The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-21

| the bad condition of the roads, burned
bridges, etc, caused frequent though I'M
avoidsble delays, and a month passed before
We reached Bridge port, where we crossed
/ the Tennessee River late in the evening of
the 18th Of November, and made a night
march of seine 10 miles. We were now
nearing eur destination, beiHg within 16
miles of Chattanooga. On the afternoon of
| the 18Th we came in sight of Lookout
Mountain, crowned with rebel batteries and
fianked with rife-pits, beneath which we
had to pass to reach Chattanooga. We
marched until after dark, then halted an
hour, and again set forward on our night
march, guided by the long lines of camp
fires and pickst-fres-those Of our forces on
the left, those of the rebels on our right.
Our march lay along the base OF Lookout
Mountain, which we passed unmolested,
though their picket-fres were often within
stones throw of us. Theirgups in the bat
teries on the summit could not be depressed
enough TO reach Us, had they desired to use
them.
We halted half an hour at midnight, then
pushed on, recrossing the river and leaving
Chattanooga TO our right; moved up the
river some three miles, and IN the early
gray dawn Of the morning went into camp,
having made a march that was uneclipsed
during the war until that later time when
Sherman marched TO the sea-"
Here We were screened by the surround
ing hills from the sight of the rebels. Strict
| orders were issued TO sound no drum or
buele, and, so far a. possible, TO dispense with
the fires, the object being to keep the rebels
in ignorance of our presence there in force,
but 10 convey the appearance Of having only
picket-pssi, as it was from this point that
Sherman was 10 cross the Tennessee and
| surprise the right Of the rebel army.
pretext was made fer the arrest of all
male citizens along our picket-lne and they
were brought within our lines and no Others
permitted TO come inside until after the
move Was made, so they could not report
our presence, the movement being then in
tended for the night of the ODD. Before
noon Of the 10th il commenced TO rain, and
Tained steadily until after noon the next
day.
The batteries on Lookout Mountain and
Moccasin Point occasionally exchanged cour-
tesaes across the road by which we came in
but the rebels were net very aggressive, as
they seemed to regard the recapture of Chat
tasooga and the surrender of the forces
within it as but question of time.
Here for the first and only time during
special order before the attack was made
and knew precisely what was expected of
as. Our corps was to cross the river by di-
yisions-the First and Second Divisions TO
cross above the mouth of the Chickamauga,
the Third and Fonrth Divisions below. Two
battallons were TO cross with the advance.
and the Others were TO protect the crossing
When an order came from Gen. Grant TO Sc
lect the best two batteries in the Fifteenth
Corps to cross with the advance, il was with
a thrill Of pardOnable pride that we heard
our battery named first; for where all were
SO good the selection seemed mere lottery
the other one being Battery A, LIST ILL., Art.
The crossing was to be made at midnight,
the troops being ferried over in pontoon
boats, 116 of which were hidden from the
sight Of the rebels in North Chickamauga
! Creek, two or three miles above where we
were to cross. The boats were TO be used TO
build two pontoon bridges across the river
as soon as enough troops could be ferried
over 10 fortiiy and hold the other side.
The movement was begun according TO
orders soon after dark on the 22d, but at 8
O'Clock an order was issued postponing il for
"a hours; 60 the troops returned TO camp
This delay was caused by sudden rise in
the river from the heavy rains, threatening
the destruction of the bridge below the town
and preventing the crossing of Osterhaus's
Division of eur corps, and also the main por-
ton Of Hookers command, which was al
ways under orders.-H. S. KEENE, Quarter
master-Sergeant, 9th Wis. battery, Seattle,
Wash.
ITO be confin,ted)