that he must by this time be on his road from Rossville, though
not yet in sight, and discovering that the enemy in his
desperation to defeat or resist the progress of Sherman, was
weakening his centre on Missionary Ridge, determined me to order
the advance at once. Thomas was accordingly directed to move
forward his troops, constituting our centre,--Baird's division
(14th Corps), Wood's and Sheridan's divisions (4th Corps), and
Johnson's division (14th Corps),--with a double line of
skirmishers thrown out, followed in easy supporting distance by
the whole force, and carry the rifle pits at the foot of
Missionary Ridge, and when carried to reform his lines in the
rifle pits with a view to carrying the top of the ridge.

These troops moved forward, drove the enemy from the rifle pits
at the base of the ridge like bees from a hive, stopped but a
moment until the whole were in line, and commenced the ascent of
the mountain from right to left almost simultaneously, following
closely the retreating enemy, without further orders. They
encountered a fearful volley of grape and canister from near
thirty pieces of artillery, and musketry from still well filled
rifle pits on the summit of the ridge. Not a waver, however, was
seen in all that long line of brave men. Their progress was
steadily onward until the summit was in their possession.

In this charge the casualties were remarkably few for the fire
encountered. I can account for this only on the theory that the
enemy's surprise at the audacity of such a charge caused
confusion and purposeless aiming of their pieces.

The nearness of night and the enemy still resisting the advance
of Thomas' left, prevented a general pursuit that night, but
Sheridan pushed forward to Mission Mills.

The resistance on Thomas' left being overcome, the enemy
abandoned his position near the railroad tunnel in front of
Sherman, and by twelve o'clock at night was in full retreat, and
the whole of his strong positions on Lookout Mountain,
Chattanooga Valley and Missionary Ridge were in our possession,
together with a large number of prisoners, artillery, and small
arms.

Thomas was directed to get Granger with his corps, and (p. 404)
detachments enough from other commands, including the force
a