The Portland daily press., 1863-08-08
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from Rosecran,s Army.

We are permitted TO make the following ex-
tract from private letter from an officer In
Rosecran's army, under date OF Hillsboro,
Tennessee, July 20, 1868:
II am now at Gen. Woods headquarters,
ten miles southeast of Manchester, on the
Chattanooga Railroad. On commencing our
march to this place it rained upwards OF TWEEN
ty days in succession, just poured down with
out any mercy. 1t seemed as if the food
gates of heaven had sprung aleak and we
were receiving the benefit of 1t. The roads,
fpart of which in the most favorable season
are bad) were now perfectly horrible. We
passed part of the way through low swampy
country, characterized by a treacherous soil
of quicksand, which would engulf man and
beast. Our progress was necessarily slow;
four days OF incessant toll on our part only ac-
complished twenty miles, even then at the ex-
pense OF a great share Of our baggage. The
programme before starting was this, - the
right and center were to move by direct road
on the enemy, while the lett were to make
long detour to the southeast, come up on his
flank and rear, secure the mountain passes and
prevent his retreat. In this manner it was
hoped we would gobble him up, or force a
fight out of him, but the unreasonable wealth.
er prevented it. When we took Manchester
we made Bragg's positions at Tullahoma rather
~
towards Winchester, our forces still pursuing
him, and this wing moving off also and closing
in on his flank. We came up with him at the
foot of the mountains and on the border of
Elk river, had slight skrmish with his rear
guard, but no general engagement II the
weather had been favorable we should have
Just squelched him and his crew without any
trouble, but it is useless to grumbe. Since
we have been in this camp thousands of de-
his hava int ,t,r
lines and given themselves up, most Of them
taking the oath. They still continue to arrive
daily. All report Bragg's men in a sadly de-
moralized condition, almost In open mutiny.
The Tennessee and Kentucky soldiers say
they will go home, that they are sick Of fight
ing and disgusted with the rebellion. Seces-
sion is playing out down in this vicinity
surely
Bragg's abiding place now is Chattanooga,
where he holds forth with the remnants of his
discouraged regiments. 1t is generally ad-
mitted that the natural deiences OF that place
are incalculable; il Is very difficult of APP
proach, being situated in narrow mountain
pass, capable of being defended by small
force against vastly superior one. l rather
think il old Rosy Sights out" on him that he
will have TO "cave" To take the place by as
sault would be impossible, but we could sever
the communications and regularly siege 1t,
and be successful. We have been waiting
for supplies to come up before advancing.
The railroad lines of communication with
Murfreesboro' are fully opened aud immense
quantities Of forage and rations are daily ar
irving. The bridges are being rebuilt, and the
road south of here and the entire line will be
in good running order. Gen. Stanley, with
his cavalry division, occupy Huntsville, Ala.
Rosecrans, believe, with his command, is also
down there somewhere. We are distant from
Chattanooga upwards Of sixty miles. The
prevailing opinion is that we viii get the long
desired and expected fight there. Whether
Bragg will make stand there no one can say
from knowledge of the fact; 'tis all conjec-
ture. He is by no means partial to this army
he has experienced its fighting qualities and
knows them TO be passably good. B.