The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-23
GRANTS AFTER-TH0UGHIS.
Fighting Joe" Hooker Re-
plies with Force.
A SHARP REJOINDER.
An "Ex-Reber' Confirms the Battle Ac-
count of Lookout Mountain

To TEE EpIroR The NEW YORK IHiBuss:-
sK-Ny attention has just been called 10 an article
In your paper the pame OF William y. G. Shanks
m regard to the battle OF Lookout Mountain. After
The lapse OF time since the battle was fought
m ever am sorry no seems 10 have forgotten some
of the crcu stances understand
Inc OF the fight and have only moment TO call yonr
attention TO few OF his promi omissions In
his narrative, but will refer you for fuller details to
my report OF that battle. now on file IN the War De-
partment should you desire 10 inform yourself fur
shcr on tho subject On the WHOLE however, cannot
do less than 10 Mr. shanks tor tho kindinessin
his motives cspousng the controversy General Grant
has thought proper 10 open with me and my command
In regard 10 the fight Tho interview said to have
been held with that gentleman by q correspondent
OF the HERALD have always seriously doubted, and
sbsll continue to do so until fully confirmed re-
spscs,nR It. Interviewers nave OF late displayed SO
mucp cunning and mischief making in the practice
Of their pursuits think my incrcdulity viii not
appear strange 10 you General Grant has neld such
hish POSITIONS that unwilling 10 believe that no
will voluntarily back himself, or on tho troops
Their natures as ne seems 10 have DONE aud which
can Tor IN other way than that he was IN
ara zsd Ills prap OF course General Grant viii never
DO charged with having written or spoken the sub
stance ot tho interview as reported TO u.s. or tnat 10
foreign style any one who has either read or
listened TO him can readily discover strongly sus-
pect that the interviewer was 'coached oy another
ofhcsr OF the army, OF high rank. whose peculiar
mode OF warfare for some mo past has been OF this
sovsrt character
! consider inaccuracies IN Mr. Shanks' letter, may
premise briefly by saying that II was not tho Intention
the Potomac take leading role in the operations
around Chattanooga, which fact WAS not nwarc OF
CORDS Of Il sent across the Ten nessee 10 reinforce
General sherman, who, with tho Army oil the Ten
nessee. va: operating on tho opposite sxtrsml.y Of
that applied - go with the Eleventh corps. as they
were gong into battle
subsequently tho river got up. carried away tho
driIwood AMI broke the bridges before all Of Sher
mans army had crossed, ana then IT was do,er-
mined and not till then, tuat might make. with
division OF tho Twelfth corps and two divisions Of
other armies demonstration on Lookout Mountain
General Grant had previously comm cated design
10 attack Lookout Mountain, but after division
OF my command, IT Is equally Clear and satisfactory
that his original design bad been abandoned, and II
was only through the Intervention OF Divine Prov-
dencc that opportunity was presented mo for at
lack Thus you SEQ ''man often proposes, bat God
disposcs."
did attack and carry Lookout Mountain, and this
Tho first assurance TO General Grant that be was
10 DO successful IN all his operations around Chnta
pooga, ali ough General Sherman had repeatedly In
formed him OF successes which were mover realized.
Cumberland will present you with all OF the facts,
and know them TO be facts General Grant or gen.
General Grant, well other officers high
In rank. Is famous for aftsr-t boughts, you
will hnd on critical examination. We had and
presume still nave rings in the army well as out
OF IT, have not written SO much about the fight at
Lookout since the war as now have rs am an xlOus
that you should know all the acs. Ny fight ut Look
out might have equaiied General Grants Ia the Will
derness had chosen to advance IN front on the
enemy behind their introncn mcnts which seemed to
be bis favori,e mode but which his whole army re-
volied at at Cold Hsrbor. But had particular
desire to DO considered butcher in my mode Of
making war. some time l 90 hope that committee
OF Intelligent and fearless Congre ssmen may be ap-
pointed TO investigate subject and 10 report not
only this battle, but SHILOH the losses D the VIII
derness, &c, &c, as in no other WY can
eraI Ingalls,, Grants own Quarter,nas IN.
formed me that he furnished transportation for
90 900 men 20 north between the Rspidan and he
James RIVERA and, OF course this mum Der could not
embrace all the Casualties II General Grant expects
reach The third torn by The circulation G such Inn
posing ana aLOminable statements l attn inclined 70
think that he win npd II rough travelling before ne
that these hts statements. Some one Is "bull
dozing him, the Same the case among the
politicians while be was administering tho govern
ment as President. You probably saw an account Of
interview with mo ut Saratoga in which ignored
tho war, General Grant and pretty much everything
else. had learned early IN lie that tho bcst mode OF
bghtin2 tho devil was witl his own Weapons
But before writing more let us turn 10 Mr.. Shanks
letter. Not man OF Howard's command was IN tho
night at Lookou; Mountain and II had advanced IN
front ut tho base of tho mountain might have lost
bali of my command and the end have been unsuc-
eessfuI. Ii was under the influence Of my success
too that Thomas command made Its glorious assault
Mission Ridgc, Us they had all been witnesses OF
achievements on the oath and 25th, while tho
army Grants lett had accomplished nothing It
J. HOOKER, Major General
MARrHAs VINEYARD, Mass, August II, 1878.