Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-08
THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT NOUN
TAIN.
A Confederate Officer Agrees With
General Grant That There Was no
Such Battle.
Philadelphia Times.

The Battle of Lookout Mountain, says
of the war. There was no such battle
and no action even worthy to be called
a battle on Lookout Mountain.
l clipped the foregoing from The
Times Of to-day. 1t is in perfect agree
ment with my own observation and
knowledge. As temporary brigade
commander in Bates division ofBreck-
enridges corps, Army Of Tennessee,
and as corps officer Of the day on the
occasion of the capture of Lookout
Mountain, whose duty required him to
be, most Of the time, to the front on the
picket line, the rest of which rested on
Chattanooga creek, near where it flows
into the Tennessee river at the foot of
the mountain, and as, owing to a mete-
geological phenomenon which wrapped
the valley and at least one-half the noun
tain, from its base upward. in Egyptian
darkness, orders requiring unusual vigi-
lance, lest a surprise attack should be
attempted, were received, and, as in
consequence, special watchfulness was
maintained, particularly on the left of
the line, which was thought to be the
most exposed, and as l was on the pick
ct line all the forenoon and until after
one o'clock p. m., giving the stricteSt
attention to every circumstance that
could arouse suspicion, [ feel safe in as
serting that no one in either army, not
actually engaged, had better opportuni-
ties than l for knowing when an affair
which could by any reasonable posi-
bility be magnified into "battIe" did
take place on that occasion on Lookout
Mountain.
Now, q Just conception of the magni-
tude Of the Battle of Lookout Noun
tain"-thc famous Battle Above the
Clouds" be formed when / de-
clare that not q circumstance, not even
the irregular firing of pickets or skir-
mishers, occurred to disturb the prevail
ing stiffness.
distinctly recall the surprise | cx-
perienced when, about 2 o'clock p. m.
Major Wilson, A. A. G. of General
Breckenridge's staff, to whom [ was re-
porting all quiet in front, after a short
interview with Il young officer, who,
riding rapidly through the cloud to the
summit of Mission Ridge, eXcitedly in
quircd for General Bragg's headquar-
ters, informed me that we had lost
Lookout Mountain. 1t came like q
"clap of thunder from clear sky" foI
it was the first intimation that either OF
us had that the enemy was moving, and
l suspect it was equally as great sur
prise to General Bragg.
The young officer was an aide of Gen
eral Carter Stephenson, who, with his
division, was upon the summit Of Look
out Mountain; and / learned that the
first information General Stephenson
received of the capture Ofthe mountain
was derived from some of his soldiers,
who, sauntering to the edge of the cliff
which overlooks the river and the city
of Chattanooga, discovered through
the riffs in the cloud, that Federal
soldiers were occupying the Confeder-
ate rifle-pits below, near the Craven
House.
Never have | witnessed a moro beaut,
iful pyrotechnic display than, with the
huge Lookout as black background
the firing Of the forces contending
for the road by which General Stephen
son withdrew his troops, exhibited on
the mountainside that night. The in,
terchange of leaden compliments then
made L distinctly saw and heard from
my position near the foot of the noun
tain; but never did sound of battle, OF
contest of any kind, attract my notice
during the day.
There are some deeply interesting
facts connected with the capture ol
Lookout Mountain which have never
been published. For several years [ have
been gathering data for paper upon
the subject. Strange to say that, after
repeated efforts, have been unsuccess
ful in procuring a copy of Genera
Hooker's report of that romance,
the battle of Lookout Mountain with
General Grants significant Endorsement
! thereon.
GEORGE TROUP MAXWELL.
Late Colonel First Florida Cavalry.
New Castle, Del, July %, 1878.