Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-26
From the Richmond Enquirer, Oct. 8.
The Situation at Chattanooga--A
Rebel View.

The aspect of affairs is most encoura ging tC
the success to our army. The enemy, defeated
and discouraged, is covering within the forfi6ca-
tious of Chattanooga, the government at Wash
ingtOn is striving by every means to reinforce
ROsecrans ard bolster up the fallen chief news
papers, by false statements, are endeavoring to
mitigate the force of the disaster that has over
taken their greatly lauded hero OF Rich Noun
tam. Bragg's army. buoyant with success, be
leaguers the beaten foe; his cavalry are in "the
right place., but where. we are not Informed
The present quiet in the field around Chattanoo
ga will, we hope, be turned to good account, and
will be permitted to lose all by waiting
too long. Many a battle has been lost by the
DELAY of few hOurs-ve trust so brilliant be-
ginping may not be followed bv disaster.
Chatt inooga may be the yorktown of thi:
revolution The army of Rosecrans will, il
possible, be reinforced from Grant, Burnside. and
perhaps from Meade Bragg has already very
large army, but Johnston reinforce him still
further Thus the armies of both nations may
be concentrated at Chattanooga Should such
be the fact. the result will end in peace, by a
victory by Bragg, or in protracting the war TO an
indefinite period, by his defelt. We look upon
the situation at Chattanooga as of the most mo-
mentous importance
The impending battle involves not only the
recovery of Tennessee and Kentucky, but
Georgia is embraced within the results depending
at Chattanooga. RDsecrans defeated, and the
invasion il rolled back to Kentucky-the inva-
ders expelled. Nashville recovered. But, Bragg
defeated, how is Georgia to be held? The inner
line of intercDmmuncatiOn will be lost, while
the enemy will find himself in possession Of rail
road facilities from Louisville to Savannah. II
is folly to shut our ewes and refuse TO see both
sides in the issue: asd as nothing is more certain
than a battle. it well becomes the people to E.
fleet upon the possibilities within the range of a
very short future Ii will be time enough, per
haps, to discuss the situation when it is forced
upon Us by lost battle; at present our army is
victorious-the enemy is defeated
Reinforcements to Rosecrans are or ly collect
ing together, not recruiting, the armies of the
enemy robbery OF Peter to paw Paul. But
this action of the enemy may necessiLate simi-
lar action on our part. and thus the battle al
Chattanooga, between the concentrated armies o.
both beligereDts. may be the end of the war
With such a prospect before the army of the Con
federate States, what an impetus il would give tC
their charge, with what endurance would they
receive the assault of the foel Everything de
pends upon the Confederate armY-are they duly
advised Of the great responsibility that rests upor
theml Do they feel that the hopes of the coun
try center IN them; that more rests upon then
that ever before rested upon the army of the Con
federate States? -r...
III Meade sends forces to Rosecrans, Gen Lee
will capture Washington. If Grant renforce
Rosecrans, Kirby Smith regains Louisiana an,
threatens New Orleans. The situation of th,
enemy is one of delightful difficulty. We begir
now to appreciate the strategy that evacuates
East Tennessee and has drawn the enemy int,
what we may hope may prove to him cal d'
sac, from which he cannot escape without de
struction However we may regret net havini
any accounts from Bragg's army, yet we canno
complain, is the interest OF the country. in tha
Generals opinion. in the least served by thi
enforced silence of the telegraph We mus
wait in patience the issue. relying on that Powe
which guides the destinies of nations for His ow
wise purposes. sr.r