Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 2

              BATTLE  OF  MISSIONARY RIDGE. 693
on Orchard Knob and around it; Sherman our left, and Hooker our right. The enemy were so strongly posted on the top of Missionary Ridge as almost to bid defiance.
Wednesday morning, Nove'mber 25th, Sherman commenced his movement southward towards the enemy. General Corse marching his forces along the top of the narrow ridge, while others moved in the same direction at its base, on both the east and west side. At ten o'clock, the fight was furious. General Corse and many others were wounded and carried from the field, but the Federals, as Sherman says, " engaged in a close struggle all day, persistently, stubbornly, and well." But the object was not to take the mountain from that direc¬ tion, but to draw a large part of the enemy to that point.
On the same morning Hooker set out from Lookout Moun¬ tain toward Rossville, driving the enemy before him down ita eastern declivity, and across the valley toward the ascent of Mission Ridge at our right. He was detained three hours to build a bridge across the Chattanooga Creek, but at half-past three iu the afternoon was approaching on the Rossville road. That approach was to be the sign for Thomas' corps to move. At twenty minutes to four o'clock six signal guns were fired, and the long-waiting, ardent troops, leap forth first to carry the rifie-pits at the foot of Missionary Ridge. Wood's and Sheridan's skirmishers take the advance. Baird's division, embracing the First, Tenth, and Twenty-first Wisconsin, moves at the left of Wood, aud Johnson on the right of Sheridan. As they come to the base of the mountain, the rebel pickets swarm out of their rifle-pits in great amazement and flee before them. As yet no word of command had been given to go beyond the base, but they stop not for orders. A few moments they delay to reform, and then start up the ascent. Front and enfilading shot, from musketry and fifty cannon, are plunging down upon them; some fall, the rest press dauntlessly on; they clamber up the side, leaping ditches, jumping logs, advancing in zigzag lines, rushing over all obstacles, dodging, if they can, the missiles of heavy stone thrown upon them by the rebels, and thrusting aside their bayonets, until they reach the top, beat back the enemy, and take the ridge. Then go up tremendous shouts of joy, which are echoed back from eveiy