Dayton Daily Empire

Description of the Military Position at Chattanooga.

Stretching across the broadest of these waters outlines from shore to shore, in the form of a crescent, with the convexity towards us, is the front line of the Federal army. Behind this, concealed by hill and foliage is the city of Chattanooga, portions of the suburbs only being visible. On the right of the town the view of the Tennessee is distinct and unobstructed and the enemy are plainly visible crossing and re-crossing on a pontoon bridge. Another similar structure is in the rear of the city and out of sight. Behind this picture looms up a noble background of mountains whose umbrageous sides present to view an unbroken density of forest.

On the opposite borders of the river there is a narrow plateau of ground, gently descending from the mountains. This is covered with Federal tents, in numbers sufficient to indicate the presence there of strong reserves. The main body of the enemy, however, appear to be on this side of the river, their encampments being aligned in the direction of the intrenchments. These are continuous, and connected by three or four very strong fortifications, originally built by us and enlarged by the Federals. The latter are planted on heights, in such a manner that each commands the other, and are in turn protected or covered by other works of a similar character on still higher elevations in the rear. At some portions of the front, we know that the enemy have three lines of works, but at other points there appear to be only one or two.

As you may imagine from this description, roughly as it is drawn, the scene before us is strikingly grand and suggestive. The mountains, the river, the two armies like wary tigers, couched for a fresh attack, the movements of individuals in the Federal line, the grouping of tents and men, the movements of bodies of the enemy, the cavalry on the outskirts, the ever changing trains of wagons, the lazy attitude of the pickets, the occasional spurts of smoke from rifles, and the sharp twang that floats on to our ears, the music of bands and drum corps, the mingling smoke of the camp fires of the two armies rising and drifting upward in a single cloud, the clear sunshine, the mountain shadows, and the ten thousand other details that might be mentioned, all go to make up a picture of life, beauty and excitement such as this continent never before presented to human contemplation.—Richmond Whig