Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-21

Lookout. the guns Of which were work
ing vigorously. If the scenes just wit
messed below had impressed me as
weird l now had before me a scene
grand beyond comparison and awful in
Its grandeur. 1t is permitted a man
but once in his lifetime to- behold so
sublime a spectacle. The guns were
close to the brow of the mountain. Not
word was being spoken by officers or
men, but the latter loaded their pieces
and fired with elaboration and regu-
'ssrity. They saw nothing before them
but a seemingly fathomless abyss of
lurid darkness, but into this darkness
they poured their live thunders with
right good will. In the distance from
Federal batteries on Moccasin point
came the answering boom, and occa-
sionally a she'll went screaming over
our heads, while MIME balls were
spinning past us continually. Below US
the battle continued to rage with I'M
abated fury. neither side advancing
nor retreating. Just after dark the
Point Lookout battery ceased to belch
forth its thunders, and the combat be-
low also gradually died away. Bragg
had ordered the mountain evacuated
forthwith
Colonel Hundley adds that Lookout
mountain properly defended could
have resisted the assault of 100000
men. There were men enough on the
mountain at the time if properly dis
tributed to have held it against double
the number under Hooker's command.
General Nesbitt, who commanded the,
Confederate reserve brigade Of Geor-
CLANS at the base of the mountain. took
no part in the fighting. but received
from Walthalps retreating men their
fresh stories of what happened when
Gearys Federals struck the crest. Be-
ginning with the action on the plateau
between Geary and Walthall, the gen.
eral says: "Walthall. with his depleted
brigade of 1000 men. finding that he
was attacked by large column on his
left and rear, after fighting half an
hour gave the order to retreat The
order should: have been given sooner.
for about half his men were captured
tnere. The small number Of killed and
wounded was due to the clouds, which
obscured the troops. and to the protec
ton afforded by earthworks The Fed
erals We're likewise protected by rocks
and trees. Many of Walthalrs Mis-
sissippians came down to my head
quarters and informed me of the status
OF affairs, stating that General Geary's
division had got between them and the
cliffs and turned their flank. One bri-
gade Of Geary's division pushed on and
had heavy skirmish under the pail
sades and was driven back. The des-
ultory firing which followed was con-
tinued during the night by few Con-
federate pickets from behind trees on
the mountain side, which served to
draw heavy fire from the Federal
lines. thus producing the impression
that battle was going on: Thus it ap-
pears there was no battle, but heavy
skirmish.''
The Federal flag was unfurled on
Point Lookout, the site of the Confed-
crate battery described by Colonel
Hundley and the extreme point Of the
jutting ridge by soldier of the Eighth
Kentucky, who picket. his way among
the rocks in the night. When Old Clio
~ was discovered next morning dane
ing in the air the cheers of Hooker's
men all along the mountain side greet
ed it and were taken up and re-echoed
throughout all the camps in the Ten
nessee valley, around Chattanooga and
in Lookout valley, where the troops
were mastering for attack upon Mis-
sionary ridge.
ment which Grant finally placed upon
the pages of history leaves no doubt
as to the Importance he placed upon it.
In his personal memoirs, describing
the movements at the crossing of
Lookout creek and ascent of the noun
tain. he wrote: '.The side of Lookout
mountain confronting Hooker was
| rugged, heavily timbered and full of
chasms, making it difficult to advance
with troops even in the absence of an
opposing force. While the op-
erations at the bridge were progressing
Geary was pushing up the hill over
great obstacles. resisted by the enemy
directly in his front and in the face Of
the guns on top of the mountain.
By noon Geary had gained the
open ground on the north slope of the
mountain. with his right close up to
the base of the upper palisade. but
there were strong Notifications on his
front. The day was hazy. 50
that Hooker's operations We're not visi-
BILE to us Tin the valley at Chattanooga
except at moments when the clouds
would rise. But the sound of his artil-
lery and musketry was heard inces-
sanity. The enemy on his front was
partly fortified but was soon driven
out Of his works. During the afternoon
the clouds which had so obscured the
| top of Lookout mountain all day as to
hide whatever was going on from view
of those below settled down and made
1t so dark where Hooker was as to
stop operations for the time. At
o'clock Hooker reported his position