The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-08

camps, which were situated near the foot
of the palisades, at the point of the noun,
tain fronting Chattanooga, before the
| army had full knowledge that he had
crossed the creek, virtually making sur
| prise of it and enabling him to get the
better of the battle upon that elevated
| plateau, the progress of which was being
eagerly watched by the Army of the Cum
| berland, who could see through the float
ing mists the incessant flashes of the op-
posing guns, and the movements of the
hostile troops, as they struggled for the
mastery far up on those dizzy nights, max
ing living picture seldom witnessed and
one that may never be repeated with any
hope of success.
FLAG PLANTED on A PINNACLE.
After the enemy's pickets were aware
of Gearys movements, and knew that he
had passed along above their heads, they
flew from the line of Lookout Creek and
sought to reach their tents. Then an
other fOot-bridge was easily made by our
pontOniers farther down the stream, upon
which Osterhaus's Division and other
troops crossed and joined Geary; the
night following, the enemy began to eyac-
uate the mountain, and early in the morn
ing some brave soldiers of Whitaker
Brigade climbed up the palisades and
planted the Stars and Stripes upon the
highest point on Lookout Mountain, and
as the uprising sun dispelled the mist and
presented that scene to view, the sight OF
our flag flying there, in all of its glory
sent u thrill of enthusiasm throughout the
Army of the Cumberland, and inspired
those soldiers for their brilliant assault
upon BraggS center, on Missionary Ridge
After the battle of Chattanooga had been
won, Confederate picket party, some 20
in number, came in at the foot-bridge,
from off Lookout Mountain, and gave
themselves up as prisoners, stating that
they saw the force building the bridge
but as that force was small they decided
it was merely scouting party and they
would let us come over. Then they would
charge us and cut us off from the bridge
and capture our entire party so they de-
clded not TO hre on or modest us; but when
the bridge was completed, what was their
surprise at seeing, not the balance of our
pickets coming over, but instead Geary's
Division, and on the run
Then they saw it was too late to fire or
retreat, so they hid themselves in the
bushes, being cut off from regaining their
own camps or giving the alarm by Geary's
rapid movement, and as the battle went
against them they decided that they would
come in and surrender, which they did,
crossing upon the foOt-bridge which they
had allowed to be built. Had that Confed-
crate picket line done its duty, and as
soon as they saw that we were endeay-
oring to cross the creek begun firing upon
us, no bridge would have been buiIt-at
least not in the way or in the time thai
we built it-and the battle above the
clouds might have resolved itself into
what was intended, a demonstration on
Lookout Mountain. But the success of
these bridge-builders made the capture of
Lookout Mountain possible, and what was
possible Geary's troops generally attained
The glory of the Stars and Stripes waving
over Lookout Mountain, and the victory
above the clouds, was to some extent.
achieved by those brave pickets who. in
the darkness Of the night, built the foot
bridge that carried Geary's men safely
over on Lookout. Thus, by the success Of
those pickcts in building a bridge across
Lookout Creek, at the foot of the noun
tain, Geary was able to turn a demonstra
ton into the famous battle above the
clouds, and the sight that followed of the
Stars and Stripes floating in triumph from
that lofty peak helped to inspire the Army
of the Cumberland, then standing upon
the lowlands about Chattanooga, for their
brilliant dash upon Missionary Ridge. and
III that rush they broke Bragg's line of
battle into fragments and took more guns
and prisoners from his army than he had
captured at Chickamauga.