Valley,
now abandoned by the enemy, to Rossville. In this march he was
detained four hours in building a bridge across Chattanooga
creek. From Rossville he ascended Missionary Ridge and moved
northward toward the centre of the now shortened line.

Sherman's attack upon the enemy's most northern and most vital
points was vigorously kept up all day. The assaulting column
advanced to the very rifle pits of the enemy, and held their
position firmly and without wavering. The right of the assaulting
column being exposed to the danger of being turned, two brigades
were sent to its support. These advanced in the most gallant
manner over an open field on the mountain side to near the works
of the enemy, and laid there, partially covered from fire for
some time. The right of these two brigades rested near the head
of a ravine or gorge in the mountain side, which the enemy took
advantage of, and sent troops, covered from view below them (p. 403)
and to their right rear. Being unexpectedly fired into from
this direction, they fell back across the open field below them,
and reformed in good order in the edge of the timber. The column
which attacked them was speedily driven to its entrenchments by
the assaulting column proper.

Sherman's position not only threatened the right flank of the
enemy, but, from his occupying a line across the mountain and to
the railroad bridge across Chicamauga Creek, his rear and stores
at Chicamauga Station. This caused the enemy to mass heavily
against him. This movement of his being plainly seen from the
position I occupied on Orchard Knoll, Baird's division of the
14th Corps was ordered to Sherman's support; but receiving a note
from Sherman informing me that he had all the force necessary,
Baird was put in position on Thomas' left.

The appearance of Hooker's column was at this time anxiously
looked for and momentarily expected, moving north on the ridge,
with his left in Chattanooga Valley and his right east of the
ridge. His approach was intended as the signal for storming the
ridge in the centre, with strong columns; but the time
necessarily consumed in the construction of the bridge near
Chattanooga creek, detained him to a later hour than was
expected. Being satisfied, from the latest information from him,