OPERATIONS AT CHATTANOOGA.

officers of the Government, whose accounts must show all money erty received under it, and how disposed of.

By order of

Major-General U. S. GRANT.

This order he carried out to the letter when the opportunity offered.

About the middle of November the head of General Sherman's column arrived at Chattanooga and formed a junction with the forces under General Thomas, on the right of the main army.

Shortly before the time that General Sherman joined General Grant, the rebel General Longstreet made several attempts to flank the Union position several miles to the eastward of Chattanooga, with the intention of advancing into Tennessee and capturing Knoxville. The advanced forces of the Army of Eastern Tennessee had heretofore resisted Longstreet's movement at the crossing of the Little Tennessee River; but after General Burnside had communicated with General Grant, Longstreet was allowed to advance upon Knoxville, the Union troops impeding his march as much as possible, and drawing him on with a show of resistance. The feint was well planned and finely carried out.

On the 14th of November, General Longstreet, after crossing the Little Tennessee River, was attacked by a force of General Burnside's troops, who drove the rebel advance guard back upon their reserves, which were stationed at about a mile north of the river bank. They then retreated, while the rebels crossed their whole force and moved toward Marysville. Our forces then fell back upon Lenoir, as if to hold the railroad at that place. Three times the rebels assaulted that position on November 15th without success; but the next morning the Union troops evacuated it and retreated to Campbell's Station. Here they again made a stand, and a fight ensued, lasting from before noon until dark. This detention of the rebels enabled us to secure our trains, which were sent within the defenses of Knoxville. Our troops once more fell back, stopped and repeated their resistance to the enemy, and after a fight again retreated in good order, until, on

the 19th of November, Longstreet's forces were before the city of Knoxville, which they began to invest-Burnside being safely within the works.

General Grant was advised of the position of affairs, and, with his "we have them now where we want them," he prepared to move on the enemy..

A plan was formed, by the commanding General, to raise the siege of Chattanooga and get possession of Lookout Mountain. This plan was submitted to his general officers, and finally adopted. An examination of the enemy's line showed that he had deliberately exposed himself to great danger. He had allowed a large portion of his army to go into East Tennessee, and he extended the remainder of his forces into lines almost as thin as a spider's thread. His exterior line upon Mission Ridge was nearly seven miles in extent, while his inner lines of rifle-pits and similar defenses running through the valleys were not less than five miles long. There were upon the line two points of importance to him; the first, Missionary Ridge, being the key to his position, and Lookout Mountain, an elevation valuable to Bragg as a barrier to the Union troops. It was supposed the enemy would defend the former with vigor, as the latter could be held by a small force. General Grant was of the opinion, that, by attacking his flanks vigorously, forcing him to keep his line lengthened, and thus weakened, it would give a favorable opportunity to test the strength of the center. It was therefore decided that General Sherman, with three divisions of his own army, General Davis, of Palmer's corps, should move north of the river, to a point opposite the mouth of the Chickamauga, and at an early hour on the following morning throw a pontoon bridge across the Tennessee, and, under cover of artillery, cross and carry the heights of Missionary Ridge as far, at least, as Tunnel Hill. On the left rebel flank, General Hooker was to operate with three divisions, his primary object being to hold the rebels there, but authorized, in case of an opportunity presenting itself, to take possession of Lookout Mountain. In the center, General Thomas was ordered to hold Granger and Palmer's corps well in hand, to await an op