The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-24
The Battles in Georgia,

ang and considerable loss, to fall back to Chatta-
nooga and act upon the defensive. This is unex-
pected and not cheering news to US. We had
confidently reckoned on Gen. Rosecrans as equal
TO the situation, and believed that he would adj
vance no faster than he was able to hold bis
groand. His uniform success hitherto had given
the people great confidence in him, and the news
of this reverse to his army will be received with
corresponding grief.
The real occasion for this untoward event is
unguestiouably due to the feet that Rosecrans was
largely outnumbered in the fight. We get moth
ing better than guess work respecting the rebel
strength, and hive no statement of the force
under Rosecrans, but the accounts of the battle
make it evident that the rebels we're in heavy
force. Whether they have been reinforced from
Virginia or not, all of their available strength in
ly confronted our army on the battle fields of Sat-
nrday and Sunday. This would include all the
army under Johnston, which unsuccessfully at
tempted to raise the siege of VickSburg and
force. On the other hand, we do not know as
Rosecrans had been reinforced to any consdera-
ble extent, if at ALL for months; and he probably
had got. We think his force was much less than
Chat of the rebels, i the latter had no troops
from Lees ar3.y; while if, as is probable, $4,000
men from Virginia fought under Bragg, his army
must have been nearly or quite twice as large as
Resecrant' army lie addition to this superiority,
the rebels were thoroughly 1cquainted With the
ground, Of which knowledge they did not fail to
take advantage, in outfankng our troops in near
~ every part of the field We consider these ad-
yantages, which the rebels certainly possessed, as
sufficient to account for this check, or reverse to
orr advancing armies. We have no evidence
shat our troops did not fight well, that Rosecrans
oeneralship was not excellent, or that Burnside
had not made such haste as he could to join the
Union army advanced upon Chattanooga; and we
can accordingly look upon the untavorebIe result
as only one of the chances Of war, in which vlcto-
nv is not always on the same SIDE. And, without
wasting time in useless fault-fnding, in condemn
;np this or that General, in denounclng the ad-
administration, or attempting to make party capital
out of this temporary REVERSE let us learn the real
lesson it teaches. The rebellion has vitality yet.
1t has large armies in the field skilfuly handled,
and ready to take advantage OF any weak point 10
our lines. It's strength is wholly in these armies
and until they are BEATEN thoroug y and conHn'
cinylv beaten, the rebel confederacy will not tum
HE to pieces. The business of the Government
and Of the people is to beat these armies, and tf
do it we must have our armies in the field rem
forced. To this end the Government has WORKED
and is working. Are the people doing their part
when one of our armies, never before beaten, II
falling back in the face Of the enemy is 1T not ou
duty to consider this question:
NorE BY 1.-THE BOYS. THE above was writ
ten ty the editor, yesterday, just as he was start
ing for Rutland ,andIwas intended tor yesterday
paper.
1--WE" dissent entirely from some OF his re
marks. especially the gloomy part OF them. In
enemy was most severely punished, and til
news from Richmond this morning, doesn t sno
much rejoicing in Rebellion at the result II
deed we regard the engagement of Monday as
Uuion victory. Gen. Thomas handsomely II
pulsed the enemy, and took his own time to ia
back on Chattanooga.
The rebels lost a Major General, six Brigadl
Generals, killed land had seven BrigadierS woul
,ded, while we lost ouly one general ofhce
Maets Ike these show that either the rebels we