“'No,' replied the sentinel, 'except that you have been sitting on the stone under this tree for some time. I have been watching you, as I was not aware of your business.'
“'You saw nothing else?' said the general
“'No, sir,' was the reply.
“The General then bade him good night and returned to his headquarters, feeling pretty sure that he had fallen asleep and dreamed while sitting under the tree. Yet he had a half lingering superstition on the subject, and it annoyed him very much. He could not divine the meaning of it; whether a dream or not he could not decide. He walked back and forth in a very unusual manner. One of his staff inquired if anything had gone wrong in the movements of the army. He said not, but inquired if all the Orderlies were at their posts, saying:
“'I will want them very soon to take orders to the field. They must be cautioned, also, as they will be in some danger in passing to where they must go.'
“He then sat down and commenced dictating his orders.
“At midnight they were sent out to the different commanders. Hord was to attack with all his force, assisted by Osterman's division, in the morning at the earliest moment possible, and scale Looking-Glass Mountain. Gen. Papson was to make a demonstration against the rebel center.
“The mountain is very steep and covered with trees and underbrush. Crags jut out at every turn all over its sides, and at the summit a high crest rises almost perpendicular 50 or 60 feet. Around the point of the mountain nearest the river the enemy had heavy earthworks, held by one brigade. The ridge or crest of the mountain was held by some 7,000 men, with many pieces of artillery. Hord's command was all on the west side of the mountain, entirely obscured from the sight of any of our troops who were in the town of Chatteraugus, so that nothing could be seen except the rebels who occupied the crest of the mountain. The movements of the enemy proved clearly that some advance was being made.
“Gens. Silent and Papson stood on an earthwork on the north side of the town near the river, where they could plainly see all the rebel lines. Very soon the smoke and sounds of battle were seen and heard. Osterman had attacked the rebels in their works at the foot of the mountain nearest the river and driven them pell-mell out of their intrenchments, killing, wounding and capturing a great number. At the same time Gen. Gear was pushing up the mountain, his right passing directly under the muzzles of the enemy's guns which were on the summit, climbing over logs, boulders and crags, up hill and down, dislodging and driving the enemy wherever he opposed. Up and on went our brave boys to the mouths of cannon and into the very jaws of death. Gen. Silent, addressing Papson, said:
“'General, our men must be climbing up the mountain's side. The enemy would not fire so rapidly nor such volleys unless our men were near them.'