The National tribune., 1886-07-15
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN,


~ otcH " VI INC oOtH HE
To THE EDITOR: Comrade Lucas. of the sth
KY, who writes from Creston, Iowa, in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of June 10, regarding the
action at Lookout Mountain. is but partly
right. Gen. Whittaker's old Brigade was COM
posed of the 96th and Il5th ILL.,, 10th Ohio and
Sith Ind. Following Chiekamauga, and upon
the organization of the Fourth Corps, Col.
Barnes's old Brigade of Crittenden's Corps-0r
four regiments of 1t, viz, the Sth KY, 3oth
Ind, 51st and Goth 0hi0-was sent to Gen.
Whitaker, so that there were eight regiments
in his command at the time of the battle. IL
is my impression that one or more of these
were left at Shellmound. Be that as it may,
the Goth Ill. and doth Ohio were in the battle
and were with their brigade
As the troops moved up the mountain in the
early morning the Goth III. led one of the col
umns. When the columns halted and came to
a front this regiment was close up under the
Palisades and occupied the right of the second
line. At its left and below it was the 10th
Ohio. When the lines had advanced alorfg the
side of the mountain until the first rebels were
encountered the first line halted partly be-
cause of excessive fatigue and partly to reform.
At this juneture Gen. Whittaker's Brigade
passed forward, took the advance, and held it
until the point was rounded. The Goth III.
was close up under the Palisades the 10th Ohio
next. The fighting was continuous until nearly
4p.m.
Near the Craven house the 10th fronted an
open field, beyond which was heavy line Of
the enemy. Across this field they charged,
only to be driven back. As they retired the
rebels swarmed after them in wild exultation.
Col. Champion was quick to see his opportunity
and left-wheeled his regiment (the Goth, the
men scrambling down the rocks, many of them
falling as they sought to reach the margin of
the field. From their new position, which had
been gained without the enemy discovering the
movement, they commanded the field and
made terrific slaughter. Many Of the rebels
surrendered then and there, the 10th again
sweeping across the field and taking numerous
prisoners and some artillery. For this move
ment the 96th and its gallant Colonel were
highly cOmplimented. Later the 96th changed
its front again and continued the forward
movement
1t is possible that some other regiment may
then have been moved to the right, but certain
1t IS that the Seth III. had the extreme right Of
the front line from IL o'clock a. m. until after
O'Clock p. m. Its losses embraced one killed
and 20 wounded, among the latter being our
gallant color bearer, SwanbrOugh, who was the
only one unwOunded of the eolor-guard at
Chickamauga. and three line officers. The 10th
Ohio had IL killed, including Maj. Acton, and
about 20 wounded
Comrade Lucas only claims that the 9Th Ky.
had four wounded; and while / am aware that
the number of casualties is not always a safe
rule by which to measure the services Of a
regiment, yet IN this case believe it serves as
fair index. We of the Goth thought it q little
hard, a few months since, to have Pennsylva-
Man claim all the glory for Gen. Geary'5 forces,
but we hardly expected to be ignored or omit
ted by an 5th Kentuckian.
.COmrade Lucas mentions the fact that the
Goth went on the mountain with the Sth Ky.
next morning. Why was this? Let me tell
you: The column had started for the valley
and ROssville. An officer came along the line
and inquired, p" What regiment was it that
fought the closest under the Palisades yester-
day" The 96th H." was the reply. WAS
their flag first on the mountain this mOrning?"
was then asked. "No, it was the Sth XIV far"
was the answer. The officer moved away, aud
after consulting with his commander, returned
and ordered both Of the regiments to leave the
column and climb the mountain. Now, why
did the Sth KY. flag go upon the mountain
hrstY There are two reasons: State pride
Gen. Whitaker being a Kentuckian-and the
fact that the Sth Ky. had q new and snowy
stand Of colOrs. just presented them while the
nag OF the Goth was hardly more than pole,
the staH being splintered by Chickamauga bull
lets and the silk torn from it in handfuls by
the storm 1t breasted when, with Steedman it
came upon that dreadful field as a part of the
reserve corps, and helped to save a day that
was already lost, and beneath whose folds 81
men laid down their lives, its total list of
casualties exceeding one-half the men engaged.
Now, question or two to Comrade Lucas:
Was not the 2lst Ky. at that time in some other
than Whittaker's Brigade2 / know they were
with US on the Atlanta campaign at least
part Of the time, but / think they came to
take the place OF the Sth Ky. when the latter
went to Gen. Steedman's new command. Am
right? We're there not Is instead Of six in
the party who first went on the mountain?
Was not the Sth Ky. at the left of and farther
down the mountain side than the 10th Ohio
until after the fighting had substantially
closed? / ask these questions not to be cap
tiOus, but for informatiOn.-C A. PARTRIDGE,
Sergeant-Major, 96th ILL.,, Waukegan, III.