Meantime, Sherman continued his crossing without intermission as fast as his troops could be got up.  The crossing had to be effected in full view of the enemy on the top of Lookout Mountain.  Once over, however, the troops soon disappeared behind the detached hill on the north side, and would not come to view again, either to watchmen on Lookout Mountain or Missionary Ridge, until they emerged between the hills to strike the bank of the river.  But when Sherman’s advance reached a point opposite the town of Chattanooga, Howard, who, it will be remembered, had been concealed behind the hills on the north side, took up his line of march to join the troops on the south side.  His crossing was in full view both from Missionary Ridge and the top of Lookout, and the enemy of course supposed these troops to be Sherman’s.  This enabled Sherman to get to his assigned position without discovery.

CHAPTER XLIII.

Preparations for battle—­Thomas carries the first line of the enemy —­Sherman carries Missionary ridge—­battle of lookout mountain —­general Hooker’s fight.

On the 20th, when so much was occurring to discourage—­rains falling so heavily as to delay the passage of troops over the river at Brown’s Ferry and threatening the entire breaking of the bridge; news coming of a battle raging at Knoxville; of Willcox being threatened by a force from the east—­a letter was received from Bragg which contained these words:  “As there may still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I deem it proper to notify you that prudence would dictate their early withdrawal.”  Of course, I understood that this was a device intended to deceive; but I did not know what the intended deception was.  On the 22d, however, a deserter came in who informed me that Bragg was leaving our front, and on that day Buckner’s division was sent to reinforce Longstreet at Knoxville, and another division started to follow but was recalled.  The object of Bragg’s letter, no doubt, was in some way to detain me until Knoxville could be captured, and his troops there be returned to Chattanooga.

During the night of the 21st the rest of the pontoon boats, completed, one hundred and sixteen in all, were carried up to and placed in North Chickamauga.  The material for the roadway over these was deposited out of view of the enemy within a few hundred yards of the bank of the Tennessee, where the north end of the bridge was to rest.

Hearing nothing from Burnside, and hearing much of the distress in Washington on his account, I could no longer defer operations for his relief.  I determined, therefore, to do on the 23d, with the Army of the Cumberland, what had been intended to be done on the 24th.