New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-09
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
HOOKER,s .MYTHIcALp BArTLE.

SIR: The very general but not altogether
learned discussion the nature Of the engagement
at Mountain 1863 which has been provoked
Ivy the remark Of General Grant Herald correspond
emit that there was no battle Lookout Mountain, is
somewhat surprising In view Of the fact that few en-
counters OF the Rebellion have been deliberately
described and Illustrated than tho battle above the
clouds" Twas present at the engagement In the capacity
OF correspondent Of The ge York Herald lam positive
that william s. Furay, then correspondent Of The Gin
eIRnah Gazette and myself. the only correspond
ents who collected their information the grounds and
it has been suggested TO that some personal ooserFa
the fight might prove Of interest published
in The Herald at that time, elaborate account OF the
several combats which made up the three days battle t
Chattanooga and have little occasion TO change
the narrative then written the conclusions then
reached.
observation-disclosures Megs. in dispatch to General
Halleek. officially gave the fight at Lookout Mountain
the dignity and importance OF battle and the poetcai
aspect OF struggle Of giants above the clouds General
Grant is technically correct in saying there was no
battle there he doubtless meant TO make the distinction
between combat between small divisions OF TWO
armies and general engagement Of the entire forces on
both sides The truth ia that there battle there
nothing than Z" affair."" or more properly
speaking combat" and there were no clouds to 1ght
abovo-only heavy mist which settled down and en-
veloped the base Of the mountain.
But for all that Hooker has received the ful
credit due for of the most brilliant man@uvres OF
the best fought battle of the war;" as General Haleck
very properly designated the battle OF Chattanooga
Grant lost few men, accomplishing so much at such
little OF blood that the time he did not get oil the
credit he deserved. 1t the finest work Grant ever
did, don't the most mportdnt-but certainly the
skfu He Issued his orders for the battle, detail
ing the movements to be executed by each corps ana
fixing the time at which they to BIO made, three
days before the battle begun. got copy OF that
order at the same time thar his corps commanders |
1nfu rlauf gUng
to be done. enabled TO secure map illustrating
the several movements, and that map was made for |
me by Colonel W. b. Cav. then Grants chief Topographic
cal engineer, and 1t published precisely as made IA
The Herald OF December q 1868 1t made at Grants
headquarters in Chattanooga, but think he knew |
nothing about it, though General Rawlins. his chief OF
staff, gave consent its preparation Nor did Grant
ever know that Mr. Furay and had copies Of his secret
orders for the battle One other correspondent then in
Chattanooga, j. +. p Doyle then OF The Cncinnah |
Commercial, and now, think. connected with The Be1
York Herald, also this order Of battle before |
10 was executed. My great admiration for Grant as
the leading military mind of the Civil War is based
largely upon the fact that that plan OF battle was car
ed letteras 10 time, place ana circumstance
with two exceptions, and these alterations we're caused
By circumstances over which he had control I was
only another proof Of his genius for war that these un
oreseen accidents did not materially 6isconeert MS pre-
arranged plans. The FIRST change was in the time Of
opentpR the battle. Reports came that Bragg was |
preparing to eVacuate his positions on Lookout |
Mountain and Mission Ridge-the mountains encireing
Chattanooga two sdesDosltions strong enough as
either Furay myself said at the time land can't
remember which OF it was). positions strong
enough TO hOd themselves" In order 10 detatn Bragg
long enough TO thrash him, Grant far changed his
paus ma TO order capture Of position In front OF his
centre on the afternoon OF November 80 which he had
intended TO take on morning of November A. while
sherman making the passage OF the Tennessee
River The other change in the plan was forced ny tho
destruction Of his DonOon bridges across the Tennessee
River and it was this accident which gave Hooker the
opportunity for his brilliant and successful movement
at Lookout Mountain. For this part OF the battle Grant
serves no credit than do, and for the eOneep-
ton OF which Hooker entitled TO all the credit WITH
out rebate or dispute. Anybody who denies him all the
honors for IL is either selsn or misniormed Ana am
assured thar both classes are very large
Lookout Mountain was the extreme left OF the rebel
line of investment Of Chattanooga. IL held by
single division Of rebels Just exchanged after capture at
ylcksburg and commanded by General Stevenson
Hooker as tho right Of Grants army. with Gearys'
Towards and Osterhauss divisions confronted the
mountain lying in the valley west Of it, The rebels had
well fortified the slope OF the mountain; its summit or
crown was Of perpendicular palisades thirty or forty
feet high aud could be reached only By road which
tue opposite side from the position held by Hooker
The rebel works the base were very strong and
stevenson could have wthstOOd the direct assault OF
intention TO seriously assault the WORKS. but
ma had ordered Hooker 70 send Howard's and
Osterhaus's divisions, under cover OF night, on
November o. TO aid in the grand assault
Of the centre which "Pap" Thomas George H. was to
conduct Tho moment Bragg weakened his centre |
Hooker with Gearys division, 10 make such demon
trations against the rebel works to detan Stevenson
there and If possible force Bragg weaken his centre
by sending achievements TO him. But 1t happened
that after Howard bad got across the Tennessee to
Thonass position the two pOntoon bridges on the Ten
nessee were swept away by RATS set aoat by the rebels
and so Hooker left on the morning OF November 2i
with Geary's and Osterhauss divisions, and two de-
eb brioadeso of the Fourth Corps under Whitaker and
Grove who had also been Interrupted in their march
10 the centre where the great movement was To
he made Under those circumstances. Grant sent word
TO Hooker that he might carry Lookout Mountain II he
could do 80 without serious loss But 1t wouldn't pay to
sacrifice too much life
Hooker remember was in raptures. He had been |
studving Lookout for weeks and had devised plan 20
capture not only the rebel works hut the rebels In them
and he went at IL ON that memorable morning with |
more than his usual enthusiasm The mountain has
curious form ut It's northern point where the fight took
Mace II IL l4OO feet above the Tennessee River which
runs at its foot. The palsade or brow Is perpendcu
lar for thirty forty feet Then II slopes for about five
bun5red feet to bench IAN almost level stretch OF
two hundred feet In width, running for several miles
southvard on both sides OF the mountain. Then it |
slopes again to the river at IT'S northern anG LOOKOUT
Crek at It's western base. The rebel works were iust
below this bench on the lower slope, and ran back
abont a mile from the Tennessee River. They did not
,,ca aourh ward the rebels anticipating attack
rom thar direction. HoOkers plan not only TO
ae them on flank, but In the rear also, and actually
ton enc mountan above, instead OF below the rebel
nosIiirn and this Is practically what was done.
nature favored Hookers plan It had begun raining
early in tie morning "A mere drizze' however which
continued only q few hours. The moisture of the |
oorth tormed heavy mist which envelOped the Dase OF
inc mountain slowy ascending. Under cover this |
mat or fog Hooker moved Geary, Whitaker aud /
eve se yer miles south OF the rebel works. and then
.rched them still undiscovered, directly the side
I Inc mountain until they reached the palisades at the
e., TheV could 20 no further up without scaling lad.
wy, I'M nnhnlnIl Inv