It made for a magnificent sight. The Confederates atop Missionary Ridge had, perhaps, the best view, but the Union men atop Lookout Mountain had a good eyeball as well. The only people who could not see the scene very well were the Confederate defenders in their rifle pits. The Northern men opposed to them had been so quiet for so long that the Confederates did not expect a major attack, but when it came, they were not ready anyhow. They sprayed rifle and musket fire, but it seemed to make no difference. They looked above, anxiously, to see whether the Confederate cannon on the ridge were in action and were comforted to see that they were firing. The Confederate guns could not be properly depressed, however, and most of the cannonballs went far off target.