arently taking advantage of the absence of so large a body of Rebel
troops under so good a leader, General Grant resumed the offensive on
the twenty-third of November, and during three days' hard fighting
inflicted upon General Bragg a series of defeats, in which Generals
Thomas, Hooker, and Sherman were the active Union commanders. The
Unionists were completely victorious at all points, taking several
strong positions, forty-six pieces of cannon, five thousand muskets,
valuable stores, and seven thousand prisoners, besides killing and
wounding great numbers. All these successes were gained at a cost of
only forty-five hundred men. The skill of General Grant and his
lieutenants, and the valor of their troops, were signally displayed in
these operations, the first assured intelligence of which reached the
North in time to add to the pleasures of the National Thanksgiving, as
the first news of Gettysburg had come to us on the Fourth of July.

The November victories put an end to all fear that the enemy might be
able to carry out their original project, while it seemed to be certain
that the scene of active operations would be transferred from East
Tennessee to Northern Georgia. General Burnside still held Knoxville,
and it was supposed that General Longstreet would find it difficult to
escape destruction. General Bragg had retreated to Dalton, which is
about a hundred miles from Atlanta, and is reported to have summoned
General Longstreet to rejoin him. The Army of the Potomac, which had
borne itself very gallantly in some of the autumnal operations
consequent on Lee's advance, had followed the army commanded by this
General when it retreated, inflicting on it considerable loss, and
crossing the Rapid Ann.[C]

Victories have been gained by the Unionists in other quarters,--in
Missouri, in Arkansas, in Louisiana, and in Mississippi,--whereby the
enemy's numbers have been diminished, and territory brought under the
Union flag that until recently was held by the Rebels, and from which
they drew means of subsistence now no longer available to them.

The effects of all the successes which have been mentioned are various.
We have deprived the enemy of extensive portions of territory, in most
of their States. Tennessee is rescued; Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri
are placed beyond all danger of being taken by the Rebels; in Arkansas,
Louisiana, and Texas we hold places of much political and military
importance; Mississippi is