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On Nov 23, 1863, Maj. Gen. Hooker
was directed to make a demonstration
early the following morning on the
point of Lookout Mountain with the
troops in Lookout Valley under his
command, aggregating 9,681.
Geary's Division started at 8.00
A.M., crossed Lookout Creek at
Light's Dam, and, moving by the flank,
enveloped in fog and mist, until its
right rested under the Palisades,
marched northerly by brigades in
echelon, Cobham's Brigade the right,
Ireland's the center, and Candy's
the left. Whitaker's Brigade was in
support. Grose's Brigade drove the
enemy from the bridge near railroad
crossing and put it in repair.
Columns of Confederates moved
from their camps and occupied protected
positions on the western slope of the
mountain. From these vantage points
and the summit, they swept, with a fire
of musketry, the ground over which
the Union Troops advanced. The Union
Artillery, from ridges west of Lookout
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Creek and at Moccasin Point(?) fired(?)
effectively upon the enemy on the
mountain side.
Geary's line smartly engaged the
Confederate advance about 10 o'clock
and after his column had cleared the
approaches to the railroad bridge,
Woods's and Grose's brigades crossed
and extended the Union left to the
road over the point of the mountain,
pushing forward with Geary's Division
whose right and center shortly there-
after attacked Walthall's Brigade
behind breastworks. Though resisting
stubbornly, the enemy was outflanked
and speedily pushed back at all points
until the head of the Union column
reached Craven's house about noon,
the Confederates retiring southerly
to a line 400 yards beyond, which they
occupied until their final withdrawal
at 2 A.M. on the 25th. At 7 P.M.
Carlin's Brigade reached the Craven's
house from Chattanooga, relieving
Geary's right, and held this position
throughout the night.
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