94; DNA, RG 393, Military Div. of the Miss., Hd. Qrs. Correspondence. Printed as sent at 3:00 P. M. in O. R., I, xxxi, part 2, 24. For an eyewitness account of the attack on Nov. 23, see William Wrenshall Smith, "Holocaust Holiday ..." Civil War Times Illustrated, XVIII, 6 ( Oct., 1979), 33. See also O. R., I, xxxi, part 2, 64-66, 94-95; Memoirs, II, 62-64.
On Nov. 23, 3:30 A. M., Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood had written to Lt. Col. Joseph S. Fullerton, adjt. for Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, stating that two deserters reported C. S. A. forces retreating to Chickamauga Station, Tenn. O. R., I, xxxi, part 2, 40. On the same day, USG, to whom this letter was forwarded, wrote to Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas. "The truth or falsity of the deserter who came in last night stating that Bragg had fallen back should be ascertained at once. If he is really falling back Sherman can commence at once laying his pontoon trains, and we can save a day." ALS, Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Chicago, Ill. O. R., I, xxxi, part 2, 41. On Nov. 22, Gen. Braxton Bragg had detached the divs. of Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne and Brig. Gen. Simon B. Buckner to assist Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's forces in east Tenn. On Nov. 23, Bragg, responding to the U. S. advance, recalled Cleburne's div. and Brig. Gen. Alexander W. Reynolds's brigade of Buckner's div. Ibid., pp. 659n, 745-46. See letter to Col. John C. Kelton, Dec. 23, 1863.
Hd. Qrs. Mil. Div. of the Miss.
Chattanooga Ten. Nov. 23d 1863.
MAJ. GEN. SHERMAN,
Gen. Rawlins wrote you a note this afternoon, by my directions, which answer your questions 1—Wood, if he can get across here in time, will be sent up on this side of the river, with Howard, to assist you. I have but little hope however of him being able to do anything, to-morrow, unless it is to help Hooker. 2
I presume you have given directions for the necessary signal fires to guide in the landing of boats?
Thomas' loss is about 75. Prisoners taken by us 169. This does not include wounded prisoners of whom there is quite a number.
yours truly,
U. S. GRANT
Maj. Gen,
ALS, DLC-William T. Sherman.
-435-
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: July 7 - December 31, 1863.
Volume: 9.
Contributors: John Y. Simon - Editor, Ulysses S. Grant - Author.
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press.
Place of publication: Carbondale, IL.
Publication year: 1982.
Page number: 435.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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