Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-12-10

sign TO fnass his FORCES upon our right, carry
the rebel line Of rifls-pits between Lookout
Mountain and Mission Ridge, sever the en-
emy on Lookout Mountain from all support,
and then advancing boldly up one side OF
the mountain while Geary scaled the other,
plant the stars and stripes triumphantly
upon its summit.
Gen. Howard's corps was sent to our left,
as have described.
GEARY MARCHES ACROSS LOOKOUT CREEK.
1t was half past seven in the morning
when Geary's division, (part OF the l2th
corps supported by Whitsker's brigade of
Stanley's Temporarily Cruft's) division Of
the l4th corps, left its position near Wau
hatchic, crossed Lookout Creek, and began
to work down it's right bank. Whitsker's
brigade had, believe, marched nearly all
night the night before, from the neighbor-
hood Of Shell Mound in order to be present
at this attack.
HOOKER MEETS HIN.
Almost from the moment our forces cross
ed the, creek, their advance was stubbornly
resisted. But Church's Michigan Battery
from Fort Negley, MAYORS lOth Indiana
from Moccasin Point, and the sth Wiscon-
sin from the bsnks of Chattanooga Creek,
played upon the rebels with such good et-
feet that, although not much hurt, they be-
came confused and frightened, and Gesry
slowly and steadily pushed forward. For.
ward and upward for it now began to as
cend the slope, and never rested until he
had reached point SO high that Hooker
could sec the flashes of his musketry from
the other side. Then Osterhaus and part
of Ewing suddenly crossed Chattanooga
Creek, and advancing in line Of battle, car
ried the rebel rife pits near the top of the
mountain, swept like whirlwind up the
Eastern slope, dislodged the rebels wherever
they attempted to make q stand, and finally
shook hands with Geary just underneath
the mighty mass of rocks which crowns the
summit Of Lookout. The united hosts now
moved On together, crushing the battalioss
OF the enemy a. they attempted to make one
more stand, and at midnight finished the
contest by capturing or dispensing the last
band Of rebels to be found anywhere upon
the sides Of the mountain.
NIGHT COMBAT ON THE MOUNTAIN.
That night, in front of General Thomas
headquarters in Chattanooga, l stood watch
ing the combat going on, away up there upon
that mighty wall of limestone; and the long
line Of fires which marked the course Of our
intrenehments; the shouts of the combat
ants yelling defiance at each other; the fierce
jets OF flame from tho muscles of u thousand
muskets; the spluttering sound of the dis
charges, nuffled by distance; the great brow
of the mountain looming dark and awful
through the night; the single signal light
upon the extreme crest, which, waving to
and fro, revealed to the rebel leader ON Mis-
sion Ridge the tale Of disaster and vocal
these together formed one of the scenes
in that wonderful three days drama which
will linger forever in my memory, haunting
even my dreams. The battle that night
upon Lookout Mountain Seen from Chat
tanooga, it was the realization of olden ira
ditions; and supernatural armies coHtended
in the air
OPERATIONS ON THE LEFT-CHARGE OF
THE 73D OHIO.
But before we have done with Thursday 8
story we must return to the loft.
At seven A. NJ, Howard ordered Colonel
Orland Smith, commanding brigade in
the second division OF his corps to send q
regiment to the extreme left of his How
ard's) line, to drive body of rebel sharp
shooters from some rifle pits whence they
annoyed our lines considerably. The I'D
Ohio was selected to execute the command
Forming line and throwing out skirlnshers,
this excellent regiment at once charged the
enemy upon the double-quick, with fixed
bayonets, and drove them half mile, taking
more than thirty prisoners While this
movement was going on, Whseler's Inds-
pendent Kentucky Battery shelled the reb-
els from the North side Of the river with ap
parently good effect, and Capt Bridges
splendid Chicago Battery, placed on tho
knob taken the day before by Wilich's men,
kept the enemy's attention occupied by y
furious shelling of Mission Ridge.
This movement finished at l0} A. NJ, put
Howard's lett in communication with Sher
man s right, as l have already mentionel
General Sherman's forces now continued
to advance slowly over the fields toward tho
Ridge. The Western or Atlanta Railroad
was crossed but no enemy appeared. A
belt of timber near the foot Of the range
concealed no foe; and at last, making bold
push, the 9th Iowa and 46th Ohio, belong
ing to General j. M. Coarse's brigade
reached the summit of the ridge, followed by
the rest of the brigade, and Immediately
commenced throwing up intrenchments-
The eininence is just North, and.within mus
ket shot of Tunnel Hill. The rebels openes
| fire from the latter, which was replied Il
by our men. Little damsge was done how
ever; but when night came tho eyes of th,
soldiers in other Corps sparkled brightly
when they learned that the numerous 6re
opon the north side Of Mission Ridge, mark
ed the bivouac Of Sherman's men.
Events of "wednesday, Nov. 21th
| CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 26.
THE STARS AND STRIPES ON LOOKOUT.
Wednesday morning came, and as soon a
the suns rays were warm enough to dis
psrse the mists from the mountains, all eye
were turned toward the summit ofLookout
A wild and deafening cheer ran along ou
lines. The banner of beauty and Of glor
was floating from the very crest ofthe mour
tain--from that gigantic pile of rock whenc
rebel cannon had so lonpsbeen hurling mi.
siles of death toward the city. The enem
on Lookout had not been able to rally afte
his disastrous defeat OF the day before. ii
B had fed during the night; and the diIoin,
ed fragments of his force, belonging to Ste
venson's division, were moved around to tn
right of his line, in order to withstand tn
storm which it was perceived would 500
burst from our left.
Capt. John Wilson, Sth Kentucky, ha
n