Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-12-11
The Chattanooga Battles.

The Chattanooga Battles.
81 the TSirsy-Fi<ss-Cssa.iisi 80 20
Company R-Lsster From Capt. SPeer.
Correspondence Of the Gazette.
RiHooLp, Ca, New. qs.h, 1868.
On the evening Of the oath our Division
arrived 1t q point near the base of Lookout
Mountain, and within two miles Of Chatta.
nooga. We received orders at o'clock A.
N. to prepare for battle, and be ready to march
at s o'clock An. BY marching from Iuka
to Tuscumbia the End, Sd and 4th Divisions
Of the 10Th Corps were enabled to cross the
Tennessee river before Us, and when we ar
rived near Chattanooga they had been assign.
ed position on the left Of General Thomas
army, and the LIST Division was ordered to
report to Gen. Hooker, on the right. About
10 o'clock A. n Gen. Hooker attacked the
enemy at the base of Lookout Mountain with
one Division Of the 18th corps, and drove
them slowly but steadily. Our Division fol.
lowed them in line OF battle. About 2 o'clock
P. NJ. 1000 Of the enemy were 10 closely
pressed that they surrendered. Alta o'clock
p NJ the 4th and 3lst Iowa Regiments were
ordered forward to relieve two regiments at
the front. They were now driven to the only
road by which they could retreat from the
Mountain. and they made desperate stand.
Our position was about 400 feet above the
base Of the mountain which was very steep
and completely covered with rocks and trees
The enemy have admitted that they we're o.
the opinion that the mountain could not be
taken, and it was necessary that it should be
taken before Gen. Grant could move with .
fair prospect of success against Bragg's main
army. We all knew that Iowa would look
upon the work which we wore about to per-
form with pride or shame, and thank God her
4th and 8lst regiments have not disgraced
her. 1t was one continuous roar Of musket.
ry from o'clock p. H., when we arrived at
the :ront, until midnight, when the fight
ceased. Our regiment fred eighty rounds Of
ammunition to the man during the eight. At
II o'clock P. N. NO ascertained that the enemy
was massing his forces to flank US and wipe
US out F." by assault. But Gen. Garland soon
learned how matters stood and ordered for.
ward the End Ohio and 42d Indiana regiments
who had scarcely gained position when the
rebels made an assault upon them; but, like
wall of iron they stood and repulsed them.
But still they hoped to drive US and charged
upon cur lines second and third time, but
were forced back over the rocks with consid-
cradle loss. During the eight our regiment
lost one killed and ten wounded. Co. B sus.
tanned no loss. That rainy night, high on
wild, ragged mountain, with a constant roar
Of musketry, and the whistling Of thousands
OF bullets to keep US awake, will not be for.
COTTON soon. Next morning We soon learned
that The rebels had all gone into the Valley
and the Stars and Stripes were Immediately
planted upon the highest peak Of the noun.
tain and were greeted by the loud cheers G,
many thousands. About 10 o'clock A. N
o.
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