The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-11-08
MEXICO, Sept. 80, 1853.
rhe situation OF Chattanooga.

Our Chattanooga letter will explain the
situation. The Geographic report that
our forces had driven the rebels from
Lookout Mountain, was an error. We
now hold the river below Chattanooga
ultil we come within range of the ent'
my's guns on Lookout Mountain, being a.
bout six miles from Chattanooga by the
river, but only about two across the neck
of land. The severe fighting of Hooker's
troops, by which this was accomplished,
is related by our correspondent. While
this movement was being made from
Bridgeport, the commander at Chatta-
nooga sent down pontoons in the night
with troops who effected landing be-
low Lookout, and bridged the river with
pontoons, by which more troops were
crossed. ~ t ilAFA#
Hooker drove the enemy from a high
ridge west of the Lookout, and separated
from that and Racoon mountain by a
valley, making q strong position COM
manding the river, which the enemy
held stubbOrnly, but were finally driven
from it by the brave charge Of our troopP.
This success gives us the use of the
river to supply Chattanooga, with only
about two miles Of wagon transportation.
Two steamers are there now in use, and
the question of supplies which had come
TO point that seriously threatened our
occupation of Chattanooga, is now set
! tied. m rbn Ifa
The enemy hold Lookout Mountain and
have Eve heavy guns there. The dis
lance from their battery to the town is
three miles, and the height above the
town is over tive thousand feet.
Their shells reach the town, but with
out any accuracy OF range, and so far
their firing has had little effect IL is
enough, however, to make them disagree
able neighbors for permAnency. TO dis
lodge them will require detour to their
rear, similar 10 that by which Rosecrsns
caused the evacuation of Chattanooga.
This Of course can only be made by q
force large enough to stand q general en-
gagement All of this shows the requi-
aites for holding Chattanooga, and con-
funs the skill of the movements by
which it was taken. BY time and de-
grees aud greatly Increased force our
army is now recovsring the ground which
was all taken by n skillful stragetio
movement, that only required more sup
port to make it complete and decisive.
Ii is obviously necessary 10 create a
great depot of supplies at Chattanooga
az base for further operations in that
line. But il would hardly be safe TO
gather largo supplies where they might
be reached by the enemy's shells from
Lookout Mountain. Even If not accr :
rately projected, they might be hazard
Gus TO the accumulation of large stores.
To make this depot safe, il would seem
TO be necessary to dislOdge the enemy
from Lookout. This will require march
similar TO that made by ROsecrAns, and
a general battle unless Bragg withdrAws
and gives up any attempt 70 resist.
But if the season is too late for this
general movement there are other re-
sources. By the vigilance and prOvi-
dence of General Roseorans, Notifications
in the rear of Chattanooga were well
forward when our army fell back TO that
place, In three days they were in such
= state that ten thousand men could have
held them against assault by any force.
1t is said that they could now be safely
held by five thousand men. Thus il will
be seen that our occupation of ChAttA-
nooga does not make 1t necessary that
our principal army, or principal supplies
should be at that place. 1t would be
convenient but not by any means indis-
pensable.- Cincinnati Gazette.