St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-01-07
FROM THE ARMY OF THE CUM
IA DERLAND. "a

CHATTANOOGA, Dec. 18th, 1862 j
EDIroRs DEMooR At incesmy last
the noisy 5clangor Of battle has subsi-
ded and tho town has assumed.a quiet
matter Of fact aspect very unlike the
din aud preparation which preceded
the brilliant operations that resulted in
the defeat Of the rebel army und their
retreat to point short distance this
side Of the Atlantic Ocean; adding
much to the discon future of tho whole
conthicvocracy, and causing tho c6ito-
rial ours ct their capital to set up a
prolonged howl-a preliminary death
knell-which reverbcrates throughout
the Coufcderacy starting all the minor,
insign itcant ours to swapping, snarling,
barking and bowling, The famous
dos, Bragg, is no longer to be pittcd
against lIollfast, thus verifying the
old adage = .,..
Although the enemy is back from
our immediate front, yet the never
ceasing work Of Strengthening our for
ti6cations steadily continues. Fatigue
parties are at work daily and guns Of
heavy calibre are being mounted upon
the works. The pioneers arc engaged
in cutting fine, military road around
the slope of Lookout Mountain and re-
pairing the railroad which runs around
the base of the slope. by the FIRST of
the year it is hoped We will have direct
communication by railroad with Bridge
port, the completion Of the bridge at
Running Water, stream emptyirg in
to the Tennessee fourteen miles from
here, being now the chief obstacle ; the
large bridge over the Tennessee at
Bridgeport being already finished
Then, we will not be obliged to depend
upon three small steamboats,, wagon
trains, and the four poatocn bridges
which have to be crossed in going to
ana fro.
Happening to 90 to the Ordnance
Office few days ago, l was astonishcd
to see s"ch large quantities of the spoils
Of war. Guns of every pattern, accou-
trcmcnts Of all kinds, swords and pis-
tolls were there in heaps, and piled up.
in order.
In the open space directly In front
Of Gen. Brannan's, Chief cf Artillery,
are parked fifty-two cannon, captured
from the enemy in the recent battles.
All but two or three have limbers and
caissons complete There were six
plumbers, howitzers, Napoleons, twelve
FOUNDER, ten FOUNDER PARROTS and
two large scisc pieces, ,hirty-two
Founders, which were captured at
Chickamauya Station, the carriages
having been burnt by the rebels in
their hasty retreat. n few Of the Par
rotts ard Nnpolcons were guns captur-
I'd from us at ChickamauSa. Many
were Of rebel manufacture and were
stamped, "Macon Arsenal, Ga MEM
pills." an "Ncw Orleans,' few were
Recognized as guns stolen at the break
ing out of the rebellion. Two guns
were marked "Lacy Buckncr' and
"Lady breckenridge" and were cap
turcd by llazen's gallant brigade, in
their grand charge on the left center
Of the enemy. Most Of their guns bore
the marks Of having been used, their
muzzles being blackened and showing
that blue. whitish appearance apparent
after vigorous firing and the use Of the
swab.
The impression gains ground that
this army, now composed Of portions
OF the right, left, and center of the
grand army of the United States, will
suspend operations tor this winter. In
the few months of inactivity before us
our communications will be strengthen
cd, and supplies accumulated in such
quantities that when the favorable sea-
son for military operations arrives we
can advance on the enemy with this
strongly fortified place as base; and,
let the long, uncertain line of railroad
which is our life now; take care of it.
self: 10 say that the rebellion is now
showing signs Of "groggincss' and that
next spring and summer will wind it
up, is but to express the opinion Of ma
nv who look at the situation intelligent
ly. Gen. Grant by successful combi-
nations and maneuvcrs has secured
East Tennessee forever, raised the
seigc Of Chattanooga and compelled