The New York herald., 1863-09-08
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND,
STEVENSON, Ala, August 81 1868.

STEVENSON, Ala, August 81. 1868.
IHK sIGBr coiuass sR rflE RIVER.
The FIRST movement the river has been folos
by the crossing OF the OF the right and c
but In such slow and careful manner indicates
the movement will be slow measured. Indeed
character Of the country through which lies our rc
iorbds that the advance should be rapid and ccp
II apparent that nccessiiica--and others besides
nature Of the country cxist--rcqure that IL shan
slow and decisive h . campaign In a ho !,
country than has ever yet been uaversed
armies, and unncard Of difficulties arc BE-
AMI are TO be ncomtsred. I regret that 4
not sufficiently master OF the descriptive style
Indicate a. desire the nature Of the country IN VIII
we are now operating. The diiGcut mountains VIII ch
have already crossed sink into nignncance beside III
known as the Raccoon Mountsirs, and these appear
pigmes beside the towering ridge Of the Lookout No
tains, rising half mile above the stream which loss
magnifCeny at their feot Il is inpo siblc TO con,
by words an accurate idea OF the dfiiculties which
now encountering. Tho campaign is doubtless goi
70 be long and tedious one, ending with despet
battle and under the circumstances OF long diGc
line Of retreat case Of disaster behind u.s. danger
one TO us.
pDFicuLrn1 rHK xARcH-rostnoS or riR EMMY
The infantry nnd II diAlcuit 10 make as much al Il
miles per day the mountains, and the ascent q m
and half Is the full labor OF day Only one poato
bridge has yet been built and over this Il Is diIc
to move division In two days. The fords are only pr
ticable for cavalry, which passes and repasscs a,
They have found Ices difncuty In penetrating into
mountains General Crook commanding a division
cavalry, returned to-day from espedtion to Locko
valley. He crossed the river the morning Of 29
al Shell Mound, and At once, with three regimen
marched rapidly 70 Trenton He made the asceas a
descent Of Raccoon Mountains with sase. finding bet
roads than ~ anticipated. There were no troops
the town, though they were reported In the Loo
out noussass beyond He went down the valley 70 wii
In nine miles a Chattanooga, gathering few desere
and learning sons issle news 10 regard TO the
Ths rsbsh ere reported by the cisixens 70 be.in Al
around Chassanocga dny<houssnd strong, busy sngas
IN sorsxyins the position. Thsy occupy the SUNNI,
rosmrua r1n MOUNTAIN rAssss
rn,s latter move their part would naturally folio
our orossing the river and We were compelled I
cross and move lesursy they had and will have ann
time 70 forify The mountain pssscs against our Gan
march The result has not been st all unlocked for Al
Il b one unavoidable as 10 TO be regretted Iootot
range 10 the main defence Of Chattanooga ard IN n
event Of 10 abandonment the ridge the arst po,ps
defend Rome and Atlanta. ar
Against this army alone such defence mint be "A.
cessfully made but against the two armies Of Purpsc
and Rosecrans moving upon concenric lines oooccntrs
ing At the rear d this position, becomes untenabrl
While making stand sgains, the column the rebs
would be 1snked by the other with Burnside on the
right In The grca, valley Of the Tennessee and coos,ssa
.'s Ross0'An, % Asy lsy On ~ EeyslAIaA n