While the Union forces under Hooker were thus advancing against the enemy’s left, General Sherman’s command, which had crossed the Tennessee at Brown’s Ferry, and advanced along the north bank of the river, to a point opposite Chickamauga creek, was threatening the enemy’s right. The crossing, commenced at early morning, was not completed till noon, at which time also a junction was effected, at Chickamauga creek, between General Sherman’s command, and reinforcements under General Howard, sent forward from Chattanooga. At about one o’clock, and just as General Sherman gave orders for an advance against Missionary Ridge, a drizzly rain began to fall, which soon hid from view the object of assault. There are several small hills clustered at the end of Missionary Ridge, being separated from it by a valley, through which runs the Chattanooga and Cleveland railroad. To take these hills was Sherman’s first design. His line of battle was formed thus: General Ewing’s division occupied the right, General J. E. Smith’s division the centre, and General Morgan L. Smith’s division the left. General Jeff. C. Davis’s division of the Fourteenth corps, artillery, had crossed the river and taken up position in the works. The order for the advance was given by General Sherman, as follows: “I see Davis is up. I guess you may as well go in, and take the hill.” The advance was made in perfect silence. The men looked very serious; and, if they spoke to each other, spoke in undertones. The prospect before them was a very serious one, and it was evident that they realized it to the fullest extent. But, as the sequel made manifest, the enemy did not propose to contest these hills, and, steadily continuing his advance, General Sherman was in possession of them as early as four o’clock in the afternoon. A few shells, thrown by the rebels from Tunnel Hill, had passed over his forces, carrying consternation to the camp followers in the rear; but there had been no serious fighting. On inspecting the ground thus captured, General Sherman determined to occupy the semi-circular ridge of the hills with his right and centre, and deploy his left toward Meyers’s mill, on Chickamauga creek. General M. L. Smith, commanding the left, executed the latter movement, capturing about a hundred rebels, who were building rafts on the creek, with which to destroy General Sherman’s pontoon bridges. At night on the 24th, therefore, General Sherman was strongly posted, and prepared for a grand assault of the enemy’s works, on the following day.