Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-14
our Army Correspondence-Fr
Chattanooga.

that iew o. - have escaps starvation by heiug
vefs o2Prtunsly ouieFci away from Cliatta
nUoga.
Two brigades 0. Gen. Palmers division we're
ordered 10 go 70 She'll Mound on the Path OF
last month. And az your humble servant
figures nov In the fret brigade Of the aforesaid
division. Of course. he Was one OF The lucky fe
lows who escaped from that most horrible Of
deaths which We had evaded for some weeks
previous BY the use Of what IL known 20 soldiers
IS half ration
Our poor horses and mules-of which everv
humane m IN should have some confederation
fired rather worse than we did. for they nd 90
live or die-many of them chose the latter al
ternaiive-on whatever they could pick up.
very stin,ed allowance considering the season of
the yelr snd the large number 90 De supported
within the narrow limits Of the pickle, line
We left Chattanooga at ? o'clock A. NJ, aud
never did the pale moon look so bright and pleas
ing. not even in my vertlsnt years when the
majestic Queen of night would burst from be.
hind wandering cloud to my CONSERVATION
whilst billing and cooling with some Of The dove
like angels Of nv boyhood days After crossing
the pontoon bridge I forgot my usual gravity
aud raised two three hearty shouts that
echoi along the hills, 10 convince myself that
something unusually consoling to nv pent up
feelings was in reality taking place. Satisfying
my m'nd upon this point, built 6re, sat down
men,) and fell asleep and did not wake till day.
light. The regiment had passed by needless of
their dreary E~cuapius who in comoaTy with
Queen Nab buried in the midst OF the
most profound felicity behind blazing
FIRE of logs in the edge of woods
close TO the river bank Waking 40
suddenly, soon learned from some stragelers
the nature of my position; yet nothing daunte'i.
| started upon their trail, which was indeIihly
Exad IN md fror ono Tn fun foQf
road follows the course OF the river for sx miles,
then takes up spur OF the Cumberland Noun
tains, which IL ascends by very easy rise hut
owing TO the recent heavy rains and the great
amount OF travel upon IL the mud 20 deep
To actually mire the mules in many places, and
render the movements of wagons very slow
The rebels kept mp constant fire of small arms
upon us all day, but the distance was too great
u make their weapons effective. Broken way
ous dead mules and horses lire the road the
entire distance Up the mountain Toward the
summit the massive lime stone rocks project in
wild relief from their coverings and form masses
of precpice often exceeding one hundred and
fifty feet. From the rocky hssnres pour
streams of water. tumbling among the rocks be
low with singular grandeur. In = deep ravine
through which the road ST. etches, considerable
stream flows. It's banks are hid by the rich
green leaves of the two native varieties of laurel
OF the mountain spruce, and occasionally the
umbrella tree, or magnolia tripelaia-atogether
producing exceedingly wild vet interesting
scene Added to this. the rushing. foamng
water as IL dsshes over its rocky bed pouring
into the fssures and cavities, then tumbing over
precpitOus rocks, often twenty feet, dashing the
spray and foam over the sedgy banks creating at
once most remarkable and imposing spectacle
After reached the summit, most OF the troops
had left and passed on across the mountain. lost
time in following after with all possible speed
After travelling some four mile. my horse be-
gan TO manifest evident signs OF great fatigue
aud found IT necessary 10 select INV own camp
ground, which soon found by the side of a liz
tie pond OF water There | deposited ms self
upon bed of leaves. with my feet To the fire. my
ewes to the starry heavens. and my thoughts
upon the dear and loved ones at home Some
time in the night | was aroused by the sound Of
cannon in my rear Not knowing the occasion
Of 20 much firing, nor its exact location il Ger
tsny gave rise to some serious thoughts. /
listened until weary. when again fell fast asleep
aud did not wake until day light. The firing
proved to be an attack made 10y the rebels upon
Chattanooga, OF which YOU have already heard
Two DAYS march upon the mountain through "A
Wild uninhabited district, brought US the
western slope. bordering on the rich and luxuri
ant Sequache Valley The sun was fast de
scending behind the mountains beyond, and cast
its ravs upon one OF the most picturesque views
q.
two thousand feet beneath Us, lay this far famed
land with it, qGadran: .ular fields its luxurant
groves, beautiful farm houses and other build
ngs, and the graceful sequache river rolling in
it, serpentine course through the centre, amidst
a death like stiffness: and the suns last rays
were kissing over the tranquil scene. | stood
transhxed with admiration till the darkening
shades of twilight reminded me of the necessity
to seek shelter.
The next day brought US into the valley where
the mud. and the rain which pouring down.
serve effectually To dSpel my poetic vision OF
this fine valley. as viewed under circumstances
SO widely different the evening before. Five
days from Chattanooga. during which time we
had only travelled ~ miles. found us crossing on
pontoon bridge 10 the south side of the Tonnes
see river to Shell Mound
| was greatly disappointed in not finding the
mound OF shells from which Shell Mound derives
it, name aud of which we have heard so much
Making the necessary inquiries of some of the
resident chivslry, soon learned that the mound
had contributed 10 form the embankment of the
railroad and also the foundation for the depo,
building. No yestiee OF its original character
vas left. except the undecayed remains of mus
Giles which may toe found anywhere along the
banks of the Tennessee
There is a cave OF some importance at this
place which certainly afforded some curiosity TO
"A disappointed wonder seeker. Ii il called Niece
Io JACK. alter an lnuIan VINO used To iuhn5lt ~
It's entrance is of most ample proportions. CON
posed of solid limestone rock. one hundred feet
in width and thirty feet high-these dimensions
gradually lessen, As you pass on a few yards
very large strea N of excellent water issues
from it, which ia the channel by which m ~
explore tue interior for distance of three miles
The sides and crevces of the rocks within. are
filled with CLAW. from which the rebels have been
extracting saltpeter. and from the large number
of leeches arranged in the cave and out. large
business must have been carried on. II ere. then.
is what has prevented so many brave men
from becoming soldiers-the digging of that vile
saltpeer from the bowels OF the earth
Lest shall have already wearied Your patience.
] must assure you that are now Mt Bridgeport.
Alabama, and in communication daily with Nash
vile that We are on full r,tons. and long as
We can hear the welcome whistle of the locomo-
tive or steamboat We will think no more of the
horrors of starvation.
The rebels have been driven from Lookout
Mountain and the river road il now open 10 that
place. and have doubt that the comrades in
camp. left there. are rejoicing over the event
Gen HOoker's army is passing up the south
side o. the river. and guards are being stationed
t convenient points along the way
A locomotive has been sent up 20 dav for the
first time. which will within eight miles OF
Chattanooga. and within lew DAYS. into the