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

ines Of communication. lie designed not merely to
nouyer Ills enemy out Of his position Chattanooga and
occupy it, but to compel him TO fight surrender after
efccting his isolation from the south
The plan involving division Of force, its first con-
aioa of success was In all turning movements
rcrical superiority great TO insure against the
defeat of the army in paris. This Gen. Rosecrans sup
posed tohave and beyond doubt actually had-the enc
mys reenforcemcnts from the East and South West not
having as yet reached Chattanooga--at tho time he
operations the south bank Of the river
He had the whole Of the 1Ah 20th and 2lst Corrs-the
former composed Of four sndeac Of the latter of three
divisions-and had furthermore ordered par Of che
reserve corps TO Join him. With this force ard his
knowledge % the strength Of Bragg's, he July
justified in his undertaking.
For the fent uron the front Of Chattanooga, force
consisting of two brgadcs OF infantry two Of cavalry
ard several betteries of artillery detached under
command Of Gen. Wagner. of Gen. Woods division.
lie to work his way NJ the north hunk Of The river
with part Of bis force TO tn point opposi Chattanooga
visited last year ty Gen Segey and elenee 10 throw
from time TO time shot az shell into the town. With
the remainder OF his command he to make show
of attention 10 cross 81 various cds below Chatta
ncoga Anths, TO create the impression that the main
body of the army was moving directly upon the place
Contrary expectation, the passage Of ne Tennessee
WIS accomplished in :he last days Of August and the
FIRST Of September b. crossing n three points--Ste
venson Bridgeport and Standardization meeting
any sezious opposition from the enemy Not single
life lost. The feeble attempts at resistance admit
ted Il two oorstrucons either Bragg too weak Il
defend all che crossings md considered II
useless 10 bold and abandon etbes, or be meant
drew our army to,he southsidc bauS Of the river aN
beyond IN accordance with welecnceived plan which
he's been Seveoos 10 us since last week fully ana
fats!ly.
The lita and sotn corps under Generals Thomas and
McCook crossed first bridgeport and Stevenson, and
were ready to more forward from the south bank Oh
the 4th last. Tho 2ls corps under Cen Crttenden din
not get over to point opposite the.mound, until tn
9Th
And now brief description as the main toposTaph
ea fea,ures Of the scene of the movements 10 be T.
corded.
The Tennessee river west Of Chattanooga, rUtvisE
standing its many wndincs has general course % tt'
south west Parallel to it. and close 10 its south barA
extend the ReccooD mountains range Of rugged
ascent and siderable elevation. Its summit iormoc
by plateau twelve miles wide, and slopes Of
10 the eouth. into what II known Lockout valley
Lockout Valley begins in the immediate vicinity O
CHATTANOOGA at the base of the famous Lookout MOI NJ
ain-t.e highest peak in all this region-and extends
aimos due southeast for distance Of IS miles %
pon, know so the natives Valley Head 1t is atou
two snacs wide and skr.ad 10 the southeast by Tx
Lookout Mountains, running parallel to the RaccooI
Ridge.
Incrossins the Lookout range a second vide piniear
has be tragerscd after reaching the summit and then
the descent IS made into another long, marrow valley
bo1Daed to the southeast by another almost parable
range. called the Missionary Ridge This again slopes
OF INFO iou-h valley bcriercd on the opposite side by
the Pigeon Mountains
On the niorning Of TIE It'll the commar Us of'Gens
Thcxas a1d McCook were put in notion oycr conyeTg
Ing roads and. AFTER kong and extremely ardnou'
march ac.oss the Raecoon Ridge struck Lo,kou. Val
icy or tho, cuiag Of the day. Gen. Critsenden
corps pos.d over from shellnound the 6ti an lie
headoaarters OF the amy so followed, and estb
lished AZ Trenton
On The ~. dc lines Of The army extended up and
down Lookout Valley from within few miles Of Chat
isnooca 10 near valley Head "A distance Of some
thirty miles The center. under Thomas rested Norl
and south " Trenton. The right and left were respect
.geiy formed by McCook and Crttenden.
TIL wiol army was provided with ammunition foI
any likely extent Of sighting and supplies for an entire
y W
mander. rendered Comparatively independent % its
lines % conrunicaon for the stated length Of time.
glance :, tie nap viii show that the relative
location OF Chattanooga and Trenton is such as to
make the occupation Of the latter point tantanount to
the Aarkg O. the former With bis army in the Look
out Valley AM controlling the roads leading thence o.
ward the lines Of communication and retreat OF The
enemy Gen R1necrans had partially realized his object
40 al AL L
stated lie aied further at working the entire destruc
ton Of the enemy by throwing his forces between Chat
talooga and iher southern of escape. With
view TO this end he proposed to employ the main body
Of Ills cavalry in breaking by sudden descent. the
Western and Atlantic Railroad at or near Kingston
and while Rebel sgccor from the South thus being
cu eff TO move the greater part Of his infantry rapidly
aoros the successive ridges of mountains into the open
county extending from above Dalton to Rome and
Tngson and tr2voised by the railroad as well as the
principal ordinary highways to the South.
There are but three passes through the Lookout
Mountains practicable for army moving with arti
esy and 5aggagc--one at Chattanooga tie second at
Lohnsonf Creek eight miles south Of Trenton and The
third near ,c little town of Winston not far from the
Valley Head Before the infantry had passed over the
Raecoon Mountains Naior.Gen. Stanley had been sent
with the ea9afy across and down Lookout and WIS
Vaays-the latter q continuation Of the former-into
tie open region washed by the Chattoga and Coosa
Rivers, whence he could threaten both Rome and
Kingston aud es supposed cut the railroa1 He went
to within daye march OF Rome, but In the end failed
of his object. Near Alpine. 20 niles Northwest Of
ROM his advance had a severe skirmish with Wheelers
cavalry resulting in the rout Of the latter.
After the infantry had descended into the Lookout
Valley the right under McCook was at once extended
to Valley Head 80 al 10 Winston Pass for the
movement before mentioned. The march across the
mountains was not al once continued. lut the army
rested in The Lookout Valley from the 18th until tho 9th