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ith a full supply of balks and chesses； had been prepared for the bridge over the Tennessee； and all things had been prearranged with a foresight that elicited my admiration。 From the hills we looked down on the amphitheatre of Chattanooga as on a map； and nothing remained but for me to put my troops in the desired position。 The plan contemplated that； in addition to crossing the Tennessee River and making a lodgment on the terminus of Missionary Ridge； I should demonstrate against Lookout Mountain； near Trenton； with a part of my command。
All in Chattanooga were impatient for action； rendered almost acute by the natural apprehensions felt for the safety of General Burnside in East Tennessee。
My command had marched from Memphis； three hundred and thirty miles； and I had pushed them as fast as the roads and distance would admit； but I saw enough of the condition of men and animals in Chattanooga to inspire me with renewed energy。 I immediately ordered my leading division （General Ewing's） to march via Shellmound to Trenton； demonstrating against Lookout Ridge； but to be prepared to turn quickly and follow me to Chattanooga and in person I returned to Bridgeport； rowing a boat down the Tennessee from Belly's Ferry； and immediately on arrival put in motion my divisions in the order in which they had arrived。 The bridge of boats at Bridgeport was frail； and； though used day and night； our passage was slow； and the road thence to Chattanooga was dreadfully cut up and encumbered with the wagons of the other troops stationed along the road。 I reached General Hooker's headquarters during a rain； in the afternoon of the 20th； and met General Grant's orders for the general attack on the next day。 It was simply impossible for me to fulfill my part in time； only one division （General John E。 Smith's） was in position。 General Ewing was still at Trenton； and the other two were toiling along the terrible road from Shellmound to Chattanooga。 No troops ever were or could be in better condition than mine； or who labored harder to fulfill their part。 On a proper representation； General Grant postponed the attack。 On the 21st I got the Second Division over Brown's…Ferry Bridge； and General Ewing got up； but the bridge broke repeatedly； and delays occurred which no human sagacity could prevent。 All labored night and day； and General Ewing got over on the 23d； but my rear division was cut off by the broken bridge at Brown's Ferry； and could not join me。 I offered to go into action with my three divisions； supported by General Jeff。 C。 Davis； leaving one of my best divisions （Osterhaus's） to act with General Hooker against Lookout Mountain。 That division has not joined me yet； but I know and feel that it has served the country well； and that it has reflected honor on the Fifteenth Army Corps and the Army of the Tennessee。 I leave the record of its history to General Hooker； or whomsoever has had its services during the late memorable events； confident that all will do it merited honor。
At last； on the 28d of November； my three divisions lay behind the hills opposite the mouth of the Chickamauga。 I dispatched the brigade of the Second Division； commanded by General Giles A。 Smith； under cover of the hills； to North Chickamauga Creek； to man the boats designed for the pontoon…bridge； with orders （at midnight） to drop down silently to a point above the mouth of the South Chickamauga； there land two regiments； who were to move along the river…bank quietly； and capture the enemy's river…pickets。
General Giles A。 Smith then was to drop rapidly below the month of the Chickamauga； disembark the rest of his brigade； and dispatch the boats across for fresh loads。 These orders were skillfully executed； and every rebel picket but one was captured。 The balance of General Morgan L。 Smith's division was then rapidly ferried across； that of General John E。 Smith followed； and by daylight of November 24th two divisions of about eight thousand men were on the east bank of the Tennessee； and had thrown up a very respectable rifle…trench as a tete du pont。 As soon as the day dawned； some of the boats were taken from the use of ferrying； and a pontoon…bridge was begun； under the immediate direction of Captain Dresser； the whole planned and supervised by General William F。 Smith in person。 A pontoon…bridge was also built at the same time over Chickamanga Creek； near its month； giving communication with the two regiments which had been left on the north side； and fulfilling a most important purpose at a later stage of the drama。 I will here bear my willing testimony to the completeness of this whole business。 All the officers charged with the work were present； and manifested a skill which I cannot praise too highly。 I have never beheld any work done so quietly； so well； and I doubt if the history of war can show a bridge of that extent （viz。； thirteen hundred and fifty feet） laid so noiselessly and well； in so short a time。 I attribute it to the genius and intelligence of General William F。 Smith。 The steamer Dunbar arrived up in the course of the morning； and relieved Ewing's division of the labor of rowing across； but by noon the pontoon…bridge was done； and my three divisions were across； with men； horses； artillery； and every thing。
General Jeff。 C。 Davis's division was ready to take the bridge； and I ordered the columns to form in order to carry the Missionary Hills。 The movement had been carefully explained to all division commanders； and at 1 p。m。 we marched from the river in three columns in echelon： the left； General Morgan L。 Smith； the column of direction； following substantially Chickamauga Creek； the centre； General； John E。 Smith； in columns； doubled on the centre； at one brigade interval to the right and rear； the right； General Ewing； in column at the same distance to the right rear； prepared to deploy to the right； on the supposition that we would meet an enemy in that direction。 Each head of column was covered by a good line of skirmishers； with supports。 A light drizzling rain prevailed； and the clouds hung low； cloaking our movement from the enemy's tower of observation on Lookout Mountain。 We soon gained the foothills； our skirmishers crept up the face of the hills； followed by their supports； and at 3。30 p。m。 we had gained； with no loss； the desired point。 A brigade of each division was pushed rapidly to the top of the hill； and the enemy for the first time seemed to realize the movement； but too late； for we were in possession。 He opened with artillery； but General Ewing soon got some of Captain Richardson's guns up that steep hill and gave back artillery； and the enemy's skirmishers made one or two ineffectual dashes at Genaral Lightburn； who had swept round and got a farther hill； which was the real continuation of the ridge。 From studying all the maps； I had inferred that Missionary Ridge was a continuous hill； but we found ourselves on two high points； with a deep depression between us and the one immediately over the tunnel； which was my chief objective point。 The ground we had gained； however； was so important； that I could leave nothing to chance； and ordered it to be fortified during the night。 One brigade of each division was left on the hill； one of General Morgan L。 Smith's closed the gap to Chickamauga Creek； two of General John E。 Smith's were drawn back to the base in reserve； and General Ewing's right was extended down into the plain； thus crossing the ridge in a general line； facing southeast。
The enemy felt our left flank about 4 p。m。； and a pretty smart engagement with artillery and muskets ensued； when he drew off； but it cost us dear； for General Giles A。 Smith was severely wounded； and had to go to the rear； and the command of the brigade devolved on Colonel Topper （One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois）； who managed it with skill during the rest of the operations。 At the moment of my crossing the bridge； General Howard appeared； having come with three regiments from Chattanooga； along the east bank of the Tennessee； connecting my new position with that of the main army in Chattanooga。 He left the three regiments attached temporarily to Gen。 Ewing's right； and returned to his own corps at Chattanooga。 As night closed in； I ordered General Jeff。 C。 Davis to keep one of his brigades at the bridge； one close up to my position； and one intermediate。 Thus we passed the night； heavy details being kept busy at work on the intrenchments on the hill。 During the night the sky cleared away bright； a cold frost filled the air； and our camp…fires revealed to the enemy and to our friends in Chattanooga our position on Missionary Ridge。 About midnight I received； at the hands of Major Rowley （of General Grant's staff）； orders to attack the enemy at 〃dawn of day；〃 with notice that General Thomas would attack in force early in the day。 Accordingly； before day I was in the saddle； attended by all my staff； rode to the extreme left of our position near Chickamauga Creek； thence up the hill； held by General Lightburn； and round to the extreme right of General Ewing。
Catching as accurate an idea of the ground as possible by the dim light of morning； I saw that our line of attack was in the direction of M