The National tribune., 1885-12-31
TAKING OF CHATTANOOGA.
The Major Of the 8gd Ill. Mounted Inf. Tells How
Ii Was.

To THE EDITOR: In The NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE of recent date, Maj. Coulter, of the 64th
Ohio, gives very interesting account OF the
taking of Chattanooga, and the Whereabouts OF
Bragg's army. The Major is moderately cor
rect in his narrative, but there are some mac
curacies beg leave to correct. The following
is literally the true story:
Sept 8 the 92d III. Mid Inf, as instructed,
reported to Gen. Thomas at Trenton. AT 1
p. n. Capt. Van Buskirk, with so picked men
of Co. E, was ordered on a scout to the top OF
Lookout Mountain. They climbed Lookout by
Nickajack trace each man leading his horse up
the steep narrow trail They pushed the rebel
pickets to Summertown. At 10 o'clock that
night they reported to Gen. Rosecrans authen-
| tic information of the evacuation of Chatta-
nooga. Gen. Rosecrans issued a written order
| to the 92d that it should take the advance into
| Chattanooga and send him prompt information
| Anticipating the jealousy likely to occur III
| giving US the advance, he directed in the order
| that all infantry commanders should give us
| the road
Attain. of the 9Th, we were in the saddle
moving down the Trenton Valley. We had nc
! opposition until we struck Gen. Woods com
| mand moving in the same direction. He, aftel
reading our orders, reluctantly halted his oil
vision and permitted us to pass, but not with
| out criticism of Gen. RoSecrans's instructions
to us. We had barely passed through ms com
mand when we began to skirmish with the
rebels at the western slope or foot of Lookout
We drove them up and over the neck OF the
Mountain, and then dashed into Chattanooga
some two and half miles distant and ran uI
the flag of the 92d on the Crutchfeld House
about $3.50 a. N.
The Major says: "Upon arrival at the hote
| we found a squad of Federal soldiers In posses
sion of the city. They swan the river ane
brought their flag with them" i regret tha
-, &c, ,nt laff tor inf
was eight companies, 600 strong-two compa
nies having followed the rebels out On the Ross
vile road.
When Woods command arrived in Chatta
nooga we moved out of the city to the moutf
of Chickamauga Creek, TO drive away an!
rebels who might attempt to impede the pas
sage of the remainder of our brigade (Wilder S
from crossing the Tennessee at that point. W.
learned from negroes and citizens that day tha
| Bragg was not far away, and was receiving re
endorsements. We camped that night at Boyce
while Gen. Chalmers (rebeD cavalry were bu
half mile away in camp. These facts wer
dispatched to Gen. Rosecransg
On the night of the 10th we camped at Gray
vile, where we captured a rebel mail and mucl
information. At midnight we received an or
der to report to Gen. Rosecrans at Lafayette
At daylight of the 18th we were in the saddle
| and advancing struck the rebels mile north o
RInggold, and after a skirmish found 13 dea'
rebels on the field with four of our mel
wounded. During the day we struck the rebel
several times and saved wagon train from
; capture. At 1890 p. m., were at Gordon's Mill
with plenty of rebels in our front. Here W
received an order directing the 92d to report t.
Gen. Rosecrans at foot of Lookout, on the Sum
mertown road. We arrived there before sui
down and reported the experience of the day
As we moved out from Gordons Mill shor
distance away we met brigade or two o
infantry going in the direction of Lafayette
but they were suddenly checked by the enem.
near the mill. 1t is here that the Major
narrative again becomes interesting in th
matter of imparting the first authentic infor
nation to the commanding General as to th
rebels i'm the front 1t will be seen that Gen
Rosecrans did not go to Lafayette, but was il
full and personal communication with th
Colonel of the 92d Ill. at the very hour tina
Harker's Brigade was going into camp an
position at Gordon's Mill. With due regard TO
the Major and his brave comrades, feel it bu
due the boys of the 92d to share the honor
they justly earned as part of Wilder's Brigade
We were no Insignificant squad" nor did W
swim the Tennessee River 70 run up the fas
l think, however, that some of Wagner's me
from the north side attempted something c
the kind.-JoHN Fl. BoHN, Major, 92d IL
Mid. Inf, ST. Louis, Mo.