The National tribune., 1901-01-10
By THE LATE ]. Nj. BRANUM.

letters in serial form now brings us to the
point where that portion was taken out,
and we reproduce the more material parts
in order 70 preserve the continuity of the
series.
Near Lookout Mountain, Oct. %, 1868.
On Wednesday the word was out that
Hooker was up and that our men had
made the connection. The rebels opened
fire from a new battery from the top of
Lookout Mountain. 1t was Il wonder TO
all how they ever got the guns up there.
We watched them from our position
throwing shells at what we supposed were
Hooker's men.
1t was beautiful Indian Summer day,
and in company with others l went to a
high point back of our camp. 1t was 4
grand sight as | looked from there; the
Tennessee River for eight miles, the town
of Chattanooga, the valley extending to
Rossville, and the whole of Mission Ridge,
with the white tents of the rebel army on
it, bounded the left; on the right was
Lookout Mountain and the valley towards
Bridgeport.
THE BATTLE WAS on"
Affairs in camp passed quietly, and we
talked by our campfres in the evening as
though nothing unusual was going on, al
though the occasional boom of q cannon
told US the rebels were up and doing. AT
II o'clock at night we were aroused by
tremendous burst of artillery. 1t continued
with increased violence, and we were
aware that fierce battle was going on.
Many got up, but nothing could be seen.
1t was four miles distant, and we could
only suppose what was going on. l tried
TO sleep, but you may imagine how one can
sleep with the laundering of cannon in
your ears, and | lay thinking of the poor
boys who were falling before the fire. 1t
lasted about two hours, and as it closed L
fell asleep, but only for an hour, when we
received orders to fall in Immediately.
Haversacks were taken, and without
eating we started out from camp just as
day was breaking. Our brigade, command
ed by Col. J. q. Mitchell, 18th Ohio,
moved down to the point toward Look
out, turned down the hill to the right,
crossed the river on the pontoon bridge,
continuing down the valley toward the
base of Lookout.
When over the river We met wagons and
ambulances coming for supplies for the
wounded. Here for the first time we saw
the boys from the Army of the Potomac
genuine Yankees. They belonged to the
Eleventh Corps, and wore crescent on
their hats TO distinguish them from the
Twelfth Corps, who wore 4 star.
Soon we met the slightly wounded, some
limping, some with arms bandaged; far
Their on we saw some 30 wounded lying in
a field near house. The musicians of the
regiments were coming in to attend to
them. We next came toSwhere part of the
fight had occurred. A large hill was in
possession of our troops, which they cap
tured from the enemy; the rebels had at
tempted to throw up Notifications on it,
but our troops, after three successive
charges, had taken it and driven them in
disorder.
We now came to an open space, clear OF
timber, and in easy range of the rebel bat
teries on Lookout Mountain, which doomed
up above US, apparently about mile
away, but really about two. As we start
ed to cross this space the rebel battery
opened out on US with six guns, playing
away as fast as they could. We double
quicked it about half a mile, and shells
kept humming and screaming overhead
and bursting with a dreadful report. One
could not tell what moment he might be
hit, and all felt it critical period.
TIMELY INFORMATION.
We soon came to where we now are, and
where a great part of the fighting was
done. AS we arrived, the first objects |
saw were two dead rebels with their intes-
tines out, both having been killed by one
cannon shot. This portion of the fight was
between the rebs and six regiments under
Gen. Geary-Twelfth Corps. They ar
rived from Bridgeport last evening at sun
down and stopped for the night. At mid
night the rebels maze an attack on
them, which resulted in considerable loss
on both sides. The rebel force were six
regiments of South Carolina troOps-the
Hampton Legion, Longstreet's Corps.
They tried to capture our wagon train,
and had our troops almost surrounded, but
the obstinate fighting was too much for
them, and they were repulsed and driven
away handsomely. The attack would have
been a surprise, but an old woman, living
near, said in the hearing of our men: You
will soon catch it." The information was
given Gen. Geary. He had the old woman
brought in and made to tell all she knew.
Learning the state of affairs, preparation
was made for an attack, and our men were
scarcely in line before the enemy came
rushing in.
The scene around us this morning is a
sad sight. Our regiment took the lines
held by the Eastern troops last night, and
are now throwing up defenses. \ few of
the 18th \. Y. S. NJ. are engaged in dig
ging graves; near by them lay IA of their
dead comrades, with blankets for their
winding sheets. Other dead are lying
around, and in our rear, under the trees, is
a hospital containing over 100 wounded.
On the hill nearby stands Knapp's famous
battery. Well may it be called famous.
Out of As horses all are lying dead but 10.
The battery lost is men killed. The rebels
charged it several times, but were unable
10 take it. They captured 60 prisoners
from the 9th S. c., their old enemies, who
fought them at Gettysburg.
A MILITARY coNFAB.
Hearing loud cheering down the road, ]
went down and found Gen. Hooker there
He and Gen. Howard had come up TO SEE
the result of the battle last night. Gen
Geary, whose troops had done the fighting
rode up; they shook hands and drew off t
communicate. / would easily have known
Hooker from the picture; he rides q whit,
horse, has a smooth-shayen face, will
small gray side whiskers, and dresses neat
ly. He is my idea of a General exactly
and reminds me of what / suppose Gen
Taylor looked like. Howard commands
the Twelfth Corps, and is good officer
Gen. Geary is rough -and-ready, hard
working soldier; he is around among IL
this morning giving directions of how an,
what to do. He lost his son, Lieutenan
in Knapp's battery, last night. Whel
told he was killed-"Is he?" he said an,
believing it to be too true, he only muir
INJURED, Poor fellow; he was a noble boy
To-day he is busy in the interests Of hi
command, with the shells bursting aroun
him.
| took a walk out in front of our lines (
see the effect of the battle on the rebels.
counted 80 dead in one part of the field
all frightfully cut up with grapeshot froI
our battery. Although the ambulances ha
Just been around and taken up all tn
wounded, l found one under little pin
tree. thought he was dead, but on toucl
ing him he opened his eyes and said h
twas shot through the side was in N