The National tribune., 1901-11-21

We saw the working party retreatlhg, i
hearty cheer broke forth from our camp.
This appeared to irritate the gunners on
the mountain-top, for they spitefully di.
rected all their efforts to reach US, and
were doubtless gratified that many OF
their shells exploded not more than oo
feet overhead, and planted one IN the
ground near our camp limit. Our bat
terics sienced them at times, but could
not prevent them from breaking forth at
intervals. At all other portions of the
lines quiet reigns.
We have 4 magnificent view of both
armies grouped around Chattanooga, and
can easily trace the picket lines, camps,
and Notifications of both. We can dis
tinguish the headquarters of Grant,
Thomas. and Bragg, and count every tent
of our army in the valley, well as those
of the enemy on the side and summit OF
Mission Ridge.
A TRUCE BETWEEN PICKETs.
The night of Nov II nearly the entire
regiment was posted on picket duty along
the river bank The Confederate pickets
occ1Ipied the opposite bank. but We're not
troublesome neighbors. as an agreement
is observed all along the line that no mr.
ing shall be INDUCED in without notice.
The first voley shall be overhead and
harmless, but the next will be. as the boys
say, for keeps" Accordingly. both lines
of pickets appear in full view of each
other during the day, confident that the
agreement will be sacredly observed.
Nov. 10 the PaymaSter arrived and gave
us four months pay; so, with fat pocket
books and lean stOmachs, we are looking
fn, something to buy which we may after
ward devour: but none has anything to
sell. Bids are offered on 'hardtack at
10 cents each, but no sellers can be found;
which is not surprising, for if anyone in
camp had possessed surplus 1t would
have been stolen before this time. just
as we steal the scanty allowance of corn
given to our hungry mules-a practice
not TO be prevented by armed guards, who
themselves steal what they are appointed
to protect. 1t is on private record that
hungry member of our regiment on duty
at Brigade Headquarters was too honest
to steal corn from mule while he was
on watch. but when relieved and retlrihg
to his tent, quietly picked up a pan of
FRYING bacon while the Generals cook
was ont of sight, and carried it smoking
hot 10 his messmates.
Nov 20 we heard that our regiment had
been assigned TO Palmer's Corps-Jeh. Z.
Davis's Division and MitchelFs Brigade.
The division is under orders to be ready
to move at short notice with two days
cooked rations and 100 rounds of ammu-
milton; but our regiment is ordered to re
main on picket duty until relieved. Sher-
mans troops are passing in continuous
line up the river toward the left Of our
army. They look rough and weather
beaten with hard marching from Mem
phis and Yicksburg. Our pOntoon train
also passed up, which indicates that
crossing is to be made above Chattanooga.
We feel that we are about to make an
effort TO break out of Jail, and are de-
lighted with the prospects Of getting into
better pastures.
TRYING DAYS BEFORE THE VICTORY.
The mountain angel as we call the
gun or guns on Lookout Mountain, re-
mained quiet all day Nov. q, the first
since our arrival, and We think it las
flown TO another perch. The Signal Corps
still remains. Our gunnerS fired assid-
uousiy at their lights last night and
watched our shells bursting in close proX-
unity to them-interruptin perhaps but
not preventing the transmission of orders
or information. There was an extensive
movement Of our troops the night of Nov.
20, under cover of the darkness, and per
haps this was the burden of information
conveyed by the lanterns last night and
the flags today. Rain nearly all day ap-
pears TO interfere with our movements.
The peaceful look that graced the brow
of Lookout Nov. p departed with the ris-
ing of the sun next morning when the
spitefni divinity there enthroned began to
hurl tokens of animosity upon Hooker s
works to our right and occasionally upon
us-withOut damage in our case, as only
one shell exploded within a hundred
yards.
We did not monopolize the cannonading
as heretofore, for during the afternoon
the heavy report OF siege guns attracted
our attention TO the center of our line,
where Fort Wood was almost hidden from
view by clouds of smoke rising from the
discharge OF its guns, evidently intended
TO develop the location OF Bragg's artil-
lery, but failed to provoke a reply.
The grim silence Of Mission Ridge. un-
broken since the battle of Chickamauga,
leaves us to conjecture how and where
Bragg has planted his cannon to sweep
the mountain side in the face OF an as
saultinR army. Our division has been
sent to strengthen Sherman.
From the elevated bluffs of Moccssin
Point the morning Of Nov. % we sur
veyed a scene Of activity within our lines
which betokened clash of arms before
many hours had elapsed.
Looking down into Lockout Valley on
cur right where II stretches from the base
of Lookout Mountain to the river, We
could see the gathering of Sherman S
troops, hidden from the enemy by a range
Of knObby hills.
On our left, at Chattanooga, we could
see portion of Howard's Corps crossing
the river on a pontoon bridge and hating
i'll the suburbs of the town.
IN front LOOKOUT A1OuHIdln preserved
a grim silence as was the condition 81
along the enemy's line.
The three batteries (Rrannan's 81
Founders and the 10th aud 18th Ohio
which our regiment was appointed to sup
port, made ready for action and only
awaited the word OF command TO fire into
the enemy's lines within range and in
plain view.
The morning passed without a shot. but
shortly after noon there was a suddeL
burst of cannonading from Fort Wood OF
our line half way between Chattanooga
and Mission Ridge, and we could see oul
shells bursting on Orchard Knob. whicl
was held by the enemy, lying behind bar
ricades of logs and stones.
CAPTURE OF ORCHARD KNOB.
Our cannonading elected no reply from
the enemy's artillery and soon ceased, bu
while the smoke was drifting away a ney
scene was being enacted-a stream o
bluecoats issuing from the fort and form
ing in line in the open field in front o
our works as if oil dress parade.
When several brigades had thus formed
in full view Of Braggs army as well Il
ours, we fully expected TO see the hosti
cannon of Mission Ridge open IA furiou
fire of shells, or, If sufficiently near. wifi
grape and canister. Now we sec our com
pact lines sweeping toward Orchard Snol
with colors huttering and arms glistenini
in the sunlight
Surely if the Confederates have regard
I'd l. al.