Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[219] on its march. The bridge across the river was thrown with less trouble than was anticipated, because it was found that most of the drift hugged the right bank, and to avoid the catching of the drift on the cables, anchors were dispensed with for several boats near the shore, and the structure kept in place by guy-lines to the trees on shore. Lieutenant Dressen deserves all praise for his intelligent energy in throwing a bridge of nearly one thousand four hundred feet in length over such a flood in such a short time. That same afternoon two pontoon-bridges were thrown across Chattanooga Creek, to connect the centre and right of General Thomas's command, the right by that time occupying the base of Lookout Mountain. On the twenty-fifth, an additional bridge was thrown across the Citico Creek at its mouth, and the unused bridge also brought down and thrown across the river at Chattanooga. On the twenty-sixth, Lieutenant Wharton and the Pioneer brigade, under Colonel George P. Buell, were ordered to accompany the pursuing column toward Ringgold, and Colonel Buell reports the completion of a bridge across the West-Chickamauga Creek by daylight of Friday morning. Lieutenant Downing, of the Engineer corps, had been ordered to reconstruct the bridge near Shallow Ford, across the South-Chickamauga. On Friday, at Ringgold, orders were given to Lieutenant Wharton to attend to the destruction of the railroad at that place, and whatever mills were in that vicinity. On Sunday, Captain Morrell was ordered to accompany the column under General Gordon Granger toward Knoxville. I beg to call the particular attention of General Grant to the accompanying report of Brigadier-General Wilson, with reference to the bridge constructed under his direction, across the Little Tennessee, for the passage of General Sherman's column over that stream; also that of Captain Poe, Chief Engineer army of the Ohio. The officers of the Engineer corps were zealous and efficient. I forward with the report a map large enough to show the strategic movements made before the battle, and also a map giving the battle-field. These maps are mostly due to the exertions of Captain West, U. S. Coast Survey, of my staff, and to the labors of Captains Darr and Down, of the same department, who had been ordered to report to me by Professor Bache, Superintendent S. S., and who all deserve the thanks of the General for labors done by them. The distances were determined before the battle for the use of artillery, and the heights of artillery positions occupied by us and the enemy. Very respectfully,

The following report of the part taken by my brigade in storming Lookout Mountain, and driving the enemy from before Chattanooga, is submitted:

On leaving Shell Mound, the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois, the Eighty-fourth Indiana, and the Fifth Indiana battery were detailed to defend the works erected at that place for the protection of our supply train. They were under the command of Colonel Moore of the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois. This duty was well performed.

Six regiments, (the Eighth Kentucky, Colonel Sydney M. Barnes; the Ninety-sixth Illinois, Colonel Thomas E. Champion; the Thirty-fifth Indiana, Colonel Mullen; the Fortieth Ohio, Colonel Taylor; Ninety-ninth Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Cummings; Fifty-first Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Wood,) under my command, left Shell Mound November twenty-third, at nine o'clock A. M. After a tiresome march over rough roads, I reported to General Cruft, division commander, at the base of Raccoon Mountain, near the mouth of Lookout Creek, having made twenty-three miles during the day.

For reasons unknown to me, the command of our brave and efficient division, General Cruft's, (two brigades,) was divided, and this brigade ordered by General Hooker to report at daylight on the morning of the twenty-fourth to Brigadier-General Geary, of General Hooker's command. This was done with celerity and despatch. The troops were massed under cover of the hills near Wauhatchie. They were deployed crossing Lookout Creek on the dam of a little mill, near which, by order, the knapsacks and blankets of my command were left under guard. The line of battle was as follows: Second brigade, of General Geary's division, in front on the right; Third brigade in the centre; and the First brigade on the extreme-left and near the base of the mountain. These brigades were small and the division did not muster many more men for the fight than did my brigade, which was formed, the Eighth Kentucky on the extreme right at the base of the rough projecting crags, forming the summit of Lookout; the Thirty-fifth Indiana next; then the Ninety-ninth Ohio, and the Fortieth Ohio on my extreme left; next to General Geary's right the Ninety-sixth Illinois and Fifty-first Ohio were placed, one hundred yards in rear of my right, on the upper bench, to make firmly my right flank. The lines of the entire storming party, though intended to be double, were, from the extent of the ground, to be assailed partially, if not entirely, in echelon; and my front had to be protected by skirmishers, which I had done. Owing to the formation of the mountain, my brigade occupying the position nearest the apex of the cone, had a shorter route in going around the mountain than those nearest its base, and ex necessitate in advancing would and did overtake and pass the front line. Thus formed, the brigade advanced rapidly and in good order over the steep, rocky, ravine-seamed, torrent-torn sides of the mountain for nearly three miles. It was laborious and extremely tiresome! The enemy was found sheltered by rocks trees, and timber cut to form abattis or obstructions, while