artillery), and to carry the heights from the northern extremity to about the railroad tunnel, before the enemy can concentrate a force against him.

You will co-operate with Sherman. The troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend fortifications on the right and center, and a movable column of one division in readiness to move wherever ordered. This division should show itself as threateningly as possible, on the most practicable line for making an attack up the valley. Your effort will then be to form a junction with Sherman, making your advance well toward the north end of Missionary Ridge, and moving as near simultaneously with him as possible. The junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will be at once established between the two armies, by roads on the south bank of the river. Further movements will then depend on those of the enemy.

Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily held by Geary's Division and what troops you may still have there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland. Howard's Corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at Chattanooga, or with Sherman. It should be marched on Friday night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower down than the first pontoon bridge, and there held in readiness for such orders as may become necessary.

All the troops will be provided with two days' cooked rations in their haversacks, and one hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry soldier.

Special care should be taken by all officers to see that ammunition is not wasted, or unnecessarily fired away. You will call on the engineering department for such preparations as you may deem necessary for crossing your infantry and artillery over Citico Creek.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT,

Major General U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

While General Thomas immediately made all preparations in accordance with this plan, it was materially changed in its execution at each succeeding stage of the battle.

At the opening of the engagement which continued through the 23d, 24th, and 25th of November, the Union forces were disposed as follows:

The divisions of Wood, Baird, Sheridan, and Johnson, of the Army of the Cumberland, held the fortifications of Chattanooga, while Jeff. C. Davis' Division, of the same army, had been sent over the river to cover the point of crossing for Sherman's army three miles above.

The Eleventh Corps of Hooker's command had been brought into the city on the 22d, and camped on the right of Fort Wood.

During the 23d, three divisions of Gen. Sherman's troops, namely, Morgan L. Smith's, Ewing's, and John E. Smith's, which had marched from Bridgeport and Shellmound and crossed the river at Brown's Ferry, reached their destination near the mouth of North Chickamauga ready for crossing during the night to a point below the north end of Missionary Ridge.

Gen. Hooker, on the night of the 23d, had with him, in Lookout Valley, Geary's Division of the Twelfth Corps, Cruft's Division of the Fourth Corps, and Osterhaus' Division of Sherman's army. The latter had not been able to join Gen. Sherman, owing to the breaking of the bridge at Brown's Ferry.

Forty guns had been placed in position on the north bank by Gen. Brannan, Gen. Thomas' Chief of Artillery, to assist in covering Gen. Sherman's crossing, and the only cavalry with the Army of the Cumberland (Long's Brigade) was sent to protect Sherman's left flank during the crossing, and to co-operate with him after he should reach the south side. The Confederate forces, on the morning of November 23d, were thus disposed:

Three divisions of Hardee's Corps held Lookout Moun

tain and the line of works from its eastern base to Chattanooga Creek. The top of the mountain was occupied by Stevenson's Division, the northern and western slopes by Cheatham's Division, and the line eastward to Chattanooga Creek by Walker's Division.

Three divisions of Breckinridge's Corps held the line of earthworks from Chattanooga Creek to a point near the western foot of Missionary Ridge, in the vicinity of the Shallow Ford Road (now McCallie Avenue). The left of Stewart's Division rested on Chattanooga Creek, Bate's Division was on Stewart's right, and Hindman's (Patton Anderson), on the right of Bate, formed the right of the Confederate line. Missionary Ridge was not occupied in force, the Confederate camps being at the base of it, and stretching across the plain to Lookout.

Longstreet's Corps, consisting of McLaw's and Hood's Divisions, had been sent to Knoxville, November 4th. Buckner's Division of Breckinridge's Corps, and Cleburne's of Hardee's Corps, had started for Knoxville on the 22d. The Confederates had no cavalry in the battle.

First Day's Operations-Advance on Orchard Knob. Gens. Grant and Thomas, during the delays attending Gen. Sherman's movements, had been much concerned lest their purposes should become known to Gen. Bragg. On the night of the 22d, a deserter came in, who declared that the Confederates were withdrawing. On the 23d, Gen. Thomas was directed to test this statement by driving in the enemy's pickets, and ascertaining whether he still held his camps in the valley. A reconnoissance in force was at once organized, and five divisions were posted to participate if developments made it necessary. The divisions of Wood and Sheridan of the Fourth Corps (Granger's) were deployed soon after noon on the slope east of Fort Wood. Schurz's and Steinwehr's Divisions of the Eleventh Corps (Howard's) were placed to the left and rear of this line, and Baird's

Division of the Fourteenth Corps (Palmer's) to its right and

rear.

Wood's Division, upon the order to advance being given, went forward with great rapidity, and soon reached and, after sharp fighting, occupied Orchard Knob. Sheridan's Division pushed forward to the low elevations to the right and rear of the knob. The Eleventh Corps advanced to Citico Creek. The movement developed the fact that the Confederates still occupied their lines in force. The important position thus gained was strengthened and held.

Orchard Knob and the low ranges south of it were formidable outposts of the Confederate line in front of Missionary Ridge, and were the strong points of their position in the plain. The troops defending them were mainly from Anderson's Division. They continued fighting till overwhelmed.

The advance of the Union forces, and the results of the day's operations, led to several changes in the disposition of the Confederate forces. Gen. Cleburne, who was at Chickamauga station attending to the transportation to Knoxville of his own and Buckner's (Bushrod Johnson's) Divisions, was ordered to return in haste to Missionary Ridge, and to order back Johnson's Division, which had started, but halted at Charleston. Cleburne returned with his division and Reynolds' Brigade of Johnson's Division. The latter was sent into the trenches at the western foot of Missionary Ridge, and remained there until the general assault upon the ridge by the Army of the Cumberland on the afternoon of November 25th.

Cleburne's Division at daybreak of the 24th began the construction of earthworks along the crest of the ridge from Bragg's Headquarters to the crossing of the Shallow Ford Road (McCallie Avenue).

On the 23d, Marcus J. Wright's Brigade of Cheatham's Division, stationed at Charleston, was also ordered to return by the first train, guard the Shallow Ford and railroad bridges over the Chickamauga, and proceed to the mouth of that