Chattanooga or Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge from Moccasin Point

by Jr. Bradford Ripley Wood

Have just read rebel message from station on Mission Ridge, viz: "On whose left did Gen. S—— think the attack would be made?"

This message was sent from Gen. Bragg's' headquarters on Missionary Ridge without address or signature. In the evening of the same day the following message was secured from another source:—

Gen. Hardee:—I observed from the Point the movements of the enemy until dark. The object seemed to be to attract our attention. The troops in sight were formed from center to left. Those on the right moved to center. The troops from Raccoon were in full sight. If they intend to attack, my opinion is, it will be on our left. Both of their bridges are gone.

(Signed) Gen. Stevenson.

The troops from Raccoon referred to were Gen. Sherman's. From the summit of Lookout Mountain and from Missionary Ridge the movements of the Union army could easily be seen in the day time, but the Confederates seem to have been surprised by the coming of Generals Hooker and Sherman. In Gen. Longstreet's book, "From Manassas to Appomattox," in the month of October he states: "Gen. Longstreet's command occupied Lookout Mountain and the left of the Confederate army. Alexander's batteries occupied the top of the mountain. Gen. Alexander managed to drop an occasional shell about the enemy's lines by lifting the trails of his guns, but the fire of other batteries was not effective." President Davis visited Gen. Bragg's army Oct. 9, and viewed Chattanooga from Lookout Mountain. We on Moccasin Point were informed of his presence and looked for him with our glasses. He seemed to have been much encouraged by the view from Lookout rock and predicted that the town would soon be again in his possession with the Union army which surrounded it. The Union army was surrounded on every side but one by the Confederates, occupying fortified positions on summits which seemed naturally impregnable. The supplies of the army had to be hauled from Bridgeport over a wagon road through the Sequatchie valley, a hostile country, a distance of 60 miles, in some places exposed to sharpshooters and the guns from Lookout Mountain, and then must cross the Tennessee on a frail pontoon bridge. Gen. Longstreet had established a signal station in observation of Bridgeport. He writes:

"On Oct. 27 the signal party reported the enemy advancing from Bridgeport in force, artillery and infantry, but the report was discredited at Gen. Bragg's headquarters. On Oct. 28 Gen. Bragg while laying his plans sitting on the point of Lookout rock, the battery from Moccasin Point threw a shell which exploded about two hundred feet below them. That angered Gen. Bragg and he ordered Gen. Alexander to drop some of his shells about the enemy's heads. As this little practice went on a dispatch messenger came bursting through the brushwood asking for Gen. Longstreet, and reported the enemy marching from Bridgeport along the base of the mountain, artillery and infantry. Gen. Bragg denied the report and rebuked the soldier, but the soldier said: 'General, if you will ride to a point on the west side of the mountain, I will show them to you.' They did so and saw the 11th and 12th corps under Gen. Hooker marching quietly along the valley towards Brown's Ferry. Gens. Bragg and Longstreet were surprised, but the latter was surprised because Gen. Hooker did not march along the mountain top instead of in the valley. They saw the enemy go into bivouac with the rear guard of about 1500 men about three miles in the rear and planned to capture it by a night attack."

Gen. Hooker left Bridgeport Oct. 27, and marching up the river left Gen. Geary with the rear guard to protect Kelly's ford, and with the main body of his troops proceeded to the vicinity of Brown's Ferry, a few miles further up the river, where they went into camp. He wished to hold both fords of the river. A desperate attempt was made to cut off Gen. Geary in the night, but his men were not surprised and after a sharp fight drove the enemy back. Gens. Howard and Schurz were sent to the assistance of Geary and soon ran into the enemy, with whom they had a severe fight, driving him up the mountain and taking many prisoners. This was called the battle of Wauhatchie. The loss of Gen. Hooker was 383 in killed and wounded. The loss of the Confederates Gen. Longstreet states was 408. 150 were found dead in front of Gen. Geary and over 100 prisoners were taken.

The capture of Brown's Ferry seems to have been a complete surprise. The night of Oct. 27 was dark and the pontoons for the new bridge, loaded with soldiers, which floated down the river from Chattanooga around Moccasin Point to the ferry, a distance of nine miles, were not perceived by the enemy until they reached the appointed place of landing, when the pickets fired a few shots and fled. Troops which had marched across Moccasin Point from Chattanooga were hurried across the river in the boats, and in a short time the defenses were strong enough to hold the new pontoon bridge, which was speedily completed. Communication by river was now open between Bridgeport and Chattanooga, so that supplies of provisions and stores were soon rushing to the army of the Cumberland. Although Lookout valley seemed now lost to the Confederates and Lookout Mountain was threatened, Gen. Bragg on Nov. 4 detached Gen. Longstreet with 15,000 men to attack Knoxville. The situation of Gen. Burnside was precarious, as he was surrounded by the enemy and in more need of supplies than the army of the Cumberland.

About 2 p.m. on Nov. 23, which was a cool and clear day, we noticed a long line of troops in front of Fort Wood on the east side of Chattanooga, as if for inspection or review; but as soon as they commenced to move forward we concluded it was for a reconnoissance. This proved to be the case, as deserters had reported that many of Gen. Bragg's troops had gone away, some to intercept Gen. Sherman, who was thought to be approaching by the way of Trenton and McLemore's Cove, Georgia, on their left. The reconnoissance was made by the division of Gen. Thos. J. Wood of the 4th corps, supported by Gen. Sheridan on the right and Gen. Howard on the left. It was soon ascertained that the Confederate intrenchments were still occupied, but by a rapid movement of our troops they were carried with the capture of Orchard Knob, an important elevation between Fort Wood and Missionary Ridge. The loss in Gen. Wood's division was 190 killed and wounded. He took 174 prisoners including eight officers and one stand of colors. The summit of Orchard Knob was immediately occupied by Bridge's battery of six guns, four 3-inch Rodmans and two Napoleons. This advance was of great advantage to the Union Army and caused Gen. Bragg to transfer Walker's division from Lookout Mountain to sustain the right against what seemed to be a most threatening demonstration.

During the 23d of November the pontoon bridge above Chattanooga parted, leaving Gen. Osterhaus' division on the north bank of the Tennessee; but as three of Gen. Sherman's divisions had already crossed, Gen. Grant directed not to delay operations any longer. Gen. Thomas then advised Gen. Hooker, if Gen. Osterhaus' division failed to cross, he should endeavor with it and his own troops to take the point of Lookout Mountain, and later he advised him that the mountain should be taken if a demonstration should develop its practicability.