The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-28
CHATTANOOGA.
Inc t4Sattle and the Situation.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.


: We expected this morning to be able TO-
publish detailed accounts of the great bat.
ties south of Chattanooga, but our special
correspondence has fingered by the way
The general results and leading incidents
of the fight, are, however. made clear by
telegraphic intelligence. 1t is certain that
our army was saved from total defeat BY the
extraordinary firmness and excellent man
agement of Thomas corps, and the splendid
charge of the reserves led by Major Gen
eral Robert Granger. Portions of the
corps of Crittenden and McCook didn't
stand up to the work as might have been
expected Of soldiers of tho Army OF the
Cumberland, or they were not so effectively
handled as the corps Of Thomas and Gran
GERS reserves. The whole army has been
beaten back to the neighborhood OF Chat
tanooga, with considerable losses in artillery,
and men, but ir is strongly posted, and capa'
ole of repelliLg any attack made in 'front.'
It is the freely expressed opinion of those
having reliable sources Of information, that
if the whole army had been as effective as
parts of it were, the enemy, notwithstand-
ing their superior numbers, would have been
decisigely defeated. As it is, the rebel loss
is very great. They acknowledge that i've
thousand of their men were killed and
wounded on Saturday and Sunday. They
also suffered seriously in their attack on
Monday. Their six dead Generals, and an
equal number wounded, show how terrible
must have been the slaughter. No very Sc
rious demonstrations direct against Rose
Grams have been made since Monday, but
the enemy have been in motion on his LETT,
| and the presumption is they are marching
to attack Burnside, who was advancing on
the south side of the Tennessee river. When
Burnsides movement was ordered, it was
with the expectation that Rosecrans would
maintain his advanced position south OF
Chattanooga Rosecrans being driven back,
the enemy have been enabled to interpose
| the mass of their forces, between him and
B Burnside, and it is conjectured that, leaving
| a corps to observe Rosecrans at Chattanoo-
ga, they will hurl the main body of their
troops against Burnside. That there is
| danger in this situation is obvious to all.
1t is certain that it will be impossible
| for Burnside to continue his original line
| of march His force is not sufficient to
cope with the great masses of the enemy.
He may, therefore, be obliged to cross to
the north side of the Tennessee River, which
| at this season and in that region, is in sew
eral places fordable, and join Rosecrans, by
a march through the country on the north
side of the river, crossing again at Chatta-
nooga. This would open the southern gate
of East Tennessee to the rebels, and if they
have force to spare, may compel his troops
left at Knoxville, to fall back on Cumber-
land Gap tits reasonable to suppose that
Burnside had timely warning of the extreme
hazard; or, indeed almost certain destruc-
ton, to which he would be exposed in con-
tinuing his march on the south of the Ten
nesee to the relief of Rosecrans, and has
governed his movements accordingly. He
may, of course, have judged it most expe-
dent to retire on Knoxville. 1t is oues-
ton that opens wide field of conjecture,
whether General Bragg, satisfied of the flu
tilty of his bloody front attacks, may not
maneuver to get Rosecrans out of Chatta
nooga by flank movement.
1t is not improbable, if he fails to catch
BURNSIDE, he will himself pass the Tennes
see River, above Chattanooga. But we
must take into account, in calculating his
| operations, that his army has already seen
very hard service, suffered severely, and in
all probability, nearly exhausted its ammu-
milton. He has not, however, we may safely
assume, reached the end OF his offensive de-
monstrat'ons, and we mnst expect for her
developments of it. But whatever he pro.
poses to do, lie must do quickly. Every
exertion is being made to reinforce ROSE
GRAMS from other sources than the army OF
the Ohio (BuRNsIDE's) and be will not long
be constrained to act on the defensive, OF
remain inactive. If BRAGG should have the
temer;ty to pass between RosEoRANs and
BURNSIDE, with the idea of following his old
war path into Kentucky, he would speedily
find himself overpowered.
1t is not only certain that he was rein
forced before the battle, by Longstreet's
corps, but that corps did most of the hare
| fighting for him, and lost one of its division
commanders, Major General Hood; and thai
some divisions of Ewel,s corps, formerly
Stonewall Jackson's, were in the late battle
Never, since the commencement of the war
has the military situation been more compli
Gated or interesting
P.S. We have intelligence from Rebe
sources, that detachment of Burnside
army passed beyond Bristol, which is near
the Virginia and Tennessee line, tore up the
railroad, and burned railroad bridge -
This shows that Rosecrans did not move
southwark without taking care that rebel
force should not be thrown by rail into his
rear.