The National tribune., 1898-04-07
LETTERS OF
CHAS. 4. DANA.
Terse, Telling Reports to War
Department from the Front.
The Siege of Chattanooga-Depress Days
of Anxious Waiting Drenching Rains,
Short Ration<, Threatening Enemy, Dis
satisfaction With Rosecrans.
(CoPYRIGHT.)

| tCOPSRlGHT)
The cooped-up army in Chattanooga
had enough to think Of besides the pres.
ence of jeff Davis, the President of the
so-called Southern Confederacy. The
awful rains which flooded the rivers,
made the roads impossible quagmires,
and cut off all supplies for man and
beast brought the most imminent
! danger. The army could take care of
the enemy beleaguering it if it could
only have food enough for its soldiers
( and animals. But the rain seemed to
be the most formidable reinforcement
the rebels were receiving. 1t was only
with the greatest difficulty that bridges
could be maintained across the SWOLLEN
Tennessee behind it, and the roads be-
yond were veritable Sloughs of Despond
in which the mules foundered hope
lessly and the wagons mired to the
hubs. Dana telegraphs:
Could the river be used 400 tons freight
might daily be delivered here But the same
military error which gave the enemy control
of the south shore between here and Bridge.
port and which is illustrated by the stoppage
of our trains by sharpshooters, depriveS us
OF the power of using our steamboats, and
also prevents our rebuilding and using the
railroad between here and Bridgeport. That
error is the abandonment of Lookout Mount
ain to the rebels. Immediately after the re-
treat to Chattanooga, Rosecrans ordered the
withdrawal of Spears's Brigade, which held
the head of the mountain, and the destruc-
Of 81
side at about one-third of its hight and con-
meets the valleys of Chattanooga and Look
out
Both Granger and Garfield earnestly pro-
tested against this order and contended that
the mountain and the road could be held by
| not more than seven regiments against the
whole power of the enemy, whether he should
attack from below or, passing up Stevenss
Gap, make his approach by the road extend
ing longitudlnally upon the crest There
can, / think. be no question that they were
right. but Rosecrans, who is sometimes as
obstinate and inaccessible to reason rs at others
lie Is lTes0lutc, facilitating, and inconclu-
sslve pettishy rejected all their arguments,
and the mountain was given up. 1t is diff
cult to say which was the greater error, this
order or that which on the day of battle
created the gap in our lines
At any rate such IS our present situation
our animals starved, and the men with starva-
ton set before them, and the enemy bound to
make desperate efforts to dislodge rs In the
midst OF this the Commanding General de-
votes that part OF the time which is not en-
ployed IN pleasant gossip to the composition
OF long report to prove that the Govern
ment Is to blame for his failure. 1t is my duty
to declare that while few persons exhibit
Ia nf,I I
seen public man possessing talent with less
administrative power, less cearness and stead
mess in difficulty, and greater practical in
capacity than Gen. Rosecrans. He has in
ventiye fertility and knowledge, but he has
no strength OF will and no concentration of
purpose.
His mind scatters; there is no system in
the use of his busy days and restless nights,
no courage against individuals in his conpo-
sition, and, with great love OF command. he
is 4 feeble commander. He is conscientious
and honest, just as he is imperious and dis
putatious; always with a stray vein of caprice
and an overweening passion for the approba-
ton OF his personal friends and the public
outside.
Under the present circumstances consider
this army to be very unsafe in his hands; but
do know OF no man except Thomas who could
now be safely put III his place. Weather
pleasant but cloudy
Oct. IL; 1880 a. m.-No demonstrations
from the enemy. Granger who rode the
picket-lines yesterday afternoon is convinced
that Braggs main body is still here. We
have, however, pretty good reason for be-
lIeving that Ectors, McNairs. and OrmessT?l
BrIgades have gone to Mobile We had
heavy rain all night; still raining.
Oct. IA; l2m.-After thirty six hours heavy
ram there IS now prospect Of clearing up.
Tie river has risen or 10 inches. and Gen.
smith has ordered the trcstle bridge TO be
taken up, leaving only the new pontoon
bridge to connect Us with the north side. /
The roads have been greatly injured by the |
storm; one OF them, the Anderson road, used |
by the loaded wagons, having been rendered |
lmpracticable on the eastern eide of the |
mountain.
In the Sequatche and Tennessee bottoms
all the reads must he nearly spoiled but no |
reports from them have yet arrived. Some |
forage got in here yesterday, and we hear
from bridgeport that train load of FORAGE
itsNn~ss~seo@s4~~~.s.s-~zss~u-