Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-04-22

MISSIONARY RIDGE,
which rises to the height of about 700
feet. II claims its name from the Mo
ravian Mission among the Cherokees,
once located near its eastern slope, and
still marked by the old Indian burying
ground, in the center of which stands
d monument to DIR. Samuel Worcester,
the first secretary of the A merican Board
of Missions. Tue ridge has become his
tOric ground since the battle of Novem>
Der 25, 1868. AloBg its crest the old line
of breastworks, in which General Bragg
entrenched his forces, still remains, for
chile reminder ef the cruel strife which
survives only in sad memories and re-
g, ,ets that it should have been. On one
of the series of mounds rising out Of the
plains, about half way between the city
aHd the ridge. is the
NATIONAL CEMETERY,
ia which nearly 1900 of our soldiers
sleep under the watch-care of the Nation
they died to save. TIE whole tract of
6O acres is enclosed by substantial
stone wall. The grounds naturally beau
tiful. are kept ia perfect order, and each
succeeding year adds something to de-
| light the eye or touch the heart of the
visitor. The magnificent road recently
made to the cemetery by the general gov
ernment, together with the charming
drives through the grounds, the quiet
beauty of the spot itself, and the histor-
ical associations connected with it, all
tend to make visit to this spot one of
the most enjoyable feasts, which even
Chattanooga with all of her wealth of
scenery can furnish.
| On the site of the old fort on Cameron
hill, has been constructed a reservoir.
Around the north point of this hill, the
river turns sharply to the left and runs
due south at the base of the left side. and
on till it strikes the foot of Lookout
Mountain, then sweeping to the right
around the base of the mountain, it runs
north, leaving strip or prOmontory be-
tween, called Moccasin bend, on account
of its striking resemblance in shape to
human foot with a moccasin on 1.-THE
very buckets on it being pictured, as seen
from the top of Lookout Mountain.
1t was across this point that General
Hooker marched his forces, after having
crossed the river at the foot of Market
street, then crossed the river again, and
at daylight GU the oath of November.
had his army in position in the Lookout
valley, west of the mountain. Here is
where Hookers men made their memor
able ascent of the mountain, Fighting
above the clouds" the rebels,
and having sharp engagement on the
plateau just below the point. which re-
suited in the defeat of the Confederate
forces, who retreated rapidly across
Chattanooga valley and Joined Bragg's
forces on Missionary Ridge. The stars
and stripes were soon hoiSted on the
point which could be seen by the whole
army around Chattanooga Hooker then
swept around to the east of the noun
tain, chasing the rebels, and took his po-
sition on the right of Thomas army.
near the Rossvile pike, which crosses
The Chattanooga valley and leads to
Rossville gap, through the village of
ROssville, about three miles below the
city.
TO visit Chattanooga for the purpose of
sight seeing and not ascend to and stand on
the top of the far>farmed Lookout Mountain,
and there 'View the landscape O'er," would
be like ''the play OF Hamlet with Hamlet left
out" So we, like others, considering it the |
proper and necessary thing to do, proceeded
to take q carriage drive to Lookout. Secur>
ing a carriage and fine team at Hawkins
livery stables, and his intelligent and oblig>
ing driver, Daniel, we set out one fine day to
do up the mountain. AT er drive of some
three miles down the valley, We came to the
foot OF the mountain, there commenced to |
ascend on the eastern face on a wagon road, |
which wound around and zig Zaged about on
d grade of from eight to ten degrees, and
in hic fruO md
half miles, consuming about an hour-having
a fine view all this while of Chattanooga val
ley-we getting farther and farther above it,
Lookout House was reached-a fine hotel on
the crest of the mountain, for the entertain>
ment of guests during the summer months,
when it gets 80 hot in the city of the valley
below that many ''hee to the mountains" to
get the cool mountain breeZes and escape the
pestiferous mosquito. Turning to the right
and passing along the crest of the mountain,
on an ascending grade about half mile, We
enter Mountain Park and soon the point is
reached. Here a most wonderfully grand,
beautiful and intensely interesting
view opens up to our enraptured vision.
How is that for adjectives and adverbs?) In
front, looking north and 100 feet below, is
the city, with Moccasin Bend coming down, as
it were, at our feet. To the west is Lookout
CiCCh duO NdliCyj " CdSL 10 SHdltduVOSdI
creek and valley, and beyond is Missionary
Ridge, extending from Rossville Gap two
miles down the valley, whore Hooker passed
through, to point some six miles up the
valley and within mile of the Tennessee
river, and just below the mouth of the south
river, where Sherman, leaving
his concealed camp, crossed over and made
his attack on the batteries of the Confederate
forces at the head of the ridge. The river,
too, is seen winding its serpentine way, ap-
the city round q bend from the
north, then turning west past the north side
Of the city It'll Champion Hill is reached,
around the base of which it swings and runs
directly north toward where we stand till it
reaches the base of the mountain directly un>
der our feet, then sweeps around the Mocca-
sin Benz and runs from US nOrthward till it
disappears through the mountain.
Daniel is all attention, showing us all the
points of interest on the mountain. l stepped
up on the rock upon which JEFF. Davis stood
when he made the speech to his Confederate
officers and soldiers during siege, in which he
Told them to ''carry out their plans and victory
was sure: that their possession was impregna-
BILE; to hold on and the rthern hordes under
Gen. Thomas would soon be starved out and
have to abandon the place." The niche be-
tween rocks was shown us where some of
Hooker's men scrambled to the top of the
point after the main portion of the Confeder-
ates had retreated, sent the few remaining
down the mountain, and planted
the stars and stripes on possibly the same
rock where JEFF. Davis made his speech.
In coming down the mountain we took
different road from the one which we ascended
II is called the new road, having been made
recently. 1t is longer but of much better
grade and very smooth. 1t is reached by pass
ing down the crest Of the mountain about
half mile farther than where the old road
reaches the crest. At the place where this
new road commences its descent, near the
head OF deep ravine, is located hotel called
the Mountain House, with front to the road and
the rear just at the brink of a rocky chasm an
hundred feet deep, and on the opposite side of
the rOnd where il crnshes neac the head of the