noon
They were encamped upon the river a few miles below Chattanooga , where they effectually cut off our communications with Bridgeport . We attacked them in the blackness of a very dark night , and completely routed them . This opened up communications with our base of supplies , and our rations were greatly increased from that time on . `` On the morning of November 23d , a little before noon , the 3d division of the 4th Army corps , the one to which I belonged , was ordered into the open plain that lay between us and Missionary Ridge . Here we deployed into line of battle . Sheridan 's division followed and formed on our right . The eleventh corps , commanded by General O.O. Howard , massed in the rear .