CHATTANOOGA, October
16, 1863—12 m.
For fifteen hours little rain has fallen, but the skies
remain threatening and the barometer still points to rain. The river has risen
some 4 feet, and old boatmen predict a rise of 6 feet more. Our bridge was
broken by drift-wood at 10 p.m. yesterday, but all the pontoons and chess
planks were saved. The rebels sent down two or three rafts to break it, but
they came after it was broken. The steamer Paint Rock and a flat-boat were employed
during the night in gathering these masses of floating timber, much of which
may prove useful. The bridge is not yet replaced, it being thought more prudent
to wait till to-morrow when the rise will be complete and the drift will have
mainly passed down.
Our couriers report that from Bridgeport to the foot of the
mountain the mud is up to their horses' bellies. The mortality among animals
here rapidly increases, and those remaining must soon perish. Day before
yesterday the mules attached to the empty train returning to Bridgeport were
too weak to haul the wagons up the mountain without doubling the teams, though
they went on the easiest of all our roads, which had just been put in thorough
order. General Brannan tells me he could not possibly haul away the artillery
with the horses that are left.
I think I reported some time ago that all the artillery
horses, except four per gun, had been sent to Stevenson to be fed, but those
that are there are so far reduced that it will require a month's feeding to make
them effective.
Nothing can prevent the retreat of the army from this place
within a fortnight, and with a vast loss of public property and possibly of
life, except the opening of the river. General Hooker has been ordered to
prepare for this, but Rosecrans thinks he cannot move till his transportation
arrives from Nashville, from which place it marched on the 8th. It should have
been in Bridgeport on the 14th, but is not yet reported. The telegraph between
there and here is broken, however, and it now requires ten to twelve hours for
couriers to make the distance.
In the midst of all these difficulties General Rosecrans
seems to be insensible to the impending danger, and dawdles with trifles in a
manner which can scarcely be imagined. Having completed his report, which he
sent off for Washington by General Garfield yesterday, he is now much occupied
with the map of the battle-field and with the topography of the country between
here and Burnside's lower posts. Most probably the enemy contemplates crossing in
that region, but we are no longer able to pursue him, hardly to strike a sudden
blow at his flank before he shall have crushed Burnside. Meanwhile, with plenty
of zealous and energetic officers ready to do whatever can be done, all this
precious time is lost because our dazed and mazy commander cannot perceive the
catastrophe that is close upon us, nor fix his mind upon the means of
preventing it. I never saw anything which seemed so lamentable and hopeless.
A rebel officer last evening shouted to one of our pickets
that Bragg had been relieved and either Johnston or Longstreet put in his
place.
Reports from our cavalry, which Rosecrans will forward
to-day, make the rebel loss in the recent raid 2,000 men and five guns.
Thirty-eight men captured in our uniform were summarily executed. Nothing heard
from forces of Sherman.
[C. A. DANA.]
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
[Secretary of War.]
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
30, Part 1 (Serial No. 50), p. 218-9
