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river to Brown's Ferry； and then took the road through Whitesides to Rankin's Ferry； establishing himself securely at these points； protecting the river communication from attack from the south。 Thomas placed W。 F。 Smith in charge of the expedition； and detached Turchin's and Hazen's brigades； with three batteries under Major John Mendenhall。 Smith was directed to organize a picked force； armed from these brigades； to be divided into fifty squads of twenty…four men each； under the command of an officer； who were to float down the river in pontoons that nighta distance by the bends of the river of some nine miles。 The boats were placed under the charge of Colonel T。 R。 Stanley of the Eighteenth Ohio； the bridge to be placed in position under direction of Captain P。 V。 Fox； First Michigan Engineers。 The troops under Hazen were to take the gorge and hills to the left； and Turchin was to extend from the gorge down the river。 Turchin in command of the remainder of the troops marched across Moccasin Point to the ferry； where they were to cross in the same boats； supporting the troops already landed； when the position was to be strongly fortified and held by them until the arrival of Hooker。
At midnight the troops who were to take part in the expedition were marched to the river and placed in the boats manned by crews with oars； and on two flat boats。 The force that marched under Turchin moved out under cover of dense woods over the point to the ferry； where they remained in readiness to cover the landing of the troops coming down the river。 The artillery accompanied this part of the command and remained under cover。
At 3 o'clock A。M。 of the 27th； the boats moved out into the stream under cover of a slight fog。 On arriving at a point some two miles below the town； these troops reached the rebel picket line posted on the left bank of the river。 The boats passed on unobserved by keeping close to the right hand shore until just at the landing； when the troops in the first boat were greeted with a volley from the rebel pickets； a station being at this landing。 In perfect order； as previously planned； the troops hastily disembarked； moved forward； occupying the crest of the hill immediately in front and commenced the work of intrenching。 Before this was completed the enemy； heavily re…enforced； just beyond the crest； moved forward to drive Hazen back。 Here a stubborn little fight was had； the rebels making a gallant charge with partial success on the right of Hazen； when they were met with the remainder of the brigade under Colonel Langdon； who charged at once on their lines and after a short engagement drove them from the hill into the valley beyond。 Turchin's brigade having crossed the river was placed in position on Hazen's right； when the enemy moved from the front up the valley。 The rebel force here was a thousand infantry； three pieces of artillery； and a squadron of cavalry。
As soon as the last of the troops were over； work on the bridge was commenced and finished at a little after four o'clock in the afternoon。 For an hour or so in the morning the work progressed under an artillery fire from the rebel batteries on Lookout Mountain。 Our losses were six killed； twenty…three wounded； and nine missing。 The rebels lost six men captured and six of their dead were buried by our men。 Our forces captured twenty beeves； six pontoons and some two thousand bushels of corn。 The bridge was completed and the position held until the 28th； when Hooker's command arrived。 No attempt was made by Bragg to dislodge this force or to destroy the bridge。 Hooker moved on the road by the base of Raccoon Mountain into Lookout Valley； driving the rebel pickets before him； and occupied the roads to Kelley's and Brown's Ferries through the valley。 Later in the afternoon of the 28th； as Hooker's troops pushed down the valley； Howard's corps in the advance was met with a sharp volley of musketry from a wooded ridge near the Wills Valley Railroad。 Two brigades of Howard's command were deployed； and advancing； drove the rebels from their cover with the loss of a few of our men。 As the enemy retreated they burned the railroad bridge over Lookout Creek。 Hooker then went into camp with Howard's corps at six o'clock in the afternoon about a mile up the valley from Brown's Ferry。 Here he learned of the movement to this place and of the building of the bridge。
With the object of holding the road to Kelley's Ferry； Geary's division was ordered to encamp near Wauhatchie； some three miles up the valley from Howard's position。 This created two campsthe latter holding the Brown Ferry roadeach camp separate and picketed by its own command； as the numbers of the troops would not admit of communication being kept up between them or of their forming one line。
About midnight a regiment that had been ordered by Howard to hold the Chattanooga road across Lookout Creek； had a slight skirmish with the advance of the enemy。 This was a portion of Longstreet's corps getting into position for a night attack on the two encampments。 Dividing his command into two detachments； Longstreet； about an hour later； with his strong one on his left； assaulted Geary's camp with a fierce attack； driving in his pickets and then charging on the main command。 Geary immediately formed his men in line； and for three hours with heavy fighting maintained his position； although enveloped on three sides by the enemy； repelling every attack； and finally charged on the rebels and drove them from beyond his front。 The enemy here attacked in greatly superior numbers； and were only defeated by the skill and coolness of Geary； aided by the bravery of his troops。 As the sound of the heavy fire which the enemy opened on Gary rolled down the valley； Hooker ordered Howard to double…quick his nearest division； Schurz's； to Geary's assistance。 The division was started at once； but before it had proceeded far it encountered the other detachments of Longstreet's command； which opened on our troops with a volley of musketry。 Hooker now determined that he had two fights on his hands。 At once detaching Tyndale's brigade； Howard charged the rebel lines on the hill to the left with it； pushing on the other brigade to Geary。 By this time Steinwehr's division of Howard's corps had arrived on the ground； and it was then discovered that the rebels were trying to surround Howard's camp and that they occupied a hill to the rear of Tyndale's brigade。 Hooker ordered Colonel Orland Smith with his brigade to charge this hill； which he did up the steep side； almost inaccessible by daylight； reached the rebel intrenchments under a heavy fire and drove the troops with the bayonet； after a severe engagement； in rout from the hill and capturing a number of prisoners。 Here General Greene and Colonel Underwood were severely wounded。 Tyndale also pressing forward occupied the rebel line in his front and drove their forces beyond his lines。 The attack on Howard was intended to hold that command from reinforcing Geary until he was routed； and then in turn Howard was to be driven from the field。
During the engagement the enemy opened with artillery fire in the valley； aided by that from the batteries on Lookout Mountain； sending the shells crashing among our troops。 Their forces in the valley were repulsed in every charge and our troops occupied the field at all points。 Our losses in the attack were 76 killed； 339 wounded； and 22 missing； making a total of 437。 The rebel loss is unknown。 Geary buried 153 of the enemy on his front alone。 One hundred prisoners were captured； with a large number of small arms。 Thomas congratulated Hooker's troops for the gallant repulse given to their old enemy； Longstreet； and adds： 〃The bayonet charge of Howard's troops； made up the side of a steep and difficult hill over two hundred feet high； completely routing the enemy from his barricades on its top； and the repulse by Geary of greatly superior number who attempted to surprise him； will rank among the most distinguished feats of arms of this war。〃 Reinforcements were sent Hooker by Thomas from Chattanooga of two brigades under Whittaker and John G。 Mitchell； but the fighting was over before they reached the valley。
Work was now pushed rapidly forward on the road from Brown's to Kelley's Ferry； and this being successfully accomplished by the 1st of November； the forces of Nature were overcome and the siege of Chattanooga was at an end as to them。 It now remained to raise it on the front； driving Bragg from his strongholds； Lookout Mountain； Chattanooga Valley； and Missionary Ridge。
Chapter XIV
Chattanooga； Lookout Mountain； and Missionary Ridge Battles。
These three detached actions； fought by different portions of our troops； were parts of a series of operations for securing our front and driving the enemy from his position； and are known properly as the Battle of Chattanooga。 Grant； late in October； ordered Sherman with the Fifteenth Army Corps to press forward to the Tennessee River； cross at Bridgeport and push rapidly on to Chattanooga。 Early in November； learning that Bragg had weakened his forces on our front by sending Longstreet's command into East Tennessee to attack Burnside； Gran