The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-06-28
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
VISITING FAMOUS BATTLEFIELDS.
Maryland Commissions Trip to Chatta-
nooga to Locate the Site of the Mon
ument to the Heroes of Both Ar
mics Whose Lives were Civ
en- Up in Those Battles.
CHArrANooGA. TENN. June lStl


CHATTANOOGA, TENN, June 18th, 1902.
Editors Union The subjoined account OF an
official trip is enclosed, thinking it may meet
your favorand be of interest to my old comrades
of the I'd and Sd Infantry, natives and dweliers.
like myself, of our county, and serve to v1v1diy
recall the days and scenes of ''auld lang syne."
Very truly yours, BEN. F. TAYLOR.
The C. & c. Battlefield Commission of Mary
land left Union Station, Baltimore. Monday,
and after pleasant passage through the Land
of the sky via Asheville, descended into the
Valley Of East So and at
Union Infantry of near 40 years ago. On the
journey the Governor of North Carolina and
distance, and although his Excellency did not
voice the customary remarks the Attorney
General did not fail to observe" them. and we
How different now the conditions, surround
ings, the entire outlook. Now in graceful old
age riding rapidly and smoothly-idly iounging
lin sumptuous palace car, served with the
choicest viands; then, in the vigor OF youth and
when not hungry and YEARLY tramping muddy
cars s over ne@Iected Tracks. muncbinS hard tack
creased with salt hoss'' and at times getting out
TO push the wood burning. wheezy engine and
cars over the steepest grades. Now, the land
scape bright with foliage, we'll kept buildings
and fields gay with luxuriant crops them bare
trees. neglected houses and ravaged fields.
For six months of 1863 from October to April,
it was my fate every few weeks, with the 9th
Army Corps, to march up and down this natur-
ally fertile but then devasted valley, from Lou
don to Rheatown and beyond, some 100 miles,
until every feature, house, landmark, even the
fence posts and telegraph poles were as we'll
known and recognizable as those of my native
Gunpowder hills. Here we prosecuted the war
under difficulties, played the game under far
from favorable auspices. In an eaten-out coun-
try. our base of supplies at Crab Orchard. KY,
$50 miles beyond the mountains, it was all the
staff could do to keep us supplied with annual
ton and scanty food. Shoes, stockings and
clothing had to go by default. At one time fol-
lowing ''Mudwall" Jackson and Jones as they
fell back before the attacks of our concentrated
fronted by the enemys assembled forces and in
turn be forced to retire, gathering in our de-
tachments and be followed to our stronghold,
until finally after big fight at Campbell's Sta
ton, the birthplace Of Farragut, we shut our
selves up in Knoxville and gained the thanks of
Congress by the successful resistance of Long
streets overwhelming numbers.
Night closed down soon after crossing the Ten
nessee at Loudon. where from the opposite bank
in November, 1868. we had witnessed an engine
and train of cars leap to destruction from the
abutments of the destroyed railroad bridge high
in air and hide their wrecks in the deep waters
of the rivera feat repeated less than month
later by Longstreet, when he similarly and for
the same reasons-to avoid capture-rushed over
under full head of steam engines and between
60 and 100 cars. 1t was an inspiring sight to those
who witnessed it and one to be remembered.
Arriving at our destination on time, 10.15 P. NJ,
Tuesday, nth. we were soon in comfortable
quarters at the Read House, opposite the sta
tion built on the site of the historic "Cruthfeld."
used by both armies in the civil war as hospital.
Here also close by is pr preserved the famous en-
record unique in history.
Up with the earliest dawn, eager to arrange our
itinerary for the day, as the first streaks of light
dispelIed the dark and pierced the mist, there
was revealed to our delighted eyes, accustomed
only to rolling agricultural land and broad sheets
of white-capped water decked with the COM
merce of nations, vast grand panorama of hill
and plain, valleys and mountain ridges, the latter
covered with heavy masses of trees and piles on
piles of rock; solid walls here, huge broken
bohlders there, all dotted with medley mess of
wellkept and Unattended houses, some of pre-
tentious architecture, Others of the pattern that
was only in its incipient stages. Bordering all
like huge snake the broad, slow flowing Ten
nessee winds its tortuous length along:
At the conclusion of hearty breakfast q. S..
Engineer E. e. Belts, in charge of the govern
ment reservations here of some 200 acres in ex-
tent, called and rendered his good offices and we
were soon en- route in vehicle for ten, a Jolly
party, for the battlefield of Chattanooga, fought
between Grant and Bragg, November 23d to 25th,
1868.
Passing through disgusting ill-smelling SUBJ
urbs. but over well-kept streets and roads, we
reached Orchard Knob, the centre of the Union
line and its generals headquarters. 1t is an
isolated knoll of some acres rising abruptly so
feet from the plain, owned by the government
and surrounded by an ornate stone wall of native
limestone and embellished by different states
around the base and upon its crests with monu-
ments and markers of handsome workmanship
centre crest next to the Flagstaff rising into view
from all sides, will be erected Maryland's tribute
to her valiant sons of both armies.
On three miles further over the splendid gov
eminent boulevards, of which there are so miles,
fringed every little distance with iron tablets
reciting the position and action of the many
different commands, so that one can read history
on the spot of its creation, to the end of Mission
airy Ridge, which runs northerly and southerly
across the city's 'front.' then up the hill, passing
federates fell back before Sherman's thanking
columns. since which tunnel Hill" has given
way to sherman Heights" Near by, during the
hQf has Mo- lord nof ito
ry, the exact position of which was located and
which will hereafter be marked by two brass
"Napoleons," mounted on indestructible metal
wheels and. carriages, between them an iron
tablet inscribed with the legend OF the battery's
connection with the campaign.
This duty performed angry clouds gathering
to the north across the river along Walden
Ridge FIVE miles off, warned US to think of shell
ter, SO pushing along the ridge we stopped long
of height and take in the extended view it af-
forded. Here also was beautiful Minnesota
monument. From our elevation looking down
Orchard Knob, that had seemed high in air an
hour before, now appeared only a f1attened patch
on the landscape. The storm for moment
seemed as if settling about the mouths of the
far-away Chickamanga creeks and then as if
changing its mind came racing our way, urged
on. by forty three mile wind, hurrying our de-
parture.
Leaving Bragg's headquarters and the Tower
to our left we hastened for the valley and speed
ed for the city, but ere reaching it were forced
by the unusual, so we were informed, velocity
of the wind to seek haven for an hour from 1t
and the rain after which the atmosphere cleared
and the sun broke forth enabling us to visit Look
out in the afternoon. This is reached by trolley
to the end Of"Incline," then up seven-eighths
of mile on grade of SO feet in the 100 feet the
steepest in the world, to find ourselves /, roo feet
above the city and between 1900 and 5000 feet
above sea level and realize at once our route of
the morning had been wisely chosen. for it had
been one of increasing interest eliminating in
this magnificent evidence of the great forces OF
nature and the possibilities of brave, energetic
men. 1t was at this point Hookers men gained
glory in mounting to dizzy heights and fighting
above the clouds, and several of our party earn
ed iDsperishdble ren0aUn by having their "picturs
took" in bold relief upon the tiptopmost top of
Rockyface. Lookout mountain has a large and
well appointed hotel and many cottages are
strung along its woody, rocky ridges.
Night drove us to quarters and preparations
for a visit to the Chickamauga Battlefield and
Park on the morrow. which, if accounts are cor
rect, may well be subject for another letter.