Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-14
FROM raE ARMY OF TENNESSEE.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or TIE RHIGl
BEFORE CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 8, I
Monday A NJ

| BEFORE CHATTANOOGA, Oct g.
Monday, A. N.
Your correspondent has evidently arrived here just
in tme"-nOt perhaps to another great battle but
to witness movements that may by the blessing Of God
rebound much to our glory. ard as If they
were attended by another bloody field and its trains of
suffering and DEATH Bragg is in positiOA which, for
defence is equAllet its impreguabilty only by that
Of Rosecrans. The game Of battle, therefore, Is TO be
played for upon a theatre where the antagonists are
well matched. Whether it shall be finally decided by
the foit or the broAdsword not Gen. Bragg can
sufficiently penet ate the future to loretell.
There few maps accessible to the public which
gives a correct idea Of the topography Of the To-
cality and therefore hazard brief pen and ink sketch
| to fill the void.
Take Missionary Ridge rs a standpoint Probably
it should be called mountain for at intervals it at
tains height of three hundred feet, and presen1
steep, stony jagged, wooded decVity either side,
which renders ascent amost impossible except where
the winding roads cut for army purposes have removed
the greatest obstacles This ridge in southwest
erly direction until it untcs at kcLemOres Cove, say
twenty 10 twenty-five miles below us where it forms
an acute angle with another similar RIDGE which can
best designate the range of Look Out Mountains,
since the latter Is the name of the peak which ermi
mates the range, and overshsdoWs, as it Nete, the
plains OF Chattanooga. The Missionary Ridge and
Look Dat Ridge thus nearly parallel with each
other, separated only by valley three four
niles in breadth The latter partakes of the general
feature Of the surrounding country, being broken into
humps rocky eminences raVines, wooded hiltops and
loay vses with here and there interesting ribbon
of water. The stream to is called the Chat
tauooga Creek and the Loft Of the army line running
10 Waris the Tennessee The Chicksmiuga is of much
more respectable Dimensions and empes into he Ten
nessee about six miles on our right.
Turn your attention to front Glance across
10 Look Out Peak, which rears its lofty head until it
catches the shadows of the clouds. Al its base
mences The broad open basin, whose rugged
face two armies rest in battle array. At this point
you cannot see the Tennessee, which its
base; but from the line of green that marks the river
bank you have some idea of the surpentne curves
which adds so much to the picturesque beauty Of the
locality.
Stretching the broadest Of these water outlines
from shore 10 shore in the form of crescent with the
convexiy towards US is the trent line Of the Federal
army Behind this concealed by hill and foliage, is
the city Of Chattanooga portions of the suburbs only
being visible On the right of the town the view Of the
Tennessee is distinct and unObsructed and the enemy
are plainly visible crossing and rccrossng pontOon
bridge Another similar structure is in the of the
city, and out of sight. Behind this picture looms up
q noble background Of mountains whose outrageous
sides present TO view unSroken density of forest
On the opposite borders of the river there
plateau of ground, gently descending from the noun
tains This is covered with Federal tents in numbers
sufficient to indicate the presence there Of strong
serves. The main body Of the enemy, however, appear
TO be on this side of the river their ecampmouts being
aligned in the direction of the entertainments. These
are continuous and connected by three four very
strong for6catons originally built by and enlarged
by the Federas The latter planted height, in
such manner that each commands the other, and in
turn protected or covered by other works of similar
character on still higher elevations in the rear. At
portions Of the front, We know that the enemy have
three lines of works. but at other points there appear
to be only one or two.
As you may imagine from this description, roughly
it drawn the before is srikingly grand and
suggestive. The mountains the river the two armies
like wary tigers couched Tor fresh attack, the
ments of individuals in the Federal line the grouping
Of tents and men, the movements of bodies of the
enemy the cavalry the outskirts the changing
trains Of wagons the lazy attitudes of the pckets the
occasional spirits of smoke from rifles and the sharp
twang that floats TO ears, the music Of bands
aud drum corp, the mingling smoke Of the camp fires
Of the two armies rising and drifting upward in single
cloud, the clear sunshine, the mountain shadows, and
the ten thousand other details that might be mentioned
all go to make up picture of life, beauty aud excite
ment such as this continent before presented 10
human contemplation.
To-day the quiet Of the past week has been varied by
bombardment commenced about ten o'clock this NOR
nDg and designed at least to annoy If not for purposes
which shall be nAmeless The enemy fire like ourselves
slowly aud thus far without effect As facts develope
themselves they shall be recorded but it is not the part
OF any writer TO anticipate events or speculate upon
matters pregnant with vital issues before they can be
safely mentioned.
Another feature observable to-day, for the first time,
IA an apparent rise in the Tennessee River. The pom
toon bridge before referred to- which was, two days
ago. two feet above the surface Of the water has now
one end totally submerged that passers compelled
to halt on one eide and roll up their brooches Whether
the bridge has sunk the river has risen, will not
undertake to say 10 either case the fertility of the
enemy will soon find remedy for the evil and their
transportation from the river will go on as usual
Throughout the army, the Impression prevails that