, 1863-09-21
CHICAGO, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 81, 1868.

to the south, making 1t Unnecessary to eyacuate
the place or draw in their forces to theirrock-
bound tower and stand siege. Il they did
the latter, 1t waa certain to result In ultimate
ruin. Vicksburg WAS before them, and they
remembered the lesson. There was but one
and retire still further into the interior, thus
entirely yielding up the State Of Tennessee,
giving US complete possession OF the navtga-
Bile portion Of the Tennessee River, aud CIV
ing Memphis and Louisville railroad connec-
tions with the home Of Brownlow and the
rich agricultural districts that abound in that
country.
On the Sd of September the order was Is
sued for . general movement such Of the
forces as had not passed over before, crossed
the Tennessee, and on the 7th Of the month
our poeition Was such that unless they should
take decisive steps they would be shut up in
the prison Of their oWn choosing. It WIS
ment that awakened serious apprehensions
for their safety, and caused the prccipItate
movement In the direction Of Rome aud At
lanta- Had the country been at all tolerable
for the movement OF the troops, the enemy
could and would have been Intercepted be-
yond doubt. But our men had already
crosseda rugged mountain. Another had to
be passed. namely, the Lookout, still more
abrupt, difficult and dangerous. The passes
we're few, narrow and rough, and our army
must necessarily consume much time IN
crossing. No human foresight or skill or en-
DURANGO could have prevented It.
For several days Gen. CEittende9, who
approaching more nearly to the town. To-
move in TIC direction Of tie re5ei S strong e
hold, "hile column moved parallel With
mountain from the river. This was intended
first as Q reconnoisauce in force, but in tho
event Of 1t appearing practicable, they were
to press forward and occupy the place. It
wns successful. The rebel inf4ntry, 1t Is eaid,
lett yesterday, the cavalry this morning Gen.
Crittenden has now possession Of the place,
ard it is understood that Gen. Wood viii be
placed in command.
It would hare been glorious thing to have
taken B1ogg md his forces. The NEXT thing
to 1t In desitab1eness Was what has occurred.
With shattered army that is melting away
by desertiors and becoming weakened by de-
moralization, be has been compelled to take
another stride towards the GULF
We certainly can now see the light break
ing. 8outheTners admit their fortunes vast
ed, and their gloom impenetrable. Hundreds
are weekly seeking our lnes tired Of the rebel
service, aud anxious to lay down the weapons
ofwa1fare. These mountain ranges stretch
up and down, with narrow valleys between.
have different namea to distinguish the re-
spective ranges. The one we croas from
Bridgeport to Trenton Is known Us the
Raccoon Mountain, and Is from
five to seven miles wide On the : top.
The range Immediately east, that juts up the
1ivef Ct ChattanoSga, is known - the t9ok. :
vide on the summit, butts more difficult Of
passage than the former. Each are about q
Thousand feet In height Tie valley which
Lies between is THAT fertile, and Is called
Lockout Valley. On the summit of the lat.
ter mountain eignal fires can be distinctly
selves on the sides Of the former this evening
which hare given rise to some speculation
Trenton Is about twenty miles from Chat
tanooga, and Is connected with 1t by rail
4 grand battle must soon be aought or the
rebels compelled to fall still further back.
Bsiore @ tbs reaches you ths problem III bs
the satisfaction I believe Of all. How
troops are disposed, how many there
are, and what is to be done need not
now be revealed In 4 fen days ali this
will te history, md the people Will know 1t.
Let the public mind rest content that their
Interests Tlu not suffer in the hands Of Gen.
readers pass over the road travelled by a por-
ton OF this army they would have new iae7e
Of the difficulties that commanders of 1llye
armies encounter. Z travelled to-day In
m ambulance over one Of the roaCs
and how the heavily loaded wagons md artil-
lery effect their passage without greater
number of diaasters Is wonder. The ascent
from Bridgeport oyer Raecoon Mountain Is
very steep md outr2geous1y rough. The
descent IS stAl tougher Huge rocks are
Imbedded In the middle Of the mountain road,
that throw the wagons back and forth, and
jar, and bang, and twist every hing about at
a so1ry rate.