The National tribune., 1900-12-27

| bldnhetS, lhtSt hight
the men fare badly. DR.. West is up to hi:
elbows in blood and working hard with tn,
wounded. Although our regiment had bu
ia men in the fight, it lost about 40 killed
or wounded. The other regimen Of thu
brigade fought splenddly; the Inst cap
tured the flag of the 4th Ala. The flal
staff and tassels of our flag were siot IL
two and the color bearer wounded. Tn,
cannonading is now easing up and L thinl
the day has been favorable for us.
FAILING BACK TO CHATTANOOGA.
Tuesday, Sept. 22-Last night afte
writing, | went TO sleep on n cot l fount
; in wagon, and rested until II o'clock
when orders came to move the teams i'm
mediately to Chattanooga. 1t was terri
! BILE time for me in the joltinS wagon. W.
arrived in town by daybreak. Our req
ment has also come i'll and reports thu
army falling back. We crossed the rive
this morning and are now over on th'
hills opposite the town. Heavy firing ha
been going on all day, and fear we ma!
have TO give the place up yet. The rcb'
are trying to cross the river above and &c
in and cut communications in our rear.
would like to be ut home for few day
now to get something suitable for one II
my condition | eat but cracker Il day
sometimes try coffee. but it is distasteful
and / haven't had a chance 10 wash myself
for several days, and. like all the rest here
am saturated with dust. l dream of home
and everything clean and cool, with plenty
TO eat, but in wakcful hours have to Danish
such thoughts. If we only stop long
enough, | can soon be all right; but, as II
| is, haven't slept twice in the same place
since leaving Wartracc, Tenn.
Wednesday, Sept. 23-We are still at
| the same place, across the river, and our
army lies in Chattanooga. The lines run
from the river around to Lookout Noun
tain. just outside the town. | feel better
| to-day.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. %, 1881
am again with the regiment and able for
duty, having almost recovered from my
| late illness. The regiment had moved over
! into Chattanooga, and found our fellows
| lying in the line, ready to support the
! troops in front, i'll case of an attack. The
| whole army is drawn into close quarters,
and now hold lines from Lookout Noun
tain, on the right, around to the river, i'll
closing Chattanooga i'll the rear. The
enemy has made no strong attempts III at
lacking since Sunday, although there has
been much cannonading and musketry fir
ing for hours at a time.
The rebs have delayed Il movement on us
too long now, for within the past few days
there has been an immense amount of
work done in terrifying, and we occupy
three miles of breastwOrks and rifle pits,
with batteries stationed along the lines i'll
great numbers. The rebs keep up a very
imposing front, however. We now lie in a
cemetery, close to Palmer's Division.
Our lines commence at the river, with
Woods Division, then Palmcr'S, Van
Cleve's to the right-thcSe three divisions
from Crittenden's Corps. To the right
of these lie Thomas and then McCOok.
We see the flags of each regiment stuck
up on the works in front all along the line,
more or less together, as the regiments are
small or great in numbers.
The rebel lines can be seen on the hills
beyond, but out of range of Our batteries.
Through a glass the rebs can be seen at
tending TO their wounded in the hospitals.
Capt. Jcwett is in command of the rcgi-
ment, and we have but 200 muskcts now,
and miss those lately fallen, but know it
cannot be helped. BY blunder of one of
Gen. Steedman's Aids sent ont TO order in
the pickets when the army fell back Mon
day night, one Lieutenant and II men of
Co. y were left and were captured, as
were four officers and 40 men OF the 18th
ILL.,, of our brigade.
Last night ut II o'clock the rcbs made
an attack on our lines to try to catch our
pickets. The musketry fire for an hour
was severe, and batteries bazed away at
furious rate. We were all up and in arms
for awhile, until it quietcd down.
Gems. Crittendcn, McCOok and other
Generals are riding along the lines repeat
edly, and their faces are becoming familiar
to us.
Things appear more cheerful since /
have recovered my health, and | feel that
l car stand any kind of soldering, if ! can
keep WELL Few at home have a true idea
of soldiers life down here just now.
They watch the papers and, no doubt,
abuse ROSecrans for falling back here, in
stead of going on and trying TO take At
lanta. 1t will take big army and more
supplies than we have TO move further
South. 1t is feared the rcbs may leave our
front and make Il break for Kentucky
again. j will stop specializing, however,
and await what is to turn up.
TO be cOntnued.)
EDITORIAL NoTE.-Lieut. Branum s letters
writtan from mt pnnoa ora of ,pinua an