Hooker's Column -- Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga TN - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

Three blue US Government battle tablets at Craven's House explains the contributions of Hooker's Column to the larger battle of Lookout Mountain, outside of Chattanooga TN.

These tablets are located near the NY 12th Corps Monument, and reads as follows:

HOOKER’S COLUMN
No. 1, plate 1

Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker
October 27-November 24, 1863

Geary’s Division (12th Corps) Brig. Gen. John W. Geary
Cruft’s Division (4th Corps) Brig. Gen. Charles Cruft
Osterhaus’ Division (15th Corps) Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus

The advance of General Hooker’s command from the Army of the Potomac, which consisted of the 11th Corps, Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, and the twelfth Corps, Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, arrived in Bridgeport, October 1, 1863. With a portion of his force he left Bridgeport October 27 and reached Lookout Valley the afternoon of the 28th. Brown’s ferry was occupied by Union forces from Chattanooga, commanded by Brig. Gen. W. F. Smith, at daylight Oct. 27th. Jenkin’s brigade (six regiments) of Hood’s division of long streets forces, commanded by Col.l J. Bratton, attacked six regiments of Geary’s division of Hooker’s at Wauhatchie, and midnight of Oct. 28th, but was repulsed and finally recalled owing to the withdrawal of the brigades of Law, Benning and Robertson, which had followed as a support, and had been placed on the west side of Lookout Creek to interpose between Bratton and the forces near Brown’s Ferry, and were attacked of by troops of the 11th Corps marching to the relief of Geary. The Confederates then withdrew from the west side of Lookout Creek, but continue to hold the mountain. This movement resulted in opening and maintaining a line of supplies from Bridgeport, by way of Brown’s ferry and the narrow peninsula opposite it to Chattanooga, by which the Union army was effectually relieved.

HOOKER’S COLUMN (continued)
No. 1, plate 2

General Grant’s original plan of the Battle of Chattanooga assigned General Hooker to holding Lookout Valley and observing General Bragg’s left. Nov. 22 the 11th Corps was ordered into Chattanooga. The same day General Thomas obtained permission for Hooker to make a demonstration against Lookout, Grant agreeing that it might be made as soon as General Sherman’s troops reached their position about 4 miles above Chattanooga. Hooker’s orders for the attack were issued before daylight of the 24th. He had for the moment Geary’s division of the 12th Corps (three small brigades), Cruft’s division of the 4th Corps, and Osterhaus’ of the 15th, each two brigades. The latter division had been unable to join Sherman because of the breaking of the Brown’s ferry Bridge.

Between 8 and 10 a.m. Nov. 24th, Geary’s division, and Whitaker’s brigade of Cruft’s, crossed Lookout Creek at Light’s Mill, a short distance south of Wauhatchie station, and, concealed by the fog, marched directly up the mountain to the palisades, facing toward its north point, and moved forward. Grose’s brigade crossed Lookout Creek above and in the vicinity of the railroad bridge, and advanced on the left of Geary’s line. Osterhaus’ division, after crossing the creek, moved with its left on the River Road, it’s right extending toward Cravens.

HOOKER’S COLUMN (continued)
No. 1, plate 3

General Hooker’s forces in the attack, and supporting it, was about 9,000. The immediate opposing force until after the union advance reached the Cravens house, was Walthall’s brigade, 1,489 strong, and a picket of 225 from Moore’s brigade, extending from Chattanooga Creek to Lookout Creek. While Geary’s division and Whitaker’s brigade moved against the left of Walthall’s line on the western slope of the mountain, Corse’s brigade and Osterhaus’ division attacked him in front. Nearly one-third of his force was on picket along Lookout Creek, and from the railroad bridge to the northern slope, and most of this, together with Moore’s pickets, were captured by Geary’s advance on their flank and rear. When Walthall was pressed back to the Cravens house, Geary’s troops came over the steep nose of the mountain into his front and threatening his rear, while Cruft and Osterhaus sent strong detachments to Geary’s assistance. The Union forces gained the Cravens house soon afternoon. Walthall made a stand about 400 yards south of the Cravens house, where he was relieved by three regiments of Pettus brigade, and by Moore’s brigade, which extended Pettus’ right. At dark Geary was relieved near the Cravens house by Carlin’s brigade of Johnson’s division from Chattanooga. At 2 o’clock in the morning of the 25th, the Confederates withdrew from the mountain to Missionary Ridge."

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