we had been outgeneraled at Chattanooga. We hope these, our apprehensions, may turn out groundless, and that the strategy of General Bragg may prove equal to the prowess and gallantry of his army; but we must confess that the country will be as much surprised as pleased should success attend our arms at Chattanooga. If the occupation of Lockout Valley by the enemy has been made to cover a retreat, an opportunity for energy, strategy, and perseverance, will be afforded General Bragg, which if promptly embraced and efficiently pursued, will do much to reinstate him in the confidence of the army and the country. As the risk is to be taken under General Bragg, we hope that every officer and private will exert his utmost endeavors to aid the General in overwhelming the enemy. Whether General Grant intends to advance or is preparing to retreat from Chattanooga, he must be defeated either on the south side of the Tennessee or on his retreat to Nashville. The approaching winter warns both armies that their present positions may be their mutual destruction, and the spring of 1864 open on the wasted and ruined remnants of both. The railroad from "Bridgeport to Jaspar," if not as unreal and unsubstantial as the taking of Lookout Mountain by the enemy, may solve the difficulty of Grant remaining in Chattanooga for the winter. Thus, from the contradictory and unreconcilable reports of movements, it is impossible to ascertain any thing definite and certain as regards the situation at Chattanooga. Our readers must exercise patience and hope for the best.* General Grant had, however, no intention of retreating. About this time the rebel President paid a visit to Bragg's army, to ascertain the true condition of affairs, and it is reported that the following scene occurred on the summit of Lookout Moutain: Looking down one bright day from the lofty eminence commanding a clear view into four States, and a very distant view into a fifth, Davis saw Grant's army almost beneath his feet, across the valley, working like beavers on their fortifications. "I have them now," said he, "in just the trap I set for them." * Richmond Enquirer, November 6th, 1863. To which Lieutenant-General Pemberton, who was sitting on horseback beside him, replied, "Mr. Davis, you are Commander-in-Chief, and you are here. You think the enemy are in a trap, and can be captured by vigorous assault. I have been blamed for not having ordered a general attack on the enemy when they were drawing around me their lines of circumvallation at Vicksburg. Do you now order an attack upon those troops down there below us, and I will set you my life that not one G—d d—d man of the attacking column will ever come back across that valley, except as a prisoner." CHAPTER XLVIII. LONGSTREET'S ADVANCE UPON KNOXVILLE. THE brilliant success of these operations relieved Chat tanooga of the prospective danger of starvation, and General Grant found time to prepare for his movements upon the enemy in his front. Stores of all kinds began to make their way into storehouse, and daily parades and drills. took place in front of the works, within view of the rebel pickets and sentries. Every thing had settled down into its quiet routine, and even the generals appeared at their A private letter from a resident of Chattanooga had the following paragraph descriptive of this serenity: ease. General Grant, who has almost recovered his strength, occupies a delightful Chattanooga residence, and, with his briarwood pipe, walks to and fro up the streets of the town, unattended, many times unobserved, but at all times observing. Quartermaster-General Meigs has taken to a wall tent, from a regard for the fitness of things. His head-quarters are in the field, and soldiers in the field inhabit tents. Generals Thomas and Gordon Granger are workers, and are preparing their grand machine for the next campaign, their consultations often extending far into the night. But in the midst of this quiet lay a slumbering volcano. General Grant had determined he would have no enemies around him to report his movements to the rebels or to interfere with his plans; therefore, previous to his making any advance upon the rebel positions, he issued the following order: HEAD-QUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, [General Orders, No. 4.] } The habit of raiding parties of rebel cavalry visiting towns, villages, and farms where there are no Federal forces, and pillaging Union families, having become prevalent, department commanders will take immediate steps to stop the evil, or make the loss by such raids fall upon secessionists and secession sympathizers in the neighborhood where such acts are committed. For every act of violence to the person of an unarmed Union citizen, a secessionist will be arrested and held as hostage for the delivery of the offender. For every dollar's worth of property taken from such citizens, or destroyed by raiders, an assessment will be made upon secessionists of the neighborhood, and collected by the nearest military forces, under the supervision of the commander thereof, and the amount thus collected paid over to the sufferers. When such assessments cannot be collected in money, property useful to the government may be taken at a fair valuation, and the amount paid in money by a disbursing officer of the government, who will take such property upon his returns. Wealthy secession citizens will be assessed in money and provisions for the support of Union refugees who have been and may be driven from their homes and into our lines by the acts of those with whom secession citizens are in sympathy. All collections and payments under this order will be through disbursing officers of the government, whose accounts must show all money and property received under it, and how disposed of. By order of T. S. BOWERS, A. A.-G. 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 Union troops, who drove the rebel advance guard back upon their reserves, which were stationed at about a mile north of the river bank. The Union troops then retreated, while the rebels crossed their whole force and moved toward Marysville. The Unionists 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 the Unionists to secure their trains, which they sent within the defences of Knoxville. The Union 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 rebel forces were before the city of Knoxville, which they began to invest--the Union troops being all safely within the defences. General Grant was duly advised of the position of affairs, and with his " we have them now where we want them," he prepared to move on the enemy's works. A plan had been made, by the commanding General, to raise the siege of Chattanooga and get possession of Lookout Mountain. This plan was submitted to his general |