The National tribune., 1902-04-17

i'tNh aii"- 5<tH 'fllp. NftH. Val
lin reported to Gen. Hooker, and was
directed to march His command up the
mountain to the Craven House and re-
lieye the front line of Gen. Geary and
Gen. Whitaker! aoG
These seven regiments struggled up the
steep slope of the mountain. and at dark
had reached their place of destination,
Gen. Carlin met Gen. Geary and placed
his troops in positions assigned to them
FIGHfING AT. NIGHT.
The entire Union forces on the slopes
of Lookout Mountain remained under
arms during the night. Two determined
assaults were made by the enemy, the
last one at o'clock a. m., for the pur-
pose Of recovering the Craven House, the
] key to Lookout Mountain.
| The National troops were constantly on
the alert and in large force, so that the
assaults were successfully resisted. After
. O'Clock on the morning of Nov. 25th the
firing ceased. The two armies, tired out
by the extraordinary drafts made upon
their strength endurance, and courage
during the day and night, had paused in
| the great struggle, the National forces to
wait under arms with impatience for the
dawn of day that the contest might be re-
newed; the Confederate forces to silent
ly withdraw their entire strength to Mis-
Sionary Ridge, from this position, which
| they had regarded as impregnable.
PLANTING THE FLAG ON LOOKOUT.
| Before daylight Of Nov. -, 1868, Gen.
Geary directed that small accommodating
parties be sent up with ladders TO gain
the summit of Lookout Mountain and
plant the National cOlors at the top if the
enemy had withdrawn. A detachment
! from the 10Th Pa. was directed to ascend
to the top of the mountain on the west
slope, while 4 volunteer detachment from
the Sth Ky. was directed to scale the
mountain on the east slope. This latter
detachment consisted of Capt. Wilson's
company Co, Serg't III. IL. Davis, and
Private VIM. Witt, of Go. A; Serg'ts Jo-
Seph Wagers and James b. Woods, of Co.
h. and Private Joel Bradley, Of Co. !, all
of the Sth Ky.
The details from these two regiments
made the difficult and hazardous ascent.
They gained the crest of the mountain and
discovered that the enemy had fed. The
men of the Sth Ky. reached the summit
first and unfurled the National ensign.
The flag of the 29th Pa. was also soon
given to the breeze.
As the sun rose the Star Spangled Ban
ner waved in triumph on the crest Of
Lookout Mountain. HOoker's army upon
the slope below and Thomas's army within
their intrenchments in front of Chatta-
nOoga saw the sign of victory waving in
the sky, and shout after shout went up
from those veteran armies that made the
wclkin ring.
Hooker had fought the battle above the
clouds and the heroic men who marched
under his orders had won imperishable re-
nown.
The battle of Lookout Mountain must
be regarded as the most picturesque en-
gagement of any war, either ancient or
modern. The mountain itself, standing
alone an uplift of 1000 feet. springing
from the valley: SO narrow at its northern
extremity that it almost forms peak,
with here and there precipices that no
animal can ascend; with slopes upon an
angle of 45 degrees deeply furrowed with
ravines and strewn with rocks great and
small; with n river in front and deep,
rushing creeks on either side, present to
the eye a scene of grandeur rarely beheld
in mountain scenery. The first impress
sion is that it is practically inaccessible.
1t was this spot that the Confederate
commander seized, fortified, garrisoned
with veteran troops and regarded as inn
pregnable from direct attack.
For 20 miles5a along the western slope
there were no roads up the mountain,
simply zig-zag footpaths along which the
top could be reached. When
once you gain the top Of the mountain
the southwest and widening as you pro-
ceed. Some distance to the south, wagon
roads lead to the top of the mountain, |
and it would be quite practicable for an
army to ascend the mountain from that
direction, gain the level land on top and
march and fight its way to the northern
extremity, which Oyerlooks Chattanooga.
But this regular, simple plan was not CON
sidered
1t is true that Gen. Ewing was sent out
toward Trenton to threaten this very
thing. and troops actually ascended to the |
top of the mountain; but Ewing's positive
were to make n demOnStra- |
ton only, and not to bring on an engage
mcnt. HOoker's plan was to plant his ar
tlleTy on the hills west of Lookout Creek |
in positions covering the Confederate in |
and camp, make great
upon their west front, but
direct the real attack upon their left flank |
with largely superior force.
Every officer and soldier engaged in this |
movement were to be on foot. Not a cGn-i
non was to be or could be taken; the
musket with its bayOnet were the weapons
to he relied upon.
When the battle lines We're formed with |
the right wing against the cliff those mem
were 900 feet above their comrades at
the foot of the slope. The mountain be |
coming narrower toward the north. the |
precipice curved to the right, thus giving |
Il shorter line of travel to the troops upOn |
the right, and although the line of battle |
was maintained intact. the right wing. |
was always in advance, so that as the en-
emy was engaged the right wing, |
pressing forward without pause. struck |
them first i'll front, then in flank and rear. |
This great advantage was perceived at
once by Gen. Geary, and he personally |
saw to it that his right wing should cling
to the bluff and press forward with ire |
sistible force. leading the line of battle.
While this column under Geary was |
of troops from the Twelfth, |
Fourth, and Fifteenth Corps. who had |
never marched or fought together before, |
they We're all veterans, and cO-Operated |
with a degree of intelligence and valor |
which was never eXcelled on any field.
All honor and gratitude to every officer |
and man who fought upon that mountain |
field.
Cfo be cOntinuedD
THE KANSAS VETERANS.