The National tribune., 1906-03-22
ON LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
Official Report Of the Battle Above the
Clouds Which Has Never Before Been
Published.

| The following IS the official report
was written by Col. Taylor and for
warded to ]. r. Boone, Acting Assist
| ant Adjutant-General. The copy was
made from the original paper, which
is yellow with age, and was sent to
The National Tribune by Comrade f.
NJ. Oliver, formerly a member of Co.
G, 40th Ohio. He secured the docu~
ment about 25 years ago from Gen.
Whitaker, Commander OF the Second
Brigade, First Division, Fourth Corps:
Headquarters 40th Regt., o. V. J.,
Camp near Ringgold, Ga, Nov. 80,
1863.
Lieut.. J. r. Boone, 4. A. 4. G.
Dear Sir: i have the honor to re-
port that in compliance with General
Order, No. II, Second Brigade, First
| Division. Fourth Army Corps, a. c.,
| the 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry left
Shell Mound with the balance of the
brigade on the 23d inst. for the front,
marching until late in the evening,
when it encamped for the night near
| Lookout Mountain.
EARLY In the morning of the gath
| the line of march was again taken up.
crossing u creek at the foot of Look
out and continuing up the slope of
| the mountain. where three lines of bat
! tie were formed, the 40th Ohio first
from the left in the second line.
About II O'Clock m. an advance was
| ordered. After advancing half a mile
slight skirmishing commenced with
the front line, which gradually increas-
ed as the lines moved forward, until
the firing became general, when an
order to charge was given. which was
successfully obeyed, and after driving
the enemy several hundred yards to
near his camp, the 40th passed the
front line, charging and routing the
enemy in confusion from every point
for more than half mile, scaling his
bitches and stone barricade about the
white house where two pieces of ar
tillery and over SEQ picks and spades
were captured. The pursuit was con
tinued over walls and bitches until the
enemy being met in such numbers as to
compel the regiment to fall back to a
stone wall for protection, which it sue
cessfully held until relieved by fresh
troops While directing the men In
this last position, the gallant Maj. Ac-
ton fell instantly killed by a musket-
shot through the. breast; also, the
brave Richard Beetle, Corporal, Co. D,
who so nobly carried the colors through
the charge, was killed.
effective strength of regiment be-
fore the engagement was g officers
and 333 enlisted men. Casualties, one
officer and IL men killed; one officer
and Is men wounded, two men miss
ing: aggregate loss two officers and
% men.
ION the morning of the 25th the
regiment was detailed to reconnoiter
Chattanooga Valley, which was con-
tinCed to the creek and until about
l2 o'clock m. with no further result
than the capture of six prisoners and
TWO cases Of guns tnew) nearly full.
The regiment was then ordered to re-
iIit 10 l.1scya fterfr
Ridge, which it did about o'clock p.
IN, and moved with the balance of
the brigade on the ridge, but was not
brought under fire.
"On the morning of the 26th the
regiment with the brigade was ordered
TO move on the Ringgold road. AfteiS
crossing small stream about 8 o'clock
p. m., the. regiment was detailed to
depipy and '7recoImoiterf mountain,
where it was. supposed the enemy's
train had encamped. This was done
with the result Of the capture of one
horse, one calsson and one supply
wagon.
''on the morning Of the 27th the
march was continued to Ringgold.
where the advance of the column
again encountered the enemy. The
regiment was again formed in line OF
battle, forming the fourth line In the
brigade, bat was not engaged in the
action.
Officers and men, with but few ex-
ceptions, did most nobly during the
campaign. Those deserving particu-
lar attention for gallant conduct in
storming Lookout are Maj. Acton and
Corpl Richard Beetle tcolor bearer),
who were instantly killed on the enc
my's WORKS while urging the men for
ward; Lieut.. John w. Smith Co. /,
who calamity led his men forward and
encountered the enemy in a hand-to-
hand conflict in his works; CorpJ Rid
er, Co. c, who picked up the colors
when shot down, ieaped upon stone
and defiantly waved them in the enc
ny's face, and proudly bore them from
the field.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
y. e. Taylor, Colonel Commanding
Regiment"