repaired by our soldiers, was also of great assistance in transporting the troops, especially as on account of the rise in the river from heavy rains, more pontoons were needed and but one bridge could be thrown. Just as the last boat was connected Gen. Howard with one brigade of infantry and a small cavalry escort arrived from Chattanooga without having met with any resistance. Leaving his brigade to skirmish on the right of Gen. Sherman's advance at his request, he returned to Chattanooga with his escort. The bridge was finished at 11 a.m., and at 1 p.m. Gen. Sherman moved forward with three divisions in echelon. He met with no serious resistance and at 4 p.m. occupied the two northern summits of Missionary Ridge. There was still one summit between Gen. Sherman and the tunnel. Gen. Grant had expected that he would carry the ridge to the tunnel before the enemy could concentrate against him; but the intervening hill was the one upon which Gen. Bragg's right flank rested. The crest of Missionary Ridge is divided into distinct summits throughout its whole length by numerous depressions. The deepest of these between the Tennessee river and Rossville separates the second summit, which Gen. Sherman had gained from the third, which was the strongest position for lateral defense within Gen. Bragg's lines. Here Gen. Cleburne's famous division was placed. Heavy barricades constructed of logs and earth, covered the troops on the first defensive line, while the higher ground to the south gave room for successive supporting columns. A somewhat thickly planted forest gave additional protection to the enemy. It was the strength of this position that induced Gen. Bragg to yield the first two hills to Gen. Sherman. Their abandonment shortened his line while the depression on his right and the slopes east and west placed his enemy under his guns on every practicable line of attack. Gen. Bragg now had his entire army on the ridge. Cleburne's and Gist's divisions were on the extreme right opposed to Gen. Sherman, his left was held by Stewart's division, his center by Breckenridge's division and portions of the commands of Buckner and Hindman under Gen. Anderson, and the divisions of Cheatham and Stevenson from Lookout Mountain were in motion toward the right. Gen. Sherman opened the battle of Nov. 25 soon after sunrise by the advance of Gen. Corse's brigade from the right center. Gen. Corse moved down the southern slope of the second hill gained the night before and under a destructive fire ascended towards Cleburne's fortified position. He gained a lateral elevation about eighty yards distant from the enemy's defenses and held it firmly. Advancing repeatedly from this position he was as often driven back and in turn repulsed every attack of the enemy. In the meantime Gen. Morgan L. Smith's division advanced along the eastern base of the hill and Loomis' brigade supporting Corse on the left was sustained by the two reserve brigades of Gen. John E. Smith's division. Gen. Morgan L. Smith pressed his attack to the enemy's works but gained no permanent lodgement. The character and issue of this contest was observed by Gen. Grant from Orchard Knob.

Pending Gen. Sherman's series of attacks there had been some activity on the right flank of the Union army. Early in the morning Gen. Thomas had directed Gen. Hooker to move with his forces except two regiments to hold the mountain on the road to Rossville. Later he had ordered him to advance upon the enemy's works in conjunction with the 14th corps under Gen. Palmer. Gen. Hooker advanced rapidly to Chattanooga creek, but was there delayed to restore a bridge which the enemy had destroyed in his retreat from the mountain. It was evident from the importance of the position that Gen. Bragg would maintain his right if possible. Gen. Sherman was threatening not only to turn that flank, but was also menacing his rear and his depot of supplies at Chickamauga station. In the mean time Gen. Hooker had attained position on the enemy's left flank which caused him to retreat to Rossville. Gen. Hooker then disposed his troops to sweep Missionary Ridge toward the north. He directed Gen. Osterhaus to cross to the east side, Gen. Cruft to advance on the summit and Gen. Geary on the western slope and edge of the valley. Gen. Grant had waited for Gen. Sherman's success in turning the enemy's right flank since early morning, and during the afternoon he had waited for Gen. Hooker to engage his left. The day was now nearly gone and some new measure was necessary or the sun would set with Gen. Bragg in possession of Missionary Ridge. Four divisions were in front of Gen. Bragg's center, now held by less than four divisions, as a portion of Stewart's on the extreme left, under the direction of Gen. Breckenridge, had been sent against Gen. Hooker. From 11 a.m. until after 3 p.m. Confederate troops were plainly seen on the crest of the ridge marching past Gen. Bragg's headquarters to reinforce his right. In order to relieve the pressure on Gen. Sherman, Gen. Grant ordered Gen. Thomas to advance with the army of the Cumberland and attack Gen. Bragg's center. The order required that the enemy should be dislodged from the rifle-pits and intrenchments at the base of Missionary Ridge. His four divisions from right to left were Johnson's, Sheridan's, Woods' and Baird's, consisting of eleven brigades of about 20,000 men. Two lines of skirmishers covered the battle front and such troops as were designated as reserves were massed in rear of their respective organizations. Gen. Thomas' line was more than a mile long. Most of the houses between the lines had been destroyed and the trees cut down and used for fuel. To the east and south of Fort Wood the plain was barren. At five minutes past 4 p.m. six successive cannon shots from the battery on Orchard Knob gave the signal for the advance. At the sixth discharge the line moved forward in splendid array with colors flying and bayonets fixed. The batteries of the enemy on the ridge immediately opened upon them with great activity. Gen. Brannan's heavy guns in Forts Wood, Negley, Sheridan and Rosseau and four light batteries on the intermediate hills gave emphatic response. Their fire was at first directed to the enemy's inferior intrenchments, and when that endangered the advancing lines, their missiles were thrown upon the summit of Missionary Ridge. The change of direction was soon necessary, as the troops in rapid movement first met the enemy's pickets and their reserves, and then his stronger line in his lower intrenchments, and drove all in confusion to the crest of the ridge. The advance of the Union troops had been so rapid that the forces which had so often repeated their furious assaults at Chickamauga lost courage and made no soldierly efforts to maintain their positions, though supported by at least fifty guns which at short range were fast decimating the assaulting columns. Having executed their orders holding the enemy's lower defenses, the four divisions stood under his batteries while the troops they had routed threw themselves behind the stronger intrenchments on the summit. To stand still was death, to fall back was not compassed by orders and was forbidden by every impulse of the brave men who with no stragglers had moved so boldly and so successfully upon the foe.

Missionary Ridge rises to a height of between 400 and 500 feet. The trees had been cut down and the slope was rough and uneven, in places rocky and covered with trunks and stumps of trees. There were rifle-pits half way up and just below the crest a strong line of intrenchments. While looking through my telescope at the lower line almost directly in front of Gen. Bragg's headquarters, in less than a minute after they had been taken and before the enemy who were driven out had reached the crest, I saw a few of our men start up the hill in pursuit. The movement extended first to the left and afterwards to the right. I exclaimed, "They are going up the hill, may God help