The National tribune., 1900-09-27

When the sound of artillery was heard
we We're moved on rapidly, reaching the
battlefield in the morning. BY the look
of things desperate work had been done
by our small band. Longstreet had been
beaten back with heavy losses, but was
safe again in his stronghold.
Having come to the relief of the army
at Chattanooga, we went to building forts
and earthworks in the valley and corduroy
roads to Browns Ferry, on the Tennes-
see, with communications now opened.
Our picket line was established along
Lookout Creek at the base of the noun
tain. We were nearly surrounded by
mountains. Everyone was expecting some
thing most important TO happen. From
our position ON the Wauhatchie we could
not see any of the army around Chatta-
nooga.
The morning the battle of Lookout
opened | was on the picket-line just to
the right of the railroad bridge crossing
Lookout Creek Our-orders were against
firing on this part of the line
The firing commenced on the left Of the
bridge. / was an eyewitness, but got
several "close calls from the other side
of the creek. There were, / think, two
lines of battle. The sun was shining
brightly and the breeze was shaking out
Old Glory's folds triumphantly. The lines
moved on until out of my sight.
MY ItSIlueEl WIS IeldlHeu III the NdIey
for some cause and did not get into gen
eral action. The day became overcast
and even the mountain was nearly hid
den from view. The pickets were with
drawn and joined the regiment, which was
in position near a small knoll. l think
there was a battery near throwing shells
on Lookout. Part of the regiment took
the prisoners back to Browns Ferry,
being one of the guards, and returned
to camp next morning.
In the afternoon we could hear heavy
artillery firing, but could not see the move
ments. A number of US crossed the creek
and went up on the mountain to near the
house said TO have been Longstreet's head
quarters. 1t looked to be many miles over
to Missionary Ridge. We could see the
long lines Of army blue sweeping like
cyclone on the horizon.
1t was soon over and all was still. The
victory was to the Union. Our compan-
ion-regiment, the 9TH Ohio, lost terribly
at Tyler Ridge.
Refreshments were now being made,
and the regiment veteranized nearly to a
man and started for home. We took the
old boX-cars at Bridgeport on Christmas
morning. At Cleveland the boys began
to scatter for their homes to get New
Years dinner This was the memorable
cold New Year of the wartime.
After a month of furlough we returned
to camp at Cleveland. The regiment was
recruited up, and many had gone on
ahead. Cleveland was swarming with
soldiers, and high fracas took place there
one day between the police and the sol
dieTs, who thought everything belonged
to them.
When the veterans rejoined the regi-
ment they constructed quarters and we
were soon in comfortable shape. We were
on picket-duty and patroling the railroad
toward Stevenson for TWO months. The
army left its shanties on, i think. May 3,
for the front / was on the picket-line
and should have been relieved, but no re-
lief came. Suspecting what was happen
Ing, / went in. We needed n commissary
supply, anyway, if we were to stay there
l found the camp deserted. ! hurried
back to report to our picket-guard leader,
and we were soon on our way TO catch
up. We had all we could do to reach
them In the night, when they were in
camp on the Chattanooga side of Look
out Mountain.
We moved on once more, keeping to the
right Of Dalton In a well-timbered part
of the country. On and on we went, I'M
til on the third night we went into camp
In Georgia. Sunday morning the sun
shone bright and clear. We moved on,
with 9TH Ohio men out as skirmishers, my
regiment in the advance of the brigade.
Artillery was heard toward Tunnel Hill
Our steps were quickened for Rocky Face
or Buzzards' Roost. On arrival we filed
to the left in an open field and piled
knapsacks, then moved forward to the
attack. Amongst the rocks and timber
no good line could be kept, but we went
mp until we reached the road running up