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the summit of the mountain was covered with sharp-shooters concealed by the overhanging cliffs.
Attacking them with vigor, we drove them before us. One of the enemy's camps being assailed by General Geary's command lower down the mountain, numbers of them fled toward the summit of the mountain and were captured by this brigade; they did not conceive it possible for a force to advance on the ground my brigade was then covering.
Steadily but energetically and firmly advancing, my brigade reached the crest of Lookout's bold projecting slope.
Its profile is delineated from beneath against the sky. In good order my bold command now became one line, swung round the crest, the right being the pivot, with the flags of the Fortieth Ohio on the left, and of the Eighth Kentucky on the right, floating free and triumphant.
Two vast armies looked upon us with beating hearts.
We heard the soul-stirring vivas of our country's friends; responding, boldly we charged upon the rallying columns of the rebels.
A portion of General Geary's division meeting overwhelming opposition from the rifle-pits in the orchard before reaching the White House, and having no cover, were falling back in considerable disorder; the enemy were also sending reenforcements from the summit of the mountain over a swag or depression in the cliff some three or four thousand yards to our rear on the west side of the mountain.
The Eighth Kentucky, Colonel Barnes, was halted on the crest of the ridge with orders to deploy skirmishers to drive the enemy back, and to hold the crest at all hazards from an assault on the rear or flank.
This was well done.
The Ninety-sixth Illinois and the Fifty-first Ohio were ordered forward to assail the rifle-pits in the rear; while the Fortieth Ohio, Ninety-ninth Ohio, and Thirty-fifth Indiana assailed them on the flank.
These dispositions were made at more than double-quick time, and my brigade had now passed the right of the front line.
Boldly the charge was made; the enemy resisted stubbornly; so that a hand-to-hand contest in portions of the intrenchment ensued.
The force on my right, under Champion and Wood, swept down between the White House and summit.
The other regiments pressed the enemy's flanks, and we drove the rebels with impetuosity along the side and down the mountain, between a quarter and half-mile beyond the White House, over breastworks, ravines, and rocks, and Lookout Mountain was ours.
My command pursued them, and, with a portion of General Geary's division, formed and held the advance line — not only against the retiring foe, but against heavy reenforcements of the enemy — until we were partially relieved and reenforced by other troops.
This took place near nightfall and after night.
In this charge, the Fortieth Ohio, Colonel Taylor, took two pieces of cannon, which have been turned over to the ordnance officer.
A little after one o'clock P. M., the General in command of this brigade, with a portion of his staff had possession of the White House, whence messages were sent at two o'clock to General Cruft, division commander; General Granger, corps commander; and General Thomas, announcing our success.
Late in the evening, that brave officer, Colonel Grose, arrived with his troops on the crest in the rear of my command, where he took position.
The skirmish firing of the enemy along the front was very spirited, occasionally varied by an effort to charge our lines.
I directed him to throw forward his regiments to the right to the support of the Ninety-sixth Illinois and Fifty-first Ohio, to enable Colonel Champion to take the Summertown road in order to capture the artillery and rebel forces on the mountain.
This he declined to do, and exhibited to me a written order from General Hooker, as follows:
Major-General Hooker directs that as soon as the enemy are started our forces pursue to the crest of Lookout slope only, where the lines will be formed. Pursueno further than the rest until further orders. The bridges are to be made perfect after the troops have passed.
This, he said, he was to obey.
This order I did not see or know of until after my command had driven the enemy beyond the crest of Lookout slope, near three quarters of a mile.
I was subsequently supported ably, and a portion of my command relieved from skirmish duty on the front line during the night by Colonel Grose.
The enemy threw grenades or shell over the cliff, and the fire of their sharp-shooters was so galling that we must inevitably have lost many men but for a dense cloud that enveloped the mountain-top about noon, and enshrouded friend and foe in its vapory folds.
Weary with the forced march of the previous day, and with the fight that had been prolonged all day into the night, wet with the cold drizzling rain that fell on the mountain, yet my command were vigilant and active to maintain the position so fearlessly and boldly won.
Early on the morning of the twenty-fifth, I called for volunteers from the Eighth Kentucky infantry to scale the cliffs that overhang the crest of the ridge or point and take Lookout Rock.
It was not known what force was on its top. Captain Wilson, of company C, Eighth Kentucky infantry; Sergeant H. H. Davis and private William Wilt, of company A; Sergeant Joseph Wagers and James B. Wood, of company B, and private Joseph Bradley, of company I, promptly volunteered for this purpose.
It was a bold undertaking.
Scaling the cliff, they took possession and unfurled our country's flag where so lately treason had defiantly flaunted her symbol of ruin.
This flag was the gift of the loyal women of Estill County, Kentucky.
It has been most
