Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-08-02
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nationality which is now firmly estab-
lished and established forever. In the
silver hairs and the changed forms
and features which the afternoon and
the very evening of life have stamped
upon these survivors it is difficult to
recognize the boys of 81; but their
hearts and hands and greetings are
still those of the very heyday of
youth-as strong, as earnest, and as
true as when they were the boys in
blue going to the front to fight their
country's battles.
There were several new faces pres
ent at the meeting men who had seen
service principally with the Army of
the Cumberland, and after social
greetings when all had assembled, the
conversation turned on the thrilling
events in which they were actors in
and around Chattanooga. They all
had heard the shrek of shell at Chick
amauga, and the roar Of big guns on
Snodgrass Hill, Lookout Mountain
and Mission Ridge. There was some
rivalry as to who should tell his eXpe-
rience first, but as time would not per-
nit each one to relate his story, it was
voted that Capt. D., who had been
closely identified with the whole
movement, should do the talking,
at would take more time than you
would be willing to spare" said he,
"o relate all that occurred during
those memorable days of war for the
movements of this army were so bril-
liant and withal so remarkable that it
would require hours to do it justice.
II has been asserted that upon this
ground occurred some of the most re-
markable tactical movements and the
deadliest fighting of the war; There
have been several different accounts of
the fighting around Chattanooga, but
l shall not go into extensive details,
and will only tell you what saw as l
now remember it, and will deal most
ly with Hooker's assault and capture
Of the mountain.
"Gen. Grants plan of battle in
volved the holding of Lookout Valley
by Gen. Hooker and his taking care of
Bragg's left; the crossing of the
Tennessee River at night by Gen.
Sherman opposite the north end of
Missionary Ridge, and carrying the
ridge at daylight by surprise as far
south as the tunnel. This was the
central feature of the plan of battle.
Gen. Thomas was then too close in to
the left in front of Chattanooga, unite
with Sherman's right, and advancing
up the valley as Sherman swept
southwark along the ridge, and, con-
forming to his movements, protect the
flank of the Army of the Tennessee,
while it conducted the main work of
the battle and assist in this position of
minor importance in driving Bragg
from his depot and communications at
Chickamauga station.
"The order for battles was postponed
for three days in succession because
Sherman had not been able to get up
at the appointed time. Then Gen.
Thomas requested that the plan of
battle be changed so as to allow
Hooker to assault Lookout, and the
time for his move was fixed for No
vember "a. There was great anxiety
lest Bragg should learn the plan Of
attack. On November % Gen. Grant
ordered Gen. Thomas to make re-
connoisance in front of Chattanooga to
ascertain whether the camps and
earthworks there were still occupied.
| Thomas of his own accord turned this
into an advance of his army, and
sweeping out from Fort Ward with a
front of two divisions, supported by
three on the fanks, he carried, re-
versed and held the enemy's central
lines through the plains. This was q
radical departure from the plan of
battle. The next day came the mem
orable assault and successful carrying
of Lookout Mountain by Gen. Hook
er, acting under orders from Thomas
"a second radical departure from the
original plan.
Hooker for the assault had Geary's
division of the Twelfth Corps. Os-
terhaus of the Fifteenth and Cruft's of
the Fourteenth. With these in battle
array at the foot of the mountain in
Lookout Valley the notable movement
began. Soldiers from the Army of the
Potomac, from the Army of the Mis-
sissippi and from the Army of the
Cumberland met for the first time as
they faced the mountain and fought
together through the day for its pos
session. They went forward with
will, drove the enemy to disorder from
his lower works, and went on needless
of the heavy fire of artillery and mus.
kerry hurled against them from the
crest of the ridge.
"The roar of battle from Lookout
Valley had fixed all eyes in both
armies about Chattanooga upon the
point Of the mountain. The sound of
battle drew nearer rapidly from the
western side, but mists concealed all
movements. When the Confederate
lines had been pushed back till they
reached from the foot of the palisades
under the point of the mountain to the
r;vo, bIuAfe boIOu tho fOus ware VIDA