按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
once detaching Tyndale's brigade； Howard charged the rebel lines on the hill to the left with it； pushing on the other brigade to Geary。 By this time Steinwehr's division of Howard's corps had arrived on the ground； and it was then discovered that the rebels were trying to surround Howard's camp and that they occupied a hill to the rear of Tyndale's brigade。 Hooker ordered Colonel Orland Smith with his brigade to charge this hill； which he did up the steep side； almost inaccessible by daylight； reached the rebel intrenchments under a heavy fire and drove the troops with the bayonet； after a severe engagement； in rout from the hill and capturing a number of prisoners。 Here General Greene and Colonel Underwood were severely wounded。 Tyndale also pressing forward occupied the rebel line in his front and drove their forces beyond his lines。 The attack on Howard was intended to hold that command from reinforcing Geary until he was routed； and then in turn Howard was to be driven from the field。
During the engagement the enemy opened with artillery fire in the valley； aided by that from the batteries on Lookout Mountain； sending the shells crashing among our troops。 Their forces in the valley were repulsed in every charge and our troops occupied the field at all points。 Our losses in the attack were 76 killed； 339 wounded； and 22 missing； making a total of 437。 The rebel loss is unknown。 Geary buried 153 of the enemy on his front alone。 One hundred prisoners were captured； with a large number of small arms。 Thomas congratulated Hooker's troops for the gallant repulse given to their old enemy； Longstreet； and adds： 〃The bayonet charge of Howard's troops； made up the side of a steep and difficult hill over two hundred feet high； completely routing the enemy from his barricades on its top； and the repulse by Geary of greatly superior number who attempted to surprise him； will rank among the most distinguished feats of arms of this war。〃 Reinforcements were sent Hooker by Thomas from Chattanooga of two brigades under Whittaker and John G。 Mitchell； but the fighting was over before they reached the valley。
Work was now pushed rapidly forward on the road from Brown's to Kelley's Ferry； and this being successfully accomplished by the 1st of November； the forces of Nature were overcome and the siege of Chattanooga was at an end as to them。 It now remained to raise it on the front； driving Bragg from his strongholds； Lookout Mountain； Chattanooga Valley； and Missionary Ridge。
Chapter XIV
Chattanooga； Lookout Mountain； and Missionary Ridge Battles。
These three detached actions； fought by different portions of our troops； were parts of a series of operations for securing our front and driving the enemy from his position； and are known properly as the Battle of Chattanooga。 Grant； late in October； ordered Sherman with the Fifteenth Army Corps to press forward to the Tennessee River； cross at Bridgeport and push rapidly on to Chattanooga。 Early in November； learning that Bragg had weakened his forces on our front by sending Longstreet's command into East Tennessee to attack Burnside； Grant was very desirous of making an attack at once on the rebel forces on Lookout and Missionary Ridge； but examining the strong position occupied by Bragg at these points and the length of his lines； Grant became convinced that to successfully operate against the enemy it was necessary to wait until Sherman with his command came up。 While this force moved eastward； Grant was maturing his plans for the engagement。 He directed Sherman to report in person； which he did on the 15th； and on consultation with him and Thomas the general plan of battle was submitted to them。 The main attack was to be made on the 21st at daylight； by Sherman's troops； on the north end of Missionary Ridge。 To accomplish this his command was to be re…enforced with one division of the Army of the Cumberland under Jeff C。 Davis。 Sherman's troopsfour divisionswere to move from Brown's Ferry through the woods to the north of the town up to the Tennessee River； opposite the mouth of Chickamauga Creek； where they were to cross on a pontoon bridge to be swung there under the supervision of W。 F。 Smith； and the crossing of the troops to be protected by batteries under Brannon； Thomas's Chief of Artillery。 After crossing the river； Sherman was to move rapidly forward； carrying the heights on the north end of Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel； if possible； before the enemy could concentrate on his front； Thomas was to concentrate all his troops in Chattanooga Valley on his left flank； leaving on the necessary force to defend the fortifications on his right and centre and to hold a movable column of one division to move wherever needed。 This division was to make a show of threatening Bragg's forces up the valley。 Thomas was then to effect a junction with Sherman； co…operate with him； advancing his left and moving forward as nearly simultaneously as possible； and support him。 Hooker on the right in Lookout Valley； was to hold that position with Geary's division and two brigades under Cruft from the Fourth Army Corps； ordered to report to him。 Howard； on Friday； the 20th； was ordered with his corps to take position on the north side of the Tennessee； opposite Chattanooga； near the pontoon bridge； and hold himself in readiness to move to Thomas's front or to co…operate with Sherman as needed。 Colonel Eli Long with his brigade of cavalry was directed to report by noon on Saturday； the 21st； at Chattanooga； to cover Sherman's left flank； and if not further required by Sherman he was then to cross the Chickamauga； make a raid on the enemy's line of communication in the rear； doing as much damage as he could。
Sherman made his movement with his troops from Bridgeport though Whitesides。 Sending his leading division under Ewing up Lookout Valley； to make a feint on the left flank of the rebel army in the direction of Trenton； he crossed his others at Brown's Ferry and marched up the north bank of the river to the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek。 Here they kept concealed in the woods from the enemy until they were ready to effect their crossing。 Owing to heavy rains and the state of the roads； Sherman was able to have but one division； under John E。 Smith； in position by the 21st and Grant delayed his plans of battle to give him additional time。 Sherman on the 21st moved his second division under Morgan L。 Smith over the bridge at Brown's Ferry； and on the 23d； after many repairs to the bridge； rendered necessary by the swollen stream and the raft of logs sent down the river by the rebels； Ewing's division also got safely across。 Sherman's fourth division under Osterhaus was not able on the 23d to cross； and this division was then ordered； in the event of not being able to cross by eight A。M。 the 24th； to report to Hooker on the south bank of the Tennessee。 Davis had reported with his division to Sherman； and on the 23d； the boats of the pontoon bridge were used to effect a landing at the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek by Giles A。 Smith's brigade； who captured the rebel pickets at this place； landed his entire brigade； and then sent the boats back