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port； holding the road to Kelley's Ferry。 The latter was to meet a force sent from the town down the river in pontoons under cover of night； which was to seize the landing on the left bank of the river； driving back the rebel pickets and fortifying their position； and then swinging the bridge across the river。 Thomas says in his official report of the battle of Wauhatchie； that 〃preliminary steps had already been taken to execute this vitally important movement before the command of the Department devolved on me。〃 Thomas on the 23d ordered Hooker to concentrate the Eleventh Corps； and Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps at Bridgeport and sent him instructions as to his movements； and directed him to advance as soon as possible； co…operating with the force from Chattanooga。 Hooker was also ordered to move into Lookout Valley； and to protect the bridge when laid from any attack by Longstreet in that direction。 Thomas also sent two brigades under Palmer to co…operate with Hooker。 Palmer moved across the river to Brown's Ferry； and then took the road through Whitesides to Rankin's Ferry； establishing himself securely at these points； protecting the river communication from attack from the south。 Thomas placed W。 F。 Smith in charge of the expedition； and detached Turchin's and Hazen's brigades； with three batteries under Major John Mendenhall。 Smith was directed to organize a picked force； armed from these brigades； to be divided into fifty squads of twenty…four men each； under the command of an officer； who were to float down the river in pontoons that nighta distance by the bends of the river of some nine miles。 The boats were placed under the charge of Colonel T。 R。 Stanley of the Eighteenth Ohio； the bridge to be placed in position under direction of Captain P。 V。 Fox； First Michigan Engineers。 The troops under Hazen were to take the gorge and hills to the left； and Turchin was to extend from the gorge down the river。 Turchin in command of the remainder of the troops marched across Moccasin Point to the ferry； where they were to cross in the same boats； supporting the troops already landed； when the position was to be strongly fortified and held by them until the arrival of Hooker。
At midnight the troops who were to take part in the expedition were marched to the river and placed in the boats manned by crews with oars； and on two flat boats。 The force that marched under Turchin moved out under cover of dense woods over the point to the ferry； where they remained in readiness to cover the landing of the troops coming down the river。 The artillery accompanied this part of the command and remained under cover。
At 3 o'clock A。M。 of the 27th； the boats moved out into the stream under cover of a slight fog。 On arriving at a point some two miles below the town； these troops reached the rebel picket line posted on the left bank of the river。 The boats passed on unobserved by keeping close to the right hand shore until just at the landing； when the troops in the first boat were greeted with a volley from the rebel pickets； a station being at this landing。 In perfect order； as previously planned； the troops hastily disembarked； moved forward； occupying the crest of the hill immediately in front and commenced the work of intrenching。 Before this was completed the enemy； heavily re…enforced； just beyond the crest； moved forward to drive Hazen back。 Here a stubborn little fight was had； the rebels making a gallant charge with partial success on the right of Hazen； when they were met with the remainder of the brigade under Colonel Langdon； who charged at once on their lines and after a short engagement drove them from the hill into the valley beyond。 Turchin's brigade having crossed the river was placed in position on Hazen's right； when the enemy moved from the front up the valley。 The rebel force here was a thousand infantry； three pieces of artillery； and a squadron of cavalry。
As soon as the last of the troops were over； work on the bridge was commenced and finished at a little after four o'clock in the afternoon。 For an hour or so in the morning the work progressed under an artillery fire from the rebel batteries on Lookout Mountain。 Our losses were six killed； twenty…three wounded； and nine missing。 The rebels lost six men captured and six of their dead were buried by our men。 Our forces captured twenty beeves； six pontoons and some two thousand bushels of corn。 The bridge was completed and the position held until the 28th； when Hooker's command arrived。 No attempt was made by Bragg to dislodge this force or to destroy the bridge。 Hooker moved on the road by the base of Raccoon Mountain into Lookout Valley； driving the rebel pickets before him； and occupied the roads to Kelley's and Brown's Ferries through the valley。 Later in the afternoon of the 28th； as Hooker's troops pushed down the valley； Howard's corps in the advance was met with a sharp volley of musketry from a wooded ridge near the Wills Valley Railroad。 Two brigades of Howard's command were deployed； and advancing； drove the rebels from their cover with the loss of a few of our men。 As the enemy retreated they burned the railroad bridge over Lookout Creek。 Hooker then went into camp with Howard's corps at six o'clock in the afternoon about a mile up the valley from Brown's Ferry。 Here he learned of the movement to this place and of the building of the bridge。
With the object of holding the road to Kelley's Ferry； Geary's division was ordered to encamp near Wauhatchie； some three miles up the valley from Howard's position。 This created two campsthe latter holding the Brown Ferry roadeach camp separate and picketed by its own command； as the numbers of the troops would not admit of communication being kept up between them or of their forming one line。
About midnight a regiment that had been ordered by Howard to hold the Chattanooga road across Lookout Creek； had a slight skirmish with the advance of the enemy。 This was a portion of Longstreet's corps getting into position for a night attack on the two encampments。 Dividing his command into two detachments； Longstreet； about an hour later； with his strong one on his left； assaulted Geary's camp with a fierce attack； driving in his pickets and then charging on the main command。 Geary immediately formed his men in line； and for three hours with heavy fighting maintained his position； although enveloped on three sides by the enemy； repelling every attack； and finally charged on the rebels and drove them from beyond his front。 The enemy here attacked in greatly superior numbers； and were only defeated by the skill and coolness of Geary； aided by the bravery of his troops。 As the sound of the heavy fire which the enemy opened on Gary rolled down the valley； Hooker ordered Howard to double…quick his nearest division； Schurz's； to Geary's assistance。 The division was started at once； but before it had proceeded far it encountered the other detachments of Longstreet's command； which opened on our troops with a volley of musketry。 Hooker now determined that he had two fights on his hands。 At once detaching Tyndale's brigade； Howard charged the rebel lines on the hill to the left with it； p