The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-18

In CAMP, NEAR CHATTANOOGA,
~ I. $500. Nov. 5tb. 1868.

\ In CAMP, NEAR CHATTANOOGA, y
essesss'. Nov. 5tb, 1868.
MzssRs. HowxLL 4 DrLApIA1x:
i Although I have not received sisgl,
copy OF the Gate City since / left you il
Keokuk. last. July, by some fault in th'
Post Office Department or otherwise,
have not been entirely without informa
ton Of what is occurring in Iowa. The
most Important news to us was the tri.
umph OF the Union cause and candidates
At your election held last month. The
result Of the elections held in different
States at that time has had very cheer
ing effect on the army of the Union, and
no doubt an equally depressing effect on
the rebel army and its leaders. Bragg
talks very pretty to his army in his I'D.
dress Of the 18th Of Oct., and from read
ing it one would be led to suppose that t
every man in il was there of his own free
will and choice. instead of being the vic.
Tins Of the most merciless conscription
ever put in force to raise an army. He
talks of having gained a victory. His
aim was to overwhelm us and occupv
Chattanooga. In this his Generals ut
terry failed. If the entire force of able.
bodied men of the rebel States we're to an
pear before the city in battle array l
don't believe they could take it. The
defences in and around the place are so
numerous and so we'll manned that it NAV
be said to be almost beyond reach Of cap
ture by any ordinary means. The road.
lately got very bad, and rations got short
and some thought tie troops might have
70 fall back to be nearer our supplies
While this was talked Of many Of the men
dec Jared they would rather live ON quar-.
fer rations than to fall back at all. This
short ration matter did not trouble M
long, for the troops succeeded in getting
new road opened across the bend Of the
Tennessee river opposite Chattanooga, so
"a to leave tbs rebel batteries on lookout
Mountain beyond our range. They also
succeeded in taking steamer around the
bend one night in quiet way, and soon
after feet of pontoon boats fioated past
our camp one hszy morning about three
O'Clock, 20 10 number, with load of
armed men In each, to make another
bridge at the further end OF the road =
They got through safely, put the bridge
across the river, and thus gave US ano.h-
er connection with Bridgeport and the
Railroad, near the base OF Lookout Noun.
tain. Bridgeport is on the Tennessee,
and is the present practical terminus Of
Railroad communication in this direction,
but it is expected few weeks will suffice
to complete it to our present camp. In
the meantime. rations for the army are
brought from Bridgeport on steamers to
the bridge, not over four or five miles
from Chattanooga, and the army is now
we'll supplied.
As General Joe Hooker was advancing
to the base of Lookout Mountain last Sun
day with about twelve hundred men, the
rebels thought it fine chance to gobble
him up, and made the attempt. The re-
suit was, he drove them out of their rife
pits and entirely off the ground, took
quite number of prisoners, and killed
and wounded many more. His men of
course suffered some also, but we gained
quite an advantage, as they lost ground
we wanted to occupy, and which is of
value to us. We expect that before long
our forces will flank or surround Look out
Mountain and compel the rebels to leave
or surrender. The rebels have battery
on top of the Mountain, and in clear days
occasionally send a shot at the city or the
camps, but they do SO little damage hardly
any notice is taken Of the matter. The
statement that they lately set FIRE to some
buildings in Chattanooga with shell, is
untrue.
| ascended the mountain range on the
river below Chattanooga lately. and got
a view Of the rebel. camps on Missionary
Ridge, about five or six miles distant
When they see the troops from the Poto-
mac and the Mississippi Aanking them on
both sides shortly, it won't take any can
non to make them leave the heights
They rillag.in haze 20 feht Or faa.s
The army Of the Cumberland parted
with General Rosecrans with regret, but
as different armies had to act together,
his removal and the appointment of Gen.
Grant appears to have been unavoidable.
The army have full confidence in Gen.
Grant, and no doubt he will maintain his
reputation - skillful and successful
commander. 81
spent part Of yesterday and this fore,