Washington telegraph., 1863-12-16

louRnt, auo We nave lost. Let us he honest
with ourselves and look the matter squarely in
the face. No true courage or spirit of endea
vor can spring from self-deception. Our great
cause stands firm. This is one of the incidents
of a prolonged war, which we would be foolish
not to expect, and hold ourselves in readiness
to endure.
The enemy have driven Gen. Bragg from his
position, and raised the siege of Chattanooga.
1t has been accomplished with tremendou. loss
TO them, and but little to us. We are, never
theless, very sad. We cannot understand
(creditably) the feelings of those who are not.
But the devotion of every patriot should be in
creased by this new wound to our already
bleeding country. and al make new resolves
to shake off their lethargy, and cast everything
i'll the scale-determined. each one, that these
invading hordes shall be destroyed aSon our
soil, or that we will not survive to witness our
degradation. If such a spirit should be fully
arou sed-if the spirit of extortion and greed
should blush in the presence Of the guardian
angel of our liberty standing weeping and de-
jected--if those of her sons who have selfshly
shirked the duties of the camp and the battle
field, should be touched with shame and re-
morse, reproach themselves with the cause,
and feel the old sparks rekindled in their
hearts-then what seems to US q misfortune
will, in Gods mercy, prove blessing iu dis
gui.e. But to the history.
1t is well known to our readers that our army
occupied position around Chattanooga ex-
tending from the river Mt Point Lookout below,
along a range of hills to the river again some
distance above. The original position was
assumed to cut of the enemy from supplies
and reinf2rcements, so as to force a battle or
compel surrender. Unfortunately this object
was virtually defeated some time ago when the
enemy, by a rod movement, obtained possess
sion of Lookout Valley and ferry just below
our left on the west side Of the mountain oc-
cupied the heights fuIthtr down and opened
communication within two miles of Chatta-
n oga by means of the river and railroad This
relieved in great measure their necessities,
and opened the way for heavy reinforcemeuts.
The enemy felt the desperate nature Of their
position. and Immediately drew reinforcements
from all parts of the West. Every thing seemed
concentrated there, and the storm OF war was
lul.ed for 9 season in every other important
quarter.
1t must have been evident to Gen. Bragg
that his position useless, and no lonrer
tenahe. The siege Of Chattanooga became
hopeless. The expedition to Knoxville urder
Lons.treet was doubt Planned to turn the
flank of the enemy, and gain new advantages
in other quarters. Gen. Bragg had already
determined to Withdraw from his position.
The straits of the enemy must have been
still very great. They could not afford to wait
the action of Gen. Bragg, but were driven to
the nsces sity of assau,ting his position.
at the certain cost of enormous sacrifice
of the lives of their soldiers.
Early on the morning of Monlav. the 23d OF
November, as the fog raised from the valley
below. il WAS discovered that the enemy was
massing large body Of forces opposite our
right above the city. As the day advanced the
mass grew heavier, until it occupied all tie
slopes below the Cemetery Fort, which was the
extreme left of the enemy. At noon this mass
deployed in two heavy lines. At p. m. the
guns of the Fort opened, and the Federas ad
vanced rapidly against our pickets, driving
them in after q sharp resistance, and taking
possession Of Indian Hill, standing about mid
way between their extreme left and our right.
Meanwhile Major Robertson brought mp a few
guns of his reserve arTiller~, and with other
batteries on Missionary Ridge opened upon
the enemy, who nevertheless maintained the
position which had been gained. he fight
was altogether with our pickets, The loss of
the enemy is unknown. Ours is estimated at
from one to two hundred in killed and wound
Ell.
Thus ended the fighting Of Monday. During
the evening, however, it was observed that the
enemy had thrown considerable body of
troops higher up the river rs if for the pur-
pose Vi HauhIuS otr ClSnl, ana coming down
upon our depot of supplies at Chickanaugn.
1t became evident that we must either sacrifice
that or weaken our forces on the left at Look
out Mountain, in order to reinforce the right
The latter alternative was adopted. During
the night Walkers division was moved to the
right from Lookout, leaving behind only Ste
phenson's and Cheathams divisions, both
under the command Of Stephenson. Cheathan
had just returned to the army late in the
afternoon.
Early next morning the enemy's batteries
opened and heavy skrmishing took place along
the whole line. Our own batteries on Lookout
could take no part on account of the heavy fog
which cnveloped the crest of the mountain.
About noon heavy body of infantry, esti-
mated at 10000 strong, attacked US on the
western slope of the mountain. Our forces
were steadily driven back by superior numbers
around the northern slope Of the mountain to
Craven's house, and thence around the east
almost to the road that leads 10 the top. Late
in the afternoon the left was reinforced ~
Breckinridge's division, and the enemy in
their turn we're driven back some four or FIVE
hundred yards. Long after nightfall, till mid
night, the sanguinsry struggle ragged beneath
the pale light of the moon, which looked coldly
down upon this scene of carnage and death.
Our loss in prisoners upon the western slope
is said to have been great. body of Fede-
rails having gotten in the rear of Waltham's 5
brigade captured, according to one account,
some 6ys or six hundred, including the 30th
tk<A Aa tho fat-