The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-09-20

plOluS. NOt WOru Is Salu ABOUT tne
loss OF the Federal army. 1t is noto-
rious fact, hundreds were slain of his
division by prematuroly bringing on the
engagement in disobedience of order.
Having now disposed of Wauhatchie
we proceed to "IIookout Mountain" for
another of his great exploits. "The
enemy were driven by a succession Of
terrible assaults from their redoubts, re-
dams and rifle pits" we are also told
This battle is alone ascribed to Geary,
but on page 1873 Of the history Of the
campaign, the credit is given to Gen
Hooker, to whom the glory belongs.
The most ridiculous part is that Look
out Mountain never was fortified to any
extent. 1t was used as its name indi-
Gates, as a place or tower of observation
by the enemF. There were, however,
some trifing Notifications made after
the battle Of Chickamagua, when Ros-
encrans had to fall back on Chattanooga,
but these Notifications were no part Of
the facts with which Gen. Gcary had TO
DO. Any one who visits the summit Of
Lookout Mountain, look in vain for the
redoubts and redans, so formidably de-
scribed in this abolition document. This
mountain was not taken by successive
assaults, but by fanking the enemy, and
gaining the summit several miles from
where they were posted. Gen. Grant
having twice crossed the army of Ten
ncssec over the river, and had in posi-
ton beyond Chattanooga ready to attack
the enemy on Mission ridge ; thus "look
out" surrounded on three sides, leaving
but one open to the "rebs" from which
they made the best possible time, "ske
dadling" to join their main forces Oh
Mission ridge. Nothing but a feDt wa
made against the position of the enemy
while the rear flank gained the summit
Thus the desperate fighting ascribed t
the taking Of the mountain, don't az
pear in the history as given us by tn
abolition Central Committee. The larg
number of prisoners taken without tn
recording of any slain, goes far to prov
the surprise and the real character O
the fight, Gen. Gearys name, is not il
any way connected with either the bat
ties of Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain
Mission Ridge, or Ringold, by any his
torian Of these campaigns.
Surely it must have been base insrat
tude to have overlooked so prominent
character, if he had rendered his cou
try the important service claimed f
him, now by these working politician
of the abolition party, who have p,
particular stress upon these points, frs
that he "fought alone" second, that
r was Selected specially for the ardao
. work" Of taking the mountain, thir
that he kept the enemy from making
3 stand on Nilsson Ridge. Qucrie-hc
+ was the bloody and hard fought bait
@ of the next day made, if Geary provent
: the "rcbs" from making stand on NJ
$ sion Ridge?
L Truly this committee is inconsiste
d in history and it is inconsistent wi
n truth.
l, At the battle of Mission Ridge, t
5, principal fighting of the day was on t
C rebels right. They were opposed
S the army of Tennessee, under Shc
l. mans Immediate command. On t
c extreme Union left, is where &c
o Thomas pierced the rebel centre, al
C Sherman doubled up their right, T
!. command which Geary had in charge
n TIE one which should have swatch
e the gap" but instead Of this the "reb
Z were allowed to stampede. This CO
+ tral Committee make it out that CO
&c Geary bravely pursued the enemy aft
1t he had let them escape. At Ringc
he was held at bay, until Gen. Sherm
had to again get him out Of troub
IS Thus we have an exhibition Of the V
o orOus deeds, so eloquently comment
u upon By the abolition central committ'
= This brings US down to the closi
e. scene of that year, that of driving t
'f Confederates out of Tennessee. L
le consummation of this is again large
it ascribed to Geary, as might have be
" expected of the committee. Th
d strange as it may seem, the name
al Geary does appear in the history OF til
sr campaign, as given faithfully by Go