Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-11-08
THE SITUATION AT CHATTANOOGA.
why Active Operations are not COM
mpucrd


mrucrd
We find in the Cincinnati Gazette q letter
from its well informed correspondent at Oh At
tarooga which threWs good deal OF light on
the situation Mt that point, We quote the edi-
torial summary of the lIazshe:
i he telegral hic report that our forces had
driven the rebels from Lockout Noun ain was
an error Weucw held the rIYer below Chat
tanoOea unlll We ccne within range of the
'ntmy's guns on Lockout Mountain, being
about SIX miles from Chattanooga by the river,
hut only about TWO across the neck OF land.
W hile HCoker's movement was making from
Bird. sport, the commander at Chattan ooga
mt GCN puniOoI in the night with troops,
who effected landing below Lookout, and
Gliaeed The river with the pontoons, by which
InOre troops were CROSSED.
Hooker drove the enemy from q high ridge
west of Lookout, and separated from that and
Raccocn Mountain by valley, making a
strong poslICD commanding the river, which
the enemy held stubbornly, but We're finally
driver! from It by The brave charge OF our
troops.
This success gives US the use of the river to
supply Chattanooga, with only abouttwo miles
OF WI agon transportation. Two steamers are
there now III use, and the question of supplies,
" hich had come 10 a point that seriously
threatened our occupation OF Chattanooga, Is
now settled.
The enemy hold Lookout Mountain aad
have five ht avy guns there. The distance from
their battery TO the town is three miles, and the
height above the town is over two thousand
feet.
Their shells reach the town, but without
any accuracy of range, and so far, their firing
has had little effect. 1t is enough, however, 70
mske Them Gisagrreable neighbors for parma
nency. To dislodge thu m will rec uire detour
10 their rear similar to that by which Rose-
Grams caused the evacuation OF Chattanooga.
This of course can only be made by q force
large enough TO stand a general engagement.
All of this shows the requisites for holding
Chattanooga, and confirms the skill Of the
movements by which 1t WAS taken. BY time
and degrees and greatly increased force our
army is now recovering the ground which was
all taken by skllful strategic movement that
only required more support TO make 1t COM
plete and decisive. .....
cit is obviously necessary to create great
depot of supplies al Chattanooga as q base for
further operations In that line But it would
hardly be safe to gather large supplies where
they might be reached by the enemy's SHELLS
from Lockout Mountain. Even il not actually
projected, they might be hazardous to the accu-
mutation of large stores. To make this depot
sure ii would seem to be necessary to dislodge
the enemy from Lookout. This Will reg uire
march similar TO that made by RosecrAns,
and a general battle unless Bragg withdraws
and gives up any attempt to resist -
but If the season is too late for this general
movement there are other resources. BY the
vigilance and providence of Gen. Rosecrans
fortifications In the rear OF Chattanooga were
well forward when our army fell back TO tn6s
place. In three days they were IN sucn state
that 10000 men could have held them against
assault nv any force tits said they confd row
he held hy 5O0 men. Thus II will be seen that
onr ooc,inaticn of Chattanooga does not make
II necessary that oHr principal army or princi-
nal snnp,ies should be at that place. II would
he nnysnient, but not by any means fndtspen-
sable" =