaveringly the sides of Mission Ridge. The blood of their comrades renders their footsteps slippery; the toil of the ascent almost takes away their breath; the rebel musketry and artillery mow down their thinned ranks-but still they press on! Not once do they even seem to waver. The color-bearers press ahead, and plant their flags far in advance of the troops; and at last, O moment of supremest triumph! they reach the crest, and rush like an avalanche upon the astonished foe. Whole regiments throw down their arms and surrender, the rebel artillerists are bayoneted by their guns, and the cannon which had a moment before been thundering on the Union ranks, are now turned about, pouring death and terror into the midst of the mass of miserable fugitives who are rushing down the eastern slope of the ridge. Almost simultaneously with this immortal charge, Hooker threw his forces through a gap in the ridge upon the Rossville road, and hurled them upon the left flank of the enemy, while Johnson charged this portion of their line in front. Already demoralized by the spectacle upon their right, they offered but a feeble resistance, were captured by hundreds, or ran away like frightened sheep. One fierce effort was made by the rebel leaders to retrieve the day. The left wing of General J. B. Turchin's brigade of Baird's division, had taken possession of a small work constructed by the enemy on that portion of Mission Ridge nearly opposite Fort Wood. Before he could arrange his regiments inside, the rebels, gathering up all the yet unrouted fragments of such force as they had upon the centre, charged Turchin with a determined fury excelling any thing they had displayed upon that part of the field during the day. But the heroic old Russian who had for two long years overthrown both rebels and their sympathizers, in every field where he had met them, was not to be conquered now, while flushed with his crowning victory. His left wing stood firm as a rock against the overwhelming numbers assailing it. The remainder of the brigade was hurried to the rescue upon the double-quick; the rebel fortifications, manned by Union soldiers, blazed like a volcano in the face of the foe. In vain the enemy's officers bravely stepped in front of their men, waved their swords, and urged them to the charge. With their comrades falling by scores around them, they could not be induced to advance one foot nearer that citadel of death; and at length, seeing the day irretrievably lost, they wavered, staggered, yielded slowly, and drew off sullenly in the direction of Tunnel Hill. With the exception of this last position, the whole of Mission Ridge was now in our hands. It was near sundown when General T. J. Wood, whose conduct all through the three days' battle, marked him as one of the ablest leaders of the national armies, rode along the lines of his superb division. Loud shouts of enthusiasm everywhere greeted his appearance, until at last his feelings, no longer controllable, broke forth in a speech! "Brave men!" said he, "you were ordered to go forward and take the rebel rifle-pits at the foot of these hills; you did so; and then, by the Eternal! without orders, you pushed forward and took all the enemy's works on top! Here is a fine chance for having you all court-martialled! and I myself will appear as the principal witness against you, unless you promise me one thing." What is it? what is it?" laughingly inquired his men. "It is," resumed the General, "that as you are now in possession of these works, you will continue, against all opposition of Bragg, Johnston, Jeff Davis, and the devil, steadfastly to hold them!" At the conclusion of this speech, the enthusiasm of the soldiers knew no bounds; they left the ranks and crowded around their General: "We promise! we promise!" they cried, and amid such exclamations as "Of course we'll hold them!" "Let any one try to take them from us! Bully for you!" Three cheers for old Wood!" the gallant officer rode off the field. 77 66 99.66 As the reports from the different portions of the army came in, it is impossible to conceive the joy that filled the hearts of all. Shout answered shout from every hill-top; cheer echoed cheer; until at last, the whole basin of Chattanooga, with the surrounding mountains, seemed filled with one mighty throb of exultation; and the sun went down, gilding with his last beams the scene of as grand a triumph as had ever yet blessed the Union arms. EVENTS OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH. CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 27. Early yesterday morning, I mounted my horse, and rode out to Mission Ridge. The joy of victory still lighted up the countenances of those I met, and officers and soldiers of the different corps were congratulating each other upon the brilliant success of the previous day. But it was not all triumph now. A mournful procession of ambulances and men on foot with stretchers, bore back toward Chattanooga the bleeding forms of the wounded, as well as the remains of those who had heard their last call to |