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him to strengthen his right by withdrawing troops from his left;

which circumstance led Hooker to advance on the northerly face of

Lookout Mountain。  At first; with good glasses; we could plainly see

Hooker's troops driving the Confederates up the face of the mountain。

All were soon lost to view in the dense timber; but emerged again on

the open ground; across which the Confederates retreated at a lively

pace; followed by the pursuing line; which was led by a color…bearer;

who; far in advance; was bravely waving on his comrades。  The

gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all; but as

he was a considerable distance ahead of his comrades I expected to

see his rashness punished at any moment by death or capture。  He

finally got quite near the retreating Confederates; when suddenly

they made a dash at him; but he was fully alive to such a move; and

ran back; apparently uninjured; to his friends。  About this time a

small squad of men reached the top of Lookout and planted the Stars

and Stripes on its very crest。  Just then a cloud settled down on the

mountain; and a heavy bank of fog obscured its whole face。



After the view was lost the sharp rattle of musketry continued some

time; but practically the fight had been already won by Hooker's men;

the enemy only holding on with a rear…guard to assure his retreat

across Chattanooga Valley to Missionary Ridge。  Later we heard very

heavy cannonading; and fearing that Hooker was in trouble I sent a

staff…officer to find out whether he needed assistance; which I

thought could be given by a demonstration toward Rossville。  The

officer soon returned with the report that Hooker was all right; that

the cannonading was only a part of a little rear…guard fight; two

sections of artillery making all the noise; the reverberations from

point to point in the adjacent mountains echoing and reechoing till

it seemed that at least fifty guns were engaged。



On the morning of the 25th of November Bragg's entire army was

holding only the line of Missionary Ridge; and our troops; being now

practically connected from Sherman to Hooker; confronted it with the

Army of the Cumberland in the centrebowed out along the front of

Wood's division and mine。  Early in the day Sherman; with great

determination and persistence; made an attempt to carry the high

ground near the tunnel; first gaining and then losing advantage; but

his attack was not crowned with the success anticipated。  Meanwhile

Hooker and Palmer were swinging across Chattanooga Valley; using me

as a pivot for the purpose of crossing Missionary Ridge in the

neighborhood of Rossville。  In the early part of the day I had driven

in the Confederate pickets in my front; so as to prolong my line of

battle on that of Wood; the necessity of continuing to refuse my

right having been obviated by the capture of Lookout Mountain and the

advance of Palmer。



About 2 o'clock orders came to carry the line at the foot of the

ridge; attacking at a signal of six guns。  I had few changes or new

dispositions to make。  Wagner's brigade; which was next to Wood's

division; was formed in double lines; and Harker's brigade took the

same formation on Wagner's right。  Colonel F。 T。 Sherman's brigade

came on Harker's right; formed in a column of attack; with a front of

three regiments; he having nine。  My whole front was covered with a

heavy line of skirmishers。  These dispositions made; my right rested

a little distance south of Moore's road; my left joined Wood over

toward Orchard Knob; while my centre was opposite Thurman's house

the headquarters of General Braggon Missionary Ridge。  A small

stream of water ran parallel to my front; as far as which the ground

was covered by a thin patch of timber; and beyond the edge of the

timber was an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge; varying in

width from four to nine hundred yards。  At the foot of the ridge was

the enemy's first line of rifle…pits; at a point midway up its face;

another line; incomplete; and on the crest was a third line; in which

Bragg had massed his artillery。



The enemy saw we were making dispositions for an attack; and in plain

view of my whole division he prepared himself for resistance;

marching regiments from his left flank with flying colors; and

filling up the spaces not already occupied in his intrenchments。

Seeing the enemy thus strengthening himself; it was plain that we

would have to act quickly if we expected to accomplish much; and I

already began to doubt the feasibility of our remaining in the first

line of rifle…pits when we should have carried them。  I discussed the

order with Wagner; Harker; and Sherman; and they were similarly

impressed; so while anxiously awaiting the signal I sent Captain

Ransom of my staff to Granger; who was at Fort Wood; to ascertain if

we were to carry the first line or the ridge beyond。  Shortly after

Ransom started the signal guns were fired; and I told my brigade

commanders to go for the ridge。



Placing myself in front of Harker's brigade; between the line of

battle and the skirmishers; accompanied by only an orderly so as not

to attract the enemy's fire; we moved out。  Under a terrible storm of

shot and shell the line pressed forward steadily through the timber;

and as it emerged on the plain took the double…quick and with fixed

bayonets rushed at the enemy's first line。  Not a shot was fired from

our line of battle; and as it gained on my skirmishers they melted

into and became one with it; and all three of my brigades went over

the rifle…pits simultaneously。  They then lay down on the face of the

ridge; for a breathing…spell and for protection' from the terrible

fire; of canister and musketry pouring over us from the guns on the

crest。  At the rifle…pits there had been little use for the bayonet;

for most of the Confederate troops; disconcerted by the sudden rush;

lay close in the ditch and surrendered; though some few fled up the

slope to the next line。  The prisoners were directed to move out to

our rear; and as their intrenchments had now come under fire from the

crest; they went with alacrity; and without guard or escort; toward

Chattanooga。



After a short pause to get breath the ascent of the ridge began; and

I rode; into the ditch of the intrenchments to drive out a few

skulkers who were hiding there。  Just at this time I was joined by

Captain Ransom; who; having returned from Granger; told me that we

were to carry only the line at the base; and that in coming back;

when he struck the left of the division; knowing this interpretation

of the order; he in his capacity as an aide…de…camp had directed

Wagner; who was up on the face of the ridge; to return; and that in

consequence Wagner was recalling his men to the base。  I could not

bear to order the recall of troops now so gallantly climbing the hill

step by step; and believing we could take it; I immediately rode to

Wagner's brigade and directed it to resume the attack。  In the

meantime Harker's and F。 T。 Sherman's troops were approaching the

partial line of works midway of the ridge; and as I returned to the

centre of their rear; they were being led by many stands of

regimental colors。  There seemed to be a rivalry as to which color

should be farthest to the front; first one would go forward a few

feet; then another would come up to it; the color…bearers vying with

one another as to who should be foremost; until finally every

standard was planted on the intermediate works。  The enemy's fire

from the crest during the ascent was terrific in the noise made; but

as it was plunging; it over…shot and had little effect on those above

the second line of pits; but was very uncomfortable for those below;

so I deemed it advisable to seek another place; and Wagner's brigade

having reassembled and again pressed up the ridge; I rode up the face

to join my troops。



As soon as the men saw me; they surged forward and went over the

works on 

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