The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-12-11
FROM GEN. BsAec's amy.
frEoM OR OWN coaxzspoNpENT.l

UALfoX IA, Dcc. "a, teoJ.
His not known whether Gen. Hardee viii re-
main in permanent command or the army but Il
he should do 80, then viii be necessary assign
MAJOR Generals to the command Of the corps into
which II Is divided, since he takes rank among til e
junior Lieutenant Generals. OF the officers oil
this rank the following Is the order of their ap
poin'ment, 10 Wit: I.onssueet, Kirby Smith Polk
Holmes. fiardee, jackson, PeMbeston, EwelI, A
2. Hill, and D. II. Hill. Think OF Jackson and
iardee coming after Holmes, and barely takln,
precedence of Peu,beuor.
Cen. Hardee has already declined the command
one Of our very ablest officers ecuId be assigned
70 duty here, and his nodee.y foybids him to he
isve tnat ns Is the proper pelson for the position
e. in,s is He third time that Gen. Bragg has seked
tne battle OF Murfreesborc', the second iusi amer
she battle vi Chiekamuuga, aud the third and last
tilne since The disaster at Miseo nary Ridge. Ia u
ie" Gays propose to prepare rsvtew OF his last
campaign, commencing with the evacuation Of
Chattanooga and ending with his retire NJ Mt from
tue command Of the army.
The enemy has retired from our front across the
Chickamaugs towards Chattanooga having bum,
the town of Ringgold, d. stroyed the rat,road
bridges torn up tho track, heated aud bent iron
bars, and laG waste the country along the route Of
his retreat. This movement Wonld seem 90 decide
Tue question US TO Grants future intentions, at
least for the winter. AS he cannot advance In III.
direction Of Rome during the winter mouths, 90 he
cannot move by this route without the aid Of the
railroad which he has been destroying. This may
be rusc, however, intended TO throw us Oft our
guard until hs can accumulate supplies and trans
portation for u forward movement. II has been
suggested that the Federal plans may embrace an
advance upon Virginia through Fast Tennessee,
and junction Of the armies OF Grant and Nea,r
under The walls O: Richmond. Hut such an un-
dertaking is hardly practicable, espec ialy In mid
winter II is more probable that heavy demon
strations will be made In the direction Of Knox
vile, with view 10 Tightening LOogstreet from
his prey; and 1t may be that ing column
will be sent to the relief of Burnside. Indeed, our
cavalry scouts report that forces already mo
ton for that destination, having, at last accounts,
reachel the neiahboshOod Of Charleston.
Nothing has been received from l.ongstreet him
self for several days. That he has opened fre
upon Knoxville there can be but little doubt, but
with ~hat result Is not known. lie will probably
retreat In the direction Of Bristol and tynchburg
The repulse or the enemy by Gen. CIeburne Was
at Ringgold Gap, in Taylor. Ridge, about enc
mile this side OF Rnsso,d. Gen. Ciebume informs
ne that the Io>s OF the enemy was fully ,bCO, nd
that his own casualties were very few, bis killed
heins only thirty. Having checked the pursuit Of
the enemy Until our trains could retire, Gen. Gle
butne followed on, leaving, Ieeessarily, his killed
a;d twelve OF his wounded in the hands OF the
(ne. tie captured, as has already been reported
three flags aud about three hundred prisoners
According TO the report OF taese prisoners, Gems.
Grant, Thomas, and Hacker, were all present al
the humiliation VI the COnieGerates. They dis
covered, however, that Brasg's army was not the
routed and demoralZej rabbie they had imagined
II TO be, and consequently they abandoned the
pursuit. and fell back upon Missionary Ridge.
I hey were not ambuscaded, as was NJ Grst re.
ported. The fight open, stand up affair,
IN which the enemy had the advantage in numbers
and CieblrRe in position.
Gen. BreckiBridge has been relieved Of bis com
manh with this army. Cen ilindEan Is expected
here In few days, when he aud Cen. CheaIham.
being the Two ranking Mujor Generals, will be as
signed 10 the command OF the two corps Of the
army.
- You will be surprised and mortified to learn that
this army Is pot free from the vice Of iatempe-
rance refer to the painful subject here merely
70 warn those officers who guilty o. this abomi
nabe offence that, II forbeaT for The present 10
publish their naMes, II il only to give them 0u Op-
-portunity 10 reform their habits and do their duty.
II they persist In their criminal courses no power
on earth shall prevent their exposure. IL fife be
vOuchsafed 10 me and you will print my letters.
Ii 10 bui jnet add that this hOfrid vice does
prevail 10 much extent, aud that have seen only
oar private drunk In al! this army. SALLusT.