Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-08-16

MaM' No Action Worthy 10 he Called
BaNe ON Lookout Mountain"
Chicago Tribune
! nave Il along been under the inn
preston TIT | witnessed II Lookout
Mountain s smart little engagement
which has Kissed into hiSorv rs the
battle ot loonut Mountain EN,prcsi-
dent GranI ha, according q \ recent
interview, dcclgcd, 'Thep was ne
such i battle, AM no actor worthy "a
he called battle or Lookout Moum-
tam; and notice that 4 florida colo
mel say hcQulte agrteswith GEN. Grant
or course II will he demed prpsuutptu-.
Gus iar 4 non-militarv man 10 oppoSe
his statement 20 thatlf men Of such
rcnown. but Cannot REST the tcmpt.
ton IS tell what knM uf that little
affair. | believe was te only civilian
with Gen. Hooker on TIT occasion,
certainly the only war correspondent.
On the day proceeding the battle
| WAS With Gen. Palmer command III
Hoglaw Valley, opposit Bridgeport.
Gen. Palmer wished to Sand some mes
sage to Chattanooga, anG volunteered
to carry il. started early, WAS fcrried
over the river III ski by native,
my horse swimming behind, and took
my way to Wauhatchi, where there
had been Il brisk little engagement the
night before, and where tie ground was
still covered With the horses slain on
that occasion. From Nauhatchic
passed into Lookout Wiley and rode
rapidly toward Chattanooga The rebels
still occupied the top of .ookout rs
we'll remember, having been the re-
ciplcnt of their attentions III the shape
of shots from II battery sNtioued there.
The Tennessee River mikes bend nj
the point Of Lookout, md some dis
lance below, out ot rcacl Of rebel cam
non, the federal troops hal constructed
a nontoon- bridge. Ii ws nj the river
bank, Just Al the end Of this bridge that
| found Gen. Grant, Gen. Howard, Gen.
Hooker, and other military celebrities
III close consultations. delivered my
message, and shortly after Cen. Grant
and his accompanying generals crossed
the river made myself known t.
Gen. Hooker, and accepted his invita-
item 70 pnrtake Of his hospitality for the
night. all the moro readily because it
was supplemented by the information
that he had quantity Of ice and mp
pleJack combinations not then To be
found III all parts Of the conlcdcrcy.
Gen. Hooker WAS good soldie., but he
did not at that time attempt 70 conceal
his tondness for beverages that always
cheer and sometimes inehrlate. rec
ollcct subsequently Git does not CON
Germ tins narrative, but give il lest |
should forget il when get further on)
that, during one of the numerous fights
which followed the battle If Lookout
Mountain, Gen Hooker called 10 me ~
| WAS seeking information and lodging
rebel bullets, ana said. Bod, have Nou
any good whiSky?7 | had Il cantecn
partly filled, which | usually carried,
not for personal use, for | rarely drank
it, but because found it il potent M
gllmcnt TO extract information from
thirsty but unwilling natives, and |
handed il to HIM, saying. have Il lit
tie commissary, General, but it's mighty
poor STUFF Gen. Hooker took the can
teen, unsercwed the top, applied his
nose to the aperture raised it To his
Inns, opened his mouth and closed his
eyes, and | could hear tie liquid CUR
gle IN IFS passage down has elongated
throat until every drop was absorbed,
Handing the empty cantcen back tome,
the General sighed md said; us very
good. Whisky's always good, Bod.
Bat TO resume. Next morning
made preparations To cross the river, 20
night, the bridge had been destroyed.
There was bottled up is eilcculally
rs ever Gen. Butler WAS at Fort Fisher.
! had heard that something was on the
taps ut the front, and was anxious Ia
BE there. SAID ~ much to Gen.
Hooker, who explained that il was I'M.
possible to cross the river, and SAID that
If staid lie wouldn't beat bll surprised
if saw u lively time III lookout Val
ley. Shortly after, Cen Garry, 1T the
head Of several regiments, marched
leisurcly down the valley until he
reached Wauhatchic Creek, when lie
turned square to the left and marched
up the side Of the mountain. Mean
time Gen. Hooker, and his staff had
taken Their positions upon the top Of a
hill Or mound in the valley opposite the
point of the mountain. We had excel
lent field glasses, and the whole side q
the mountain was spread ont like d
map before Us. Gen. Geary disposed
Of lis men in line Of battle rs well Is
tie surface Irregularities would allow
put out bis skIrmish line, and com
menced hls march along tie
face Of the mountain towards the
point around which the river flowed
AT this time a battery Or two, which hae
been stationed opposite, opened iirt
upon the line Of Confederate ritle-pits a
the base, and compelled their hasty
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