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eight miles. Bragg was expected to withdraw under cover of the night. At dark Bragg was in. line of battle. Our army was aglow with enthusiasm, and eager to pursue. Prisoners report that the rebel army is terribly demoralized, and incapable of offering any serious resistance; also, that Bragg will fall back to Atlanta. General Brannon occupies Tunnel Hill, which completes our line along the whole length of Missionary Ridge.Order by Brigadier General Geary.Headquarters 2d Division, 12tk ArmyCorps, Wasuatcuie, Tens., Nov. 17. )General ^Orders, No. 76—The general commanding the division takes great pleasure in publishing to the troops of his com maud the subjoined copy of a letter from the nmjor general commanding the corps:“Headquarters 12th Corps,“Army ok thk Cumberland,“ Murfreesboro, Tbxn., Nov. 13, 1803.“My Dear, General: I am very happy to hear the good reports which reach me from all sides relative to the conduct of your command in the recent action. The contest was one of very great importance.“ The highest credit is awarded to you andyour command, not oaly by Gen. Thomas, butby all officers conversant with the circumstances.“ As I was not with you, t can claim no portion of the credit gained, nor can I, with good taste, publish an order expressing thanks to you, but I wish you aud your command to know that 1 have been informed of all the facts in the case, and that I feel deeply grateful for their gallant conduct and for the new laurels they have brought to our corps.“Your obedient servant and sincere friend.“II. W. SLOCUM.“Brig. Gen. J. IV.Geary, Commanding 2d division, 12ih Army,Corps.**By command ofBrig. Gen. JNO. W. GEARY.Thos. II. Elliotr, .Capt. and Asst. A. G.LATER AND BETTER.A Glorious Thanksgiving Victors' — Bragg'sArmy Completely Rottrd -Oor Army in Pursuit of the Fiyiug Katie Is.Chattanooga, Nov, 27—1 a. ra.To Ma.i. Gen. IIalleck, Generai-Jn-Cbief:I am just in from the front.The rout, of the enemy is most complete. Abaodoned wagons, casione and occasional pieces of artillery, are everywhere to bofound.I think Bragg’s lass will fully reach sixty pieces of artillery;A large number of prisoners have fallen into our hands.The pursuit wilt continue to Red Cly inthe morning, for which place I shall start in afew hours. XT. S. GRANT,Mnjor-Geuera!.Graphic Report of the Three Days Fighting by Gen. Meigs.UNEXAMPLED BRAVERY OF OUR TROOPS.THE ENEMY SURPRISED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.General Hooker Fighting Above the Clouds.Headquarters, Chattanooga, 1 Thursday, Nov. 26, 1803. /Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of TTar.-Sir: On the 23d iost., at 11.30 a. m., Gen, Grant ordered a demonstration against Mission 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 aud movement from their picket lines and rifle pits, and from the summits of Mission Ridge, five hundrod feet above ua, and thought it was a review and’drill, bo openly and deliberately so regularly was it all dyae.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 rifle pits. After them went our ekirmishers, and into them, along the center of the line of 2o,0C0 troops which General Thomas had so quickly displayed, until we opened fire. Prisoners assert that they thought the ,whole movement was a reviewfortified, The assault was gallantly made.Sherman reached the edge of the crest and ] held hia ground for, it seemed to me, an hour, 1 but was bloodily repulsed by reserves. xA general advance was ordered, and a strong line of skirmishers followed by a deployed i line of battle, some two miles in leugtk. At the signal of leaden shots from the headquarters on Orchard Knob, theliae moved rapidly and orderly forward. The rebel pickets discharged their muskets and ran into ibeir rifle pits. Our skirmishers followed on their heels.The line of battle was not. far behind, and we saw the gray rebels swarm out of the ledgu line of rifle-pits in numbers which surprised us, and over the base of the hill. A few turned and fired their pieces, but the greater number collected iato the many roads which cross obliquely up its steep face and went on to their top.Some regiments passed on and swarmed up the steep sides of the ridge, and here and there u color was advance a beyoud the lines. The attempt appeared most daugerous, but the advance was supported, and the whole lino was ordered to storm the bights, upon which not less than forty pieces of artillery, and no oue knew how many muskets, stood ready to slaughter the assailants.Wiih cheers answeribg to cheers, the men swarmed upward. They gathered io the points least difficult of ascent, aud the line was broken. Color after color was planted on the summit, while musket and cannon vomited their thunder upon us.A well directed shot from Orchard Knob exploded a rebel caisson on the summit, and the gun was seen galloping to the right, its driver lashing his horses. A party of our soldiers intercepted them, aud the gun was captured, with cheers.A fieroe musketry broke out to tho left, where, between Thomas and Sherman, a mile or two of the ridge was still occupied by ike rebels.Bragg left the house in which he had bis head quarters, and rodo to the rear its our troops crowded the hill on either side of him.Gen. Grant proceeded to the sutnmii, and then did we only know its height.Some of the captured artillery wns put inposition. Artillerists were sent for to workthe guns. Caissons wore searched for ammunition.The rebel log breast works were torn to pieces, and ejirricil to the other side of ibe ridge, and used in forming barricades across.A strong line of infantry was formed in the rear of Baird’s line, hotly engaged in a musketry contest with tho rebels to the left, and a secure lodgment was soon effected.The other assault to the right of our center gained the summit, and tho rebels threw down their nrms and fled. Hooker coming in 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 maneuvering and fighting, was won. The strength of the rebellion, in the center is 1 broken. Burnside is relieved from danger in East Tennessee. 1Kentucky and Tennessee are rescued.— Georgia aud the South-East are threatened in the rear, and another victory is added to the chapter of “Unconditional Surrender Grant.”To-night the estimate of captures is severalthousand of 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 Mission Ridge and for several miles on Lookout Mountain.Probably not bo welt directed, so well ordered a battle has been delivered during the war. But one assault was repulsed, but that assault by calling io that point tho rebel reserves, provented them repulsing any of the others.A few days since Bragg sent to Gen. Grant a flag of truco advising him that, it would bo prudtut. to remove any non-combatants who might be still in Chattanooga.No reply has been returned, but the combatants having removed from this vicinity it is probable that non-combatants can remainwithout imprudence. M. C. MEIGS,Quarter-Master General.
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Lancaster Examiner and Herald
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Dec 02, 1863
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