The National tribune., 1891-07-30
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
The Struggle Again Over the Cans Near the Craven
House.

HOUSE.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have read
Surg. John n. Beach's statement, printed in
the issue of July 2, as to what troops captured
the artillery near the Craven House, at Look
out Mountain. Nov. %, 1868, instead OF Nov.
25. There is no question, and never has there
been any question, in regard to what troops
took the mountain and captured the artillery
in question, and could have been none by Gen.
Whitaker or his men present Nov. 81, 1868.
That there may have been men killed and
wounded near the Craven House viii not dis
pute nevertheless, if there were any such they
were killed and wounded long after the noun
tain had been taken, and the artillery in ques-
ton captured and left in the rear Of the cap
tors.
And IL Surg John NJ Beach or any other Of
WhittAker's men have. or ever had, any knowl-
edge Of the facts which did take place on that
memorable occasion, he or they know that
Lookout Mountain, and the artillery in ques-
tion, were not captured by Whittaker's men,
and know that Whittakers men were not even
IN the line Of battle with the men who did
charge and take the mountain. think there
is no doubt but Whittaker's men came on the
field ut some time during the engagement, for
i find that that brigade. with six large Tegi-
ments. lost in the engagement in killed,
wounded and missing, So men, and also find
tho Sth Ky. on the morning of Nov. p en-
gagged in planting a flag on Lookout Mountain
the next day after the mountain had been
captured. and have thereby ever since claimed
the honor OF capturing the mountain. They,
too. were Whittakers men.
] was much pleased with the nice. sublime,
and awe-inspiring paragraph in which Surg.
John n. Beach so grandly pictures that devoted
band that were TO charge the forces on Lookout
Mountain as they plunged on that cyentful
- ~. L IL
clouds, fog and smoke. and still were reviewed
during that awe inspiring engagement amid the
fog. smoke, clouds and rain, by 100000 specta-
tors. did not think at the time Of the battle
we could be seen by the thousands on Mission
AIRY Ridge or in Chattanooga Valley, AMI
don't now, and don't think anyone else who
was present and knows the facts think So
Nor can Surg. John n. Beach, if he was on
that field, have forgotten Of his men being
formed in line Of battle 10 the north Of the
Craven House. and Of the White Star Division
marching back through this line, having been
called from the advance from fourth TO half
n mile 10 the south aud in advance Of the
Craven House. long after the battle Of Lookout
Mountain bad been fought, the artillery cap
tured, and the victory won by the White Star
Division, and if you will state the facts that
are known to you, or ought 10 be known to
you. in your holding this line after the battle
of Lookout Mountain, your brigade lost the 50
men, and the men that you state were lost near
the Craven House, were not lost in capturing
artillery on mountains, as you state.
/ have seen il stated by Whittakers men, or
some other men, that the j 500 or 1000 rebels
captured on the field and sent 10 the rear by
the White Star Division in this engagement
were captured by them aud am expecting to
live long enough 10 hear il claimed by Whtta-
ker's men that all the flags captured in tho
battle were captured by them. There were
three rebel flags taken on that field and /
would like TO inquire Of Surg. John n. Beach
how il happened that Whittaker's men did all
the fighting and the White Star Division capt
ured all the flags; and how il happens, since
! WhittakeT's Brigade had more men than the
White Star Division. il did all tire fighting and
only lost 50 men killed. wounded and missing,
while the White Star Division lost in killed
and wounded in this engagement 81 men.
As 10 the order Of Hon. Jesse n. Oren, Of the
Ohio Senate, of which copy was given by
Surg. Beach in the July number, would be
glad TO be informed whether or not this order
was used by Oren as a campaign document in
his canvass for his position as State Senator,
and am pleased to inquire of Surg. Beach and
Mr.. Oren If they do not know that the artil-
leTy IN question and lis capture was awarded
at the time TO the White Star Division. and
that some men Il will not say they were Whit
takers mem were detected Ira converting the
artillery in question and the hOnOrs OF eaptur-
ing the same 10 their own use, while the men
who had captured il were still in pursuit of the
enemy, and they were compelled to drag the
same to Gen. John w. Geary's headquarters,
where they were parked with the trophies
captured by the White Star Divisionl
Charles Waist and Palmer Houston, Of Co.
], Goth y. y, on Nov "a, 1863, on Lookout
Mountain were shot from One-fOurth TO one
half mile south aud in advance Of the capt
ured artillery with many others Of the regi-
ment and White Star Division, whose killed
aud wounded marked every part of the mem
orab!e battlefield Of Lookout Hountain.-
THOMAS n. MURPHY, Co. ], Goth n. Y, Nor
wood, n. Y.