The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-06
A Rebel View OF the Chattanooga
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victory.
Under the head Of "Another Great
Battle" the New York News, Ben.
Woods "peacs" organ, thus discOaTsss
of the victory at Chattanooga:
Another battle has been fought, and
fortune psrches on the Federal standard.
The modest dispatch Of General Grant to
the Department. at Washington nav be
accepted as che truth. It's very modesty
gives assurance Of truth. He has gained
triumph for the Federal arms, and
about finished Gen. Braxton Bragg, per
sonally. The result is not unexpected.
The FederAls have two great generals In
that battle-Gen. Grant and Gen. Bragg.
If the first skillfully turned 70 advantage
the mistakes Of his adversary, the latter
invited defeat by those mistakes. The
country, then, may congratulate itself
not less that the Federal army has .
Grant, than that the ConfsderAtes b1ast
Of Bragg. For, undoubtedly, if The
skill Of the one had but partially com
passed success, the ineompetency Of the
other was certain 10 make that success
complete. Now, since the doughty Bragg
has so nearly ruined the cause OF his
people, probably Mr.. Jefferson Davis will
relieve him Of bis command. His star
has long bsen paling, and at last has
gone down in disaster and gloom. He
will be heard of no more during the
war; he is finished, and Grant was his
linisheF
The battle was somewhat Of an i'm
proyisatiOB, and very good performance
it has been. The Federal commander
did not design an attack at so early =
date, for bis srmY was not in very good
condition. But Bragg's fatal error in de.
tAehing LOngstreePs corps promised great
advantage, il not great victory. Grant
improved the chance, and achieved both.
he has driven the enemy from Lookout
Mountain, which allows uninterrupted
railroad communications with Chatta-
nooga; be has forced the enemy's retreat,
with the ever attendant decentralization,
if not disorganizstion. Longstreet is
menaced, and Burnside probably relieved,
and finally TO these may be added the
capture OF a great number Of prisoners,
artillery and munitions of war. Could
Gen. Grant follow up this blow it would
shake the Confederacy to it's center. But
as there are limits of endurance in suf.
fering, 50 there are limits to the capacity
Of Gen. Grant to improve his victory.
de is deficient in cavalry, food and
transportation, without which he cannot
pursue his reireAting foe for any distance.
Soldiers must eat As well as fght; aud
the better they are fed, the better they
fight; and the cOBllnissariat department
of the Army Of the Cumberland is not
vet in > condition TO furnish the neces-
ssry food.
The victory is important. The report
however, that Briggs army has been
routed, must be taken cum grano saks A
well disciplined army is rarely routed.
It may be beaten, its columns broken but
il soon finds rsllying point. Rosecraas'
centre was broken at Chickamauga bis
army was beaten, but IL was not Toated.
We also doubt that LOngstrset's corps is
in any danger. Bragg has probably re-
treated toward Dalton, his right wing
covering CaNfEAaAhg ANAIEaEFSf BEAHNEu
which points there is railro I'd cOmmuni-
cation. The same road extends toward
LoudOu, which is Longstrest's base OF
Operations. lie can no doubt effect q
junction with the main army IL his own
danger or Bragg necessity shall demand
il; and with that accession to bis force,
Beagg, or more likely q new commander,
will prepare for another conflict. Il,
however, flank movement Of sherman
shall have severed Lopgstresfs from
Brsgg's army be viii raise the siege Of
Knoxville, and retrsss through East
Tennessee TO Virgins. We repeat has
command is in DO dagger.
How this defeat may affect the Con-
federacy Is determined BY the past. II
is but another battle fought md lost, 70
be followed By others 10 be lost or won.
Il is many thousands OF braYe men
women and children wall mourn the loss
Of those they loved. II is another red
spot on the nap 10 mark where battle
was fOsght IL ano hsr red stain on the
page OF our history which nothing can
ever wash out. Il may be step nearer
suhjugAtion-iti is step further from re-
union.