The Portland daily press., 1863-11-10
COMMUNICATIONS.
Chattanooga, its Surroundings and Il
People.

Chattanooga, its Surroundings and the
People.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Your correspondent is permitted TO gather
from private letters some information in re-
gard 10 the people and surroundings of Chat
tanooga.
THE CITY
Before the war the city of Chattanooga con-
tanned about 10000 inhabitants with the usual
proportion of churches, hotels. printing offices,
&c 1t is situated on the Tennessee river. $50
miles from Nashville, $40 miles from Savannah
and ITO miles from Knoxville by railroad.
The Nashville and Chattanooga. East Tennes-
see and Georgia, aud the Knoxville and Chat
tanooga Railroads find here their termini.
The Rebels had here numerous machine-shops
founderies, rolling mills, DC, and before the
advent OF Rosecrans army were doing large
business for the Confederates. From the
Nniscle Shoals in Alabama to Knoxville.
Tenn, the Tennessee river is navigable for
steamers Of considerable size. some of which
to be used for transportation and as gunboais
are now in forward state of construction at
Bridgeport, Ala, which is now guarded by
troops of Howard's 1lth Corps.
THE MOUNTAINS.
Lookout Mountain, reported by the newspa-
pers as captured by Howard's Corps and part
Of Slocum's, both under the command of Gen.
Hooker, rises abruptly from the river 24o0
feet, about mile and a half west of Chatta-
hooga. The telegraph reports that govern
ment considers this an important acquisition,
and it may well do so, as it overlooks Chatta-
nooga and Thomas Notifications.
WHY WAS RosEcRANs REMOVED?
Speaking of Gen. Thomas reminds one of
the many reasons given for the removal of
Gen. Rosecrans.
1t can perhaps do no harm for your humble
correspondent to quote "why" from letter
received by him written by an officer who is
admitted to the presence of those in '.high
places" Perhaps it is unnecessary 10 say that
my "communicant is "an intelligent and re-
liable gentleman" Under date Of Bridgeport,
Ala, Oct 20th he says:
1.-The removal of Rosecrans is confirmed to
us to-day by the receipt of an order from Gen.
Thomas, as commanding the Army of the
Cumberland. We are sorry for this, not that
Gen. Thomas is not the best mai possible
rery likely lie is-but Gen. II. was not only
very popular with this army, so that his re-
moval will cause disappointment and may be
little dissatisfaction, but the country generally
will hear OF the change with regret. 1t was
probably caused by the Asst Sec'y of War.
MIR. Dana, who has been down here some time
and has just now started north. He was here
to-day, and / heard him say TO Gen.
that Gen. Rosecrans had no practical talent,
give up Chattanooga for inability TO supply
himself had he been allowed TO remain i'm
command.
Gen. Meigs, Quarter Master General of L.
;. A., also gave nearly the same opinion when
he was here, after having been up at the front
f)r week or two. Gen lGran will be Wig
orous and successful man to have at the head
of these departments about TO be consolida-
ted.
Gen. Thomas is everywhere respected and
has invariably been equal to any emergencyi in
which he has been placed
SURROUNDINGS OF CHATTANOOGA.
The vicinity Of Chattanooga is not unlike
that OF Harper's Ferry in being mountainous
ana the scenery romantic, but the former is
described as being far more picturesque and
rugged. The mountains are higher and there
are more OF them. The now famous Mission
airy Ridge and Lookout Ridge mot to be con-
founded with the mountain Of that name1 are
high and long hills rising up about four miles
from Chattanooga and extending South be-
yond the Georgia line. Between these ridges
Is valley quite level and permits quite a riy-
er, called, think, the West Chickamauga. to
run through it. East of Missionary Ridge
courses the Chickamauga river which takes lis
rise In Georgia. Through the Chickamauga
valley runs the railroad TO Atlanta which is
the present source of rebel supplies and COM
withdraw his corcos ,,non p M aey .liat bragg
from Cb,ttanooga befpra ,ha he,,ia rS, Susance
session os ,h;s sa;Iroad ~. ' ua'tse. lne pos
be an imnortsnt and des;rshla Iaa tT,egs would
no need be snrnr;sed 70 hear of !. ara ,i;a anu
printed.
PEOPLE ABOUT CHATTANOOGA
os Nv was n 'nuen interested by an account given
NV corpespond pep,1 =, souiaeastern Tennessee by
inc e"I, eynedi,;nn " mheh ., upon private iorag-
ha and tho s,,rrn n 'ne 81 e1ulse oil tner ridings
11,h corns csila5 o" ~ =, neau.qnarters oil the
caedeJ IL nnrchas;oa i, nouse a wnere they sue