Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-14
Interesting Letter.

Interesting letter.
One Of the most readable descriptions
NE have seen Of the ipiatoFy movements IN
Grants recent exploit at Chattanooga Il
contained iu the following private lettsl
by Mr.. Albert n. Williams. % his cousin,
q young lady in this city. Wears permit
ted to make the following extracts from the
letter. % aEe. 'r ts
1 MAR WAUHATcHlE, TEES.,
Nov. 30th, 1868.
believe that my last was written on the
20ths Al dawn on the Path, the brigade,
with the exception Of the lO9th Penna.
pursuant 70 orders which were received the
preceding night, was under arms and el
route for Lookout Mountain. They were
accompanied by detaehments from the lBt
aud Sd brigades Of our division, aud undeT
the cover OF the mtsts and fog, they moved
silently down from the camps, leaving
enough men in them to present 70 the eye
of 0uF enemy no change In affairs. All
the tents were left standing aud only one.
days Iations t6kea4 1lWRsi told by Col.
Collins that the task bf charging Lookout
Mountain had been assigned 20 this diVis-
lou, bat could scarcely believe it. Never
did Il seem 20 me that our general officers
were so reckless Of the lives Of their men,
and could not believe that so fo0lhaFdy
an undertaking would ba tAotIght Of. And
little did the men on whom deV0IVed the
duty, imagine, as gaily they LEFT their little
hnts on that morning, that such was their
mission. ia.t
They left, and as they passed my quar-
ters / stepped out aud bid my comrades q
lingering farewell, striving 70 keep down
the teelIpgs that struggled Tor ptteFapee in
my heart, for felt that ] was speaking 70
some for the last time. When they had
gone, too sad and anxious 70 eat any break
fast, took my SPY glass and went TO the
brow OF the mountain on which We are
eamPed, and took q position from which
any mOVementOn the part or either hostile
party upon Lookout would be plainly Visi.
BILE, anxiously 70 await the coming con
test. When they arrived NJ the foot Of the
mountain, they were Joined by a. brigade
of Indiana troops from the 9Th army corps,
who were attached TO compensate for the
deficiency in numbers oocasiOned by the
numbers who were Left in the various
camps to deceive the enemy. As yet. the
mountain was hidden from sight-at least
the crest Of it-by q dense cloud Of fog
that rested over Il, like sons maatis Of
mourning, aud caused in my fancy mauY
q wild vision of the coming struggle. As
the sun heared the horizons the cloud rose,
and ere long the long range guns Of Chat
tauOogR aud M0eeasin Bend belIoWedF0rth,
throwing their missiles OF death among
the trees, upon the ogPOSits side Of the
for the purpose of drawing their
attention.
While this continued, our brave fellows
were not idle. Carefully and silently they |
loaded their guns. aud soon | saw tie dark
moving lines slowly moving up the mouh-
tain. They marched in three columns
our brigade, as usual, being the advance. /
Crossing Lookout Creek, they drove the
enemyis piekets before them and closely /
pursuing them, had aseended about half
way mp the steep, stony hill ere the enemy |
was aware of his danger. / saw them hurry |
from their teuts (end they seemed perfectly |
panic stFfekenl and fall into their Flaees, /
aud march 70 their intFenehments. The
pickets were firing aud rapidly falling /
back. Yes, he RgHkses Igere e0Hiilg! and /
they soon learned it. -
From the drawing win send, you viii
perceive the positions ,Occnpied by the en-
emy and the plan Of attack.
Steadily they advanced, scaling the rug.
ged side Of the towering m0untain-so /
steep that it was necessary 70 pull theme
selves up by catching hold Of tWigs and
branches.
When within about i've ihundred yards
Of the first line of breast works, skiFmish-
ers were thrown ont, and the ltue deploy-
ed. The skiEmisheFs advanced, driving /
before them the enemy's skiEmisheHs, and I
closely followed by the main main line
When within good shooting distance Of 1
their first breastWorks, finding that the /
enemy had made bnt the most feeble fe.
sistauce, scarcely checking oar line Of |
skirmishers, the gallant little band, with
ont waiting tor ths order ftom de officers,
fixed bsyOnets, aud with the most fearful I
yelIs, charged upon the rItie pits. What
do you aptieiPats, Copsinf a mouFhfuI
tale Of the heaps. Of slain, and the total
AunihilatiOn OF that little squad 6f SeteFl /
ans composing Che IIlthf If 80, yonl e4-
pect ouly what Iexpeeted % witness. Bot /
Oh, happy chance &c tgrued out very diff
tereutiy. Setink the woods dlled WitE
real lt'Iiye Yankees" with ixed bayOn6ts |
aud yeils Of victory, charging down upon |
them, they thought their sitaasipa hope
less one, and leaptng over their works, /
ofieers aud Hieu, ihtew down their arms |
aud SURRENDERED 20 their cOnqueFfng fee |
AEmss camp eqRipage, new clothing which /
they were iust dfeNing, tents, pay rolls I
which were lust being made out, etc., ETC.,
all fell into our. hands. The number OF
prisoners taken at this point was about
1000. They were seat back 70 theFeaF, in
charge OF 9 Detachment, and the columns,
0nly stopping long, en01eh 20 shake hands
with their prisoners, marched on Afriys
ed at the second line of eArthSofks, they
found it almost vaeated. A few, probable
O hundred 0lly were there, aud they cod-
sisted Cf squads who had taken refuge
there, -ahd gave q selves up Willfng pris-
oneFs, BY ibis time . slight rain and mist
had Set Il. !. making q inp possible for me %
see anything more, They kept on, how
ever, and sc dark eneamP ped at, the base Of
a lsdr6 a ,vhfeh 6Srs15is
the peak; aud runs alcbg & ne edfifs ieneth
Of the mountain. This, ! mean, Is Wbets