, 1864-08-24

Especial Correspondence Chicago Triburc.T
CHATTANOOGA. aug. II, 1854.
The situation along our line of communi-
cation between this place and tnc front is be-
coming more alarming evtrs day. No less
than thrte divisions Of the enemy's troops.
cavalry and artl1lers, are 6aid to be strung
along and thu 1eateDiLg the railroad at different
points on this side the Chattahooches River,
Fighting h1s now been going on in the II
clnity Of Dalton tor the last three or four
days. The rebels yesterday occupied Gray
vile, railroad Station Oh thfs side OF Dal-
ton, and have now with smnll force actually
advanced as far as Mission Ridge, only eight
miles from the city. They are also in the
ncishborAood Of ChickaD,anga station.
Gen. 6tedman, commanding this military
district, is reported KILLED or mortall3 wound
ed in the last engagement In the vicIuttg Of
Dalton. His loss Viii be much regretted and
not be easily supplied.
Active preparations are still being made in
tie city with view to sending out reinforce
merits to the threatened quarters, sud also
1or the protection OF the to IN and garrison
around the whole line The Anderson cav
alry, just arrived from Nashville ion their
way to tie 'front.', have Proceeded as fur as
Hossvi}ie-f1yc Mfles out Of town-and will
act as scouts tonight The artillery in the
numerous tcrts ana batteries have bsen put
In readiness, and the Government employees
IN the various workshops have been armed.
as d will serve Us guard iii certain contingen.
clte. Our 1O0pouLd Parr.tts will do some
thing more than Il axe noise, If they should
be required.
Clevelntd, TIM, is also threatened b7 a
force Ct the enemy; and the troops cousid-
cred unIccessary, after the rebel defeat at
Daiton Oh the 18th, We're said to have been
immediately Forwarded by railroad from that
place In tic direction OF the anticipated raid.
This recort Of an attack on Cleveland, how
eSer, is ecly Iumor, and nnnynot be correct.
Our cavalry has ben chiefly employed 1T
tue front. With Marietta rs headquarters for
at least one division. Gen. Kip 4trlck is al.
ready appriZed Of Wheeler's proceedings,
aEd is Low on hts track With large forcs oi
cayalry CT mounted infantry. He will be
likely to give him enough to do without c3ii-
n,tting acy further deprecations. Kilpat-
rick is quite as active aud dashlng as Vince
!er, and We maj expect lircl5 time when
they meet.
Col Palmer, Of the Anderson cavalry, is
burning to earn additional 1auzels, and Will
spare no pains to get at the great Tennessee
raider. Ills force, however, is 60 small, aud
his train so large. that 1t WAS NIT Declined
prudent for him to venture ont under pre-.
Eent circumstances The mcn and horses
are in excellent condition. They passed
vile.
There Is Of c.nrse no communication with
the 'front.' The tfack is torn uD aud burnt,
and the telegraph DESTROYED in eeretal places
between this town and Dalton anu between
Dalton and Titon. The rebels, in addition
to the destruction Of Quartermsster's Com
mifEary's and Suffers stores at Dalton on
the l5fb. captured several supply trims be.
tween Chickamauga Station aud Graysyille.
The number Of cs1tle stampeded -vas stated
to me by clerk in the ssc1ustroction corps''
TO be :, 400 instead of 400, and LOO as first
Tiit' fias Is oy 'ar the most sar,vu. aearr that
EpBSet t1ktn place Oh ttis line Ut can, mimi.
cation. The first reports received three days
aEo. Etated the daDaSe then done Us very
slight; and our troops %s zen. sent frem the ety
1n6iaIa voluptrer infantry, defeated and
drove off the attacking party. Bnt later &C.
counts fix upon Us the conviction that the
enemy ere still IN great force: aud mean TO
etay and do all the mischief they possibly
can.
Another drove Of cattle is now waiting
here for a sale convoy; int We hare ooe Of
sufficient force ) Ct ready tn send with them.
The Anderson cavalry Dish Penn arrived
here yesterday. The men, horses, mules,
wagons, DC were in excellent condition.
This if, ~ y 5o9 o arc aware, an 49, "indepeadsnt"
we're originally enlisted as Gen. BuelIs body
guard, md for dutv at department beadquar-
ters. The regiment is composed OF men of
education, wealth and ability; and has fire.
qnently got into trouble in consequence of
misunderstanding as to whst duty they
attached to Gen Thomas headquarters,
and will eerye as escorts, orderlies, scouts,
DC, On special and important duty, report
ing OILY to headquarters Department
Of the Cumberland. Hence they are called
Many Of them are detailed Us clerks, &c, 1T
department. headquarters, on account Of
their peculiar qualification tor such service.
Being now on the way to the front, Col Pal
mer will now have an opportunity to display
his well known ability, per5Meyerance M and
Colonel ia ambitious to do something more
than mere escort duty; and will, doubtless,
lose no chance to distinguish himself aud
bis command, In the cayalry contest impend-
ing on this line Of road: Il Wheeler Is at-
tackled by Fitzpatrick and Palmer he NAV be
compelled to "skedaddla'' like the great
raidtr Of Kentucky.
APU1t 18th.
The death Of Gen. Steedmau is not CON
frmcd officially. Nor is the c:pture OF
section OF the 10th Ohio battery. An attack
was apprehended last night, and some little
firing was heard On thu picket 1ine. Tho 20Lh
Ohio batttry and other artillery WINS ordered
to be In readiness at moments notice. We
had troops in line Of battle through the
night. Gangs OF colored laborsrs coutinne
to work on tie for]idcatiops. Every avala.
bic tmi1cnce Is gored will, Gssuzes and dotted
with vst1ikc mounds Of red earth. There is
m abundance Of cabpou. Tie whole catsi-
eon is in ezcellcnt order, an1 fully prepared
TO give the enemy warn reception. Chat
tauooga Is prizs particularly desired by the
rebels. No pains will be sparc1 cn onr part
to render 1t perfectly secure; nor will The Gu
envy neglect any oppurtuuityto make dash
into 1t md burn our stor.s and depots, evan
ii they should be Immediately compelled to
evacuate.
The rebel pickets were within two miles
of town last night T..