Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-12-30
DOWN IN TENNESSEE"
A Renowned Battle of the Late War
Recalled by a View of Lookout
Mountain Letter From MI.
L. P. Crigler.
Correspondence of the Ledger.


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. "a
Not only west of the Rockies but
south of the Cumberlands can you 60
to Q superb mountain scenery. No
more beautiful spot in theAppalachian
system can be found, combining high
rocky mountains, deep and trernen-
dous gorges, beautiful outstretched
valleys, struggling mountain streams,
rushing rivers and falling cataracts,
than at this historic city.
Chattanooga has about 81, 900 people
and more paved streets, public build
ings, palatial residences and modern
churches than any city of it's size by
me ever visited. A model spot,too for
o city; lying on the banks of the Ten
nessee river and surrounded by
mountains of ell sizes and itself occu-
plying In part the broad plains and in
part the lesser ridges of the Cumber-
land mountains, give to the site many
advantages unknown to our modern
cities. Natural drainage, sweeping
mountain breezes and the aroma of
verdant forests pertaining the air at
every gentle watt of the breeze from
the holly, the mistletoe and the pine.
Bolder than Pixies Peak or Gray's
baldhead stands Lookout mountain,
almost overhanging the city. Its top
is visible from all parts of the country
below and easy of access, and from it
can be seer all the surrounding coun-
try, almost showing the joining boun-
Diary line OF Georgia, Alabama and
Tennessee.
Lookout Mountain has been the
scene of battle ever since the Cbero-
KEGS made gallant fight in the carly
history Of our country down to the
civil war. But no skirmish OF the
Indian tribes served to make this
famous mountain renowned and
sacred. This was left to our own civil
war and to about the month OF No
vember and the 25th day thereof,
1868, when the great battle of Mission
airy Ridge and Lookout Mountain was
fought.
Here Greek met Greek. Grant with
his 10000 strong, assisted by such gal
liant soldiers rs Rollins, Thomas and
Meigs, went like an avalanche against
Bragg and C~layborne and their $4,000
brave men. From Point Lookout I
saw the spot where the Iion-hearted
Gen. Pat Clayborne, of Arkansas, fell;
/ saw Pilot Knob, where Grant, with
his assistants, held their councils of
war; / saw the famous Lady Cobb
cannon, won and lost four times in a
day, and at last held by the Confeder-
ates; / saw too much to tell, IL I
could, but saw nothing that thrilled
me more than to see unfurled from
the mountain top the old flag of the
country, tanning with its softest
breath alike, the graves of the Blue
and the Gray. That makes me think
Of the piece of poetry l learned when
boy:
"When freedom from her mountain
height,
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robes of night,
And set the stars of glory there;
She mingled with the gorgeous dyes,
The milky baldrick of the skies,
And stripped its pure celestial white
With streakings of the morning
light"
Last night, as I sat at the window of
my room, the chimes of the bells
began to peal, and ere long I heard
the praise of God being sung to the
time of "What a Friend We Have in
Jesus" and I thought that no matter
where you roam you can always find
the faithful few singing their souls to
rest by the anthems of the blest and
that made me glad. When the sacred
songs had long since died away !
caught the air of another song, the
time hummed from the Threats of a
negro quartette to the familiar ode OF
"My Old Kentucky Home" as only
negroes can sing it, and that made me
sad, but l was glad that I was sad, for
who does not love the old home and
the good old darkies that can sing
about 1t. That makes me think of the
Bob Taylor lecture at Mexico. I wish
I could be there, for to hear him speak
is always music to my soul.
Well, I could write for a week, but
you would get weak in reading; 30,
thanking You for a little space in your
paper and wishing all a merry Christ
mas and q happier New Year and with
love to all factions, / am yours,
l.. P. CRIGLI;R.