Part 1

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CHATTANOOGA

OR

Lookout Mountain

AND

Missionary Ridge

From MOCCASIN POINT

BY

BRADFORD R. WOOD, JR.,

Brevet Captain, late U.S.A., Brevet Major U.S.V. Albany, N.Y.

A paper read at the Thirty-second Annual Meeting of the U.S. Veteran Signal Corps Association, held at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., September 10, 1907.

MAJOR WOOD, when introduced, said:--

I wish to describe to the comrades present a great battle which resulted in a victory for the Union, and to introduce you to some of our Western soldiers. If I can give you one or two new facts, or increase your love for the West or for all of our great and glorious country, I shall be well pleased. My story is not all original, but what is not I have taken from official and reliable records, so that I can say that it is all true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Published November, 1907 By The U.S. Veteran Signal Corps Association

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY RIDGE FROM MOCCASIN POINT

In the fall of the year 1863, during the Civil War, while serving in the signal corps attached to the fourth corps of the army of the Cumberland, it was my privilege to have a good station on Moccasin Point, opposite Lookout Mountain, on the north side of the Tennessee river, from which to witness the assault of the Union troops under Gen. Hooker up the north face of the mountain, and also the charge of the army of the Cumberland under Gen. Thomas up the western slope of Missionary Ridge.

Moccasin Point is about three miles below Chattanooga and is formed by a bend in the Tennessee, which turns to the east and north at Lookout Mountain, continuing in that direction to a little north of Chattanooga, when it inclines to the northwest and then again to the southwest. The eastern side of Moccasin Point near the river is quite steep and from 100 to 150 feet above it, the crest of the ridge being covered with trees. The western side and the point slope gently to the river bank and contain some cultivated fields and farm houses, the peninsula being about a mile wide in the widest part. From the summit of Lookout Mountain it bears some resemblance to an Indian's foot clad in a moccasin, from which it derives its name. Lookout Mountain is an elevated plateau extending from the Tennessee river about forty miles southwest into Georgia and Alabama, its sides and summit being covered with trees, with some open fields and cultivated farms. Near Chattanooga its height is about 1500 feet above the river. The northern slope from the Tennessee is rocky and steep for about 600 feet, when the ascent is more gradual and contains an open space of a few acres cultivated as a farm. A white farm house, known as Craven's, is situated on the upper margin of the farm and near the western point. From the southern side of the farm the ascent to the summit is very rocky and almost perpendicular. The house was occupied by the confederate general E. C. Walthall as his headquarters. Around the point of the mountain, a little above the river, is the track of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad cut in the side of the rock, and above it, across the open field, was a wagon road leading into Lookout valley. On the eastern side of the mountain and connecting with this was the road to Summertown, the only wagon road to the summit of the mountain for many miles. Chattanooga creek, a good-sized stream, flows into the Tennessee at the foot of the mountain on the eastern side, and Lookout creek from Lookout valley on the western.

After the battle of Chickamauga the center of the army of the Cumberland withdrew from the field in good order on the night of Sept. 20, 1863, to Rossville, a few miles south of Chattanooga, and was ready to give battle on the following day, the right and left wings being again in position. It was not however closely followed or attacked by the enemy, but as Chattanooga was considered a much better position for defense, on Sept. 22, the army took up its position on the hills surrounding the town and was soon intrenched and securely fortified against any attack. Its lines extended from the Tennessee river on the south to the bank of the river on the north. It also held Moccasin Point, the river being crossed by a pontoon bridge, and the north side of the river to Bridgeport, from whence it received its supplies by wagon road.

The Confederate army occupied Lookout Mountain, Lookout and Chattanooga valleys on the south, and Missionary Ridge on the east, also Orchard Knob and some other intervening hills. They had railroad connection with Atlanta, 140 miles south, and could easily receive supplies and reinforcements.

On Oct. 20, 1863, I was ordered with Lt. S. A. Thayer and four flagmen to establish a signal station of observation on Moccasin Point, to watch the movements of the enemy and report to a signal station on Cameron Hill directly south of Chattanooga, from whence there was a telegraph line to the headquarters of the army in the town. Our station was on the edge of a bluff overlooking the river, and about fifty yards in rear of the guns of Capt. Naylor's battery, the 10th Indiana. This battery consisted of one 10-pounder and one 20-pounder Parrott, and two 12-pounder brass howitzers. To the right and a little lower down on the point, was Capt. Spencer's battery the 1st Illinois, formerly Capt. Aleshire's, of two brass Napoleons and two 12 pounder howitzers. Still further to the right and rear was encamped a brigade of infantry under the command of Gen. W. C. Whitaker. On the north face of Lookout Mountain were two lines of intrenchments with redoubts on the eastern and western extremities, and a covered way around the point. There had been a battery near the Craven house, but the fire of our guns was so accurate that it had been withdrawn to the summit of the mountain where it was more secure. Our batteries had a good range of the wagon road across the point of Lookout and also of the Summertown road on the eastern side of the mountain, a portion of which could be seen. As Capt. Naylor was serving at division headquarters as ordnance officer, Lt. Crosby was left in charge of his battery, and with his Parrott guns he did some very fine shooting. He sank the trail of one of them in the ground elevating the muzzle sufficiently to explode some shells directly over the summit of the mountain. One day we noticed a signal officer on the point of Lookout, signaling to Gen. Bragg's headquarters on Missionary Ridge, and Lt. Crosby was about to fire at him when I requested him not to do so in order that I might try to read his message. I called off the numbers to one of my flagmen, who wrote them down and afterwards compared them to the Confederate code which had been given me, but they did not agree. As the flagman on the mountain stood with his left side towards me, it was very difficult to distinguish the motions of the flag from the right to the left; so I thought I did not get the numbers correctly, or else the officer was using a cipher. I tried again however, Lt. Crosby writing down the numbers for me, but meeting with no better success, I said I had no objection to his firing at the flag, which he did, the shell exploding very near it, and we saw it no more. There was a rumor soon after that a signal officer had been killed on the top of the mountain, but I never heard it confirmed. The signal station was probably moved further back on the summit where we could not see it, as communication was still kept up with Missionary Ridge. For firing at the summit, Lt. Crosby cut his fuses for twenty seconds, and for firing at the enemy on the Craven farm and the Summertown road, for ten and twelve seconds. A little later a section of 20-pounder Parrotts was placed on an elevation to the right and some distance to the rear of the batteries mentioned, which enfiladed the enemy's lines on the western slope of the mountain. The firing from Lookout Mountain though frequent did little damage on Moccasin Point, the shells either falling short or going over our heads into the Tennessee river.

One evening while sending a message by torchlight it became necessary to fill the stationary foot-torch with turpentine. In doing so some of the fluid was accidentally spilled on the ground, which afterwards became ignited from one of the torches, the flame spreading rapidly among the dry pine needles and brush on the ground. The enemy seeing the fire commenced shelling us, one shell striking very near, but with the assistance of some men from the battery, by stamping and beating, we soon succeeded in extinguishing the fire. Waiting a few minutes until everything was quiet, I lighted my torches again and finished my message without being again disturbed. Not long after this there was a forest fire on the eastern side of Lookout Mountain, which burned for nearly a week, but as it approached the houses near the point it was extinguished.

The following are a few of the messages sent in cipher from the signal station on Moccasin Point to the station on Cameron Hill:--

Oct. 26, 1:20 a.m.

GEN. THOMAS:--Beat the enemy off Williams' Island twice to-night. Want no help.

(Signed) WHITAKER, GENERAL.

Oct. 29, 7:50 p.m.

GEN. THOMAS:--Rebel troops were moving about northeast. They were twenty-seven minutes in passing a given point.

Nov. 15, 11:20 a.m.

CAPT. LEONARD:--Naylor's battery firing at squads of men passing along the road near white house on Lookout, also at earthwork on the edge of open field below and to the right of the house.

Nov. 15, 12:30 p.m.

Battery No. 5 is now firing at a regiment of infantry and wagons going up Lookout.

Nov. 16, 9:30 a.m.

About a brigade of infantry just passed over the mountain towards Lookout valley. Our batteries opened on them.

Nov. 20, 11:20 a.m.

Rebels are extending rifle pits on Lookout below white house. Naylor's battery is shelling them.

Nov. 21, 4:20 p.m.

LT. BACHTELL:--They are rifle pits. I reported them to Gen. Thomas about a week ago when he was here. Have seen a few men passing there to-day but none at work. Naylor's battery will fire at the point you mention.

Nov. 22, 9:55 a.m.

CAPT. LEONARD:--The enemy are strengthening their earthworks on northeast face of Lookout. Naylor's battery is shelling them.

Nov. 22, 11:15 a.m.

Can see artillery and a long train of wagons going up the road on Mission Ridge, 85 degrees east of south from this station.

Nov. 23, 11:15 a.m.

Naylor's battery is firing at wagons going up the mountain and at men at work on earthwork near white house. Three shots from summit of Lookout this morning.

Nov. 23, 3 p.m.

Naylor's and Aleshire's batteries firing at enemy in line of battle on our right beyond rolling mill.

It is very probable that the firing of our batteries at this time was intended to draw the attention of the enemy from the approach of Gen. Sherman's troops above Chattanooga.

Nov. 23, 9:30 p.m.

Have just read rebel message from station on Mission Ridge, viz: "On whose left did Gen. S---- think the attack would be made?"

This message was sent from Gen. Bragg's' headquarters on Missionary Ridge without address or signature. In the evening of the same day the following message was secured from another source:--

GEN. HARDEE:--I observed from the Point the movements of the enemy until dark. The object seemed to be to attract our attention. The troops in sight were formed from center to left. Those on the right moved to center. The troops from Raccoon were in full sight. If they intend to attack, my opinion is, it will be on our left. Both of their bridges are gone.

(Signed) GEN. STEVENSON.

The troops from Raccoon referred to were Gen. Sherman's. From the summit of Lookout Mountain and from Missionary Ridge the movements of the Union army could easily be seen in the day time, but the Confederates seem to have been surprised by the coming of Generals Hooker and Sherman. In Gen. Longstreet's book, "From Manassas to Appomattox," in the month of October he states: "Gen. Longstreet's command occupied Lookout Mountain and the left of the Confederate army. Alexander's batteries occupied the top of the mountain. Gen. Alexander managed to drop an occasional shell about the enemy's lines by lifting the trails of his guns, but the fire of other batteries was not effective." President Davis visited Gen. Bragg's army Oct. 9, and viewed Chattanooga from Lookout Mountain. We on Moccasin Point were informed of his presence and looked for him with our glasses. He seemed to have been much encouraged by the view from Lookout rock and predicted that the town would soon be again in his possession with the Union army which surrounded it. The Union army was surrounded on every side but one by the Confederates, occupying fortified positions on summits which seemed naturally impregnable. The supplies of the army had to be hauled from Bridgeport over a wagon road through the Sequatchie valley, a hostile country, a distance of 60 miles, in some places exposed to sharpshooters and the guns from Lookout Mountain, and then must cross the Tennessee on a frail pontoon bridge. Gen. Longstreet had established a signal station in observation of Bridgeport. He writes:

"On Oct. 27 the signal party reported the enemy advancing from Bridgeport in force, artillery and infantry, but the report was discredited at Gen. Bragg's headquarters. On Oct. 28 Gen. Bragg while laying his plans sitting on the point of Lookout rock, the battery from Moccasin Point threw a shell which exploded about two hundred feet below them. That angered Gen. Bragg and he ordered Gen. Alexander to drop some of his shells about the enemy's heads. As this little practice went on a dispatch messenger came bursting through the brushwood asking for Gen. Longstreet, and reported the enemy marching from Bridgeport along the base of the mountain, artillery and infantry. Gen. Bragg denied the report and rebuked the soldier, but the soldier said: 'General, if you will ride to a point on the west side of the mountain, I will show them to you.' They did so and saw the 11th and 12th corps under Gen. Hooker marching quietly along the valley towards Brown's Ferry. Gens. Bragg and Longstreet were surprised, but the latter was surprised because Gen. Hooker did not march along the mountain top instead of in the valley. They saw the enemy go into bivouac with the rear guard of about 1500 men about three miles in the rear and planned to capture it by a night attack."

Gen. Hooker left Bridgeport Oct. 27, and marching up the river left Gen. Geary with the rear guard to protect Kelly's ford, and with the main body of his troops proceeded to the vicinity of Brown's Ferry, a few miles further up the river, where they went into camp. He wished to hold both fords of the river. A desperate attempt was made to cut off Gen. Geary in the night, but his men were not surprised and after a sharp fight drove the enemy back. Gens. Howard and Schurz were sent to the assistance of Geary and soon ran into the enemy, with whom they had a severe fight, driving him up the mountain and taking many prisoners. This was called the battle of Wauhatchie. The loss of Gen. Hooker was 383 in killed and wounded. The loss of the Confederates Gen. Longstreet states was 408. 150 were found dead in front of Gen. Geary and over 100 prisoners were taken.

The capture of Brown's Ferry seems to have been a complete surprise. The night of Oct. 27 was dark and the pontoons for the new bridge, loaded with soldiers, which floated down the river from Chattanooga around Moccasin Point to the ferry, a distance of nine miles, were not perceived by the enemy until they reached the appointed place of landing, when the pickets fired a few shots and fled. Troops which had marched across Moccasin Point from Chattanooga were hurried across the river in the boats, and in a short time the defenses were strong enough to hold the new pontoon bridge, which was speedily completed. Communication by river was now open between Bridgeport and Chattanooga, so that supplies of provisions and stores were soon rushing to the army of the Cumberland. Although Lookout valley seemed now lost to the Confederates and Lookout Mountain was threatened, Gen. Bragg on Nov. 4 detached Gen. Longstreet with 15,000 men to attack Knoxville. The situation of Gen. Burnside was precarious, as he was surrounded by the enemy and in more need of supplies than the army of the Cumberland.

About 2 p.m. on Nov. 23, which was a cool and clear day, we noticed a long line of troops in front of Fort Wood on the east side of Chattanooga, as if for inspection or review; but as soon as they commenced to move forward we concluded it was for a reconnoissance. This proved to be the case, as deserters had reported that many of Gen. Bragg's troops had gone away, some to intercept Gen. Sherman, who was thought to be approaching by the way of Trenton and McLemore's Cove, Georgia, on their left. The reconnoissance was made by the division of Gen. Thos. J. Wood of the 4th corps, supported by Gen. Sheridan on the right and Gen. Howard on the left. It was soon ascertained that the Confederate intrenchments were still occupied, but by a rapid movement of our troops they were carried with the capture of Orchard Knob, an important elevation between Fort Wood and Missionary Ridge. The loss in Gen. Wood's division was 190 killed and wounded. He took 174 prisoners including eight officers and one stand of colors. The summit of Orchard Knob was immediately occupied by Bridge's battery of six guns, four 3-inch Rodmans and two Napoleons. This advance was of great advantage to the Union Army and caused Gen. Bragg to transfer Walker's division from Lookout Mountain to sustain the right against what seemed to be a most threatening demonstration.

During the 23d of November the pontoon bridge above Chattanooga parted, leaving Gen. Osterhaus' division on the north bank of the Tennessee; but as three of Gen. Sherman's divisions had already crossed, Gen. Grant directed not to delay operations any longer. Gen. Thomas then advised Gen. Hooker, if Gen. Osterhaus' division failed to cross, he should endeavor with it and his own troops to take the point of Lookout Mountain, and later he advised him that the mountain should be taken if a demonstration should develop its practicability.

The morning of Nov. 24 was cool and cloudy, threatening rain. There was a cloud about the summit of the mountain, and at no time during the day was the top of the mountain clearly visible from Moccasin Point. A little before 10 a.m. heavy firing was heard on the west side of the mountain, gradually growing nearer. At 10:30 a.m. I received the following message from Lookout valley by the way of Chattanooga:--

COMMANDING OFFICER BATTERIES ON MOCCASIN POINT:--Gen. Hooker desires that you will keep a sharp lookout on the eastern slope of the nose of Lookout Mountain. If any of the enemy's troops go up there, shell them.

(Signed) D. BUTTERFIELD, MAJ. GEN. AND CHIEF OF STAFF.

Not long after, suddenly, crowds of the enemy came rushing round the western point of the mountain and filled the trenches and earthworks on the northern slope close by. All the guns on Moccasin Point now opened a destructive fire.

Gen. Hooker's command consisted of Gen. Geary's division of the 12th corps, Gen. Osterhaus' division of the 15th, and two brigades of Gen. Cruft's division of the 4th corps. He had sent Geary's division and Whitaker's brigade of Cruft's division to Wauhatchie to cross Lookout creek and then to sweep down the right bank, to clear it of the enemy and cover the crossing of the remaining forces. He ordered Col. Grose to seize the common road bridge just below the railroad bridge crossing and repair it, and directed Gen. Charles R. Woods, then in command of Gen. Osterhaus' division, to move his division to Brown's Ferry under cover of the hills, to the crossing of Lookout creek and support the batteries; one, battery K, 1st Ohio artillery, on a high hill a little north of the stream; and the other battery K, 1st N.Y. artillery, on a hill to the rear of the other. At 8 a.m. Gen. Geary crossed Lookout creek, captured the enemy's pickets, and then ascended the mountain side until his right touched the base of the palisades. The fog which overhung the mountain top and upper steeps and the woods concealed the movement. Then with the right clinging to the palisades he swept round towards the mountain's point. Simultaneously with Gen. Geary's first movement, Col. Grose attacked the enemy at the bridge and having driven them back commenced to repair. The noise of the conflict called the enemy's nearest forces from their camps. One detachment advanced to the railroad embankment, which formed a good parapet and admitted a sweeping fire upon the Union troops advancing from the bridge. To avoid loss of life in a direct advance, Gen. Hooker directed Gen. Osterhaus, now commanding his division, to send a brigade to prepare a crossing a half mile further up the creek under cover of the woods. At 11 a.m. the bridge was completed, and soon after Gen. Geary's division and Whitaker's brigade in line, sweeping the mountain from base to palisade, came abreast. The batteries then opened fire, and Woods and Grose crossed the creek and aligned their brigades on Geary's left as it swept down the valley. The troops of the enemy in the first positions that escaped the artillery fire ran into the infantry lines so quickly that overthrow occurred to all that had taken position in the valley and near the western base of the mountain. Many were killed and wounded and the remainder were captured. Then the line moved onwards towards the mountain's front. As the increasing roar of musketry indicated the sweep of the battle to the east, the anxiety for its revelation on the open ground became intense. Soon could be seen the routed enemy in rapid motion followed by Gen. Hooker's line with its right under the palisades. With a plunging fire from above and behind, they rolled up the enemy's lines and driving them from their intrenchments, did not halt until the middle of the open ground was gained. Here the enemy received reinforcements and a more determined stand was made.

Gen. Cruft had been ordered to move south along the western base of the mountain and charge up to the white house. Grose's brigade of his division and Osterhaus' command, having gathered up the captured on the lower ground, closed on the left and then the enemy was driven from his defenses on the open ground and retreated up the mountain toward the eastern slope. As Gen. Cruft's troops charged the last line of intrenchments near the Craven house, the sun shone out for a few minutes and the battle flags of both sides could be plainly seen from Moccasin Point. It was a thrilling sight. Gen. Hooker was greatly assisted by the batteries on Moccasin Point, which swept the northern face of the mountain, pouring shot and shell into the enemy's lines about the Craven house and the Summertown road.

At 12:50 p.m. I received the following message:--

COMMANDING OFFICER MOCCASIN POINT:--Throw no more shells on this side of the mountain. You are throwing in the midst of our men.

(Signed) HOOKER.