--The Atlanta
Intelligencer, of the 3d inst., says:
‘
The rain storm of last night was like that which we read about when "the windows of heaven were opened." If it extended to
Chattanooga how great must be the sufferings of our brave soldiers, who; without tents, are exposed to the pelting of every pitiless storm.
How such rains may affect the two armies and the operations of the campaign we are ill able to suggest; but if the streams that run down from the mountains of
Tennessee become suddenly swollen, and the roads are rendered impassable.
Rosecrans's reinforcements will reach him slowly, and the difficulty of moving supplies from
Bridgeport will be greatly augmented.
The further retreat of
Rosecrans becomes almost impossible, even if he should attempt such a movement.
We can cross the
Tennessee if he can, but he could not move away his artillery and ordnance trains.
’
A letter from near
Chattanooga, dated the 26th ult., says:
‘
Since the picket fight night before last nothing has occurred to break the monotony along our lines.
Yesterday not a gun was fired from either side until about sunset, when we opened upon them with a 22 pounder from a projection on
Lookout Mountain, overlooking the railroad.
The putting of this gun in position was done very quietly, so much so that our own troops were not aware of what was going on. The enemy were completely astounded when shell after shell exploded in the very heart of the town.
It is supposed by the unitiated that this gun and others that are being mounted will effectually command their pontoon bridges.
If this be so
Rosecrans may as well capitulate.--If his bridges remain intact his army is still in a very precarious position, because we hold the river above and below
Chattanooga and the railroad along the base of
Lookout Mountain, thus leaving him only one source from whence to draw the immense supplies necessary to feed his large army.
Every pound of bacon, box of crackers, bushel of corn, and forage of every description, has to be wagoned from
Bridgeport or Debherd, on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, over a long chain of mountains.
To subsist an army in this way is indeed a difficult matter, not only from its being a slow and tedious process, but their trains would be liable to capture and destruction by some bold and dashing cavalry man. We have him closely besieged in the rear.
Our lines are of such material that his army will never break through them.
’
From the ridge in the rear of our lines we can see the enemy very plainly.
Yesterday they were very busy working on their fortifications, using for this purpose
railroad iron and cross ties.
To-day their works present a very formidable appearance, and they are still at work.
I have no idea that
Gen Bragg will attempt to carry their works by an assault.
To do this would require too great a sacrifice of human lives.
They can be shelled out, and this plan I think will be adopted.
It is very gratifying to see many of our slightly wounded returning to their commands.
Yesterday about thirty of our regiment arrived and reported for duty.
