Knoxville to Clinton, as I have asked him, for six days, I believe Bragg will be started back for the south side of Oostanaula, and Longstreet cut off."

On the 17th he telegraphs: "I have not heard from you since the 14th. What progress is Longstreet making, and what are your chances for defending yourself? Sherman's forces have commenced their movement from Bridgeport, threatening the enemy. This alone may turn Longstreet back, and if it does not, the attack will be prosecuted until we reach the roads over which all the supplies must pass, while you hold East Tennessee.”

Later on the same day: "Your dispatch received. You are doing exactly what appears to me to be right. I want the enemy's progress retarded at every point all it can be, only giving up each place when it becomes evident that it cannot longer be held without endangering your force to capture. I think our movements here must cause Longstreet's recall within a day or two, if he is not successful before that time. Sherman moved this morning from Bridgeport, with one division. The remainder of his command moves in the morning. There will be no halt until a severe battle is fought, or the railroads cut supplying the enemy."

On the 18th he telegraphs Halleck: "Dispatches from General Burnside received at 10 P. M. yesterday. Troops had got back from Knoxville. Sherman's advance reached Lookout Mountain to-day. Movements will progress, threatening enemy's left flank, until forces can be got up and thrown across the river to attack their right flank and Missionary Ridge. A battle or a falling back of the enemy is inevitable by Saturday, at the farthest. Burnside speaks hopefully."

On this day he also gives written orders to Thomas

and Sherman. Those to Thomas were as follows: "All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday morning, at daylight. . . . The general plan is for Sherman, with the force brought with him, strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of the Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the heights of the north bank of the river (to be located by your chief of artillery), and to secure the heights (Missionary Ridge) from the northern extremity to about the railroad tunnel, before the enemy can concentrate against him. You will coöperate with Sherman. The troops in the Chattanooga Valley should all be concentrated on your left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend fortifications on the right and center, and a movable column of one division in readiness to move wherever ordered. This division should show itself as threateningly as possible, on the most practicable line for making an attack up the valley. Your effort, then, will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your advance well toward the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and moving as near simultaneously with him as possible. The junction once formed, and the Ridge carried, connection will be at once established between the two armies by roads on the south bank of the river. Further movements will then depend on those of the enemy.

"Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily held by Geary's Division, and what troops you may still have there of the old Army of the Cumberland. Howard's Corps can then be held in readiness to act, either with you at Chattanooga, or with Sherman. It should be marched, on Friday night, to a position on the north side of the river, not lower down than the first pontoon bridge (at Chatta

nooga), and then held in readiness for such orders as may become necessary. All these troops will be provided with two days' cooked rations, in haversacks, and one hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry soldier."

To Sherman a copy of these instructions was furnished for his guidance, and he was told: "It is particularly desirable that a force should be got through the railroad between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from communication with the South; but being confronted by a large force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is to be effected until the result of our first effort is known."

The preliminary movements and furiously contested battles around Chattanooga occupied several days and resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Union forces. The details of this important contest cannot better be told than in the following pithy dispatch from General Meigs, Quartermaster General of the United States Army, who was present during the entire action:

HEADQUARTERS CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 26, 1863.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

SIR: On the 23d inst., at half-past 11 A. M., General Grant ordered a demonstration against Missionary Ridge, to develop the force holding it. The troops marched out, formed in order, and advanced in line of battle, as if on parade.

The Rebels watched the formation and movement from their picket lines and rifle pits, and from the summits of Missionary Ridge, five hundred feet above us, and thought it was a review and drill, so openly and deliberately, so regular, was it all done.

The line advanced, preceded by skirmishers, and at 2 o'clock P. M. reached our picket lines, and opened a rattling volley upon the Rebel pickets, who replied and ran into their advanced line of riflepits. After them went out our skirmishers and into them, along the

center of the line of 25,000 troops which General Thomas had so quickly displayed, until we opened fire. Prisoners assert that they thought the whole movement was a review and general drill, and that it was too late to send to their camps for re-inforcements, and that they were overwhelmed by force of numbers. It was a surprise in open daylight.

At 3 P. M. the important advanced position of Orchard Knob and the lines right and left were in our possession, and arrangements were ordered for holding them during the night.

The next day at daylight General Sherman had 5,000 men across the Tennessee, and established on its south bank, and commenced the construction of a pontoon bridge about six miles above Chattanooga. The Rebel steamer "Dunbar" was repaired at the right moment, and rendered effective aid in this crossing, carrying over 6,000 men.

By nightfall General Sherman had seized the extremity of Missionary Ridge nearest the river, and was entrenching himself. General Howard, with a brigade, opened communication with him from Chattanooga on the south side of the river. Skirmishing and cannonading continued all day on the left and center. General Hooker scaled the slopes of Lookout Mountain, and from the valley of Lookout Creek drove the Rebels around the point. He captured some 2,000 prisoners, and established himself high up the mountain side, in full view of Chattanooga. This raised the blockade, and now steamers were ordered from Bridgeport to Chattanooga. They had run only to Kelly's Ferry, whence ten miles of hauling over mountain roads and twice across the Tennessee on pontoon bridges, brought us our supplies.

All night the point of Missionary Ridge on the extreme left, and the side of Lookout Mountain on the extreme right, blazed with the camp fires of loyal troops.

The day had been one of dense mists and rains, and much of General Hooker's battle was fought above the clouds, which concealed him from our view, but from which his musketry was heard.

At nightfall the sky cleared, and the full moon-"the traitor's doom"--shone upon the beautiful scene, until I A. M., when twinkling sparks upon the mountain side showed that picket skirmishing was going on. Then it ceased. A brigade sent from Chattanooga crossed the Chattanooga Creek, and opened communication with Hooker.