Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1913 — MISSION RIDGE IN WAR AND PEACE [ARTICLE]

MISSION RIDGE IN WAR AND PEACE

REUNION ON ITS CREST OF SUR VIVORB DURING THE G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT WEEK AT CHATTANOOGA. The Battle of Missionary Ridge That Decided the Fate of the Army of the Tennessee and Opened a 11030 to Atlanta. Chattanooga, Tenn.—During the week of the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, and its allied organizations, to be held in Chattanooga, September 15-20, a reunion will be held by the surviv.ors of Missionary Ridge,, at some point on

that historic eminence which will bf of easy access by trolley cars. Th« , purpose of the reunion is to ge as many of • the survivors of this greal battle as possible together on the ground and enjoy speeches by men who know something of the engagement from actual participation. The battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, and was a signal victory for Union arms. Aftei the battle of Chickamauga, Gen Bragg’s army threw a line of entsench meats around Chattanooga from the point of Lookout Mountain, on the west, to - the mouth of Chickamauga creek, on the east, the purpose being to starve "the Union troops into surrender. When, on November 23, Gen Grant, who had taken charge of the fortunes of the Army of the Cumber land, began active efforts to relieve hit army, Gen. Bragg assembled his forces on Missionary Ridge, thus inviting a general engagement. - Gen. Grant decided to storm the ridge and drive Gen. Bragg into Georgia. With that purpose in view he moved his army out of Chattanooga and confronted Bragg along the entire length of the ridge, his lines being as average of one mile west of the base of the ridge. Gen. Grant directed the movement of his troops in person from his headquarters at Orchard Knob, and * on'the evening of November 25 ordered an advance on the enemy’s rifle pits at the foot of the ridge. It was necessary for the Union troops tc march across a comparatively opes and level plain for a distance of a mile in the face of a deadly fire from the enemy’s guns. Without break or falter, the entire force, as if on parade, advanced at the given signal to the at tack. In one hour after orders to advance had been given, the Union forces had charged over the rifle pits and swept. to the top of the ridge in advance of orders. Much desperate fighting was done in this charge. From Sherman Heights, on the north, to Rossville, Ga., on the

south, death flashed from cannon and musketry fire was constant and deadly. But the battle decided the issue in the Chattanooga territory. The Confederates, recognizing that they were beaten, retreated in fairly good order to Ringgold, Ga., leaving Chattanooga in undisputed possession of the Union army. After reorganizing their forces, the Union commanders began the now historic pursuit of the enemy. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was placed in command of the Confederate army, and his retreat to Atlanta is a part of the war history of the republic, Friend and foe pronounce it masterful, but the battle of Missionary Ridge had decided the fate ot the Army of the Tennessee, if not of the Confederacy. A number of sharp skirmishes were fought between Chattanooga and Atlanta; some of them developing into pitched battles, as in the case of Kennesaw Mountain, but the Confederates were steadily driven south, and finally Atlanta fell into the hands of the Union army. A reunion on this historic field will be an event of pleasure to those men who passed through its carnage fifty years' ago and saw war in its bloodiest aspect. Missionary Ridge to-day is a fashionable suburb of Chattanooga, where the more wealthy citizens have built handsome homes. The government has built a splendid road along the crest of the ridge, and many monuments add to the beauty and attractiveness of the historic height. Missionary Ridge is reached from the city of Chattanooga by trolley cars and automobiles in thirty minutes. The Improvements have been wonderful along its crest since the great battle drew the attention of the civilized world to its slopes. A half dozen northern states have erected monuments and markers on the ridge to commemorate the valor of their sons who fought there fifty years ago. It is one of the most interesting pointe around Chattanooga.