south, stands Lookout Mountain. After passing Chattanooga, the river
turns and runs south till it laves the base of Lookout Mountain. The
Confederate fortifications, twelve miles in length, ran along Missionary
Ridge, across the southern end of the valley, and up over Lookout
Mountain.

On November 23d, Thomas, who had succeeded Rosecrans, stormed the
breastworks half a mile from the base of Missionary Ridge. The next day
Grant sent "Fighting Joe Hooker" to sweep Bragg's detachment from
Lookout Mountain. Mist lay along the lofty slopes as the gallant Hooker
and his men moved up them, soon veiling the entire column from sight;
and it was only by the rattle of the musketry that Grant knew how the
fight progressed. This was the famous "Battle Above the Clouds." Hooker
pounded the enemy so lustily that they were glad to evacuate the
mountain in the night, and the next morning the Stars and Stripes
saluted the breezes of its topmost peak.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General Joseph Hooker.

While Hooker had been thus engaged, and for some days before, Sherman
had been at a movement that was even more momentous. He had slyly thrust
his army up the Tennessee River above the city, placing it between the
river and Missionary Ridge, and had worked its flank to the left as far
as the mouth of Chickamauga Creek. He had thus gotten possession of the
entire northeastern spur of that ridge with hardly the loss of a
corporal's guard.

The morrow after this was accomplished, November 25, 1863, was a day of
blood. Bragg's forces were now massed on Missionary Ridge, mainly in
front of Thomas and Sherman. Hooker had come down into the valley and
was to turn the enemy's left. If Bragg massed troops on either of the
two wings, Thomas's braves were to be let slip against the weakened
centre. Sherman got into action early in the morning, and fought his
painfully difficult way slowly up the rugged acclivities in his front.
Hooker had to bridge Chattanooga Creek, and did not attack till
afternoon. By three o'clock Sherman was so hard pressed that Grant found
it necessary to relieve him by sending Thomas forward at the centre.

[Illustration: Several hundred soldiers in battle.]
The Battle of Lookout Mountain. (The "Battle Above the Clouds.")

The signal guns boom--one, two, three, four, five, six. Up spring
Thomas's heroes from their breastworks, and rush like a whirlwind for
the first line of Confederate rifle-pits. Bragg sees t