The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-12-19
Army Correspondence.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN,
nna Ar 1912

up with matters connected With my dutie
that found it impossible to keep up m
correspondence with your paper. An
even now can but occasionally snatch
leisure moment.
You, no doubt, have already full &C
count Of the utter rouL Of the reheDa arm
from Lookout Mountain and in front Q
this place. 1t was a brilliant achievement
on the part Of our troops, and lesson T.
the rebels which time cannot efface from
their memories.
The 10th Reg III. Vo.s. performed
conspicuous part in the great tragedy
We are now in the lst Brig lst Div. l4tl
Army Corps Gen. Palmer is our corp
commander, Gen. johnson commands th
division and Gen Colvin the brigade.
Gu Friday, Nov. Goth, oursbrigade wa
detailed for picket and supplied with 10
rounds of cartridges. We remained O.
picket until Monday morning. The moi
than usual diligence exacted from tn
picket during this detail gave unmistak
able evidence that some great movemea
was on foot, but no one yet knew in wha
quarter it would develop itself. Sunday
everything was quiet except the rebe
batteries on Lockout Mountain which
seemed more than US, all able. Thei
big guns kept up a constant booming
now firing this way, then that way
sometimes shell and sometimes solid shot
They were evidently in trouble, and wer,
endeavoring to cali out solution of thu
mysterious movements around them by
means of their long range guas. But al
their efforts were abortive. Their con
slant harmless barking from their lofty
peak for the past two months had long
sin Lost
on jus, the same az if there were no Look
out batteries in existence Monday morn
lug, the 22d, however, opened more vely
At early dawn a full supply of cartridges
was again distributed among the, men
and four days cooked rations ordered to
be taken in their haversacks At Il
o'clock our division WAS ordered in the
trenche es immediately in front Of the town.
Howard's corps had passed up to the left
the night before and partly engaged the
enemies right Sherman had gone up
Sunday ard Sunday night, on the other
side Of the river with pontoons, and by
daylight had effected crossing near the
mouth of the Chickamauga at the north
end Of Mission Ridge. Gen. Geary, with
three divisions of Hookers forces WAS
sent TO the west side Of Lookout Noun.
tain with orders to storm it at all hazards,
and thus open the ball. This disposition
of the forces occupied all Of Mouday.-
That night we lay IN line of battle 'front.'
ing Mission Ridge. Gen Geary, however,
could d , but little more on Monday night
than get his men in n good position. But
on Tuesday morning the dance commenced
on the west side of Lookout. For hours
the inces,ant roll of musketry and artii-
lery could be heard in the distance. But
a heavy ms: had gathered around the
mountain which vailed it from cur view.
Gradually the sounds grew louder and the
discharges were heard more distinctly. 1t
WAS evident our forces were approaching
the north end Of the mountain Nov our
batteries on the side of Raccoon Noun
tain open. and now Moccasn Point All
the rebel batteries on Lookout bristle up
aud helch forth their loud thunders. The
surrounding hills and the plaiSs below
seem 10 tremb!e AZ the 'ieep toned echoes
come rolling down through the dense mist
that env,loped the whole scene in sublime
mystery. /, seemed as if old Lucirer had
come forth from his Internal confines and
with his martialed legions had again as
sailed the battiemeEts vi Heaven
OF course down in the valley the ex-
citement was intense. The only evidence
We had that our forces were gaining on the
rebels was the fact that the sousd of the
mus kerry seemed to grow more distinct
And a. the only rout for the rebels 10 re-
trea. on WAS around the north end OF the
mountain il was evident the struggle waA
nearing that way. About 10 O clock p III
a south wind raised the veil, which up to
this time had ubscured the scene from our
view. and never did wind blow more ou-
portunely, for, just as the mist rose over
the mountain the rebels came rushing in
wild confuion around the north side OF the
mountain. through the clearings In full
view of both armies as they lay In battle
array ir the valleys and ou the rides over
1900 feet below Close on the heels oil the
fleeing rebels come our gallant boys,
cheering as they swept along And loud
and long were the answering cheers that
swelled up from our lines below.
Nearly at the top of Lookout Mountain
on the north end, fronting Chattanooga, is
n large farm, on plateau, through the
fields of this farm the rebels had construc.
ted strong earthworks. But as Our troops
came around the point Of the mountain
they charged these works endways, thus
rendering them useless as q means OF pro
lection to the foe So close were cur
troops on the enemy here that before they
could get aero S the fields over 600 prison
ers were captured.
Gen Bragg had, however, a large force
encamped along the east side OF the noun
tain; these were at once thrown forward
and as the broken rebel lines again disap.
peared in the timber our lines were brought
to y halt by the enemys reinforcements
Here furious conflict ensued. ard what a
few moments before appeared te be glo-
rious triumph on our side now began to
threaten disaster and defeat Reinforce
ments from below were signaled. And
one brigade was at once despatched. But
between US and Lookout Mountain lay
Chattanooga Creek, wide and deep-a per
feet barrier heretofore between the two
biiligerant armies. But, it proved small
obstruction now. A boat was procured
and in a few hours our whole brigade
regiments) was winding its way up the
steep declivities Of the mountain. BY
I o clock we were on the disputed ground.
The sky had cleared off and the moon
was full 1t was nearly as light as at neon
day And by the s,lvery light OF the moon
the fury OF the battle ragged. About |
o'clock the enemy again gave way. But
the ground was so cough and rocky that
pursuit was impractcable, and we laid
down to rest By morning every rebel
except the killed and wounded and few
stragglers had left the mountain. And as
the sun cast forth his early rays on the
loft peak Of Lookout mountain they fell
upon the gorgeous folds Of the Star
Srangled Banner triumphantly waving
in the. heavens Then rose a shout such
as falls 10 few mems lot to enjoy. The
forenoon cf Wednesday Was devoted to
gathering up the trophies of victory con-
sistipg of arms and munitions Of every
kind, which lay scattered along the route
| taken ky the retreating enemy.
Abo It noon most of the forces were
mar cbed down the mountain We were
again sent back to join OFF division, which
still tsy in line of battle in front Of Mission
Ridge.
The troops under Geary and Hooker