swarm out of the ledge line of rifle-pits and over the base of the hill in numbers which surprised us. A few turned and fired their pieces; but the greater number collected into the many roads which cross obliquely up its steep face, and went on to the top. Some regiments pressed on and swarmed up the steep sides of the Ridge, and here and there a color was advanced beyond the lines. The attempt appeared most dangerous; but the advance was sup ported, and the whole line was ordered to storm the heights, upon which not less than forty pieces of artillery, and no one knew how many muskets, stood ready to slaughter the assailants. With cheers answering to cheers, the men swarmed upward. They gathered to the points least difficult of ascent, and the line was broken. Color after color was planted on the summit, while musket and cannon vomited their thunder upon them. A well-directed shot from Orchard Knob exploded a Rebel caisson on the summit, and the gun was seen being speedily taken to the right, its driver lashing his horses. A party of our soldiers intercepted them, and the gun was captured, with cheers. A fierce musketry fight broke out to the left, where, between Thomas and Sherman, a mile or two of the Ridge was still occupied by the Rebels. Bragg left the house in which he had held his headquarters, and rode to the rear as our troops crowded the hill on either side of him. General Grant proceeded to the summit, and then only did we know its height. Some of the captured artillery was put into position. Artillerists were sent for to work the guns, and caissons were searched for ammunition. The Rebel log breastworks were torn to pieces and carried to the other side of the Ridge, and used in forming barricades across. A strong line of infantry was formed in the rear of Baird's line, and engaged in a musketry contest with the Rebels to the left, and a secure lodgment was soon effected. The other assault to the right of our center gained the summit, and the Rebels threw down their arms and fled. Hooker, coming into favorable position, swept the right of the Ridge, and captured many prisoners. Bragg's remaining troops left early in the night, and the battle of Chattanooga, after days of manoeuvring and fighting, was won. The strength of the Rebellion in the center is broken. Burnside is relieved from danger in East Tennessee. Kentucky and Tennessee are rescued. Georgia and the Southeast are threatened in the rear, and another victory is added to the chapter of "Unconditional Surrender Grant." To-night the estimate of captures is several thousand prisoners and thirty pieces of artillery. Our loss for so great a victory is not severe. Bragg is firing the railroad as he retreats toward Dalton. Sherman is in hot pursuit. To-day I viewed the battle-field, which extends for six miles along Missionary Ridge and for several miles on Lookout Mountain. Probably not so well directed, so well-ordered a battle, has taken place during the war. But one assault was repulsed; but that assault, by calling to that point the Rebel reserves, prevented them repulsing any of the others. A few days since Bragg sent to General Grant a flag of truce advising him that it would be prudent to remove any non-combatants who might be still in Chattanooga. No reply has been returned; but the combatants having removed from the vicinity, it is probable that non-combatants can remain without imprudence. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General. In securing this great victory the Union forces had lost. 757 killed, 4,529 wounded and 330 missing. The loss of the Confederates has never been ascertained, but reached probably beyond fifteen thousand. General Grant captured 6,142 prisoners, 40 pieces of artillery, 69 artillery carriages, and caissons, and 7,000 stand of small arms. Not satisfied with the first fruits of this victory Grant ordered the retreating enemy to be hotly pursued, which was successfully accomplished, they being forced back upon Ringgold. Further pursuit was abandoned, owing to the necessity of relieving Burnside at Knoxville. Grant had by his masterly movement in turning the enemy back upon Dalton and Ringgold thrown Sherman and his corps between Longstreet and Bragg, and he at once dispatched General Granger and other forces under Shernan to the relief of Burnside who had fallen back within the entrenchments at Knoxville, in order to draw Longstreet as far away from Bragg as possible and thereby preventing him from reinforcing that unfortunate yet brave general. Learning that Bragg had been defeated at Chattanooga, and realizing that Grant would at once reinforce Burnside and raise the siege, Longstreet determined to carry the Union works by storm, and selected November 29, 1863, for the assault. Though made with great gallantry the assault proved a failure, and long before he JAMES LONGSTREET. could recover from the effects of this he found that the several Union columns sent for the relief of the besieged city were gathering around him in such a manner that if he did not withdraw from his position, he would be completely surrounded. On the night of December 4 he raised the siege of the place and retreated eastward toward Virginia. With the raising of the siege of Knoxville this remarkable campaign ended, and the war in the Southwest was substantially closed. On the same day the President issued the following proclamation for a national thanksgiving: EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., December 7, 1863. Reliable information being received that the insurgent force is retreating from East Tennessee, under circumstances rendering it probable that the Union forces cannot hereafter be dislodged from that important position; and esteeming this to be of high national consequence, I recommend that all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship, and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this grest advancement of the national cause. A. LINCOLN. The following day he sent the following dispatch to Major-General Grant: MAJOR-GENERal Grant: WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. 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. The campaign ended, General Grant issued the following congratulatory orders to the army: HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, December 10, 1863. [General Orders No.9.] The General Commanding takes this opportunity of returning his sincere thanks and congratulations to the brave armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio, the Tennessee, and their comrades from the Potomac, for the recent splendid and decisive successes achieved over the enemy. In a short time you have recovered from him the control of the Tennessee River from Bridgeport to Knoxville. You dislodged him from his great stronghold upon Lookout Mountain, drove him from Chattanooga Valley, wrested from his determined grasp the possession of Missionary Ridge, repelled with heavy loss to him his repeated assaults upon Knoxville, forcing him to raise the siege there, driving him at all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond the limits of the State. By your noble heroism and determined courage, you have most effectually defeated the plans of the enemy for regaining possession of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. You have secured positions from which no rebellious power can drive or dislodge you. For all this the General commanding thanks you collectively and individually. 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 the 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 defences, however formidable, can check your onward march. By order of T. S. BOWERS, A. A.-G. Maj. Gen. U. S GRANT. |