before been ordered to move to Bridgeport, below
Chattanooga, and march thence by the wagon road to Wauhatchie, while
Palmer was ordered to a point on the river opposite Whitesides.

The plan now put into operation was one looking to the seizing of a spur
of mountains overlooking Lookout Valley. If this was successfully
accomplished, Hooker and Palmer would be materially aided in their
movements, and the river would be opened for steamboats as far as
Brown's Ferry.

It was six miles to Brown's Ferry, and on the night of the 26th of the
month, eighteen hundred men under General Hazen floated down the stream
in sixty pontoon boats, around the sharp bend, and past nearly three
miles of Confederate pickets. The darkness aided their movements, and as
silently as ghosts, they landed at two points, overcame the pickets, and
marched to the spurs to be taken. While this was going on, another
force, under General Smith, marched by the north bank of the river, and
were ferried over before daylight. A large crowd of men were set to
work, and by early morning a pontoon bridge nine hundred feet long was
swung across the river, and all points seized were protected by
artillery and intrenched troops.

The Union forces now commanded the highway from Lookout Valley to
Chattanooga Valley, and began a vigorous attack on the Confederates
located between Shell Mound and Lookout Mountain. At the same time
Hooker advanced, and Bragg awoke to the realization of the fact that a
genuine effort was being made to raise the siege. Half a dozen small but
sharp conflicts followed, and then the Confederates fell back; and the
way was opened to Brown's Ferry, Bridgeport, and Stevenson, both by the
river and the excellent wagon roads on either bank.

Many a commander would have paused here, but not so Grant. Without delay
the whole army was put on an active footing and supplied with necessary
food, clothing, and ammunition. Forage was brought in in large
quantities, and the horses and mules put in the best possible condition,
and heavy artillery was rushed forward. In the meantime, the arrival of
General Sherman with reenforcements was eagerly awaited.

The Riverlawns, as a body, had not been active in the taking of Brown's
Ferry and the spurs of mountains beyond, but a detachment under Major
Lyon had gone on with Turchin's brigade, to clear out and hold a gorge
through which the Bridgeport road ran to the crossing. The work was
hazardous in the ex