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[338] several batteries established on Mission Ridge. It was continued nearly an hour — in fact, until toward nightfall. It seems almost a miracle, but it is nevertheless true, that no damage was inflicted by the enemy's artillery. One man only was very slightly wounded by the fragment of a shell.

While my division was engaged in intrenching its position, the Eleventh army corps was ordered to take post on my left. The resistance it met in its front from the enemy in his rifle-pits rendered its progress slow. Two regiments of Beatty's brigade were deployed to the left to take the rifle-pits in flank, drive out the enemy's skirmishers therefrom, and relieve the pressure on the front of the Eleventh corps. This service was quickly and handsomely done, but the Eleventh corps neglecting to occupy the rifle-pits, the enemy returned to them. It was hence necessary for the two regiments of Beatty's brigade to render the service over again on Tuesday morning, the twenty-fourth. The whole of the night of the twenty-third was spent in intrenching our position. In this laborious work the troops evinced as much fortitude as they had shown gallantry in gaining the position. Not only was a line of rifle-pits and barricades constructed along the entire front of the division during the night, but a strong epaulement for a six-gun field battery was thrown up on the summit of Orchard Knob; Bridges' battery, of forty-three inch Rodman guns and two Napoleons. The early light of Tuesday morning disclosed to the anxious gaze of the rebels such works as must have convinced them we intended to hold the position won the day before. Perchance they saw in this evident intention the prognostic of further and more extensive operations, to be attended by more distinguished and important results.

I almost refer to the report of General Beatty, commanding Third brigade of my division, for a full report of his command in the operations of the twenty-third.

During the twenty-fourth the division was quiet, remaining in undisturbed possession of the important acquisitions of the previous afternoon. The enemy in full view, and sheltered behind his rifle-pits, at the base of Mission Ridge, made no effort to retrieve his losses. An occasional shot from the skirmishers, and a booming of a gun from Orchard Knob, varied the monotony of the day. We had ample opportunity to watch with eager interest the brilliant operations, though miles away from us, of General Hooker's command for the possession of Lookout Mountain. And when the morning sun of Wednesday had dispelled the mist from the mountain top and displayed to our view the banner of the brave and the free flying from the topmost peak of Lookout Mountain, loud and long were the joyous shouts with which my division made the welkin ring.

Shortly after night-fall, Tuesday, the twenty-fourth, I received the following order:

Headquaters, Fourth army corps, Chattanooga, November 24, 1863, 6.40 P. M.
General: The following instructions have just been received:

Headquartes Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, Tenn.
General Granger: The General commanding Department directs that you have everything ready for an offensive movement early tomorrow morning.

J. J. Reynolds, Major-General, Chief of Staff.

You will make every preparation for such movement.

By command of Major-General Granger.

J. S. Fullerton, Lieutenant-Colonel and A. A. General. Brigadier-General Wood, Third Division, Fourth Corps.

In conformity with these instructions I had, during Tuesday night, one hundred rounds of ammunition per man distributed to the troops, and the rations in the haversacks replenished. At dawn Wednesday morning my division was ready for action, and only awaited the order from the senior officers to commence the onslaught. Early in the forenoon of Wednesday, Orchard Knob became the station of officers of high rank and signal renown. The Commanding General of tile Grand Division of the Mississippi was there, as was also the Commander of the Department and .Army of the Cumberland. During the forenoon I was ordered to advance my line of skirmishers to the southern edge of the wood intervening between my position and the enemy's rifle-pits at the base of Mission Ridge. This service was gallantly performed; the enemy's skirmishers being rapidly driven back and compelled to take shelter behind their rifle-pits. As the day progressed, the interest which attracted every eye and absorbed, every feeling was that involved in the attempt of General Sherman's command to effect a lodgment on Mission Ridge, near the tunnel. Severer opposition than had been expected was evidently being met with. To lessen the opposition General Sherman was encountering, it was determined that a movement should be made against the rebel centre. I was ordered to advance and carry the enemy's intrenchments at the base of Mission Ridge, and hold them. The signal for the advance was to be six guns fired in rapid succession from the batteries on Orchard Knob. The necessary instructions were given to the brigade commanders. This was near three o'clock P. M. Soon the booming of the guns awakened the reverberations of the fastnesses of Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain; and before the echoes had died away in the distant recesses of their ragged heights the advance was commenced.

Mission Ridge is an elevated range (with an average altitude of several hundred feet above the general level of the country), running from north-east to south-west.


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