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； and provisions； were so scarce that the men in hunger stole the few grains of corn that were given to favorite horses； that the men of Thomas's army had been so demoralized by the battle of Chickamauga that he feared they could not be got out of their trenches to assume the offensive； that Bragg had detached Longstreet with a considerable force up into East Tennessee； to defeat and capture Burnside； that Burnside was in danger； etc。； and that he （Grant） was extremely anxious to attack Bragg in position； to defeat him； or at least to force him to recall Longstreet。 The Army of the Cumberland had so long been in the trenches that he wanted my troops to hurry up； to take the offensive first； after which； he had no doubt the Cumberland army would fight well。 Meantime the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps； under General Hooker； had been advanced from Bridgeport along the railroad to Wauhatchee； but could not as yet pass Lookout Mountain。 A pontoon…bridge had been thrown across the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry； by which supplies were hauled into Chattanooga from Kelly's and Wauhatchee。。
Another bridge was in course of construction at Chattanooga； under the immediate direction of Quartermaster…General Meigs； but at the time all wagons； etc。； had to be ferried across by a flying…bridge。 Men were busy and hard at work everywhere inside our lines； and boats for another pontoon…bridge were being rapidly constructed under Brigadier…General W。 F。 Smith； familiarly known as 〃Baldy Smith；〃 and this bridge was destined to be used by my troops； at a point of the river about four miles above Chattanooga； just below the mouth of the Chickamauga River。 General Grant explained to me that he had reconnoitred the rebel line from Lookout Mountain up to Chickamauga； and he believed that the northern portion of Missionary Ridge was not fortified at all； and he wanted me； as soon as my troops got up； to lay the new pontoon…bridge by night； cross over； and attack Bragg's right flank on that part of the ridge abutting on Chickamauga Creek； near the tunnel； and he proposed that we should go at once to look at the ground。 In company with Generals Thomas； W。 F。 Smith； Brannan； and others； we crossed by the flying…bridge； rode back of the hills some four miles； left our horses； and got on a hill overlooking the whole ground about the mouth of the Chickamauga River； and across to the Missionary Hills near the tunnel。 Smith and I crept down behind a fringe of trees that lined the river…bank； to the very point selected for the new bridge； where we sat for some time； seeing the rebel pickets on the opposite bank； and almost hearing their words。
Having seen enough； we returned to Chattanooga； and in order to hurry up my command； on which so much depended； I started back to Kelly's in hopes to catch the steamboat that same evening； but on my arrival the boat had gone。 I applied to the commanding officer； got a rough boat manned by four soldiers； and started down the river by night。 I occasionally took a turn at the oars to relieve some tired man； and about midnight we reached Shell Mound； where General Whittaker； of Kentucky； furnished us a new and good crew； with which we reached Bridgeport by daylight。 I started Ewings division in advance； with orders to turn aside toward Trenton； to make the enemy believe we were going to turn Braggs left by pretty much the same road Rosecrans had followed； but with the other three divisions I followed the main road； via the Big Trestle at Whitesides； and reached General Hooker's headquarters； just above Wauhatchee； on the 20th； my troops strung all the way back to Bridgeport。 It was on this occasion that the Fifteenth Corps gained its peculiar badge： as the men were trudging along the deeply…cut； muddy road； of a cold； drizzly day； one of our Western soldiers left his ranks and joined a party of the Twelfth Corps at their camp…fire。 They got into conversation； the Twelfth…Corps men asking what troops we were； etc。； etc。 In turn； our fellow （who had never seen a corps…badge； and noticed that every thing was marked with a star） asked if they were all brigadier…generals。 Of course they were not； but the star was their corps…badge； and every wagon； tent； hat； etc。； had its star。 Then the Twelfth…Corps men inquired what corps he belonged to； and he answered； 〃The Fifteenth Corps。〃 〃What is your badge？〃 〃Why；〃 said he （and he was an Irishman）； suiting the action to the word； 〃forty rounds in the cartridge…box； and twenty in the pocket。〃 At that time Blair commanded the corps； but Logan succeeded soon after； and； hearing the story； adopted the cartridge…box and forty rounds as the corps… badge。
The condition of the roads was such； and the bridge at Brown's so frail； that it was not until the 23d that we got three of my divisions behind the hills near the point indicated above Chattanooga for crossing the river。 It was determined to begin the battle with these three divisions； aided by a division of Thomas's army； commanded by General Jeff。 C。 Davis； that was already near that point。 All the details of the battle of Chattanooga； so far as I was a witness； are so fully given in my official report herewith； that I need add nothing to it。 It was a magnificent battle in its conception； in its execution； and in its glorious results； hastened somewhat by the supposed danger of Burnside； at Knoxville； yet so completely successful； that nothing is left for cavil or fault…finding。 The first day was lowering and overcast； favoring us greatly； because we wanted to be concealed from Bragg； whose position on the mountain…tops completely overlooked us and our movements。 The second day was beautifully clear； and many a time； in the midst of its carnage and noise； I could not help stopping to look across that vast field of battle； to admire its sublimity。
The object of General Hooker's and my attacks on the extreme flanks of Bragg's position was； to disturb him to such an extent； ； that he would naturally detach from his centre as against us； so that Thomas's army could break through his centre。 The whole plan succeeded admirably； but it was not until after dark that I learned the complete success at the centre； and received General Grant's orders to pursue on the north side of Chickamauga Creek：
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； CHATTAGOOGA； TENNESSEE； Nov。 25； 1863
Major…General SHERMAN。
GENERAL ： No doubt you witnessed the handsome manner in which Thomas's troops carried Missionary Ridge this afternoon； and can feel a just pride； too； in the part taken by the forces under your command in taking first so much of the same range of hills； and then in attracting the attention of so many of the enemy as to make Thomas's part certain of success。 The neat thing now will be to relieve Burnside。 I have heard from him to the evening of the 23d。 At that time he had from ten to twelve days' supplies； and spoke hopefully of being able to hold out that length of time。
My plan is to move your forces out gradually until they reach the railroad between Cleveland and Dalton。 Granger will move up the south side of the Tennessee with a column of twenty thousand men； taking no wagons； or but few； with him。 His men will carry four days' rations； and the steamer Chattanooga； loaded with rations； will accompany the expedition。
I take it for granted that Bragg's entire force has left。 If not； of course； the first thing is to dispose of him。 If he has gone； the only thing necessary to do to…morrow will be to send out a reeonnoissanee to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy。 Yours truly；
U。 S。 GRANT； Major…General。
P。 S。…On reflection； I think we will push Bragg with all our strength to…morrow； and try if we cannot out off a good portion of his rear troops and trains。 His men have manifested a strong disposition to desert for some time past； and we will now give them a chance。 I will instruct Thomas accordingly。 Move the advance force early； on the most easterly road taken by the enemy。 U。 S。 G。
This compelled me to reverse our column； so as to use the bridge across the Chickamauga at its month。 The next day we struck the rebel rear at Chickamauga Station； and again near Graysville。 There we came in contact with Hooker's and Palmer's troops； who had reached Ringgold。 There I detached Howard to cross Taylor's Ridge； and strike the railroad which comes from the north by Cleveland to Dalton。 Hooker's troops were roughly handled at Ringgold； and the pursuit was checked。 Receiving a note from General Hooker； asking help； I rode forward to Ringgold to explain the movement of Howard； where I met General Grant； and learned that the rebels had again retreated toward Dalton。 He gave orders to discontinue the pursuit； as he meant to turn his attention to General Burnside； supposed to be in great danger at Knoxville； about one hundred and thirty miles northeast。 General Grant returned and spent part of the night with me； at Graysville。 We talked over matters generally； and he explained that he had ordered General Gordon Granger； with the Fourth Corps； to move forward rapidly to Burnsides help； and that he must return to Chattanooga to push him。 By reason of the scarcity of food； especially of forage； h