The National tribune., 1901-11-14

scour the country, and returned with two
small cattle. We have no crackers, but
manage to get little corn meal.
Oct. % our wagons appeared loaded
with hard crackers. We felt like giving
a war dance" and feast, but con-
tented ourselves with "war whOop" in
honor of the event. Our Quartemaster
gives a gloomy account Of the situation
in regard to the hauling If supplies over
the road he traversed with his wagons.
He saw more dead mules than living ones.
GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA.
A batch of letters and papers received
Oct. % relieved our two weeks isolation,
during which time we have remained in
almost total ignorance of events outside
our camp. We row learn that Rosecrans
has been displaced by Thomas, and that
Grant has assumed the chief command Of
this army, in addition to his own in Mis-
sissippi.
Oct. 30, cannonading-the first we have
heard since the battle of Chickamauga-
was borne family to our ears from the di-
rection Of Chattanooga. Can 1T be that
Grant is already opening the new cracker
line:" We hope so, and welcome the
sound of cannon, for anything is better
than the silence of starvation.
Cannonading continued Oct. 81, but
more irregular than the day before. We
were ordered under arms at daybreak and
each succeeding day until further notice.
According to rumOrs, Wheeler, with a
large force of cavalry, is menacing this
portion of our line. 1t was at this point
month ago that he suddenly dashed
upon our helpless wagon train and burned
300, as their blackened remains testify to
our eyes. The ease with which his troop
ers galloped from wagon to wagon with
pine torches and set them all ablaZe
within an hour may tempt him to repeat
the venture.
Nov. / we learned that our surmise that
Grants arrival at Chattanooga had some
thing to do with the cannonading was cor
rect. 1t is said that he was so much
impressed with the growing difficulty of
transporting supplies by this route that he
did not attempt to change his wet cloth
ing until he informed himself about plans
for opening the short route TO Bridge
port, so tenaciOusly held by the enemy.
He adopted a plan already formed by
Rosecrans and Thomas, and Immediately
proceeded to carry it into execution.
Fifteen hundred men embarked in pom
toOns at Chattanooga on the night of the
9th, fl0ated silently down the river, unOb-
served by the enemy's picEets, and landed
| on their side at Browns Ferry, just be-
low Lookout Mountain. There the bridge
was rapidly constructed by the pontoniers
toOns, prepared to repel any attack. Two
! brigades, with artillery, marched down the
| right bank at the same time, and were
| ready to cross on the completion of the
| bridge. Two days later Bragg attempted
| TO dislOdge this force, but rcinfOrcements
and Notifications made his attempt futile
! The result of the seizure of Browns Ferry
! is that a shorter line for supplies is now
| open to Chattanooga. Several light-draft
steamboats, run from Stevenson and
bridgeport to Kelley's Ferry, whence sup
plies are hauled in wagons to Browns
| there crossing the pOntOon bridge and
across Moccasin Point to Chattanooga.
| Nov. ) we were notified that our regi-
ment had been assigned to the Fourteenth
! Corps, Second Division, Second Brigade
| commanded, respectively, by Maj.-Gen
John NJ. Palmer, Maj Gen. Jeff. c. Davis
and Col. John G.. Mitchell.
Reports from Chattanooga state that
| our army is very comfortably qUartercd in
wooden cabins with brick fireplaces and
chimneys. Deserted houses of the towI
furnished the material. The opposing
pickets are separated by the Tennessee
River along the foot of Lookout Mountain
and also by Chattanooga Creek. BY mu
tual agreement, no firing is permitted, anC
while conversation is prohibited by officer!
on both sides, it is still carried on Il
some extent, as well as the swapping o.
corn bread and coffee.
We are surprised to find the newspaper
filed with abuse of Rosecrans-such out
rageous charges as cowardice, incompe
tence, disobedience of orders and opium
eating. All because he failed to defea
Bragg at Chickamauga. But Bragg is also
condemned by the Southern papers fo
failing to destroy ROsecrans. One Is get
4 ting abused for getting shut in Chatta
nooga-the other for getting shut out. II
our ranks the charges against Rosecran.
excite great Indignation, because we are
all aware of the difficulties he had tc
grapple, and if he did not overcome then
he at least prevented them from oyercom
ing him.
NOV. wo heard that Hooker had es