Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-08-07
The B1TER or LOOKOUT NOUN.
TAIN.


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2 The Hale ofLookout Mountain, says
General Grant, was one ofthe romances
OF the WAr. There was no such battle
AID no iction even worthy TO be called
a battle IN Lookout Mountain.
CLIPPED the foregoing from The
Times olto-day. 1. is in perfect agree,
| ment With my own observation and
knowledge. AS temporary brigade
comma1ber in Bates division of Breck-
enridge1 corps. Army of Tennessee,
and as Sorps officer of the day on the
OCCASION Of the capture of Lookout
MUuntah, whose duty required him to
be, mOsj Of the time, to the front on the
picket Inc, the rest of which rested on
Chattanooga creek, near where it flows
into thdTennessee river at the foot of
the metntain, and as, owing to mete.
orolOgi4l phenomenon which wrapped
the vall(y and at least one half the noun
tain, from its base upward. in Egyptian
darkness, orders requiring unusual vigil
lance, Rst surprise attack should be
attempted, were received, and, as in
consequence. special wstchfulness was
maintahed, particularly on the left of
the line which was thought to be the
most exposed, and as was on the pick
ct line 81 the forenoon and until after
one o'dock p. M, giving the strictest
attention to every circumstance that
could Arouse suspicion, feel safe in as
sorting that no one in either army, not
actually engaged, had better opportuni-
ties than for knowing. when an affair
which tould by any reasonable posi-
bility be magnified into a "battie" did
take phce on that occasion on Lookout
| Mountain.
Now, a just conception OF the magni-
tude of the q Battle of Lookout Noun
tain"-the famous Battle Above the
Clouds"-may be formed when l de-
clare that not circumstance, not even
the irregular firing of pickets or skir-
mishers, occurred to disturb the prevail
ing stiffness. lt'' 'i'-' fi'
/ distinctly recall the surprise l ex-
perienced when, about 2 o'clock D. 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 a young officer, who,
riding rapidly through the cloud to the
summit of Mission Ridge, excitedly in
quired for General Bragg's headquar-
tiers, informed me that we had lost
Lookout Mountain. 1t came like
"clap of thunder from clear sky" for
it was the first intimation that either of
us had that the enemy was moving, and
| suspect it was equally as great sur
prise to General Bragg. 81. t..
The young officer was an aide Of Gen
eral Carter Stephenson, who, with mis-
division, was upon the summit IF Look
first Information General Stephenson
received ofthe 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. f.ll ..s
Never have l witnessed more 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" or
contest of any kind, attract my notice
during the day.
There are some deeply interesting
facts connected with the capture OF
Lookout Mountain which have never
been published. For several years have
been gathering data for a paper upon
the subject. Strange to say that, after
repeated efforts, have been unsuccess-
iui in procuring copy Of General
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 %, 1873.
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