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three lines of rifle…pits remaining。 The second one was about half a mile to the rear of the first； near the foot of the ridge。 From here to the top was a steep ascent of some five hundred yards； covered with large rocks and fallen timber。 About half way up the ridge a small line of works had been thrown up。 On the crest of the hill Bragg's men had constructed their heaviest breastworks； protected on our front by some fifty pieces of artillery in position。 As our troops advanced； each command cheering and answering back the cheer of the others； the men broke into a double…quick； all striving to be the first to reach the rifle…pits at the foot of the ridge； held by a strong line of the enemy's troops。 The rebels opened fire with shot and shell from their batteries； as our troops advanced； changing it soon to grape and canister； which with the fire from the infantry made it terrifically hot。 Dashing through this over the open plain； the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland swept on； driving the enemy's skirmishers； charging down on the line of works at the foot of the ridge； capturing it at the point of the bayonet； and routing the rebels； sending them at full speed up the ridge； killing and capturing them in large numbers。 These rifle…pits were reached nearly simultaneously by the several commands； when the troops； in compliance with their instructions； laid down at the foot of the ridge awaiting further orders。 Here they were under a hot； plunging； galling fire from the enemy in their works on the crest of the ridge。 Without further waiting； and under no orders from their officers； first one regiment； then another started with its colors up the ascent； until with loud hurrahs the entire line； cheered by their officers； advanced over and around rocks； under and through the fallen timber； charged up the ridge； each determined to reach the summit first。 The centre part of Sheridan's division reached the top first； as they were the nearest to the crest； and crossed it to the right of Bragg's headquarters。 The rest of the line was soon up； and almost simultaneously the ridge was carried in six places。 Here the enemy making a fight for a short time was routed from the last of his lines； and his centre； panic…stricken； broke in full retreat。 Regiments were captured almost entire； battery after battery along the ridge was taken。 In some cases the rebels were bayoneted at their guns； and the cannon that but a moment before was firing on our troops； were by them captured； turned； and used against the rebels as they were driven in masses to the rear。 The charge occupied about one hour from the time of the firing of the guns on Orchard Knob until the troops occupied the rebel lines on the ridge。 Sheridan's division reached the ridge a few minutes too late to capture Bragg； Breckinridge； and a number of the rebel generals； who left Bragg's headquarters on the charge of our men up the ridge。
Sheridan advanced with his division； skirmishing with the enemy's rear…guard； but driving them steadily for about a mile on the Chickamauga station road。 Here this road runs over a high ridge on which the enemy had posted eight pieces of artillery supported by a strong force to cover their retreat。 At this point Sheridan； with Harker's and Wagner's brigades； had an engagement with these troops； but after a movement flanking the rebel's right and left； they hurriedly retreated； leaving two pieces of artillery and a large number of wagons。 After this ridge was captured； Sheridan's troops went into bivouac。 During the night the full moon flooded the surrounding country with its bright light。 At midnight； on Granger's suggestion； Sheridan in the advance was again ordered with his division to press the enemy。 He at once advanced his command to Chickamauga Creek； capturing a large number of prisoners and quantities of material and stores。
Wood； on reaching the top of the ridge； with Baird on his left； met with heavy opposition。 The enemy was supported by a division from Hardee on the right； advancing just as Baird was getting into position。 Here these two divisions were engaged in a sharp contest until after dark。 Turchin； with his brigade； which was the left wing of Baird； had taken possession of a small work constructed by the enemy on the ridge when he was attacked by the rebels in a most furious charge； but gallantly repulsed them； when they drew off in the direction of Tunnel Hill。 Missionary Ridge was now entirely within our control； with the exception of the point； where Sherman's advance had been so stoutly resisted。 During the night； Bragg drew off Hardee's troops from the front of Sherman； where the latter at once placed his command in position for the pursuit the next day。
During the night of the 25th； Thomas was directed to send Granger with his corps； and additional troops to make his command up to 20；000； to march to Burnside's relief at Knoxville； and the other portion of Thomas's command with Sherman's troops to pursue the enemy on the 26th。 The latter； on the morning of that day advanced by the road through Chickamauga Station； while Thomas ordered the command under Hooker and Palmer to push on by way of the Greysville and Ringgold road。 At the former place the rearguard of the rebels was surprised after night； and three cannon and a large number of prisoners captured。 On the next day another piece of artillery was captured at Greysville； and later in the day Hooker's advance again struck the enemy； strongly posted in a pass in Taylor's Ridge。 Here； after a heavy fight of over an hour； they were driven from the pass with considerable loss on both sides。 The pursuit was discontinued on the 28th。 Hooker remained for a few days at Ringgold； while Palmer returned to his camp at Chattanooga。
Sherman's troops； with Davis's division in the advance； pressed through Chickamauga Station； and at about dark struck the rear of the enemy's column； and had a sharp fight。 After leaving Greysville； Sherman turned his command to the left； to strike the railroad between Dalton and Cleveland。 Howard was sent to destroy this road； which he did in a most thorough manner。 On the following day the Fifteenth Corps destroyed the Atlanta Railroad from below Greysville back to the State line。 On the 18th； Sherman was ordered to make a reconnoissance to the Hiawassee with his own corps； together with Davis's and Howard's troops of Thomas's command。 On reaching Charleston； Sherman received orders to take command of Granger's column； moving to Burnside's relief； and to press forward with all the troops under him in all haste to Knoxville； eighty…four miles distant。 Advancing rapidly with his command； Sherman reached Knoxville on the 6th。 Longstreet； however； retreated on the 4th of December to Virginia。 Leaving Granger's corps to aid in the pursuit of Longstreet； Sherman by easy marches returned to Chattanooga on the 16th of the month； where he ordered Howard and Davis to report with their commands； while he marched west with his own corps to Northern Alabama and placed them in winter quarters。
Sherman with his two days' fighting reports the losses of his command； including Howard's command； but not that of Davis； whose loss he says was small； at 295 killed； 1；402 wounded； and 292 missingmaking a total of 1；989。 This； however； includes the losses in his first divisionOsterhaus's； which fought under Hooker on the rightof 87 killed； 344 wounded； and 66 missing； making 497 to be deducted； which leaves Sherman's loss proper； 208 killed； 1；058 wounded； and 226 missinga total of 1；492。 Thomas's loss in the part taken by his troops； also including Howard's command and not including Davis's division； was 529 killed； 2；281 wounded； and 141 missingan aggregate of 3；951。 The large bulk of the losses under Thomas were in Sheridan's and Wood's divisions。 That of the former was 135 killed； 1；151 wounded； missing； noneaggregate 1；256； that of the latter； 150 killed； 851 wounded； missing； noneaggregate 1；001。 These two divisions in their one hour's work storming Missionary Ridge met with a loss of 2；287 men； showing hot work。 There was captured by the Army of the Cumberland 40 pieces of artillery； 58 artillery carriages and caissons； 6；175 stand of small arms； principally English Enfield； and 5；471 prisoners。
During the winter there were nothing but minor movements of the troops。 The railroads up to Chattanooga were repaired； and the first 〃cracker train〃 that entered the place was greeted with many hearty cheers by our troops in the town； as the shrill scream of its whistle woke the echoes among the surrounding mountains； so long silent to this music。 The roads into and through East Tennessee were repaired to Knoxville and beyond。
In the early spring the organization of the Army of the Cumberland was changed by Granger being relieved of the command of the Fourth Corps； when Howard was assigned to that command。 Palmer was retained in command of the Fourteenth Corps； and the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated into the Twentieth Corps； with Hooker in command。 The cavalry was organized in four divisions； under the command of W。 L。 Elliott。 The army in the field consisted of 60；773 effective men。
General Thomas ordere