310 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War

Thomas were standing side by side, every featureof these movements could be plainlyens his centre seen, and as the day wore on Grant’sto strengthen anxiety for Sherman increased. Ine-qualities of ground prevented his seeingwhat was happening on the extreme Union right,and he looked long in vain for the appearance ofHooker’s men on Missionary Ridge north of Ross-ville Gap. The Confederates, in their retreat fromLookout Mountain, had destroyed the bridge overChattanooga creek, so that Hooker’s progress wasseriously delayed.

At last Grant decided to make a demonstration

with his centre, hoping thus to alarm Bragg into

recalling some of the troops that wereGrant d6cid6S ^

to threaten contending against Sherman. ShouldBragg’s cen- Hooker appear at a favourable momentabove Rossville Gap, this demonstra-tion could easily be converted into an assault uponthe rebel centre. It was for Thomas’s army tomake this important movement. At Stone riverand at Chickamauga Bragg had tried Thomas asanvil; he was now to feel him as hammer.

Baird’s division occupied the left of Thomas’sline, as Howard had been sent, with the Eleventhcorps, to the aid of Sherman. To the right ofBaird came Wood, then Sheridan, then Johnson ;four divisions, numbering 20,000 men. The en-