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the men had constructed from refuse lumber and canvas。 Suiting his
selections to the occasion； he never failed to excite intense
interest in the breasts of all present； and when circumstances
finally separated him from us； all felt that a debt of gratitude was
due him that could never be paid。 The pleasure he gave； and the
confident feeling that was now arising from expected reinforcements；
was darkened； however； by one sad incident。 Three men of my division
had deserted their colors at the beginning of the siege and made
their way north。 They were soon arrested； and were brought back to
stand trial for the worst offense that can be committed by a soldier；
convicted of the crime； and ordered to be shot。 To make the example
effective I paraded the whole division for the execution； and on the
13th of November； in the presence of their former comrades； the
culprits were sent； in accordance with the terms of their sentence；
to render their account to the Almighty。 It was the saddest
spectacle I ever witnessed； but there could be no evasion； no
mitigation of the full letter of the law； its timely enforcement was
but justice to the brave spirits who had yet to fight the rebellion
to the end。
General Grant arrived at Chattanooga on October 23； and began at once
to carry out the plans that had been formed for opening the shorter
or river road to Bridgeport。 This object was successfully
accomplished by the moving of Hooker's command to Rankin's and
Brown's ferries in concert with a force from the Army of the
Cumberland which was directed on the same points； so by the 27th of
October direct communication with our depots was established。 The
four weeks which followed this cheering result were busy with the
work of refitting and preparing for offensive operations as soon as
General Sherman should reach us with his troops from West Tennessee。
During this period of activity the enemy committed the serious fault
of detaching Longstreet's corpssending it to aid in the siege of
Knoxville in East Tennesseean error which has no justification
whatever； unless it be based on the presumption that it was
absolutely necessary that Longstreet should ultimately rejoin Lee's
army in Virginia by way of Knoxville and Lynchburg； with a chance of
picking up Burnside en route。 Thus depleted； Bragg still held
Missionary Ridge in strong force； but that part of his line which
extended across the intervening valley to the northerly point of。
Lookout Mountain was much attenuated。
By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions
covering his intended operations。 They contemplated that Sherman's
column； which was arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee； should
cross the river on a pontoon bridge just below the mouth of
Chickamauga Creek and carry the northern extremity of Missionary
Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel； that the Army of the Cumberland…
…the centreshould co…operate with Sherman； and that Hooker with a
mixed command should continue to hold Lookout Valley and operate on
our extreme right as circumstances might warrant。 Sherman crossed on
the 24th to perform his alloted part of the programme； but in the
meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that Bragg was
endeavoring to get away； ordered Thomas to make a strong
demonstration in his front； to determine the truth or falsity of the
information that had been received。 This task fell to the Fourth
Corps； and at 12 o'clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood's
division would make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its
front called Orchard Knob； and that I was to support it with my
division and prevent Wood's right flank from being turned by an
advance of the enemy on Moore's road or from the direction of
Rossville。 For this duty I marched my division out of the works
about 2 p。m。； and took up a position on Bushy Knob。 Shortly after we
reached this point Wood's division passed my left flank on its
reconnoissance； and my command； moving in support of it； drove in the
enemy's picket…line。 Wood's took possession of Orchard Knob easily；
and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob； where I
was directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of
rifle…pits； and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth
regular artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps。 After
dark Wood began to feel uneasy about his right flank； for a gap
existed between it and my left； so I moved in closer to him； taking
up a line where I remained inactive till the 25th； but suffering some
inconvenience from the enemy's shells。
On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of
carrying the north end of Missionary Ridge。 His success was not
complete； although at the time it was reported throughout the army to
be so。 It had the effect of disconcerting Bragg； however； and caused
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 connect