The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-12-08
BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.

BATTLE CF LOOKOUT 0AO ~ AAA''
Accounts concerning the late battles near Chat
stanooga are So confused anu conflicting that We
can hardly decide hat to publish. We do hot
believe that the defeat of army is rs. bad as at
FIRST represented. From various reports concern
inc the engagements We have extracted the fol-
lowing:
Active work began on last Saturday the 2lst
November with light skirmshing. The enemy
sheed at intervals from their Notifications, aud
sent a few raldlDg parties, which were checked
at every point, except in one, where brigade bag
gage train captured On Sunday the warmth
of the encounter increased decidedly and through
out Monday the firing from right TO left became
continuous, although but little execution done.
The great engagement opened at dawn on Tues.
day the Oath. The attack made 10y the ene-
my upon our positions upon Lookout lhey ap-
proached with resolution, estimated at forty thou
sand strong, and charged US In our works, at the
SINE time occupying the attention OF our right
wing ranged at the foot Ut Missionary Ridge. Their
onset vas firm, but not lmpetuous at first, but IN
creased 10 volume and vigor as the day advanced.
Our troops, commanded by the heroic Breckln-
ridge received the terrible odds thrown against
them with Il courage, aniusated by the example or
Nalthal. Strahi Mauigaul Bates, Stevenson, and
oIher, leauIng divisions aud brgades. Ii Was not
un;iI late III fhe afternoon that the desperate as
At every advar &c, created an effect upon cur line.
At four o'clock the ''lett CENTRE, described by
Gen Bragg-a level point J. ing between the foot
of Lookout aud Missionary Ridge, and opening
way into the valley in resr-gave way and the
enemy poured througHsIhe embrasure like food
tide This cut the army in twain, and when it
was observed by the troops upon the mountain on
the far left, it occasoned confusion which could
not be remedied, and retreat which could not be
rallied. The day closed with disorder which
might have been turned into rout, had the eAeuiy
continued to press with the energy after dark
that he displayed throughout the day. During
the night the remnant of the left, minus portion
of several commands which fell captive because
of being cut off from the main body, Withdrawn
to positions along Missionary Ridge, where the
troops were massed for the conflict of the coming
day
General Bragg rode up within one hundred and
fifty yards Of the enemy, ia endeavoring to rally
the left wing. Bullets flew thick AID fast, but
the gallant Chief Of the army of Tennessee paid as
little attention to them to drops of rain.
Our works at the foot of Missionary Ridge
tended along line OF two miles in length. They
are built OF heavy timbers, stone and fence rails,
morticed together with clay, and about five feet
high. Behind them the bill rises In gentle slope
but rough and In front the ground Is
open and level, but rocky and broken. 1t
against these tortifcations, occupied by the remain
ing stfeHStH vi TIE army, that tue eueIuy -WHose
loss duriug the successful expedition against Look
out on Tuesday, equal to the disproportion OF
the combatants, being five to one-proceeded on
Wednesday morning to assail with the ardor
and the same swollen columns of the day before,
The attack Was made before sunrise, Gen Hardee
commanding our right, being himsefin the trench
es, ready receive the assault:
The tight desperate than the day pre-
.cedins. The valley enveoped 10 the
dense fog Of plodng shells, winding wreaths Of
smoke and white clouds from fort and earthworks.
Charge after charge was made by the enemy and
as boldly met by our men, now thoroughly desper-
ate by reason of the crisis closing around them
Every onset was repulsed, and as the ranks were
: moved down, they filled up again and sent
forward with new velocity The carnage in front
! Of our rude Notifications Was fearful Not less
than five Thousand dead strcwed the plain before
+ nlghttail, and still Hardee held his unbroken
/ he enemy then nasstd his forces on our right
! which were met hy the gallant Hardee, and the
storm OF battle became furious the roars Of artillery
] and musketry being incessant. Sherman's corps
on our right was four times repused with righ ttul
less and at last driven over the Tennessee at the
3 mouth OF the Chlckamauga. Gen. Cleburn, on our
right, nobly held his ground and deult terrible de-
structlun In tue enemy's ranks.
AT last sunset broug BIT the bloody drama to an
end, with the complete repulse of the enemy along
the entire right, but not before he had rapidly iu-
! proved MS position upon Lookout, and prepared
to 'hade our liuc from batteries posted thereon
Our army withdrew Wednesday night, passing
Sver the hill, and by the morning reschng the
Eastern side under cover of the ragged peaks of
Missionary Ridge
j Browns, Cummings and Pettus brieades Of
Stevenson'S division, and Reynolds brigade of
NORTH tar"hn'ans and Firyinians, greatly ds,in-
tgn'shed themselves on Wednesday.
IL the SUI ming up OF the casualties of Mission
ssy Ridge. will oe discovered that a thousand
llen, at liberal estlm tie. will cover our entire loss
III killed and wounded. But few field officers we've
lost. The loss on the enemys side was terrific,
having to advance, exposed, up to our ~fortif,d
INES They have gained temporary advantage,
but it has cost them dearly.
The battle which ragged on Wednesday the 25ti,
from daylight until shutdown, was the most desper
! ate that has yet been fought 10 this revolution
he overwhelming forces Of The enemy, outuum
henng' us over two to one, were hurled upon us
with an impetuosity never exceeded
We were compelled to fall back TO Chickamauss
that night, the enemy being So severely punished
rs to prevent his advance. Our loss is not over
wo per cent of our forces Gen. Cleburne took
number OF prisoners During the fight on GU,
eft Gems Bragg and Breckinridse rode up aud
] Town orr lines, encouraging the troops by their
fxampe, in face of the terrible fire of the enemy
!. nd urging them to make stand But such was
he decentralization of StevtIson's division, that
hey could not be induced to rally
a