By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions covering his intended operations.  They contemplated that Sherman’s column, which was arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee, should cross the river on a pontoon bridge just below the mouth of Chickamauga Creek and carry the northern extremity of Missionary Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel; that the Army of the Cumberland —­the centre—­should co-operate with Sherman; and that Hooker with a mixed command should continue to hold Lookout Valley and operate on our extreme right as circumstances might warrant.  Sherman crossed on the 24th to perform his alloted part of the programme, but in the meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that Bragg was endeavoring to get away, ordered Thomas to make a strong demonstration in his front, to determine the truth or falsity of the information that had been received.  This task fell to the Fourth Corps, and at 12 o’clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood’s division would make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its front called Orchard Knob, and that I was to support it with my division and prevent Wood’s right flank from being turned by an advance of the enemy on Moore’s road or from the direction of Rossville.  For this duty I marched my division out of the works about 2 p.m., and took up a position on Bushy Knob.  Shortly after we reached this point Wood’s division passed my left flank on its reconnoissance, and my command, moving in support of it, drove in the enemy’s picket-line.  Wood’s took possession of Orchard Knob easily, and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob, where I was directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of rifle-pits, and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth regular artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps.  After dark Wood began to feel uneasy about his right flank, for a gap existed between it and my left, so I moved in closer to him, taking up a line where I remained inactive till the 25th, but suffering some inconvenience from the enemy’s shells.

On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of carrying the north end of Missionary Ridge.  His success was not complete, although at the time it was reported throughout the army to be so.  It had the effect of disconcerting Bragg, however, and caused him to strengthen his right by withdrawing troops from his left, which circumstance led Hooker to advance on the northerly face of Lookout Mountain.  At first, with good glasses, we could plainly see Hooker’s troops driving the Confederates up the face of the mountain.  All were soon lost to view in the dense timber, but emerged again on the open ground, across which the Confederates retreated at a lively pace, followed by the pursuing line, which was led by a color-bearer, who, far in advance, was bravely waving on his comrades.  The gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all, but as he was a considerable distance ahead of his