and, in great measure, of both causes, were staked. Grant had fairly outwitted his opponent, and the latter felt it. To add to his misfortunes, Bragg permitted himself to be again out-generaled, in this way: Sherman made the attack on the Rebel position, in front of Tunnel Hill, and Bragg, conceiving that that was to be the main point of attack, commenced moving brigades and regiments from his centre, to aid, as he thought, in annihilating Sherman's army. Grant allowed the Rebels to proceed with their tactical mistake until it was too late to rectify it.

THE GRAND ATTACK.

Grant watched for the advance of Hooker on the Rossville road, and at 20 minutes past three o'clock the signal informed him that "Fighting Joe" had fulfilled his part of the contract, and was in line on the right ready to fall upon the foe. He had been unavoidably detained by a broken bridge across Chattanooga Creek, but he made up for this late in the day.

Scarcely had the head of Hooker's advance appeared, when the signal for the storming of Mission Ridge, being six guns fired at intervals, was given. On the weakened centre and disheartened left of Bragg's army the soldiers of Thomas and Hooker were hurled, charging right up the slopes of the Ridge in defiance of the deluge of fire which the enemy rolled down upon them. Sherman, on the left, renewed his attack with ten-fold energy.

Their

Consternation seized on the rebel army. general proved himself a brave soldier, if not a skillful one, and his exertions to restore the battle were tremendous. But it was all of no use. With enthusiastic shouts our soldiers stormed the crest of the Ridge, and the rebel left fled in panic before Hooker's assault. Their entire line soon gave way, and, after one of the grandest struggles on record, the battle of Chattanooga was won. Grant, elated as he must have been by his splendid success, remained calm as ever, directing the pursuit and taking measures to clear off the wreck of the battlefields.

In this battle, among the many brave and noble men who distinguished themselves as generals was Phil. H. Sheridan, who commanded a division of Granger's corps. He had a horse killed under him, but, undaunted, he stepped upon a gun and reretained his position, so that he could view the fight, until the battle was over. He made a brief but stirring address to his division, which cheered every heart, and, from that day, Grant knew that he had found his thunderbolt-his cavalry leader.

The retreat of the enemy was followed by Sheridan's division. Bragg left 6,000 prisoners in our hands, not counting stragglers; 40 guns; 7,500 small arms, and a large amount of ammunition. The retreat would have been followed up more closely had it not been that Grant feared to leave Burnside isolated in Knoxville.

Burnside had fought gallantly, in retreat, and confronted his enemy with confidence. Sherman and Granger were sent to reinforce him. Longstreet, learning of Bragg's defeat, assaulted Knoxville desperately on November 28, and was bloodily repulsed. The advance of the supporting Federal generals compelled the rebels to raise the siege and retreat in great haste to a safer locality.

END OF THE CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN.

On December 10, 1863, General Grant issued a congratulatory order to his army, and predicted the speedy downfall of the so-called Confederacy.

With this campaign the active military campaign of Braxton Bragg terminated. His after efforts in the Rebel cause were obscure and unchronicled.

Meanwhile the thanks of the Executive and of Congress were awarded to the victor of Chattanooga. These thanks were supplemented by a magnificent gold medal, voted by Congress, commemorative of General Grant's great victories, and symbolical of the respect and gratitude of the American people.

CHAPTER XII.

GRANT'S MILITARY CAREER.

(CONTINUED.)

Created Lieutenant General-Goes to Washington to Receive his Commission-Two Memorable Speeches-Grant Takes Command-With the Army of the Potomac-In the Wilderness-How he Kept Flanking LeeAn Alert Enemy-The Assault Upon Petersburg-A Failure-The Winter, and How it Was Passed-The End Near-Grant Discovers his Antagonist's Purpose, and Thwarts Him--Sheridan "Pushes Things"-Lee Surrounded-He Surrenders-Collapse of the Confederacy.

CREATED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.

Such had been the signal abilities displayed by General Grant. The success which had uniformly attended his campaigns, and the confidence and enthusiasm which his name everywhere evoked, that it was deemed best for the public service to place him in the general command of all our armies. Accordingly the committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives reported a bill to revive the rank of Lieutenant General.

The fact that during our whole previous history only two soldiers had been thus honored, will give some idea of the confidence which this new rank implied. Washington and Scott were his glorious predecessors, and Gen. Grant was fully entitled to wear the honors a grateful country had tendered her greatest captains.

The bill establishing the new rank was as follows:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the grade of lieutenantgeneral be, and the same is hereby, revived in the Army of the United States of America; and the President is hereby authorized, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a commander of the army, to be selected during war, from among those officers in the military service of the United States, not below the grade of major-general, most distinguished for courage, skill, and ability; and who, being commissioned as lieutenant-general, shall be authorized, under the direction of the President, to command the armies of the United States.

While the bill was under discussion, Mr. Ross offered an amendment recommending General Grant for the new rank. The amendment was adopted by a large majority, and on the 2d of March, 1864, General Grant was confirmed by the Senate as Lieutenant-General, giving him rank over all our other generals.

GENERAL GRANT GOES TO WASHINGTON.

He was immediately notified, and late in the afternoon of Tuesday, March 8th, he arrived in Washington, for the purpose of receiving his commission and instructions. His arrival was unheralded, and he took his seat at the dinner-table of Willard's Hotel unnoticed.

Though four years in the service, and the most successful and popular of all our generals, he had been so little in Washington that he was known to but few. It happened, however, that there was seated near him at the table a gentleman who had made his acquaintance at New Orleans. He soon spread the information, and in a few minutes the