Year: 1863




CHATTANOOGA Tenn, Nov. IA, 1868 \
A BIRosEYE VIEW OF CHATTANOOGA AND VI


CINITY.


From the exalteds position OF Lockout
Point the scene spread out to the visitor
surpasses in grandeur and sublimity any
thing have ever seen. | had an opportu-
nifty to visit the peak signal station several
weeks ago, before the mountain slipped
from our grasp, and the memory Of the trip
will ever be fresh with me, In a clear at
mosphere the mountains of four States
may be seen, though the Blue Ridge in
North Carolina and the ridges of Alabama
are more than fifty miles away Of course
the minutest points of our situation are
spread out like a map before the rebel eyes
on this peak SO description Of the view
from my pencil will not be contraband.


THE GEoGRAPAY OF THE COUNTRY.


The ascent of the mountain from Chat
tanooga valley is by winding, rocky road
that gradually rises from the confluence Of
Chattanooga creek, two miles from the rail
road depot in Chattanooga, and reaches the
top of the mountain one mile in rear of
Lookout Point. Here is or wasa beautiful
little summer resort, comprising three or
four dwellings and large hotel building
the whole known by the appellation of
Summertown. The Point is about four
miles from Chattanooga in all air line, near
ly west, and it's elevation two thousand feet
above the river. The general course Of the
Tennessee river is from northeast to south
west but seen from Lookout Point the
shape of the river from above Chattanooga
to Browns terry-our nearest landings
similar to the letter S, Chattanooga being
in the southern bend and Mocasin Ridge
in the northern. The abruptness of the
lower bend is better represented by the In
dian name, "Moccasin Bend and the be-
holder is struck with the similarity of the
neck of land embraced by this bend to a
mocasion. Chattanooga town is on the in
step, the confluence of Chattanooga creek,
is the toe, the confluence of Lookout creek
the heel, and our pontoon bridges at Browns
Ferry is the ankle above the heel. Look
out mountain is opposite the bottom Of the
foot, and Mocasin Ridge is the Leg and foot.
The distance from Moccasn Point to Look
cut across the river is less than six hun
dred yards, to the Point about one thousand
yards. The bend of the river from Ohatta.
nooga to Browns Ferry is about six miles;
across Moccasin Ridge the distance is only
two miles. Missionary Ridge, upon which
Braggs' headquarters, and behind which
lies the bulk of rebel infantry, runs north
and south, and is about two miles from
Chattanooga. Chattanooga valley and creek
are between Missionary Ridge and Look
out. This valley outside Of our lines is
densely wooded. Lookout valley and creek
are west of Lookout Mountain, and between
it and Raccoon Ridge, which is five or six
miles from the Point. Waldren's Ridge is
on the north side of the liver The pas
sage of the Tennessee between the Walden
and Raccoon is called "the suck" Kely's
Ferry on the lower landing, is below ''the
suck" and one road to it passes through
Lookout valley, under the rebel guns. So
the attention of the gunners on Lookout is
divided between Chattanooga, which they
can barely reach, and the wagon road to
Kelley's, which they cannot hit once in a
dozen times. They have wasted vast deal
of ammunition, but have d)ne no particular
damage as yet. Occasionally our batteries
ON Moccasin Point reply to their fire, and
sometimes reach the top of the mountain
A greater elevation is required than the
pieces will stand, and the operation is some
what risky in comparison with what We can
effect. This then is the topography and
geography of the country round about


ITS REBEL OCCUPANTS.


There are now in front Of Us, according TO
the best information at headquarters, three
corps ofrebels, viz: Breckinrid ze's Hardee's,
and Buckners. Hardee has taken Polk,
old corps and relieved Longstrert On Look
out Mountain. The latter has gone TO East
Tennessee, taking with him abodt half Of
Bragg's cavalry. The balance Of the caval.
~ have gone TO Lees command in North
Mississippi. Howell Cobb is in command
of Georgia State troops, and large number
of paroled Vicksburgians are serving in the
several corps. Isham G. Harris is messing"
with Bragg.


REBEL DEsERTIoSs.


Desertion has become an evil of such
magnitude that rebel officers are represent
ed to be in peck of trouble" about it
They come into our lines daily in squads Of
dozen or twenty each, bringing their com
missioned officers with them. The fever
has spread alarmingly that Bragg no longer