Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

---

[232] was going on, Wheeler's Independent Kentucky battery shelled the rebels from the north side of the river with apparently good effect, and Captain Bridges's splendid Chicago battery, placed on the knob taken the day before by Willich's men, kept the enemy's attention occupied by a furious shelling of Mission Ridge.

This movement, finished at half-past 10 A. M., put Howard's left in communication with Sherman's right, as I have already mentioned.

General Sherman's forces now continued to advance slowly over the fields toward the ridge. The Western or Atlanta Railroad was crossed, but no enemy appeared. A belt of timber near the foot of the range concealed no foe; and at last, making a bold push, the Sixth Iowa and Forty-sixth Ohio, belonging to General J. M. Corse's brigade, reached the summit of the ridge, followed by the rest of the brigade, and immediately commenced throwing up intrenchments. The eminence is just north, and within musketshot of Tunnel Hill. The rebels opened a fire from the latter, which was replied to by our men. Little damage was done, however; but when night came the eyes of the soldiers in other corps sparkled brightly when they learned that the numerous fires upon the north side of Mission Ridge marked the bivouac of Sherman's men.

---

Events of Wednesday, November twenty-fifth.

Wednesday morning came, and as soon as the sun's rays were warm enough to disperse the mists from the mountains, all eyes were turned toward the summit of Lookout. A wild and deafening cheer ran along our lines. The banner of beauty and of glory was floating from the very crest of the mountain — from that gigantic pile of rock whence rebel cannon had so long been hurling missiles of death toward the city. The enemy on Lookout had not been able to rally after his disastrous defeat of the day before. He had fled during the night; and the disjointed fragments of his force, belonging to Stevenson's division, were moved around to the right of his line in order to withstand the storm which it was perceived would soon burst from our left.

Captain John Wilson, Eighth Kentucky, had the honor of being the first to plant the flag upon the now deserted rebel citadel.

Thus had Hooker and the brave men under him again established their claim to the gratitude and admiration of their countrymen.

But still grander events were hurrying onward, and leaving the Eighth Kentucky upon the summit of the mountain, “Fighting Joe” descended early in the morning, crossed Chattanooga Creek, and joined Johnson's division upon the right of our position.

Hugh Ewing's division had previously left its position upon the mountain, and passing over to the left, had joined General Sherman, forming upon his right. Thus was completed our immense line of battle, extending from the Knoxville road on the right to the north end of Mission Ridge upon the left, a distance of about six miles! Osterhaus's division was on the extreme right; then Geary's; then Johnson's; then Sheridan's; then Wood's; then Baird's; then Schurz's; then Steinwehr's; then Ewing's then John E. Smith's, with Morgan L. Smith upon the extreme left. Whitaker's and Grose's brigades fought with Hooker; Jeff. C. Davis was in reserve on the extreme left; and Howard's two divisions might also be considered as a reserve. The enemy's line of battle coincided with the line of Mission Ridge, he occupying all of it (with lines of rifle-pits at the foot) except the portion from which he had been dislodged by Sherman.

Early in the morning, I took position upon the knob held by Willich's brigade of Wood's division, known as Bald Knob, from which the entire battle-field could be distinctly seen.

The morning was raw and cold, but the sun shone brilliantly from a cloudless sky. The prospect was beautiful in the extreme. The entire valley was before you, surrounded by walls of everlasting adamant, and watered by the finest river on the continent. Toward the north, you looked across the low ground through which ran the railroads; feasted your eyes upon the winding Tennessee, glittering like silver in the sunlight; then looked beyond until the view was bounded by the giant Cumberlands.

Westward you behold the town of Chattanooga, the nearer portion hidden, however, by the frowning battlements of Fort Wood, from whose guns ever and anon a puff of smoke burst forth, a thundering explosion shook the earth, and a screaming, shrieking missile went tearing through the air, bent, like a destroying angel, upon the work of death.

Beyond Chattanooga, in the same direction, the winding river, never for a mile, apparently, pursuing the same course, again met the eye, tending southward to pass between Moccasin Point and Lookout Mountain; northward again, skirting between Stringer's Ridge and a low range in Lookout Valley, dividing itself into two great arms to embrace the beautiful William's Island, and then sweeping away majestically to the north-west around the point of Raccoon Mountain.

South-west the point of the Lookout itself, always the most prominent feature of this landscape, rose grandly in the sunlight, while east and south the view was bounded by Mission Ridge, on which were ranged the legions with which Bragg expected to stay the march of loyalty and uphold the cause of treason.

Breckinridge's corps was on the left of the enemy's line. Hardee occupied the centre, and part of Buckner's corps, with the Georgia State troops and other fragmentary bodies, held the right. Bragg's headquarters, a small house on Mission Ridge, in a south-east direction, was plainly visible, and served as a mark for many an ambitious artillerist that day. Singularly enough, too, as if to attract special attention, the enemy's largest cannon were placed in battery near this house.

Let us glance around now, and see who occupy