Published with Permission by: AmericanCivilWar.com |
Submitted by: Bob Redman AOTC.net
The battle for Chattanooga 23, 24, and 25 November 1863
See below comparative time table for the 25th of Nov., also 20 questions which other writers don't answer.
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9:20 am | Hooker signals readiness | Thomas nudges Grant about Hooker (speculation) | Stevenson�s troops from Lookout Mountain march all night long north on ridge, tell their story en route |
9:30 am | Hooker receives order | Thomas sends Hooker order to move via flagmen | Stevenson�s troops begin to take position next to Cleburne |
Hooker�s troops move, advance units already in valley | . | Corse starts frontal attacks against Swett�s battery on Tunnel Hill | |
Bragg reports Hooker�s movement across valley. | Loomis starts attack toward tunnel | ||
Bragg receives report of activity at Chattanooga Creek. Hooker sends Osterhaus across on first �stringers�. | . | Bushbeck joins Loomis | |
1:35 pm | Hooker announces he needs one more hour to complete bridge. Osterhaus secures Rossville Gap | Riflefire heard as Osterhaus attacks Rossville Gap. This is also heard up on the ridge. | Mathies attacks Tunnel Hill from west. |
2:00 pm | . | |
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2:30 pm at latest |
Hooker�s cannons cross Chattanooga creek and begin firing. Osterhaus secures Rossville Gap | Grant returns, sees Sherman�s troops fleeing from Tunnel Hill. Cannon fire from south audible. Grant suggests that Thomas move troops forward to the rifle pits and stop | Sherman�s final attack against Cleburne is repulsed, Cleburne counter-attacks, takes prisoners. Sherman calls it quits, does not tell Grant. |
3:00 pm | Cruft and Hooker drive Clayton. Osterhaus moves along rear of ridge without opposition. Impossible that Stewart is unaware of this movement. | Sound of battle from Hooker�s direction intensifies. Grant sharply issues his verbal order for Thomas�s men to move to the rifle pits and stop. | . |
3:15 to 3:30 pm |
Geary moves against Stewart from southwest. Osterhaus continues north toward center, still no opposition. | Battle noise moves further north. Grant again issues the verbal order for Thomas� men to move to the rifle pits and stop. | . |
3:40 pm | Panicked troops from Clayton and Stewart units flee towards center and down eastern side of ridge. | The 6 cannon fire in successions to initiate the advance of Thomas�s 4th and 14th corps toward the ridge. | . |
4:00 pm | Cruft and Hooker drive Stewart, Johnson advances up ridge from west. | 4th and 14th corps engage Confederates in rifle pits. Some continue up ridge, rest follows, Grant rages. Panic intensifies in Bragg�s center. | . |
4:50 pm | Osterhaus nears Crutchfield Rd. behind Bragg�s headquarters | Willich�s division breaks through at Sharp�s spur. | . |
5:00 pm | Stewart�s division collapses. Osterhaus takes 2000 prisoners. | . | Sherman apprised by Grant that Thomas has �carried the hill�: �Now is your time to attack��. Sherman�s reply to Grant missing in records. |
6:00 pm | Osterhaus meets Johnson�s troops on top of ridge. | Johnson�s troops almost shoot Osterhaus. | . |
after 6:00 pm |
Hooker bivouacs on ridge, troops celebrate. | Sheridan gets some men killed pursuing in darkness. | Cleburne forms rear guard, Sherman does not pursue. |
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Published with Permission by: AmericanCivilWar.com |