The New York Herald Newspaper, December 2, 1863, Page 4

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” oraphical Wiew of the F*icid where Gr — - INrovember 25, 26 and &7, lL GRANT'S VICTORIES. The Battles of Lookout Moun- tain and Tunnel Hill and the Asgault of Mission Ridge. Our Special Description of Thea.” Splendid Affairs, of =~ eee Tho Details of 6. onera] Grant's THE CA Brilliant Oper, Hons, AT 2 | aad i, Sore : ” Mr, Wii. The Battle oF “pooxout) ” If It be the confirmation of victory to sleep in the beds of the conquered, then are wo victorious, If to have utterly broken and routed the enemy and driven him io disgraceful rout from @ position whose natural Strevgth cannot be over-cetimated, with heavy loss to MO” ntain. Ff - Fighting Joe's Magnisicont Assault on | That Stronghold. » | AN ne “HOOKER FIGHTS FOR REPS.” Bplendia Fighting of sner- 7 a Hs Care a THE BATTLE FIELD AT CHATTANOOGA. : S * TJ the humiliation ei Salas ia iz, PRRITE he Assault of Mis- sion Ridge. The Way Grant Went Up That Hill. Gallant Gordon Granger and Plucky Palmer Carry the Ridge. SYALTIES, ot ' ports F. dG, nike’ Description. Caathaxooca, Teun, im and but little loss to us, is to baye won a victory, theo I may repeat the words of my firet tologram, “We are completely victorious." (the enemy's Gres burned brightly on Mission Ridgo and Lookout Mountain. Onion camp Gres made the ridgo ono great glow worm, aud erimeoned the sky above till the great, full moon, which bad risen jest as the day and battle wero won and ended, looked pile but emilingly. The allusion may creates emile; but there was more than ove op the riage yestorfay aflernoou who, ae they saw the enemy Sy \cg and the moon rising, thought of the ‘‘sun of Aus. Tremember watching Grant, a8 bo rode along the ridge, with bead oncorered, receiving the plaudits of bis men, and! wondered if Be did pot think of the (OR BATTLE OF TUNNEL WILL, |<"*2 THE PLAN OF OPERATIONS. Although the admirably eondueted aod highly scovese- | fl operations 0° General Hooker, tm conjuaction with enoral W. F. Smith (*Raldy') a month ago, brought Ss AA WY ht BAL uk pares wwe copa eng gouge amen eatcnly tr Omerel drags's Bors, Last might, at dusk, Two nights ago y a the important position of Chattanooga, the incronsed fa- cilities of transportation afforded by that success were not sufficient to supply and provision an army reinforced to the extent it was deemed necessary to strengthen the Army of the Cumberland. The railroad to Chattanooga became an imperative and immediate necessity, and with this as the primary object to be attained, General Grant devised a plan to raisethe siege of the place and get possession of all-important Lookout Mountain. This plan was submitted to his general officers by Gonoral Grant, and finally adopted. On last Friday I had an* opportunity of secing @ copy of Gonoral Grant's letter to General Thomas, detailing this plan Now that it has been carried outtoa highly successful issue, I feel at liberty to use the substance of the letter of General Grant, which bas reference to the execution of the plan. Not only was the principal object to be at tained a tempting reward for the operations intended, but an examination of the enemy’s Yug sbowed vory Plainly that ho had deliberately exposed himself to great Ganger. His exterior line apon Mission Ridge was some. thing near seven miles in ‘Sxtent, while his inner line of rife pits and similar defences Tupping through the val loys was not less tnan five miles long. There was upon the line two points of impertace 22 j tbe Gret, Tunnet il, Voing ‘The key to Bi and Tookoyt tain—a position important to Bragg as a barrier to tus OUrposes Of Grant. It was supposed the enemy would defets Funnel ye vigor. Lookout could be held by « small force. Grant held that, to attack his flanks vigorously, in order to fores hin to keep his line lengthened, and thus weakened, would afford a favorable opportunity to test the strength of the centre, Tt was therefore decided that General Shorman, with three divisions of bis own army, aod General Davis, of Palmer's corps, should move north of the river, to a point Opposite the mouth of the Chickamaugna, and at an early hour on the following morning throw a pon. toon bridge across the {Teunessee, and, funder cover of General Brannan’s artillery, cross and carry thy heights of Missionary Ridge as far, at least, as Tunnel Hill, On the left rebel Qank, Gen, Hooker was to operate with Geary, Osterhaus’ and two brigades of Gen. Stanley's division, bis primary object being to bold the rebels there, but authorized, in case of an opportunity present. img itself, to take possession of Lookout Mountain, la the centre, Gen. Thomas was ordered to bold Grangér and Palmer's oorpa well in band, to await an opportunity to Strike at tho centre, whenever tm the opinion of Geo, Grant th auspicious moment presented itself. Gen. 0. 0. Howard's corps was to be moved to the north ride of the Tiver, £0 a8 to nid elthor Sherman or the centre, But Subsequ ntly, at the sugge-tion of Gen. Thomas, foward Wan crossed into ei dcnueh a wy aie toutes: Bi the general tan atte - Rudject, of , 0 such = modifications a8 tho movemenis of the @nemy might necessiinie, But {4 will be goon that the enemy hed no ohaice of m vamen's, hut formed to axenme the defensive, fully shown the vast advantages of the offensive. Tho battles ef Chattanooga havo boen the only ones ever fought by this army on purely offensive principles, and I have thought since these battles that the secret of Grant's Success may be discovered in the fact that he has always taken the offensive. I bave board men call bim ‘the lucky Grant,”' and the newspapers speak of his good for- tune. I tell you ft ts ot lack, it is not good fortune. It 1s “Le genie de ta guerre.” He does not depend upon circumstance or good fortune, but controls both. Ove Such {Ilustration from Grant as we have just had shows more forcibly and graphically the vast advantages of offensive warfare than all the maxims of Napoleon or Jomini can, This plan was to have beea put in execution on Satur- day, November 21; bat General Sherman failed to get ments. Nevor have operations in war better or more into position it bis delay being caused by heavy rola and destruction of the pontoon bridges by rafts floated down the river by the rebels. Indeed he was prevented from up of Monday, And only reported BIPTSeif ready for his ihe morning. OD Monday, however, a trivial o brought it & development of interest. and which, witbcat changing the pian in tho least, rather advanced | {Wand increased the chances of success. GENERAL WOOD'S RECONNOISSANCE, Reports had come tn during the morning of Monday that the enemy were evacuating the ridge in our front. On examination it was found that they were ongaged in some kind of movement, and about noon General Thomas determined upon a reconnoissance to learn the meaning of bis movements and also for the purpose of developing bis right, 1 being & matter of considerable interest, in view of Sherman's movements, to know bow strongly Bragg was posted on the ridge about the tunnel, General Wood's division was eolected to maxe the recon- Hoissence, and at one o'clock be bad moved his three brigades into line tm an open field east of the city, and immediately under the singe guns of Fort Wood, General d's corps baving crossed the river from Lookout valley, deployed into line aga re- eorve, while General Sheridan, of Granger's corps, and the troops of the Fourteenth corps, General Palmer, were draw tn Tine in cage of a vecessity arising 5 Gaoert PRisser aes showed inset threatening! down the valley of Chattanooga creek, making bis advance well beyond Lobb’s house, Wood's route, as chosen, was to ‘be to the loft of the road to Blackford's house, on Mission Ridge; but the force beaded fo- two prominent bills a lit. to to the north of this road, and the right hardly rested ‘on the Biackford road when the day #is over “ @There was,] imagine, another reason for this fécotinois. mance obtaining information aa to the enemy's tina tnfortunats hac nilavoldable delay on the port Of General “herman had resyliel, it was thought, in the enemy's becoming AWARE Of ovr plone ant purpoees The Yolry “emonsttationg be So Sas vicar of Bosoign woait sary Ceariican dagpis og . ta ee ONEWMANS SPRING NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1663.-TRIPLE SHEET. o77 3 EM ry NSN ; THINS d « ant Whipped Brags, B63. Vs \_< SCALE. oF MiLes ¥ ——————-—, Ly 2 —_—— P the enemy as to his actual movements had the delay not compelled the withdrawal of that feinting column for want of rations, at‘an early day. It Is suapected that the enemy had learned of the actual plan of operations, for he had moved som ewhat to his right. GENERAL WOOD MOVES FORWARD. I have bolore mentioned two prominent peaks or hills 1n Wood's front. These are exactly one mile from Fort Wood, and lie west of Citico creek, a little stream running between this small ridge and Mission Ridge The Principal of these peaks is called by the citizens “Orebard Knob,’’ and the rebels had used it as a redoubt in their outer line. ‘The approach to it was @own and across an open slope trom Fort Wood and then across a heavily wooded plain. General Wood began his movement down this slope, and across this plam at halt-past one P.M. Willich’s and Haren's brigades were in the front line, General Sam. Beatty's brigade forming the reserve. At the moment Wood began to move, General Granger ordered the wiege guns in Fort Wood to open on the "a rst ition, Brome force, ag asp in the valley below and towards us. Wood moved forward in Admirable style, bis skirmishers driving in the strong Picket Ine of the enemy with ense. Through the open Geld the line moved unwaveringly, and not with undue baste, as if seeking to gain the cover of the woods io their front, but in the style of voterans proud of their leader; and, knowing that from the ramparts of Fort Wood they were watched by Generals Grant, Thomas, Granger ani Howard, each feomed to fool that he was part of a scene which, evea in this warlike age, bas been seldom witnessed. There was no Ptraggling. There were none who scemed so poor sod spiritiess as to straggle in the presence of men who bad led at Vicksburg and Chickamauga, Or of Groope that had stood at Gettysburg. So, when they disappeared in the woods at the foot of the hill and their position became revealed only by the smoke of battle, which rose above tne tree tops and drifted away toward Mission Ridge, @ general buzz of admiration went up from the spectators in the fort, and extended to the moro distinguished heroes of Vicksburg and Chickamangs. On entering the woods the ad vancing lime became quite warmiy engaged, and ate quarter of two o'clock a very brisk musketry fire enveloped the whole of Wood's front. The eoemy was found posted behind rather rude bus good rifle pits, and in strong force. But though they got in apon Wood abeary and quite destructive Ore, it did not for a mo- ens at bim. Op reaching the foot of Orchard Knob he ordered @ cnarge, and witha cheer the men went at It, The Fifteenth Obio pushed up the Knob in ad- mirable order, while the rest of Willich’s and Hazen'e brigades took (he rifo pits, driving | the enemy out in confusion ant seeuring one hundred and | Ofty men end nine oMee 4 Tyeptyfourth Ohic, | "Bi Sacha ers Sek ag: aw es hie med of an Alabama regiment, The | the front of Hazen's, which gallently arsauited and oar ried the ridge to the right 01 Orchard Knob, driving the rebels from the pits on the summit. Altbough now far advanced towards the enemy's line of works on the ridge, General Wood found bie flanks entirely unmolested. He discovered the po- sition taken to bo a very girong une, easily held, in short cannon range of the enemy's campa along Citiee © eck, and within reach of tho heavy line established Wi them on the summit of Mission Ridgo; and findiug, afer some time, that the enemy remained quiet, Wood rek ported the fact to General Granger, who, on orders from General Thomas, instreeted Woot to intrench himeeif, and at the samo time sent word be would protect his fianks. This waa all Word asked. At Shilob, Stove ri ‘and Chickamanga be has proved that bé could take of his front, i to ander to #0DPOe% Wood in bis position, Gererid Toman - vueral Howard, with bis two divisions, to mora fom bis position as reserve behind Wood, ard to go ime Hine on Citico creek, closing bie right weli upon Wood's left, and retiring the left of the corps. He got into Positiong without much fighting, other tnan somo Proliy Deavy skirmisbing with a smell eo Of rebels in @ seccnd line of rifle pite beyoud Citico creek. Approaching those pits in front, General Howard found their occupants prepare!, ana disposed to make a strong resistance. In ordor to avont bloody affair, General Granger sent General Beatty brigade, of Wood's division, hitherto in reserve, threugts some woods to the right of the rebel works. Beatty suc- ceeded splendidly io bis movement. ihe onomy, Gnaing bimeelf flanked by Beatty, and at the same time heav!!y Prossed by Howard, bastily fed to the strouger positio.d At the foot of the mountain. eer Simultaneously with Howard's movement Cenars! Sheridan's division—Grangewa corpa—wis moved for ward to support Wood's right, and went iuto position im aichelon on the left without ang Ozhting, The enemy finding that our men wore intrenching their powttion on Orchard Knob, began about five o'clock @ vigorous Fhe? ing of that poiat, Although this was kept np from three batteries until darkness bad set in no damage was dope. During the sight the position taken by Wood and the forces which came up to sdppert him, richt and left, «x materially strengtbeued by building rough rifle pite a few yards in front of those of the rebels’ which had bent taken. Captain Bridges’ battery @as moved for ware from Fort Wood and posted on Orchard where 1s remained during the rest of the operations, ouny have been other batteries on the front line at thie time, but if so T did not eee them. I may as Well mention bore that the heavy guns of Fort Wood, manned by the ‘Twelfth Indiana battery, Chpt. Dinwiddie, took part in the three days’ operations, throwing beavy shells apon Mis- side Ridge with great accuracy ,> General Palmer moved during the night @ portion of by corps to the left of his position during the day, and too: ready at dawn toccutinue bi# demonstrations down Chat- nooge valley, of (9 gid the wagder Granger, aU foe ie ome ‘) ‘

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