New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-27
AN ARMY OFFICERS ACCOUNT.

AN ARMY OFFICERS ACCOUNT.
HOoKER's FIGHT NOT BATTLE, BUT STILL A GREAT
sUCCEss-HooKERs DEFEAT OF TIE LEFT WING
BALANCES sHERMANs FAILURE TO TURN THE
REBEL RIGHT.
TRIBUNEs reporter recently met prom
inent ex-oGicer Of the army who intimately
nocted with the operations about Chattanooga and
specially wei informed the plans Of the battle at
that point.
YOu very closely connected" said tho reporter,
with General Grant in the Chattanooga movements.
You must have read OF the controversy that has arisen
now what are the facts about the attack Lookout
Mountain Z"
L was thoroughly oOgnzant" was the reply of the
original plan of the battle of Chattanooga from begin
ming to end. 1 was with General William r. Smith
e Badly Smith when he selected the point where
Sherman's army the Tennessee River, the
point where the attack Missionary Ridge to be
made upon the extreme right of Braggs command, and
also with him when he directed the construction Of a
bridge the Chickamauga Greek its entrance into
the Tennessee River, which brigade OF cavalry
to be thrown to threaten Braggs communications
well prevent, by tearing mp the road 10 the
north, the Teturn OF LODgstreet with his command in
time to the battle to aid Bragg This little com
mand OF cavalry important part of the move
ment; it fulfilled its mission tar as TO cause all the
stores of the rebels fired the main depot of
plies of Bragg behind his right and rear and also
PEELED the Rebels themselves destroy the bridge
mand might have returned to assault Grant in his
rear"
" But about Hooker re
further portion Of the original plan required the
march Of division Of troops in the afternoon Of the
day before the fight TO begin up the Lookout valley
to threaten the road the mountain, distance Of
about twenty miles south from Chattanooga. Pickets
be thrown ont at that point camp-dres TO
be lighted and then force quietly withdraw
return to Hookes position and cross the Tennessee at
daylight next morning TO Join Sherman In the work
ing out OF the plans time it had been determined
force under Hooker attack the rebel command
covering Lookout Mountain That was. however aban-
doned first. Mr. shanks in his letter
has deliberately stated, because the troops were
wanted to turn Braggs right flank and throw him back
from his line Of rotreat second because the natural OBJ
staces be met in attack Lookout Mountain Of
ered such resistance to the movement OF troops
Unfortunately however on the night Of November 23
the night before the day fixed for the batethe bridges
across the river broken by drfwoOd thus leaving
isolated and under Hooker's command about two
divisions more than originally intended Finding
that TO be the case Grant directed Hooker 10 make
demonstration and his discretion with refer
enee to the advsabiIity Of carrying the mountain"
"TheD Grant did not plan the attack on Lookout"
ono He never thought OF the details at all The OPP
eratons were very skfuly and very successfully con
Quoted by General Hooker and although not IN view Of
the ghug which place at other points OF the line,
Db
separate battle yet I'm comparison with General sher-
mans failure turn Braggs right flank, HooEeTs sue
cess was an absolute necessity, and upon that success
hinged all the subsequent actions OF the last DAY Of the
battle"
The battle lasted two days -
"Practicaly though it is usually called three days
battle SO far the clouds Of Lookout are concerned
that is Of no consequence. The fight extended into the
night which was bright and starlight. | think moon
light too aud there bad been all day. and was still at
night. a mist about the base Of the mountain above
which could be seen the flashes Of musketry. This
tinued some time after dark This fighting OF night
amounted however 10 nothing than very slight
skirmsh lighting took place in the day, and
il was not heavy work, but skilfu.
81 was with shermans command from the evening
before until about OF the rt dayOf the battle aud
joined Thomass command in the centre where
remained until the ridge carried the second
day. OF the details Of Hookers movements beyond tho
reports that were made at the time, personally, know
nothing But know this: II Hooker had not succeeded
IN carrying Lookout Mountain. Thomas would have had
no available force send through the Rossyle pass 10
attack Braggs left flank preliminary to the assault Of
the centre sherman had failed to turn BPaggs rights
tho attack on the centre mad to wait HoOkers turning Of
the Rebel lett aud depended for on that move
ment. Hooker's command being free and having
descended from the mountain into the Chattanooga
Valley on that morning November 24b was ordered at
once through Rossvile to turn the enemys left flank
winch was done.
How about Thomas's charge -
After the Rebel left flank turned, bat before know
ing that Il had been, Grant ordered charge by Thumass
corps upon the repits at the base OF Mission Ridge
THESE we're carried without any fighting and tits part
OF history already many times repeated that on arriy
ing at the base the ridge winch was the full extent OF
the order given by Grant, the soldiers demanded to be
led TO the top Of the ridge which they successfully car
RED because the fact that Hooker had already turned
Brarcs left flank The successful Issue of the battle dc
pended on one hgnk the other being turned. Sher
man failed absolutely Hooker succeeded aud so far
contributed to final grand triumph on the centre
II Hooker had not carried Lookout Mountain as he
cid with ms command ent roly isolated as IL was, as
before said Thomas would have had force 10
send through the Rossve pass, and the battle could
only have continued by another day Of assault by sher
mans command. What success sherman would have
met with after two days OF failure is not for anybody to
assert"
WHAT TIE FOURTEENTH CORPS SAW.