The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-09

which form the gap Of. Lookout Mountain
These palisades formed an insurmourtabl
obstacle to the ascent of the force to the sum
nit His right resting against these his lei
extended about half way. down the noun
tain. Whitaker aud Grove formed the sec
ond; line, while Osterhaus formed the third
Heavy lines ofskirmishers were thrown on
1.-The order given to advance, and in shor
| time there began the oldest battle of the wal
| On the summit of the mountain, above tn
palisades the rebels had two Ga pounders.-
On the west slope of the mountain they ha,
no works. On the east, near the point of tn,
mountain, they had strong long line of ri
he1-pits with two pieces of artillery. Hooke
came down on the western Slope, his heay,
skiismish line driving everything before. it,
The enemy was. taken by surprise at being
attacked in the rear, and hastily retreated tc
the rae-pits on the eastern slope of the
mountain. But it was not until they had
suffered very severely in prisoners. General
Hooker met with unexpected success, and al
he swept around the mountain cut off and Sc.
cured several hundred prisoners. These ifel-
lows hid in the rocks and bushes and surren-
dered at discretion. Many of them were un.
exchanged n.en taken at Vicksburg, and the
question has arisen what is to be done with
them, tbs evident from their conduct that
they have been forced to take up arms against
us and all appear To- be cons cientous in say
ing illa that they supposed they had been. ex-
changed, as they were told. :, 4. +, ~. ,.5
Hating only TO secure these men, Gen.
Hooker continued to push around the noun
tain, and had obtained strong foothold on the
spur of the point, when he found the enemy
in his rifie-pits on the east slope, prepared to
make more systematic and stronger defense.
He pushed furward, however, continuing his
skirmish lighting on a heavy scale. This en-
gagement was kept NJ. very seriously until
late IN. the afternoon, when charge was
made. ard the enemy driven from his rifle
pits. They were Immediately occupied by
Geary. But the enemy rallied and made a
charge for the works they had Just relin-
pushed. They made one desperate effort
Geary, out of ammunition, was about being
ovcrpowered, when reinforcements arrived
unaer Gen. Carlin, and the 39th Indiana, I'd
and 33d Ohio, and other regiments of that
nne brigade going in at double quick, the en-
emy gave up and fell back, under a murder
Gus fire, too hastily constructed works in the
rear, and covering the Summertown road
Garin had come up about dusk, and his re-
pulse of the enemy left ussin possession of
their works and the entire field. We had on
" toipush on about 500 yards to take pos
Session Of the SuminertoMn road to the
summit of the mountain.
Gen. Hooker sent word to Gen. Thomas at
nightfall, that he had taken these works. and
could hold his position. But not content
with what he had already gained, Hooker de-
termiied to push on and endeayor to get pos
session of the summit or cap of the noun
tain that Eight. Re- forming his line. with
Grove on the left, then Woods brigade. Car
lin on the centre, then Whitaker with two
regiments of Osterhaus' ON the right, which
still rested against the palisades, he began
again to advance, and succeeded in a hours
fight in intrenchiug himself two hundred
yards nearer the Summertown road. While
in throwing up that night works by
which they strengthened their position, the
I'd Ohio, Col. Anson McCook, was frlrioaslv
attacked by the enemy's sharpshooters. A
sharp fight ensued.7 The 81 Ohio boys were
eager to be at the enemy, aud could not be
kept under cover of their works. The fight
ended in repulse of the enemy, but with
loss of several officers wounded, and four
men killed. Among the officers wounded
were Capt. Warwick and Lieut.. Emery, Co.
c. Color Corporals Jones and Mills were al
SO wounded in this short bat severe attack.
This position Gen. Hooker held during the
night In the morning it was found the en-
emy had evacuated the position, and Hooker
took possession. Thus the night of Tuesday
left us in possession of two strong positions on
the fanks of tho enemy but Hooker's sue
cess enabled the enemy to concentrate his
line, disadvantage which was far outweigh
ed by the advantages gained. We took. two
pieces of field artillery. but the enemy sue
ceeded in getting away his heavy guns on the
II, ,,zT-rsseTasF
& THE THIRD Days OPERATIONS. ~ "
Immediately after taking possession of the
mountain, Gen. Hooker moved his column
by the road on the summit, de-
scending by Mckajack trace (the route taken
by jackson in his campaign against the Che
rokees9, to valley, east sCf tbs ridge, and
made the ascent of Mission Ri lge at or near
he old battlefield of Chickamauga He then
moved Northward on top Of the ridge, tax
ng in Rossville, and gradually driving in she
'ebel left He also took position so as to be
upon the rear of the linesof the enemy in the
valley. These movements occupied him the
greater part of the day.
GEN. sHERMAN's ENGAGEMENT.
: In the meantime Gen, Sherman,s. 18th
corps waslheayily engaged in an attack upon
'he rebel right, under the Kentucky rene
yades, Buckner and Breckenridge, The hill
Whiehawas being attacked by Sherman, rs the
highest peak Of Mission Ridge, and though
Dot as rough and rugged as Lookout Noun
ain. is nevertheless dihicult of1ascent.
The hill or hills takensby Gen. Sherman on
Tuesday, did not command this TunneD
bill, but FROM Sherman's position. fine view
;ould be had Of the rebel position half
nile distant. Thefort bull BY the reasss
vas plainly visible, the guns pcering over Tie
;amparts with vicious looks. The hills mp