East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-11-25
The Situation at Chattanooga.

We find in the Cincinnati Gazette q
letter from its well-informed cores
pondendent at Chattanooga which
throws a good deal Of light on the sit
uation at that point. We quote the
editorial summary Of the Gazctte.
"The Geographic report that our
forces had driven the rebels from
Lookout Mountain was an error. We
now hold the river below Chattanooga
until we come within range of the en-
emy's guns on Lookout Mountain,
being about six miles from Chattanoo-
ga 10y the river, but only about two
across the neck Of land. While Hook
er's movement was making from
Bridgeport the commander of Chatta-
nooga sent down pontoons in the night
with troops, who effected "a landing
below Lookout and bridgcd the river
with the pontoons, 10y which more
troops were crossed.
Hooker drove the enemy from n
high ridge west Of Lookout, and sep
aratcd from that and Raccoon Noun
tain 10y valley, making a strong po-
sition commanding the river, which
the enemy held stubbornly, but were
finally driven from it by the brave
charge of our troops.
This success gives US the use Of the
river TO SUI ply { chattanooga, with only
about two miles of wagon tiansporta-
ton. Two steamers are there now in
use, and the question of supplies,
which had come to n point that scri-
ously threatened our occupation Of
Chattanooga is now settled
The enemy hold Lookout Mountain
and have five heavy guns there. The
distance from their battery to the town
is three miles, and the height above
the town is over 2O00 feet
Their shells reach the town, but
without any a2cu:a y Of range, and so
lar their firing has had little elect
it is enough, however, to make them
disagreable neighbors for permancncy.
To dis odge them will require n de-
tour to their rear similar TO that by
which Rosecrans caused the evacua-
ton Of Chattanooga This of course
can only be ma lie by force large
enough to stand general engage
ment. All this shows the requisites
for holding Chattanooga, and confirms
the skill of the movements by which
it was taken BY time and degrees
and greatly increased forceo our army
is now recovering the ground which
was all taken by a strategic move
ment that only required more support
to make it complete and decisive.
1t is obviously necessary to create
Il great depot of supplies at Chattan-
ooga as base for further operations
in that line. But it would hardly be
safe to gather large supplies where
they might be reached by the enemy's
shells from Lookout Mountain. Even
if not actually protected, they might
be hazardous to the accumulation of
large stores. To make this depot safe
it would seem to be necessary to dis
lodge the enemy from Lookout. This
will require march similar to that
made by Rosecrans, and general
battle, unless Bragg withdraws and
gives up any attempt to resist.
But if the season is too late for this
general movement, there are other re-
sources. BY the vigilance and provi-
dence ef Gen. Rosecrans Notifications
in the rear of Chattanooga were well
forward when our army fell back to
that place. In three days they were
in such a state that ten thousand men
could have held them against assault
by any force. 1t is said they could
now be held by five thousand men,
Thus, it will be seen that our occupa-
ton of Chattanooga, does not make it
necessary that our principal army or
principal supplies should be at that
plaae. 1t would be convenient, but
not by any means Indispensable"