RINGGOLD GAP, Battle of. After the expulsion of the Confederates from Mis sionary Ridge 25 Nov. 1863 they retreated on Dalton (see CHATTANOOGA. BATTLE or). To intercept the retreat, General Thomas, on the morning of the 26th, ordered General Hooker to push on Graysville, from near Rossville, and directed General Palmer, commanding 14th corps, to report to Hooker and join in the movement. On reaching Pea Vine Creek Pal mer was ordered to move directly on Grays Tulle, while Hooker, with his three divisions Osterhaus', Geary's and Cruft's — moved on Ringgold to strike the Confederate line of re treat six miles farther south. At 9 P.M. Palmer struck the Confederate rearguard, capturing three guns and some prisoners. Pushing on to Graysville, which was reached at 11 P.M., he captured more prisoners and another gun, and bivouacked for the night. Hooker ad vanced to within six miles of Ringgold, and late in the night bivouacked a short distance to the right of Palmer. At daybreak of the 27th Hooker renewed the pursuit, Osterhaus' division, in the advance, capturing many pris oners, and pursuing the Confederates into Ring gold. At 3 A.M. of the 27th General Cleburne, whose division was acting as rear-guard to Hardie's corps, received an order from General Bragg to hold Ringgold Gap, in Taylor's Ridge, near the town, until the trains and rear of the retreating troops could get well advanced. Cleburne disposed his four brigades of about 4,200 men on the ridge, on each side of the gap, and as a support two guns in it, and in less than half an hour Hooker came up and Wood's brigade of Osterhaus' division was ordered to attack. Cleburne's skirmishers were soon driven in; but Cleburne, assuming the offensive, attacked Wood's main line and was repulsed, Wood's men following to the gap.
Meanwhile Williamson's brigade had made a lodgment on a spur of Taylor's Ridge, half a mile to the left of the gap, but found the Con federates so strongly posted that it could make no headway, and Creighton's brigade of Geary's division was ordered to ascend the ridge still further to the left. Cleburne bad anticipated the movement by still farther extending his right. Colonel Creighton, making a gallant as sault, was badly repulsed, and in falling back he carried part of Williamson's brigade with him. While Creighton was preparing for another assault he was killed, and operations on that part of the field were suspended. Meanwhile sharp work was going on in the gap and on the line on either side of it. without any material advantage to Hooker. Between 12 and 1 o'clock Hooker's artillery came up and opened a furious .fire upon Cleburne's position, but Cleburne had gone, leaving only a few skirmishers in the gap. These were closely followed by some of Geary's men to the bridges beyond the gap. General Grant arrived on the field early in the afternoon, and orderd pursuit discontin ued; later in the day Grose's brigade went forward, but encountering cavalry, supported by infantry, it returned to Ringgold. The Union loss at Ringgold Gap was 65 killed and 377 wounded. The Confederate loss, as reported by Cleburne, was 20 killed. 190 wounded and 11 missing. Consult 'Official Vol.
XXXII (Washington 1889-1901), and Van Xxxii (Washington 1889-1901), and Van Horne, (History of the Army of the Cumber land,) Vol. I (Cincinnati 1875).