, 1863-09-03
FROM TIE ARMY OF THE CUM
REKLAND,
PosItiou-Tbe Array noves-Re@'s
TFoopg over the TcnneBsee-1keJ.
nold.s Comm and Across the River
Will the Rebels Fig htl


From Our Own Correspondent
HEADQUARTERS Army OF CuHBERL IND,
IIyE6sToS, Alabama, Aug. 20, 1868.
POSITION.
People understand, Of course, that for
weeks after the escape Of Br,gg, and the oc-
cupaton by Rosecrans Of the region Of Ten
ncssee Immediately north Of the Cumberland
Mountains, the Army of the Cumberland was
forced by variety Of causes to comparative
inactivity. Exhaustion Of supplies and rail
road damage put an ef1ectual stoppage to the
pursuit Of the fugitive rebel army, and during
the weeks necessary for repairs Of bridges
and track, and advancement Of stores, the
enemy gathered himself for fight along the
south bank Of the Tennessee River.
Tho Fedesal re-a advancement, begun on the
18th Of this month, first encountered opposl-
tion ut Bridgepor-Lytle's and Bradley's
commands Of sheridan's division planting
themselves, on the goth, within gnnshot Of
the rebel pickete, who paced the shore oppo-
site to that town. The division named be-
longs to the right wing Of the army, whose
operations, 1t will be seen, are upon the line
Of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railway.
Then, what Of the lett and center? An az
animation Of the map will show that at
point some twenty miles above Bridgeport,
the sequatchee River enters the Tennessee.
This river conrses the Cumberland Noun
tains from northeast to southwest, marking
for the distance Of q hundred miles
or more, one Of the most fertile and beautiful
valleys In the Stata Of Tennessee. From De-
cherd, Manchester, and MchinuvilIe, {aroupd
which places, at tho outset Of the present
Increment, the divisions Of the left and CEN
ter .!ere chiefly encamped,) passab1e roads
range Of the eeqnatchee, letting into its val
Icy at Pikeylllei7 Dunlap, Shermans, and Jas
par. Along these roads, al the lett aud the
greater force Of the center, made advance
against Chattanooga, simultaneous with the
movement Of the right, and to day the whole
army rests upon the Tennessee River, Its e1-
treme left standing upon the shore immedi-
right, under command Of johnson, watching
the fords in the vicinity Of Bellefonte.
The army movee-I say that the army rests
upon the Tennessee, By which, Of course,
mean TINT It's march for the time being Is ter
minated by that river. But the energetic
rest, in point Of tact, when once cam
paign Is opened up. Since the day on which
our troops first struck the river to this, the
greatest activity in preparations for crossing
las prevailed. Pontoons have been hurried
forward, positions and fords surveyed, and
reconnoissances accomplished Tho days have
dragged slowly By, however, to the bulk Of
o comparatively open country. have been Of
o character to lily prepare men toE the obsteuc-
tions and annoy ancea Of mountain marching.
But the gun is again shouldcred, and before
this letter reaches it, destination, the tele-
graph will probably have Informed you Of our
rapid march beyond the Tennessee.
uEG's TROOPS OVER TIE TENSEssE.
Heg's command, Of Davis division, threw
their pontoons last night, at q point
about three miles below this, and with
4 bnt little opposisiGn. ,d II the esrly lisht o.
tbs The south Shore. This crossing, il
vlll be observed, puts the Right In
line of march for Trenton aud the valley ol
Look Out Greek, opening by easy stages upon
the eoutherlY defenses Of Chattanooga, IsAy
that tho crossing referred to puts The hight
understood, Is only my Interpretation Of the
indications Of the movement.
Idoubt II Dan Of the army, outside the
imnediate household Of the General, under.
stands the plans which govern the present
movement. And, Indeed, It Is fAir to say that
the plans Of the campaign are probably eEen
In the mind Of the Commander ~ yet unde-
fined. for certainly In mountain county
like this, and operating against an enemy 50
ubiquitous aess Bragg, the movements Of An
invading army could mot be dclaltoly prear-
ranged.
Certain 1t Is, however, that the right wing
Of the army will be put within reach Of tha
nooga. And again, circumstances, as, for In
stance, the evacuation Of the place and 4
rapid rebel retreat upon Atlanta, mar carry It
in the direction of Rome, though the proba-
bilitiea are that tor the time being Its "bear-
iIg" Will be, IL hare stated, in the direction
Of Trenton.
REYNOLDS Co3aAND ACROSS THE RIVER.
But the Tennessee River has this day been
crossed BY other than the troop. Of Col. Heg.
4 sh91t distance ahoys the mouth Of the
Sequatchee, the map will show the location
upon the south bend of the T.nnesso River of
small village, called shellmount. In front
OF this place, Rtynplda' pontoons were
thrown last night. and his troops marched
over this morning, enconntering, I an told,
no opposition. Daring the day, cavalry Of
Cooks command have made the crossing,
demonstrating the withdrawal from tho vicin-
ity Of the rebel lines. All last night the enc
my's signal fires lined the mountains south
Of the river. Tonight they are gone.
Will the rebels fight? Opinion is divided.
Our lines arc daily crossed by scores Of refu~
gees and dcserters, which statement, By the
beginning Of the grind movement of the 9th
Ct June, I have myself used sscores Of times.
and l am confident that brother correspon1-
e1ts have handled 1t Us frequently As the ocea-
sious, In the wonderful stream Of de5ertions
from the rebel service, have certainly been
to the contrary notwithstanding, the phrase
will bear daily repetition, and the trnth, and
nothing but the truth, be told regarding our
rebel visitation.
This day counted forty-three butternut
clothed pilgrims, crowdipg the portals to the
quarters OF tho Provost Marshal Gencrsl-
Col. WIles. I talked with many Of them,
regarding the condition Of tile Confederacy-
which was that 1t waa effec!ually "p1.yed
cut" found much difference Of opinion
rcgardinglthe ability and purposes Of Bragga q
army.
Tie story, by tho way, Of Btagg's superaes
higher tayor With the rebel government
never tlrmcr seated on tho necks Of his un
fortunate soldiers. I have this on undoubteG
authority, from persons who no longer agt
than last Wednesday talked with his excel.
lency. Opinions differ.
around Chattanooga is SC, ,050 strong, whilt
others say that there are certainly NOT more
than 25,090 men. Some arc Of the opinion
that Bragg will fight at that place, while 9th
erB arc confident that he will fau back to the
region Of Atlanta, making his stand at the
Chattaho ocheo River.
Putting this and that together, am OF the
opinion that Bragg will not make deter
mined resistance at Chattanooga, And this
notwithstanding the unqucstiooahle fact that
his men are day and night bueily at work
Strengthening the Notifications Of the place.
And this, too, in the fuce Of the uudentable
fact that within short time quite Arse re.
fnfarcement from Johnston has been sent
him.
He will not fight for the reason that his
army Is not, nor cannot be made equal to the
army Of the Cumberland. Gen. Bragg knows
It, and his rebel troops know 1t, and a conse.
qnent Decentralization will not permit the
hazard of battle. And then, after all, Chat,
tanooga Is not the place to light for. Cleye.
land, or Dalton, either, is Of more importance
as lyirg nearer the heart Of the ConfederAcy
which Is Jet, We are told, to be endangered.
Chiefly, however, I say TINT tho rebel leader
Will not fight at Chattanooga, because The
most intelligent deserters declare that he Will
not. and have learned to put much faith In
the declarations Of certain classes Of disgust.
ed rebels.
You observe that but few telegraph dis
patches reach You from this quarter. The
fact is, that military business SO constantly
occupiee the wires, that "specfals'' do moi
stand the shadow Of chance, and We are as. as,
sured that there is no prospect Of relief. So
you will have to be content with an occasion.
nj telegraph clip, leaving the bulk Of news fol
the s1oW process of a letter. L.C.
Official Report OF the Capture OF JEFF
Tho1upson.
PILOT KNon, No., Aug. q, 1853,
Gen. G. 2. Fisk, Commanding District Of South
cast Missouri: