November 25, 1863, The New York Herald
The latest news from Chattanooga reports the rebels falling back from Chickamauga Station. Their artillery have entirely withdrawn from our front. Our forces, under Generals Wood and Sheridan, of the Fourth army corps, under the direction of General Gordon Granger, of General Thomas’ division, made a most brilliant movement on the 23d to obtain possession of two eminences half way between our left and Missionary Ridge, where the enemy were in force. The brigade of Gen. Hazen opened the attack, supported by that of Gen. Willich on the left, and the whole division of General Sheridan on the right, General Howard’s corps forming the reserve. The points of attack aimed at were soon occupied, and in ten minutes after General Willich carried the enemy’s rifle pits in front, their defenders flying before him after firing one volley. Meantime, General Sheridan pushed through the forest, drove in the enemy’s pickets, and halted on reaching the rifle pits. We not only captured two hundred prisoners by this movement, but obtained a most important position in the occupation of the heights north of Missionary Ridge. We give a map today showing the vicinity in which General Thomas achieved this brilliant result. But this is not the end of it. The reconnaissance commenced on Monday has resulted in a general battle which was going on up to our latest reports yesterday with great success, the enemy retreating gradually, although making a stubborn resistance. Despatches to the War Department from General Grant, received last night, are of a most cheering character.
No further news had been received from Gen. Burnside up to yesterday. Cannonading, however, was still going on. A battle was supposed to be imminent between the forces of Generals Grant and Bragg yesterday. A despatch from General Bragg to Adjutant General Cooper, at Richmond dated at Mission Ridge, on the 19th, says that General Wheeler reports an attack upon the Union troops, in which they were dispersed and driven into their works at Knoxville, with the loss of three hundred prisoners.
The latest rebel accounts from Charleston are to the 20th inst., and state that on the day previous our guns fired eleven shots from battery Gregg at the city, but did little damage. Some three or four buildings were struck, and one person was injured. The Pawnee and another gunboat came up the Stono and shelled Battery Pringle, but effected nothing.
On the 20th the firing on Charleston was renewed. The shelling of FortSumter was more heavy than usual. But few rifled shots were fired. No casualties occurred either in the city or at the fort.
There is no change in the position of the Army of the Potomac. The unpropitious state of the weather appears for the time to have interrupted the contemplated movement on the Rapidan.
The steamer Convoy has returned to Fortress Monroe from City Point, in charge of Captain Irving, who reports having transferred the government rations for our prisoners at and about Richmond satisfactorily into the hands of Commissioner Ould.