After Hooker’s arrival in Lookout Valley during the afternoon of the
28th, Geary’s division stopped at Wauhatchie, four miles below the
northern point of Lookout Mountain. This was at a junction of the
Nashville and Trenton railroads. Generals Bragg and Longstreet stood on
Lookout and witnessed their arrival. About midnight Geary was attacked
by Jenkins’ division of Longstreet’s corps. The battle lasted until
about 3:30 A. M. Geary was reinforced by two brigades commanded by
Tyndale and Orland Smith. Then the Confederates withdrew across Lookout
Creek and onto the northern slopes of Lookout Mountain. This battle gave
the Union army complete control of all short supply lines. The
Confederates never made any further effort to regain control of this
short route. The starving troops in Chattanooga were hurriedly refitted
and Grant was only awaiting the arrival of Sherman before attacking the
Confederates in their strong positions. Meanwhile, the Confederates were
still clinging to their positions with the utmost confidence in holding
them. On November 4th, Longstreet was sent to Knoxville to oppose Gen.
Burnside. His command constituted about one-third of the Confederates.
Naturally his departure shattered the Confederate hope.
On November 18th, Sherman arrived at Trenton. He moved to Brown’s Ferry
at once, crossing three of his divisions commanded by M. L. Smith, Ewing
and J. E. Smith.
Osterhaus was unable to cross his division due to the breaking of the
bridge. He was then ordered to report to Hooker, which he did at once.
From November 21st to the 23rd, Sherman was in a concealed camp behind
Stringer’s Ridge, and near north Chickamauga Creek. His troops floated
pontoon boats down this stream into the Tennessee River. From the north
side of the river Sherman selected a high hill on the south bank which
he thought was the north end of Missionary Ridge.