The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OOFOBER 30, 1863

losing a life, the skill with which he has carried
his armies across such a stream as the Tennessee
River, and in such a country, and has all the time
kept his rear open, have combined to inspire in the
minds of all those who look sagaciously on a degree
of respect for General Rosencranz which has during
this war been elicited by no other man except
General Lee.

It will then be believed that, great as has been
the confidence reposed in the numbers and morale of
General Bragg's army, there has been no inconsi-
derable relief experienced here by the arrival this
day of the following telegram :

" Chicamauga River, Sept. 20.
"After two days' hard fighting we have driven the
enemy, after a desperate resistance, from several strong
positions, and now hold the field ; but he still confronts us,
The losses are heavy on both sides, especially so in our
officers. We hive taken over 20 pieces of artillery, and
some 2,500 prisoners, " BRAXTON BRAGG."

Into speculations and surmises about this battle,
in view of the fact that I hope to collect accurate
details in regard to it upon the spot where it was
fought, I shall not now attempt to enter. But
although thus far, the engagement in question can-
not but rank with other indecisive Eylaus and As-
perns which have been fought in the West, it is
evident that Gen. Bragg's army is fully able to hold
its own, and it is questionable whether the Federals
can afford to fight only a second Murfreesborongh.
There is excellent reason to think that the actions
of the 19th and 20th were fought before all Gen.
Longstreet's troops could have joined Gen. Bragg,
in confirmation of which belief I may men-
tion that I am about to travel to the West
to-morrow, in company with several of Gen.
Longstreet's staff. But, in the eyes of all thought-
full observers, it is becoming more and more appa-
rent that, so far as concerns soldiers in the field the
two sections are fighting more on a numerical equa-
lity than at any previous stage of the war. It is at
such a moment as this that, if rumour speak true,
it has seemed good to the war junta In Washington
to dismiss a large portion of General Grant's victo-
rious army into the wilds of Texas, there to combat
two antagonists more inexorable than the Confede-
rates—climate and distance. It is difficult to resist
the inference that such a step is timed with a view
not so much of strategy against the Confederates as
of future menace against France and Mexico. If
so, there is good reason to think that, blind to all
the previous warnings of the struggle, the Fe-
derals are again committing at the end of the
third year of war the same mistake which they
committed at its commencement, and are despis-
ing the enemy with whom they are actually en-
gaged. It will require some more level battle in
the West, and some more engagements in Virginia
—and such an engagement is at this moment
menacing General Lee, under circumstances far
more favourable to him than those under which the
Batttle of Chancelloreville was fought—to convince
the Federals that they are as far from the attain-
ment of their purpose as they were in April, 1861,
and that they may indefinitely increase the volume
of the vast ocean of blood which has already been
spilt without advancing the question which has been
so long and bloodily debated one step nearer to its
solution.

SEPT. 22.
The preparations which are necessary for a trip
to Central Africa are scarcely more elaborate than
those which precede such an excursion as I am
about to undertake to East Tennessee. It was my
belief yesterday that, after much labour, they were
happily
concluded, and that I should be enabled to
start this morning ; but yesterday evening my
horse, left standing for a moment in the street, was
stolen, and my departure is delayed until fresh ar-
rangements can be made. The incident is only
worthy of mention as indicating the snares and dif-
ficulties through which the Confederate States are
passing as they slowly win their way to indepen-
dence. Horse thieves, burglars, and occasionally
garotters, swarm in the streets of Richmond, The
very atmosphere is corrupted by the presence of the
hosts of money-grabbing Hebrews and blockade-
runners, who reck nothing of Federal or Confede-
rate rights, and are the great debasers of Confede-
rate currency and the elevators of gold. It requires
the heart of a nation and its leaders to be eminently
sound to withstand the pernicious influence of such
a hunger and thirst after money as at present per-
vades, not only Yankeedom, but also so large a por-
tion of this community.
But much as the mania for speculation is to be
regretted, it has not as yet eaten up pubic virtue
in the Confederacy. A stranger to the streets of
It'ehmond would this morning be astonished could
he perceive the deepseated heartiness and earnest-
ness of the joy with which the fast coming telegrams
from General Bragg's army, each bringing greater
assurances of victory, are read and commented on
by the throngs of passers-by. The public heart was
far from:being satisfied with the telegram which I
mentioned in my letter of yesterday, but it requires
nothing to be added to the telegram of to-day,
which is in these words

"Ten miles south of Chattanooga, Sept. 21.

" The enemy retreated on Chattanooga last night, leaving
his dead and wounded in our hands. His loss is very large
in men, artillery, small arms, and colours. Oars is heavy
but not yet ascertained. The victory is complete, and our
cavalry is pursuing. With the blessing of God our troops
have accomplished great results against largely superior
numbers. We have to mourn the loss of many gallant
men and officers. Brigadier- Generals Preston-Smith, Helm,
and Deshler are killed ; Major-General Hood and Brigadier-
Generals Adams, Gregg, and Brown wounded.
" BRAXTON BRAGG."
Other telegrams have followed, indicating an amount
of demoralisiition in the Federal forces which make
it doubtful whether Gen. Rosencranz can hold his
own at Chattanooga; and if he is driven from Chat-
tanooga, who can say how far he may not be forced
back ?

Already there is a confident conviction in this city
that the strong aggressive attitude which the forces
of Geo. Meade have lately worn in Virginia will
suffer immediate abatement and diminution.
Nothing has been more marked throughout this war
thati the sympathy on both sides between the armies
fighting in the East and West. The policy of the
Federals at this moment should evidently be ag-
gressive. I may be mistaken, but the indica-
tions are that upon this attitude of aggression
they will not, after the battle of Chattanooga, ven-
ture to embark. It will be my endeavour to put
your readers hereafter in possession of fuller parti-
culars in regard to the great AVet,tern campaign of
this autumn, which would otherwise be little likely
ever to come to their knowledge. But it is not prema-
ture to say that there is a widespread apprehension
here that the victories of the 19th and 20th have,
among many other valuable lives, deprived the Con-
federacy of one General whose place it will be
almost as hard to fill as the place of Stonewall
Jackson. It will be remembered that at Gettys-
burg the services of General Hood were at an
early period lost to General Lee. General Hood
suffered greatly from a painful wound which broke
both. bones of his left arm, and I was shocked re-
cently to observe how much he had been reduced by
his wound. But when the order to his division to
go to the West arrived, nothing could withstand
his impatience to accompany them, and with wound
only half healed, and against the advice of his
friends, he hurried out in company with General
Longstreet. Tidings have been received that in the
battle of Chattanooga one of his legs was carried off
by a cannon shot, and it is impossible to hope that
in his weakened condition he can recover from such
a wound. There have been men by dozens in the
war who have on both sides attracted more of the
public attention, but it is certain that no braver, no
more modest, no more faithful and self-sacrificing
soldier than General Hood.

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