New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-09-26

Winston, upon the road TO Sumnervile. The distances
between the three Gaps rendered an interruption OF
Communication between the different corps unavoidable
during the march the mountains They were to re-
establish unbToken ne however at the eastern base
Of the range. The three columns TO descend the
mountains cautiously to push rapidly after the enemy
& discovered upon bona de reeat but not to descend
into the open country without further orders IL they
should be found 10 resie in force The corps were oil
on the march oyer the stated routes before dayreak on
the morning of The 9th.
Gen. Eosecrans moved his headquarters from Tren
ton to Chattanooga GIN the 18th. The information co.
tanned then must have safed him that Bragg had not
made precpate retreat, but had evidently long pre-
pared for it, The fact. positively ascsrained. that
Buccaneers coinns nd and part of Johnstons army had
Joined him afforded moreover strong support to the
theory that he did not mean to far but had sim
ply with coniIrendable prudence exchanged danger
oss position Cor one Ia which he risk Of being
isolated from the South. This presumption was soon
verified by the experience Of Gen. Thomas
McCooi reached fie base Of the Southern ouiiuJEct
of the Lookout Mountains and casoped at Alpine in The
valley Of the Chatiooga, 70 mcs, already given,
northwest Of Rore on the road 20 summeryic On The
eveaing Of the loh In compliance with his orders he
did not advance further but occupied himself for sew
/
the presence Of the enemy in any considerable strength
liz bis front His corps served also as support TO the
eavalry which was still scouting the country in every
direction. Mounted de.aehmcnts managed TO seo'i
within five miles Of Rome, without coming across az
ouemy They learned, however, that the town WIS do
! Tended BY several thousand Georgia militia.
\ The Lookout range extends in soutLernly direction
beyond the Missionary Ridge. The Pigeon Mouni'j1
nun into the former TO the southwark forming Gn an
Enclosing the latter Willie Gen. McCook gained tl'a
open country BY crossing .hc Lookout range alone. t
she route Gen. Thomas ordered to take complied
him TO cross all the mentioned ridges. His march oyeF
the Lookout and Mission Mountains was ohsruc:e1 b.
The enemy But HE advance consisting of the div sion
Of Gen. Negey after tras crsirg the valley scpl ini;
tie Mission and Pigeon Mountains, and while ascend
ing toward the Gaps through them. on the lith folnl
itself suddenly confror ed and opened on with mus;
kerry and artillery from the nights. BY large fosco Of
the enemy Being too far ahead for ready support ty
the other divisions o.the corps he deemed il best to1a
back to the Gap tbrc-gh which he had descended ha'
sion Ridge His loss in this affair about 10 sI.ed
and wounded. Gen. Thomas. upon arriving In
'front.' was likewise convinced, that strong bodies OF
Rebel troops were fore him and prepared 90 cover
Lafayette by disprtilg the passage Of tie Pigeon
Mountains deerminelly and hence concluded 10 rest his
command on Mission Ridge until Gen. Roserans Cd. I'd
be informed of the site Of affairs.
While Gems McCock and Thomas were marching
over the Lookout Range Gen Crittenden bad also
pushed across them leaving Chattanooga few Dilss TO
his left, and moved soutV ard upon the roads To La
fayeitc and Rin-g,ld AZ I being Joined by Woods
division of his corfs which had entered Chattanooga
On the l2th his right opened communication Wilhelm
| Thomas left.
/ Con ~ barrier his 20
Lafayette by the Rebel occupation, in strong fose Of
the gaps through the Pigeon Mountains together wild.
Developments At other points Of lines. and the iio'
men,s Of dcsertrs and citizens satisfied Gen %.
Grams that the clcmy, cmboldeaed by powerful re
endorsements, were bent upon fighting rather than re
treating There being indications that they we're
rapidly moving hcr entire force into position adapted
20 both attack and defense he perceived at once that
tie change in the situation had 10 b. met by oonsen'
tlation OF his army upon the center and be took his
measures without delay accordingly.
! Gen McCook was ordered 10 abandon his rather c1
posed position a Alpine from which be could neither
support Thomas lie supported by HIM retraoe his
steps 10 the Lookout Valley, and thence follow in the
wake Of Cen Thomas. and pass from bis rear to his
right The cavalry under Gen. Stanley, was also or
dcrd back for service upon tie new nont OF The army
Gen Crittenden directed to move up West Chitka'
manga Creek and close with tho LEFT Of The center
The Commander in-Chief himself left Chattsnoosa on
the 18th and established his headquarters in close .ox
unity TO the front.
| On the 18TH the corps OF Gems. Cri'tcnden end
Thomas were in line end on the morning Of tic same
day Gen. McCooks reached its starting point from the
LooA out Valley Onshe l,tb it also in its proper
POSITION The line extended nom right TO left along the
West Chickamauga up To McLamorc's Cove Local
designation for tie long Morrow wooded valleys witt
which this region aboupis--formed by the Pigeon and
Lookout Mountains Being protected BY tho West
ChckaInauga in front, and resting upon ridge OF
the roads which 10 our secondary base ~
Bridgeport we held 1t strong in itself but weak III
its relation TO our lines Of communication. II coc1ed
intermediate depot Of supplies The railroad terminus
at Bridgeport, but at the time the ride sap tt o..
,pten the nearest ring Of the army and Chattanooga a.
posed lines Of communicative from Brdgepou through
The latter fopn-he tie rason trains Joilored-ead
inpited turning maaeurs Still the relative advantages
and disadvantages Of our position will depend In great
measure npon the strength Of the enemy certainly
tho best position that could be assumed in adaptation to
the front shown by the enemy For one facing south
in close proximity to Chattanooga although perhaps.
covering the town better would give the enemy control
Of the shorter roads the Lookout Mountains to
Bridgeport, and fine opportunity to play tho same
game upon that practiced upon Bragg by throw.
ing fanking column to the rear. Tho strategic ad'
vantagcsof Chattanooga appear indeed to have been
overeshmated. The southern sweep The course Of tho
Tennessee takes in its vicinity renders 1t almost i'm
possible to protect the place from being turned.
While We faced the Pigeon Mountains from tisir
western base, the main body Of the enemy rested ct
their eastern in the vicinity Of Lafayette. Their I'D
vance held three passes-Catlctts Dug ind Blucbrd
Gaps, leading from our front tho ridge. Their
position is well chosen and strong and ibe less nd