Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-12-14

The Battle Of Missionary Ridge.
Correspondence Of the Savannah Republican.
ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Chickamnnra- Nov. o. Midnight.

ARMY OF TENNESSEE, .
Chickamauga, Nov. %, Midnight.
The Confederates have sustained to-
day the most ignominious defeat of the
whole war-a defeat for which there
is but little excuse or paliation. For
the first time during our struggle for
national independence, cur defeat is
chargeabIe to the troops themselves,
and not to the blunders or incompe-
tency Of their leaders. 1t is difficult
to realize how a defeat so complete
could have occurred on grounds SO ia
vorable, Notwithstanding the great
disparity in the forces of the two hos
tile armies. The ground was more in
our favor than it was at Fredelicks-
burg, where Gen. Longstreet is said
to have estimated that army was equal
to 100000 men. And yet we gained
the battle of Fredericksburg and lost
that of Missionary Ridge.
But let us take up the painful mar
rative at the beginning, and see how
this great misfortune, il not this griev,
Gus disgrace, has befailen the Confcd-
crate arms.
Lookout Mountain was evacuated
last night, it being no longer impog-
tint to US after the loss Of Lookout
or Wills Valley, and no longer tena-
bic against sucl. an overwhelming force
as General Grant had concentrated
around Chattanooga. General Bragg
abandoned also the whole of Chatta-
nooga valley, and the trenches aad
breastworks running along the foot Of
Missionary Ridge and across the val,
ley to the base Of Lookout, and moved
his troops up TO the top Of the ridge
1t was found necessary to extend his
right well up towards the Chickamau-
ga near its mouth, in consequence Of
the heavy forces which the enemy had
thrown up the river in that direction.
The Tennessee and Missionary Ridge
approach nearer to each other as. one
goes up, or rather down the valley, the
width Of which at some points does
not exceed one-fourth OF a mile
Across this valley, now almost an open
plain, varying from q fourth ot q mile
to two miles in width, the FedcraIs
advanced to the assault, their ranks
exposed to our artillery fIe from the
Ridge, while in the plain, and to tie
infantry i'e when they attempted the
ascent of the hill or mountain.
The only objection hat can be
urged against our line was its length
AID weakness, the latter, being the re-
S&At OF
result of circumstances beyond our
control, it being necessary for US tc
guard the passes on the Ridge and tc
conform to the length of the line pre-
sented by the enemy. The Ridge va
ries in height from four to six hundreC
feet, and is crossed by several road
leading out from Chattanooga. Th
western side next to the enemy wa
steep and rugged, and ia some place
almost bare, the timber having bee
cut away for fire wood. Our picket
occupied the breastworks below, Will
tie infantry and artillery were distrit
uted along the forest of the Rid
from McFarland's Gap almost to tn
mouth of the Chickamauga, a distanc
of six miles or more. Ia addition
the natural strength OF the positiol
we had thrown up breastworks alor
the Ridge wherever the ascent Is cas-.
The Federal army was marshall
under Grant, Thomas, Hooker al
Sherman, and did not number lie
than $1,000 veteran troops. TIE Co
federate army under Bragg, Hard,
and Breckenridge, did not number hi
SO many. Longstreet's troops HI
been sent to East Tennessee. II;
these been present, with their steac
leader at the head of them, we Shou
have Wen a victory quite as compile
as our defeat has been. AS it WI
we ought to have won the day. al
should have done so if our men h:
done well as usual. Possibly q mistaI
was committed when Longstreet W
sent away, and possibly it would ha
been better not to have accepted bat
to-day, but have retired last night.
Gen. Bragg thought, however, tt
there was not time, after the loss
Lookout, to get his army safely o,
theC hickamauga last night, and tt
it would be better,occupy,ng SO sire
q n~osition tO hrht If ont Rnt WI