The National tribune., 1906-11-29

AMI SfSAN Elm f1oOOG.
to see it there, and so insulting chal-
lenge to his foes in the valley below,
that 1t may well have cost him n strug-
gle to haul it down. Possibly, probably,
he had an undue estimate of the
strength of his position, and believed
that Lookout Creek, running bank full.
would be a sufficient protection against
attack, and that the line could be held
by small force in the strong intrench-
mentS lining the precipitous banks OF
the creek and soaring the slopes OF
the mountain.
Formidable Fastness.
AS has been said before. Lookout
Mountain rises like a tremendous wall,
with its plateau fully 1000 feet above
the Tennessee River. Differing from
other mountains, this hight was all ap-
parent from it's abruptness and steep
ness. Mountains usually rise to their
elevation range upon range, so that
their full hight does not impress one.
but Lookout Mountain is very narrow
ridge, not much over a mile in width
at the base. There are really two sets
of palisades, one at the crest of 40 or
more feet in hight and also one at the
base. Between these rocky walls there
is long slope of earth which on the
western side is extremely rugged and
DIOhtfl, so lDdl lueTc Is HO DTdCliCdI
ascent for many miles Deep gulches
cut by floods of water scar this earth,
and the ground is everywhere encum
bered with great boulders fallen from
the palisades. This slope is covered
with a dense growth of trees, cat briaT
and grape vines. making jungle thru
which a hunter hardly ventured to
penetrate. The enemy had burned all
the bridges across Lookout Creek, AMI
hn1 t0 trIA ~
cure from any attack across it's swollen
waters. The only cleared ground was
on the nose of the mountain about mid
way between the foot of the palisades
and the river. This was the White
House so frequently mentioned, and
owned by Mr.. Craven. on whose farm
it stood. 1t was in full view of everyone
in Chattanooga, and had bounded the
western horizon of the Army of the
leaguerment. To it the eyes of the
40, 900 hunger-pinched men had turned
constantly for sight of the coming of
relief.
Hooiser's Preparations.
Hooker made his preparations with
much skill. The queer low, round
hills on the west side of the
creek were mounted with artillry which
brought the guns into close range of
the fortifications across the creek. The
battery across the river on Moccasin
Point had been strengthened with
heavy guns, which had kept up so con-
tinuous a fire that the Confederates
were prevented from working on their
fortifications both at the creek and at
the Craven House during the daytime,
and had to prosecute the labor at night.
Geary was on the right with his divi-
sion at Wauhatchie, while Osterhaus
was at Browns Ferry, where his cross
ing had been interrupted by breaking
of the pontOon, and Cruft was in the
center. During the afternoon of Nov.
% Osterhaus and Cruft moved up os-
tentatiously to attack directly across
the creek, and began making prepara
tions to throw bridges over the stream.
This naturally engrossed the attention
of the enemy, and drew their force to-
wards the threatened point. The at
tack was ordered for daybreak of the
next day. Nov. "a. The morning of that
day opened with a cold, drizzling rain,
and masses of thick mist, rising from
the valley. shrouded the open part of
the mountain. Promptly at dawn
Geary's Division, with Whtaker's Bri-I
gade of Crufts Division, marched out
from Wauhatchie and Whitaker crossed
at the first practicable ford that could
be found. This was the dam of a little
mill. The men stripped for the fight
by leaving their knapsacks and blank
cts under guard on that side of the
creek. Geary's Division had become so
reduced that his three brigades num-
bered scarcely more than Whitaker'si
Brigade. Gen. Geary gives Whtaker's
Brigade as 110 officers and 1855 men
and his own strength as 141 officers
and 2,21S men; making an aggregate
of 251 officers and 1878 men After
orr Gil he 4
from 1t to the base of the palisades
with Whitaker on the right. He placed
the Sth Ky. next to the rocks, and to
the left of that regiment in succession
the 35th Ind. and 99th and 40th Ohio
The 96th III. and 51st Ohio were placed
in the rear of the right, so as toI
that above all peradventure
Gen. Geary formed his division some
what In advance of Whitaker's line |
with his left extending down to Look
out Creek. his right and center being
about $50 yards in front of Whitakers $ |
left. The mist obscured all these move |
ments from the intent watchers on the |
crest above, but it had been noticed
that the picket lines on the opposite |
side of the creek had been strengthen
ed the night before in anticipation of
an attack. A picket post of AZ men
was surprised and captured at the
crossing. For time the main diff
culties the troops encountered were
struggles with the thickets of cat briar.
the dense brushwood and the steep
sided gulches. Then, as the enemy be-
gan to be aware of the advance, sharp
shooting commenced. which every mo-
ment increased in force and rapidity.
This was game at which the veterans
of Geary and Whitaker could play quite
as successfully as their opponents, and
they pressed forward from tree to tree
and rock to rock, pushing their adver-
saries steadily before them. 1t soon
became hot and hard work, but the
ground gained encouraged the men.
Osterhnus ana Cruft.
While this was going on the batteries
across Lookout Creek and across the
Tennessee We're pouring she'll into the