The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-30
Chattanooga.

The occupation Of Chattanooga by General
Rosecrans Is more brilliant success than if
achieved by help OF victory. Battles are
the last resort OF good general" said one of
the greatest. We are little slow 70 believe il
but Gen. Rosecrans is so thorough teacher
that the dule-t of US shall yet prove apt scholars
under his Instruction. The popular imagination
delights 10 conceive him in the storm OF bullets
amid which his courage and capacity turned de-
Feat into victory At Murtreesboro. Magnificent
ly done il vas, but Chattanooga is a sul higher
talent. Needless 20 remind ourselves that il
VAS a famous rebel stronghold. Its impregna-
blity has been yaunted in every rebel journal
Tor a twelvemonth past Nature has done her
utmost % secure il from assault, and engineering
science had trebled It's natural strength Gen.
Rosecrans might have buried halt his army on
its craggy slopes before he had fought his way
into It's recesscs; but he turns its terrors into
triumph by skilliul strategy, and single flank
movement discoses the weakness of this fOrmi-
iable iastness. IL Is simple, however, only in
the sense in which nearly a.. grand maneuvers
are simple. They are the eIact application of
simple general principles IN difficult circum-
stances-the natural obstacles being IN this case
the greatest 10 be overcome. Rivers mountains,
impracticable roads, a country barren OF supplies
these are what test a commanders capacity,
and what Gen. Rosecrans has just proved himself
master of.
Tennessee is clear OF rebels, aud the cam
paign is transferred TO the soil OF Georgia a
State which has hitherto suffered comparatively
little from her share in the rebellion. Gen.
Rosecrans' advance in heavy force, Which has
already been reported, in the vicinity of Rome,
must be meant not less against Atlanta. Chat
tanOoga Was the key 10 the system OF the North
ern iiue OF railroads which united the South
Western and North Eastern sections Of the
Rebel Coniederacy. Atlanta is the kew 70 the
Southern, and this Southern line Is now the
only remaining railway communication between
NJ ssissippi, Georgia, North Carolina, and Nir-
ginia and even this IS circuitous and uncertain.
With the occupation of Atlanta, then the North
ern and Southern halves of the Coniederacy are
Just a. helplessly severed the Eastern aud
Western were by the fall OF Ncksburg aud Port
Hudson II Bragg retreats on Montgomery he
is completely isolated. II he retreats towards
Augusta. Alabama is isolated aud the remains
OF Johnsion's army will fall an easy prey along
with Mobile. Whatever course the rebel leader
NAV resolve on, be has no hope ot preserving
the territorial integrity OF the Coniederacy, eX-
cept by a victory, and the hope of victory wAnes
with every days delay. His army is dissoving
by deseriion, his supplies wasting, his retreat
certainly Threatened We Judge, therefore, il
he means 10 fight at all il will be near Atlanta
aud be cannot be sure that Gen. Rosecrans will
leave him even the chance OF battle At that
place. Yet there must be some point at which
the process Of Outtlankng comes 10 an end, and
Bragg must finally fight where his adversary
chooses or find the Atlantic Ocean in his rear
and retreat into that.-N. y. Tribune.