The National tribune., 1886-06-10
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
The GaIlapt Part Taken by The sth XIV.

The Gallant Part Taken By the sth KY.
To THE EDITOR: Seeing the statement Of
Lewis Blundin, Co. G, 18th Pa, in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of April 6, saying that no
9Th KY was at Lookout Mountain Nov "a,
1868, will say that he surely does not know
anything about il, as belonged to the 9Th KY.
(Co e. and will submit the following to prove
that he is mistaken:
Early on the morning of the oath of Novem-
Der, 1868, our brigade, which was composed Of
the sth KY, 2lst KY, 5lst Ohio, 99th Ohio and
35th Ind, joined Slocum's troops, of HOoker's
Corps, and moved up Lookout Valley into a
dense forest south of the Wauhatehie, where
the enemy lost sight Of US for few hours In
the forest we piled our knapsacks, blankets
and part Of our rations and left them under
guard We filed of to the left, crossed Lookout
Creek on an old mill-dam, and commenced the
difficult task ofascending the mountain through
thicket of cedars. Up, still up, meeting with
no opposition, except inanimate nature, pulling
up by shrubs and projecting rocks. At last We
reached the inaccessible walls of limestone,
perfect palisade, several hundred feet high.
This movement was still unobserved by the
enemy, who were expecting rs to attack them
in front.
We faced north, the sth Ky. forming the ex-
treme right wing of the line, therefore we were
nearest the cliff A heavy skirmish-line was
up with our skirmishers. Thus we swept along
the steep, rugged mountain side, over huge
rocks, fallen trees and deep ravines, regardless
Of the scattering shot sent at Us from the noun
tain top.
A heavy fog, that lowered over the noun
tain, enabled Us to attack the enemy by sur
prise in the flank and rear of their works.
Their evident confusion was so great that they
made but feeble, unorganized resistance, their
defense being principally Indian fighting, from
behind trees aud large rocks. We CLEANED q
rich harvest Of prisoners and several pieces Of
artillery, principally from Stevenson's Division.
Those of the enemy that were not captured fed
around the nose of the mountain, and took a
strong position on the southeastern slope, just
under a towering cliff. About this time two Of
our heavy guns on Moecasin Point opened FIRE,
and were replied to by those of the enemy on
points of Lookout, almost Immediately over
our heads. By this time, p. m-, a dense
cloud enyeloped the mountain, and the battle
that followed has passed into history as
"the battle above the clouds" The enemy
made determined stand, as they were strongly
reinforced in their fortified position. A good
many of the sth having been sent back to
Lookout Valley, in charge Of prisoners, we were
left in reserve on the nose Of the mountain,
and being near the wall or palisade the enemy
not only shot at Us whenever the cloud would
lift, so rs to enable them to see but resorted to
an awful mode Of warfare, rolling down loose
stones at Us. Under cover Of the fog, a few OF
| our sharpshooters, concealed behind trees and
| large stones, soon picked of every Johnny that
dared show his head on the top of the cliff.
| Though their ordnance made terrific noise,
their heavy missiles passed harmlessly over our
heads, as their pieces could not be depressed to
q sufficient angle to reach Us. During the
evening. and to late hour of the night, a
heavy battle was fought, as it was almost under
| our feet. Our forces succeeded in driving the
| enemy around the mountain TO the Summer
town road, and at 10 o'clock the struggle
| ceased, the Union forces expecting to renew
| the conflict at daylight. Four Of the Sth were
wounded by balls, and several injured by rocks
| rolled at US from above. None were dangerous
wounds. AS usual, every man in the regiment
and brigade did his whole duty. B. F. Wood
an excellent shot, succeeded in silencing q
particularly annoying sharpshooteT who had
secreted himself in a niche Of the irregular
crown Of the precipice. The rapidity of hi;
shots were only accounted for by his comrades
behind loading for him. Ben manuvered until
he obtained q view of the annoying rebels
head. AS the fog lifted from the mountain
Ben's unerring rife cracked. The rapid sharp
shooter sprang forward and fell on the edge o.
q rock 20 feet below. His hat, with bulle
hole in it, came to the base of the cliff. Ben
laid there long while, but no other daring
rebel showed his head at that point.
There was a sudden change in the tempera
ture of the atmosphere at the close of this event
ful and historic day. Within a few hours The
sultry, damp air had lowered to nearly zero
We felt this change more sensibly on accoun
of having exerted ourselves on the mountain
side, heating our blood, ana having our clothes
wet with perspiration. Thus, In our exaltes
position, without blankets, greatcoats, or fire
our suffering during that night can better b
imagined than described. Sleep was among
the impossibilities. But not q murmur wa
heard from these brave men.
In our silent and shivering vigils Of tn
night we could occasionally hear heavy, rum
bling noise on the top of Lookout above rs
which caused the piekets to suspect some move
ment Of the enemy. In the early dawn Of th
25th, Gen. Wat. Whitaker walked up in from
of the sth Ky. and said: "Col. Barnes, / wan
! few volunteers to climb that cliff and see
the enemy are still there" The Colonel re
piled: 1.-The whole regiment, General, if 20
wish it." Every man sprang to his feet, read
TO obey the expected command. But onl
Capt. Wilson and six picked men were permit
, ted at that time to immediate themselves o
this high altar as a sacrifice to our country
!, name. These devoted men, carrying the 9Th
flag proceeded TO ascend this hundred feet q
: more of almost perpendicular wall at q plac
where there was an irregular kind of natur;
stairway, by which hung large wild grap'
, vine. AT the base stood the otny ana VIII
bated breath we watched this brave little SQUAD
.. with their guns slung over their backs, climt
ing to where, in all probability, sudden deaf
: awaited them. At last they disappear owe
the top. Hearing no noise above US indicatin
: the presence of the enemy, we instantly con
menced the tOils0me ascent of Lookout in Cd
same manner the squad had just done.
. Just as the king of day came peeping up oy'
: Missionary Ridge, Capt. John Wilson steppe
: out on the projecting brow of Lookout MouI
! tain and unfurled to the morning breeze tn:
! dear old emblem Of light and liberty. AS Il
!; sight of the flag met the upturned gaze of OF
: vast army below, cheer after cheer echoed an
: re-echoed from camp to camp, from mountai
!. TO mountain, until the bosom of the placi
: broad Tennessee River and the beautiful va
J leys appeared to shout for joy. The enem
I during the latter part of the night had fe
: from their works on top and along I'll
J. southeast side of Lookout, and joined the ba
2 ance of Braggs army ON Mission Ridge. lea
ing over 200 of their sick and conyalescen
! with thin line Of pickets surrounding the
:. camp at Summertown, half mile west of Il
point of Lookout. As soon as the Sth reachC
the top we hastily marched out to Summe
town, where the pickets surrendered to