The National tribune., 1886-09-16
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN,
And the Part the sth Ky. Took There.

To THE EDITOR: Allow me to give a short
account of the battle Of Lookout Mountain,
which, think, will convince Lewis Blundin
that the Sth Ky. was most certainly in that en-
gagement.
Leaving Chattanooga on the 23d Of oc-
tober, 1863, we marched to the north side of
the river into Moccasin Bend, opposite
Lookout Mountain, and about the 9th Gen.
Hooker's forces from the Potomac arrived in
Lookout Valley and attacked the enemy at
Wauhatchie on the 2Sth.. After hot engage
ment they drove the enemy south Of Lookout
Creek and made connection with our army
by pontoon bridge near the foot Of Sand
Mountain. About the 30th our brigade was
ordered TO march, and on the LIST or I'd Of No
vember we crossed the river over the treacher-
ors pontOon bridge and ran the gantlet up
through Lookout Valley. We struck camp at
Wauhatchie and lay in line of battle during the
night, ready for any emergency. At sunrise
We ate hasty breakfast and marched back to
Shellmound, Tenn. where we remained until
the Odd.
We then marched out with 80 rounds of car
tridges and four days rations and halted for the
night at the base Of Mount Raccoon, opposite TO
and west of frowning Lookout, on whose sum-
NIT and western side the enemy's campfires
twinkled like stars in the black distant hori-
zon. Every man in our army from private to
Gen. Grant knew il would be a desperate I'M
dertaking TO drive the Johnnies from that
mountain: they had fortified that naturally
strong position where the best of military skill
OF the rebel officers thought would add 10 its
defense. But the possession Of Lookout was
also of great Importance 10 the Union army,
and Gen. Grant said it must be taken.
The morning of the oath our brigade, of the
Fourth Corps, Joined Socum's troops, of Hook
ers Corps, and moved up Lookout Valley into
dense forest south of the Wauhatchie, where
the enemy lost sight of us for few hours. In
this forest we piled our knapsacks, blankets
and part of our rations and left them under
guard. We crossed Lookout Creek on an old
milldam and commenced the difficult task Of
ascending the mountain, pulling ourselves up
by shrubs and projecting rocks until we reach
ed the wall of limestone, q perfect palisade
several hundred feet high. This movement
was still unobserved by the enemy, who were
expecting us TO attack them in front. We faced
north, the eth Ky. forming the extreme right
wing of the line; therefore the sth was near
est the cliG. We moved forward and swept
along the steep, rugged mountain-sde over huge
rocks fallen trees, and deep ravines. heavy
fog that hevered over the mountain enabled us
10 take the enemy by surprise in the flank and
rear of their works. Their confusion was SO
great that they made but little resistance, and
we CLEANED rich harvest of prisoners and sew
eral pieces Of artillery. Those who were not
captured fed around the nose Of the mountain
and took strong position on the southeastern
slope just under the towering cliff Our heavy
siege guns on Moscasin Point opened fire, and
were replied TO by those on the point of Look
out, almost Immediately over our heads
BY that time - p. m.) dense cloud envel-
oped the mountain, and the battle which fol-
lowed has passed into history as the battle
above the clouds. During the evening and to
late hour Of the night heavy battle was
fought Our forces succeeded in driving the
nd
road, aud about 10 o'clock the struggle ceased.
In the early dawn of the 25th Gen. Wat. Whit
aker said To Col. Sid. Barnes /" i want a few
volunteers TO climb that cliff and see if the en-
envy arc still there"
The Colonel replied:
" The whole regiment, General, if you wish
It,"
But only Capt. Wilson and six men were
permitted at that time 10 take the flag of the
sth Ky. 10 ascend this hundred feet or more of
almost perpendicular wall at q place where
there was an irregular kind of n natural stair
way, by which hung a large wild grapevine.
With their guns slung over their backs they
made their way To the top. Hearing no noise
above them indicating the presence of the en-
envy, the remainder of the regiment COM
menced the toilsome ascent of Lookout in the
manner the squad had just done. Just at the
break of day Capt. John Wilson stepped out on
the projecting brow Of Lookout Mountain and
unfurled TO the morning breeze the flag Of the
sth Ky. AS the sight of the flag met the up
turned gaze of our vast army below cheer after
cheer echoed from camp 10 camp and the beau
tiful valleys appeared TO shout for Joy. The
pickets on Lookout surrendered without even
firing gun. We also captured 40 large mar
once tents and other commissary goods.
The seth Ill, commanded by Col Champion,
was ordered up, and Joined the sth in throwing
up line Of earthworks near the point Of the
mountain. On the 25th Of November, our first
day on Lookout, we We're eyewitness of one
of the grandest battle scenes that took place
during the war. Many Of the officers and men
Of our two regiments seated themselves to
view for the first time a great battle at q safe
distance-the battle of Missionary Ridge.-F.
M. THOMPSON, Co. ID, sth KY, Paris, Ky.