Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-12
THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.
THE RIVER OPENED.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazs,ts.

we nave just had most brilliant though almost blood.
less victory t must be known that along the south bank
OF the tennessee RIVER from Lookout Mountain almost to
Bridgeport rebel sharpshooters have for the last few
weeks, become SO bold that teams compelled TO
abandon what called the river road and to 90 by route
over Walens Ridge which, in bad weather Is almost i'm
passabe Hence have been rather short ratons for
while, growing day by day, beautifully shorter-to say
nothing about the mules On the south side of the river
the rebels had it all their way and their position CON-
manded the valley on the north bank also
The river below Chattsnoc in the form of an
so that an air line from here to Bridgeport would cut four
times within about ten miles One of the peninsuas thus
formed and the next to Chattanooga but on the north
side Of the river very and entirely commanded
by Lookout Mountain, at whose base is the turn The
distance around this is about nine miles The other q,
the south SIDE 10 about the distance round and nso
In the hands OF the rebels thus giving them the command
Of many miles OF the river by holding only two mportant
points Lookout was only valuable to them then because
1t was the key to the position that commands the river
round the lower peninsula, nasmuch the distance il
only two miles AMI ha from the ferry at Chat
nooga, to Browns Ferry, by route which leaves the
four miles to the left and of cousse makes the
enemys guns on that point harmless.
The alimportant question to US, then was how 10 nb.
tain possession OF Browns Ferry and in sayiog
that it has largely involved the holding of Chattanooga
to solve this was necessary to to the following
desperate eIpedi
Yesterday morning little after midnight aati,Is os
fifty pontoons in each of which were placed thirty select
of Gen Hszen's brigade, the whole in command Of
Col Stanley, of the Eighteenth Ohio, drop ed down the
river from this place to Browns Ferry landed on the left
side surprised the enemy pcksts and drove them from
their position The disanee around is nine miles and
lined with rebel sharp.hooters To pass these without
observation-especsly bright moonlight night-was
feat that demanded no ordinary skill.
The fotila divided iao squads Of eight escb com.
manded by commissioned officer. The men lay dat on
the bottom OF the boats, which allowed to a.t with
The current-about Bve mils an housekeeping ns near
the north bank possible They coad distinctly .e the
rebel snarpshooers and hear them talk As fast as
the squads reached the appointed place hey showed over
e. the left bank, and after unloading were Immediately
taken to the other de ready to bring over anothee orcs
that had been sent across the valley. Thus they kept
coming and unloading till the last squad came up but ths
unfortunately drfted down little Too far through which
mistake it discovered by the enemy and fred into
This preciptated our action te but there was not the
least confusion Our men Immediately rushed nm the
ridge, charg the enemy's sharpshooters and in half
hour occup ed position which they could hold against any
'orce the rebels could send Meanwhile Capt Dresser
came up on the other side with squad of hs celebrated
Michigan engineers and began to lay The pontoon bridge
Seeing this the rebels planted battery below Lookout
and above the Ferry about mile at pout where their
euns commanded the place our men at work. The
sheing by the enemy however, did not last long One
of our batteries being brought up aud placed In position
soon compelled him to withdraw hs guns to safer quarters
1t needless and improper to state what and how many
troops have been sent 1t is sufficient to know that
enough will be there not only hold the position but to
make the rebels evacuate the whole peninsula vrtu
ally clearing the nver ready for transportation More.
over 1t gives opportunity any time 10 fauk Look
out Mountain and thereby necessste evacuation by
the rebels.
five killed and eighteen wounded That of ths rebes was
uly equal il not greater than Great credit ia due
Gen Smith, Chief Of Engineers, to whom the entire man
ag-ment 0f the expedition also to Captain
Dresser his assistant for the skill and energy mani
IN laying the bridge. Col Stanley, of the 18Th Ohio is
entitled TO special praise for The splendid in which
he mau1uvred the hotila squadron. Others no doubt
deserve credit, but my attention specially called to
those have named.
Artillery firing has been going on pretty brisky today
from both sides Our batteries on Strinpsrs Point on
pose Lookout have been sending shells into the top Of
that mountain, where the rebels have two guns from
which they answered occasionally This aftern how
ever they have turned their guns to the left toward
Bridgeport which is TO us very indicative No telling
what day may bring forth Our forces occupy Raccoon
Mountain boat expected up from Bridgeport to-day
on trial trip. Altogether prospects are f,tternQ
Midnish.-Hooksr has joined our forcss whioh were
sent over Browns Ferry. The rebes are esctuay flank
81. think the enemy will fall back.
Correspondence Of he Cincinnati Times.
CHATTANOOGA, OCTOBER 29, 1868.
Gen Hooker, who, with large force has been march
ing toward this place from Bridgeport had sharp en-
gagement with the enemy this morning about one O'Clock
His advance, under the command Of COL Orand Smith
had been skirGshng with the enemy since they had left
Shell Mound driving them every where before them Last
night they encamped Browns Ferry some FIVE miles
frt IN here
During the night it discovered that the enemy had
taken possession Of hill near Lookout Mountain and
spur Of the Raceoon Ridge. This hill commanded the
road and railroad and thus virtually separated Hooksrs
two corps while it gave the enemy position at which to
concentrate their forces TO fall on either corps with
the greatest advantages their side. Gen. Hooker at
perceived the Importance of the position and ordered
Col Smiths brigade forward to take the hill They were
commanded to FIX bayonets and in the bright moonlight
the boys turned out right gaanty the work They re-
membered the glory they had gained the Potomac
determined to lose of it the bills of Tennessee
With steady tread the brigade composed Of the Seventy
third Ohio and Thirty third Massachusetts, in the advance
and the thirty sixth New York and Fifty
fifth Ohio support marched up the hill to charge
foe OF whose numbers they in total ignorance When
hall way up the hill and the railroad the enemy
opened heavy fire. and gallant boys fell on all sdes
Still they fought with the bravery veterans and aer
hour Of AS hard fighting been known m this war
the enemy tell back, taking off some OF their killed and
wounded
Col smiths forces then entered their breastworks and
took lhryseyeu prisOners well all their
tools To-day our busy work with the picks
and shoyes LETT by the dsccmftted enemy in their sudden
retreat. In ride over the battle field we noticed a
squad buryiog tbs dead, while short distance off the
enemy shells We're bursting anopg trees They kept
up hre fon their batteries Lookout Mountain but
their misees fell few hundred yards short OF our lnes
To-day Gems Grant, Tnomns, Whitaker, and Others
Visited the battle field, aud when the rst men Iioo.d
learned the position OF affairs and how men had be.