The National tribune., 1901-01-17
BY THE LATE ]. NJ. BRANUM.

o'clock we received orders to start at /
O'Clock. We had been ready for day OF
go. and we were not kept long in suspense
this time. 1 filled my haversack with
what rations were to be had, and Will
my quilt, gum-blanlet, canteen and SWORD
was ready for whatever happened. A big
tin of coffee and crackers for breakfast
and we were ready. The bugle called
and the regiment was formed, and as zen
Beatty came along we followed.
We don't know where we are going, but
march along. guessing and trying to ind
out We took the road up a hollow and
Travelled along through the darkness, mud
and over rocky roads. sometimes stopping
to determine whether we were on the
right road or not. We marched this way
until 6 o'clock. when we came to n camp
of pioneers. They told us we were near
the river, and that their men were build
ing a pontoon bridge across, and that al
ready q large number of our troops had
crossed in pontoon boats. We stopped
here until noon, waiting, as they told US,
for the bridge to be finished. In the mean,
while it began raining, and we lowered
I'D in our gum-blankcts. During all this
time we could hear a great deal OF can
nonading from Lookout Mountain, distant
from us about seven miles.
As we marched to the river We passed
the Pioneer Brigade and their trains of
several hundred wagons. Nearly every
pCA"OOAA
which takes eight mules to haul; other
wagons were still loaded with amber and
other materials for the bridge.
We soon came to the mouth OF the run,
down which we had been travelling, and
found a wide bottom bordering on the
Tennessee River. We are now i've miles
above Chattanooga, and hni tho river
booming high. as much so as the Ohio
st home in a .'coal-boat stage" The bot
tom is covered with divisions and bri
gades of infantry. batteries of artillery.
regiments of cavalry, ammunition and AM
bulance trains, all waiting Car the last
nontoon to be laid. The long bridge,
straight and beautiful, is ahead, cnd De
low is our lately-repaired steamboat, the
Dunbar, busily engaged in ferryIns troops
over.
SURPRISING THE REBs.
Across the river are about 5000 men,
who are engaged In throwing up earth
works. Everything has been done since
IL o'clock last night. The first thing
done was to send troops over IN sklfts,
who succeeded in capturing the rebel post
tone officer and II mem. This prevented
any alarm being given, and we had a
large force over before the rebs We're
aware of the movement. 1t was big
undertaking, and the amount of work
done was wonderful in the short time 1t
was accomplished.
We spent a couple Of hours waiting in
the rain until other troops had crossed,
and then we went over. The sight was
grand. We see the long lines of infantry
filing along the bridge over the swollen
river-it seemed an endless procession.
When we crossed, which was late in the
evening, there were fully 25,0OO over. On
this South side of the river We find large
farms with houses scattered numerously
about: where there is plenty of cornfodder,
Eheaf oats, poultry. potatoes and other
farm products, which the men went IN for.
Talk about the rebels starving; if they
can leave such things as these they are
better off than we have been.
We moved forward across the wide bot
tom about mile, and went into line of
battle. Gen. Sherman commands the
troops here now the left wing of our army.
The rebs are firing on US from the woods
In front, and our artillery occasionally
sends a shell in. So far there has been
no serious opposition. Not SO, however,
down at Chattanooga. Our ears have
been panied with the sound Of the most
terrible and incessant musketry we ever
heard From O'Clock until 2 in the af-
ternoon there was constant cannCnading,
but since it has quoted down and given
away to the rolls and rolls of fierce mus
kerry.
We learn from some who have just
come up that the rebs are attacking
now our men are storming Lookout Noun
tain. Whatever is the matter, there has
been a great battle fought. None can
imagine our uneasy feelings, to listen to
the sound of a battle and not know the re-
suit. Hooker may be overwhelmed, for all
we know, and our communications with
Bridgeport again broken. With this state
Of affairs we rest for the night.
/ am now writing before a bright rail
FIRE; the moon Is shining brightly. and
the men are lying around in line of bat
tie, with guns standing with baycnets in
the ground: the fires of the rebel camps are
In the woods above US, almost in musket
range, and we may have to drive them off
In the morning, or they in turn drive us
back.
OPENING OF THE BATTLE.
Wednesday noon.-Last night was cold
and heavy frost covered the ground, and
but little sleeping was done. We were
glad when morning came. ] took tin
of coffee, rolled up blanket, and was
ready for whatever might come. We lay
about our fires until 0 o'clock, the sun at
that time becoming warm.
Gen. Blair came along, with large
escort, and took Gen. Beatty and other
Generals to show them the plan of opera
lions for the day. In an hour Gen. Beatty
returned and with our brigade advanced.
Skirmish firing and cannonading began
with Sherman's men. We marched into
q heavy wood and took position to sup
port the troops in front.
We are the reserve, and suppose we will
either not get into the fight, or may be
thrust into the heaviest of it. Meantime
the firing increases, and heavy engage
ment is In progress. Shells are coming
from three rebel batteries as fast as they
can fire; the musketry increases to a CON
tinuous roar, and then abates to q few
scattering shots. We are again filed with
those uneasy feelings for want of correct
information as to the success OF our
troops. Many poor fellows are falling
every minute. We soon hear cheers from
the front-a charge is being made-and
then comes a lull. This kind of work
continues, and while write cannon shots
are pealing out faster than l can make
letters with a pen.
Evening.-We have not yet been called
en- to assist those In front. The
Eleventh Corps came up from Chatta-
nooga at l o'clock, and have gone on to
reinforce the front line. 1t was an inter
esting sight to see the whole corps In
line, headed by Gen. Carl Schurz, double
quicking 1t, with fixed bayonets They
brought US word of the work yesterday
Lookout Mountain taken. Nothing could
be more glorious.
1t seems almost impossible that our
troops could have done what they did,
but / guess nothing is impossible to the
Yankees. 1t Is said our men Swarued