The New York herald., 1863-09-08

pery The morale Of tho rebel army, caused by large
and constant desertons represented az very bad On
the other hand armies large In good spirits and
confident Of ultimate success
Mr.-W. r. g. shank's Despatches.
HuADQU ARrxRs, Army THE CUnmRLAND,l
STEVENSON, Ala, August %, 1893 J
oaA1rAsoo0A, 1xSS.-xAP or TIE sIrUA.
In consequence Of the importance of movements in thi
department send you map Of tho position. reduced
from largo map lately printed by Captain w. f. Merrill.
Chief OF Typographical Engineers Rosecrans sta.
with some additional Information which have added
from various
pEFKSoEs
By examination OF the map will be found that the
immediate defences OF the city built upon ridge Of
hills which encrcc the northern half Of the city and form
crescent covering the north, northeastern and north
western approaches The portion Of this crescent ridge
west Of the city is called "Beps Mountain" No namc Ia
given the ridge aud north Of Chattanooga Bes
Mountain" proper isolated peak rising abruptly to
nearly the height OF Lookout Mountain 400 feet above
the river II is so prominent as to hide from view from
Strngers ridge (Which General Negleys position
when he bombarded the city a year ago) more than
one.haif Of the city The slope the base Of the
mountain becomes more graceful than towards the
mt and several rolling hills form tue ridge TO the river
the north OF the town. Upon these less towering
Of the ridge level with the river they have erected
water batteries Tbe3nsmeless ridge east and north
Of the city 10 continuation OF this ridge OF Bells
Mountain. aud answers TO the description I have
given Of the Western ridge The hills are not high, but
commanding, and the defences erected are undoubtedly
strong These consist, however, OF only three four
regular works. the remainder being irregular but strong
rifle pits for the protection of guns designated to be used
ea bor1ete Between the two railroads which the
city on the east there Is in tho OF construc
ton for the purpose Of defending the eastern approaches
q large baston fort for twelve guns (marked in the
diagram) Northeast Of the oity is large lunete fort
with three faces (marked D. This work intended for
six guns and the low water ford at The head OF the
island, as well as the Harrison I'd Wet OF the city
throe small unettes he centre marked C designed
TO hold three guns and covering the position Srngers
ridge, which Nogley occupied much to the
nation Of tho rebel garrison OF Chattanooga These
the only regular works. The remainder such
described ALI OF the substantial character
Colonel j. b. Wilder, OF the mounted infantry, no ap
poarsd in front Of the city the 2lst OF August
bombsrded for several hours reports the parapct Of
these works to be at least af.een eet broad.
Although Colonel Wilder reports that nineteen guns
opened upon him In reply 10 his bombardment the
21st is pretty well ascertained that but few guns OF
the proposed armament Of Chattanooga are mounted
Only gun sufficiently large 70 reach wlders position
used by the rebels Deserers say that there are
many large guns in the city, but Of them mounted
Is generally conceded that the desnces Of the city are
as yet incomplete and the guns unmounted. Braggs
heavy and artillery Is, however cncamped near
the city in the event OF = necessity arising for use
THE DkyEScEs OF SOUTHERN ArrRoAurys
II will be at once noticed that the defcnces OF the
Southern valley approaches 10 Chattanooga aud
unimportan; only single battery Of four nve guns
commands the Fayetteville and Lookout valley road II s
very evident that Bragg has not anticipated any ap
proach attack from the and has been contened
70 orty the other approaches The logic which led him
TO this conclusion very reasonable and the absence Of
works south Of the city not owing neglect Bragg
has trusted TO the natural barriers OF tho and
mountains defend his rear apd II Is likely 70 prove he
has not counted without his host
NATURAL pErxSoEs OF CHATTANOOGA
On the map two ridges OF hills named one south
cast OF the city called Missionary RIDGE the other
southwest Of Chattanooga called Look out ridge Both Of
these extend miles SOUTH the latter being much
longer and higher than the frat. Between them lies
valley East Of Missionary ridge lies another valley
These running SOUTH connect and expand into the rich
district In which the important rebel positions OF Rome
and Atlanta, Ga. are situated Heuce this valley Of
the utmost importance TO bragg for trougn t l his
communications and his line Of retreat Dcfcnces are
useless for u his eneuy gets IN the valley Bragg must
necessarily attack and defeat him or be bcsesged in
Chattanooga and, cut OF from supplies and reinforce.
mcuts, must eventually surrender. II Ia therefora
bis duty TO defend, nos tho valley approaches TO the
city, but the mountain approaches 70 the valley Hence
he holds and rortncs Cleveland and Harrison covering
the northeast approaches to his rear and denes Rose
Grams 10 brave the obstacles and dangers OF Rceoon aud
Jockcu, mountains. These impossible ranges o moan.
tsps and the broad and swiftly running Tennessee river
are tho natural decnces TO which Bragg trusts the safety
Of Chattanooga Hc does not overrats the dncultics
Rosecrans would meet in making q flank movement TO
the right and rear OF Chattanooga. All readers Of the
popular coemporaneous history Of the pubshed in
the daily paters know the great difficulty Of crossing
river the iacc enemy This dDculty would have
10 DO overcome by E5sceraos In making such move
meat. Raccoon mouptaias then 20 be crossed But
the roads over this range marked "mpractcabc
on ihc maps, tbse over the lockout mountains
ana ihe former mar 10 crossed but the latter look 10 IA