The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-11-29

account OF the patue from the Alal Ia C0nted- |
eracy of yesterday morning:
We have conversed with general officer
just from the army, who gives lis an account |
at large ct the late operations.
Active work began on last Saturday with |
light skirmishing. The enemy shelled at in.
tervals from their Notifications, and sent out |
few raiding parties, which were checked at
every point, except one, where brigade bag |
gage train was captured. Ga Sunday the |
warmth of the encounter increased decidedly, |
and throughout Monday the firing from right
TO left became re 'tiuuOus, although but little
execution was one. The great engagement
opened at dawn on Tuesday. The attack was
made by the enemy upon our positions upon
Lookout They approached with resolution
estimated at forty Thousand strong, and Charg.
ed us in our works, of the same time occupy
ing toe attention of our right wing, ranged at
the foot of Missionary Ridge. Their onset was
firm. but not impetuous at first, but increased
in volume and vigOr as the day advanced. Cur
troops commanded by the heroic Breckenridge
in command of Lieutenant General Hills old
corps,) received terrible odds thrown against
them with a courage, animated by the example
of Walthal; Strahl Mannigo, Bate, Stevenson
and others leading divisions ard brfgades. Il
was not until late in the afternoon that the
desperate assault of the enemy, multiplied by
fresh numbers at every advance, created an
effect upon our line. At four o'clock, the
left centre" as described by General Bragg
level point lying near Watkins house, Bee
tween the foot Of Lookout and Missionary
Ridge, and opening way into the valley in
rear--gave way and the enemy poured through
tho ano lilo n n nod t;da Al
army in twain, aud when it was observed by
the troops upon the mountain on the far left
it Occasioned confusion which could not be
remedied, and retreat which could not be
rallied. The day closed with a disorder which
might have been turned into route, had the
enemy continued to press with the same ener.
gy after dark that he displayed throughout the
day. During the night the remnant of the
left, minus portion OF several commands,
which fell captive because of being cut off
from the main body, was withdrawn to posts
tions along Missionary Ridge, where the
troops were massed for the conflict of the com.
ing day.
Our works at the foot Of Missionary Ridge
extend along line Of two miles in length.-
They are built of heavy timbers stone and
fence rails, mOrticed together with clay and
about five feet high. Behind them the hill
rises in a gentle slope, but rough and uneven.
In front the ground is open and level, but rocky
and broken, II was against these Notifications
occupied by the remaining strength of the ar.
my, that the onemy--whose loss during the
successful expedition against Lookout on
Tuesday, was equal to the disproporlion of the
cOmbatant, being five to one-proceeded on
Wednesday morning to assail with the same
ardor and the same swollen columns Of the day
before The attack was made before sunrise.
Gen. Hardee commanding our right, being him.
self in the trepches, ready TO receive the as
sault
The fight was more desperate than the day
proceeding. That fair valley, with it's gentle
fields, its pleasant groves, and its broad stream
was soon enveloped 10 the dense fog of explo.
ding shells, winding wreaths of smoke and
white clouds from fort and earthworks.-
Charge after charge was made by the enemy
and as boldly met by our men, now thorough
| ly desperate by reason of the crisis closing
around them. Every onset was repulsed, aud
as the ranks were moved down, they were
filed up again aud sent forward with new We.
looity. The carnage in front OF our rude fort
ficatons was fearful. Not less than five thou
sand dead strewed the plain before nightfa
and still the admirable Hardee-more fortu.
nate perhaps in his position than his none the.
leHS hvTUiv UUHradv--hold his own unbroken
and unbenChed.
At the slow approach of sunset melIowipg
into dusk, and thence into clear, frosty moon.
light night, brought the bloody drama to an
end, with the complete repulse of the enemy
along the entire right but not before he had
rapidly improved his position upon Lookout
and prepared to enflade our line from batter.
les posted thereon. Our informant left during
Wednesday night, as the army withdrew from
the works, passing over the hill, and by the
morning reaching the eastern side, under cover
Of the rugged peaks of Missionary Ridge At
the present writing we have no further intelli.
genoe as to the operations of yesterday, except
that there was no fighting,
Such, in general terms, is a synopsis of the
great struggle for the possession of the disput.
ed position in front. Ifsignal vAlor could have
availed, we had been saved he painful dutv
ofrecordiDg reverse at which the heart grows
sick. The only comfort which rises out of the
murky gloom OF defeat is tho fact that our loss
in killed and wounded is comparatively triAing
to that OF the enemy, who has paid the price
Of dreadful butchery for the advantage gain.
cd. The Indications are that he is cut to pieces
in such a manner as to forbid further aggres.
sive movements whence we take it. that the
campaign thus briefly sketched, ends in this
latitude for the present.
In conclusion, we have q word to add as to
particulars. We have heard during the morn
ing number Of personal details. These can.
not be CorrobOrated or contradicted; thew
come as mere rumors, and we withhold the
publication Of them through motives of pru.
denoe. Many domestic beartburnings NAV be
saved by refusal to believe the reported
casualties, which will DO circulated during the
coming few days The duty of the press and
the public at this moment, is to seek diligsnt-
y after truth, but to be sure they have found
Il before IL is given broad cast to the country.
elimination and reeriminatiOn can best be
spared M by an honest zeal, but temperate
in the investigation of this the most
struggle Of the war.