The National tribune., 1901-11-07

shelter of trees and other distractions
but when we reached an open cornfeld
we found it swept by such fierce fire of
rnusketry and artillery that we aban-
dOned all semblance of organization and
rushed across as only those can run who
! imagine they can hear the jaws of death
swapping at their heels. But we did not
forget to rally and reform our ranks a
short distance beyond the field, and as the
enemy did not pursue we marched back
to Rossville and bivouacked in line of bat
tie III the new position assigned us by
ten. Rosecrans, who there collected all
that remained of his army, prepared to
resist the expected advance of the enemy
on Chattanooga"
GUARDING THE PoNTooNs
Sept. "a an order was received from
Col. Smith, Chief of Engineers. directing
that Immediately after the Dist Ky. has
crossed the bridge it should be taken up.
the Sd Ohio sent to Bridgeport and the
battery to Stevenson. Six or eight pom
toOns were taken from the east end, to
prevent surprise, and we waited until II
y. m, when information was received that
the Kentucky regiment had crossed at
some other point. The Pioneers then
swung the pOntOons to the west bank and
he Ohio regiment and battery departed
to bridgeport and Stevenson, leaving only
our regiment and the Pioneers in charge
of the dismantled bridge.
Conflicting reports from the front keep
US in a condition of great anxiety. We
cannot yet determine whether we have
suffered defeat or gained a questionable
victory. Our army has Withdrawn from
the battlefield TO Chattanooga, which
stronghold was the principal object of our
campaign, but we are confronted by an
unvanquished foe, who is doubtless med
ltating an assault upon our communion
tions. Reinforced as he has been from
NirGinia and Mississippi, his numbers
must exceed ours, and therefore he NAV
be expected to assume the offensive while
we must be content to hold our position
If we can, until we also receive reinforce
mentS.
The movements Of troops that come un-
der our observation plainly indicate the
uncertainty existing i'll the minds of our
commanders as to the point of greatest
and the battery reached the places to
which they were dispatched, Sept. u,
then they were sent back by Gen. Granger;
50 they rejOincd us Sept. 2G. The bridge
was also relaid and two heavy siege guns
dragged over with great difficulty, as their
weight threatened to submerge the pom
tOOns.
With our main army crippled and CON
fined to the defenses Of Chattanooga, we
realize that Bragg has many opportuni-
ties to dash upon the smaller detachments
at isolated points along our line of com
munication, and we are surprised that we
nave escaped thus far. Perhaps we owe
our immunity to the fact that the enemy
is quite as badly crippled as we are.
BEsrEGED IN CHATTANOOGA.
An officer from Chattanooga reports our
army confined to the euvirons of the city.
while Braggs army extends in a semi
no tl,- i. Il
Lookout Mountain, where it abuts the
river below. His tents whiten the side
OF Mission Ridge by day and his camp
hres gleam in one unbrOken chain from
riyer to river at night. A battery on the
highest point Of Lookout fires OCCASION
ally, but without effect. A signal station
at the same point OverlOOkS our camps,
conveying orders and reporting move
mentS
Rebel pickets hold the foot of the noun
tain at the waters edge, and command
both railroad and wagon road cOmmuni-
eating with Bridgeport, thus forcing our
supply wagons to cross the mountains and
enter Chattanooga from the nOrth-a dis
tance of go miles-whie the distance hv
the Obstructed road is not more than %
Rations are already reduced
REINFoRCEMENTs ARRIVING.
Have they forgotten us at Washing
ton Is question that has been often
repeated. but not satisfactorily answered
during the last month. We found our
selves thrust into mountain wilds, far
from our base OF supplies, without sup
port from our armies in Mississippi and
Nirginia, which remained inactive, while
the enemy withdrew large detachments of |
his veterans from those sections to hurI !
them upon US at Chattanooga, showing
very plainly that Bragg's army was not
forgotten at Richmond. We learn now |
that Washington has nj last awakened
to our needs. A battalion of the 18th |
Regulars, from Memphis. passed our camp I
en- route to Chattanooga, and gave us the I
cheering news that one of Grants corps |
is marching from Yicksburg to our re-