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his forces on our front by sending Longstreet's command into East Tennessee to attack Burnside； Grant was very desirous of making an attack at once on the rebel forces on Lookout and Missionary Ridge； but examining the strong position occupied by Bragg at these points and the length of his lines； Grant became convinced that to successfully operate against the enemy it was necessary to wait until Sherman with his command came up。 While this force moved eastward； Grant was maturing his plans for the engagement。 He directed Sherman to report in person； which he did on the 15th； and on consultation with him and Thomas the general plan of battle was submitted to them。 The main attack was to be made on the 21st at daylight； by Sherman's troops； on the north end of Missionary Ridge。 To accomplish this his command was to be re…enforced with one division of the Army of the Cumberland under Jeff C。 Davis。 Sherman's troopsfour divisionswere to move from Brown's Ferry through the woods to the north of the town up to the Tennessee River； opposite the mouth of Chickamauga Creek； where they were to cross on a pontoon bridge to be swung there under the supervision of W。 F。 Smith； and the crossing of the troops to be protected by batteries under Brannon； Thomas's Chief of Artillery。 After crossing the river； Sherman was to move rapidly forward； carrying the heights on the north end of Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel； if possible； before the enemy could concentrate on his front； Thomas was to concentrate all his troops in Chattanooga Valley on his left flank； leaving on the necessary force to defend the fortifications on his right and centre and to hold a movable column of one division to move wherever needed。 This division was to make a show of threatening Bragg's forces up the valley。 Thomas was then to effect a junction with Sherman； co…operate with him； advancing his left and moving forward as nearly simultaneously as possible； and support him。 Hooker on the right in Lookout Valley； was to hold that position with Geary's division and two brigades under Cruft from the Fourth Army Corps； ordered to report to him。 Howard； on Friday； the 20th； was ordered with his corps to take position on the north side of the Tennessee； opposite Chattanooga； near the pontoon bridge； and hold himself in readiness to move to Thomas's front or to co…operate with Sherman as needed。 Colonel Eli Long with his brigade of cavalry was directed to report by noon on Saturday； the 21st； at Chattanooga； to cover Sherman's left flank； and if not further required by Sherman he was then to cross the Chickamauga； make a raid on the enemy's line of communication in the rear； doing as much damage as he could。
Sherman made his movement with his troops from Bridgeport though Whitesides。 Sending his leading division under Ewing up Lookout Valley； to make a feint on the left flank of the rebel army in the direction of Trenton； he crossed his others at Brown's Ferry and marched up the north bank of the river to the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek。 Here they kept concealed in the woods from the enemy until they were ready to effect their crossing。 Owing to heavy rains and the state of the roads； Sherman was able to have but one division； under John E。 Smith； in position by the 21st and Grant delayed his plans of battle to give him additional time。 Sherman on the 21st moved his second division under Morgan L。 Smith over the bridge at Brown's Ferry； and on the 23d； after many repairs to the bridge； rendered necessary by the swollen stream and the raft of logs sent down the river by the rebels； Ewing's division also got safely across。 Sherman's fourth division under Osterhaus was not able on the 23d to cross； and this division was then ordered； in the event of not being able to cross by eight A。M。 the 24th； to report to Hooker on the south bank of the Tennessee。 Davis had reported with his division to Sherman； and on the 23d； the boats of the pontoon bridge were used to effect a landing at the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek by Giles A。 Smith's brigade； who captured the rebel pickets at this place； landed his entire brigade； and then sent the boats back for additional troops。 By daylight of the 24th； Sherman with two divisions of some 8；000 men was intrenched on the east bank of the Tennessee。 A pontoon bridge； 1；350 feet long； was then built over this river； and another over Chickamauga Creek under the direction of W。 F。 Smith。
Thomas； learning that Sherman's movements across Lookout Valley had been discovered by Bragg； on Sunday； the 22d； directed Howard to cross into Chattanooga to give Bragg the idea that these were Sherman's troops coming to reinforce Chattanooga。 Howard made the crossing on Sunday and took position in rear of our front line in full view of the enemy。 On the 20th； Bragg notified Grant that it would be well for him to withdraw all non…combatants from Chattanooga。 This the latter regarded as a cover for Bragg's withdrawal of his own command； which he was confirmed in by deserters and spies reporting a large number of Bragg's troops as marching to the north。 These were two divisions of Buckner's corps sent to strengthen Longstreet in East Tennessee； that last sent； however； was recalled。 To determine the truth of these reports； early on the morning of the 23d； Grant directed Thomas to develop the enemy's lines； driving in his pickets； and determine if he still held his force on our front。 Thomas ordered Granger in command of the Fourth Corps to form with Sheridan's and Wood's divisionsSheridan on the right； Wood on the leftwith his left extended nearly to Citico Creek； and advance directly in front of Fort Wood； and make this movement。 Palmer； commanding the Fourteenth Corps with Baird's division refused； was to support Granger's right and was to hold Johnson's division under arms in the intrenchments in readiness to move as occasion might require。 The troops were all in position at 2 P。M。 They moved out on the plain as if on parade； and in plain sight of Bragg and his army on Lookout and Missionary Ridge； formed their lines as if in review and moved forward to attack the enemy。 Rapidly advancing 〃in the most gallant style〃 our troops steadily pushed in the rebel line。 They first struck the pickets； drove these on the reserve and then sweeping everything before them they hurled the rebels out of their first line of rifle…pits and sent them on the full run in retreat to the rear； except over two hundred of them captured。 Here Granger's troops made themselves secure by throwing up temporary breastworks； while he sent a strong picket line to the front to protect his new line。 In this charge Granger's line secured 〃Orchard Knob〃 which was then occupied by Bridges' battery。 Howard's corps was placed in position on the left of the line to Granger's left and also ordered to throw up breastworks。
Sherman after crossing the river on the 23d； about 1 P。M。； placed his command in three columns； following in his advance the general direction of Chickamauga Creek； with his left under Morgan L。 Smith resting on the creek。 His centre was under John E。 Smith and his right under Ewing； all under the command of Frank P。 Blair； Corps Commander。 In support of these； Davis's division also moved to the attack。 Grant and Sherman had supposed that Missionary Ridge was one prolonged even range。 When Sherman left the river he passed over the foothills and then pressed up what he supposed was the main portion of the ridge。 When he reached the top of this； after a lively skirmish with the rebel pickets； he found a deep depression intervening between this hill and the next； which was the one the tunnel ran through； where the rebels were heavily intrenched； and which he had been ordered to take。 On the top of this first hill； finding he could not take the hill beyond where the tunnel ran through； he threw up intrenchments and prepared to hold the ground he had thus far gained。 Here about 4 P。M。 he had a heavy engagement。 The enemy's advance with sharp artillery and musketry fire was gallantly met and repulsed。 Sherman then made preparations for the night； posting his command to hold all positions。 Howard had reported with three regiments to him； as he crossed the bridge which connected him with the main Army of the Cumberland。 Howard leaving these troops with Sherman； then returned to his corps。 When his command was placed on the front to Granger's left in the afternoon； he connected with Sherman's right。 Here Sherman rested all night； and about midnight received orders from Grant to 〃attack the enemy at dawn of day；〃 〃that General Thomas would attack in force early in the day。〃
While the main attack was progressing under Sherman on the left； Hooker on the right had been pressing the enemy。 On the 23d； Osterhaus； finding that he could not cross the Tennessee in time to engage in the movement with Sherman； reported with his division to Hooker； who was then ordered to take these troops； with Geary's division and Whittaker's and Grose's brigades of the First Division of the Fourth Corps under Cruft； and make a strong demonstration on the northern slope of Lookout Mountain； drawing Bragg's attention to this point and away from Sherman while crossing the rive