he advance and
hurries help to oppose. His batteries open with shot and shell, then
with canister. The infantry rake Thomas with a withering fire. Yet on,
double quick, dash the lines of blue over the open plain, over rocks,
stumps, and breastworks, bayonetting back or capturing their
antagonists, till the first line of rifle-pits is theirs.

The orders had been to halt at this point and re-form. But here, with
Bragg's artillery raining a veritable hell-fire upon them--here is no
place of resting, and as the men's blood is up, they sweep forward
unbidden, with a cheer. It is five hundred yards to the top--a steep
ascent, covered with bowlders and fallen timber. Over the rocks, under
and through the timber, each one scrambles on as he can. Half-way up is
a line of small works. It is carried with a rush, and on the men go,
right up to the crest of the ridge. Now they confront the heaviest
breastworks. The air is thick with whizzing musket-balls, and fifty
cannon belch flame and death. But nothing can stop that furious charge.
Sheridan's men reach the top first, the rest of the line close behind.
The "Johnnies" are routed after a short fight, and the guns turned
against them as they fly. By night Bragg's army is in full retreat,
Chattanooga is safe and free, Grant's lines of communication are
assured, and the keys of the State of Georgia in his hands.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General James B. McPherson.

The Union forces in this battle numbered about 60,000, the Confederate
half as many; but the latter fought with all the advantage which the
mountain and breastworks could give them. They lost nearly 10,000
including 6,500 prisoners. The Union loss was between 5,000 and
6,000--2,200 in the one hour's charge against the centre.

[1864]

There was no halting, no resting. Scarcely had the sounds of yesterday's
cannonade died away, when Sherman's already jaded forces were put in
motion to the north, to make sure that Burnside was set free at
Knoxville; but Longstreet had already raised the siege and started east.
By December 6th, Bragg's redoubtable army, which, so recently as
September, swore to reconquer Tennessee and to invade Kentucky, was rent
in twain, one part of it fleeing to Virginia, the other to the heart of
Georgia.

No important military movement occurred in the Centre during this winter
of 1863-64. In March Grant was made Lieutenant-General, with command of
all the Union armies, Sherman succeeding to