The Daily Dispatch: December 16, 1863., [Electronic resource]

---

---

From the army of Tennessee.

[from our own Correspondent.] But little importance is attached to the report circulating in Atlanta in regard to the appointment of Gen. Johnston to the command of this army, with Gen. Bragg as Chief of Staff. While such an arrangement of the command would give satisfaction to the army, the belief in well-informed circles is that it will not be made. It is more likely that Gen. Beauregard will be sent to us. If Long street were here, or should he succeed in extricating himself from the difficulties which beset him in East Tennessee, it is not improbable that he would be the man. Meanwhile, Gen. Hardee, who consents to hold the position only temporarily, is busily engaged in reorganizing the army and preparing it for active duty.

We have nothing from the front worth reporting. That Sherman has gone with heavy reinforcements to the relief of Burnside, there can be no doubt, South report that there are but few troops left at Chattanooga, but they are not agreed as to the points to which they have gone. If indeed many of them have left the vicinity at all. It will require some weeks for the reinforcing expedition to complete its work in East Tennessee and return to Chattanooga. In fact, it is not believed that their forces can return, and sufficient supplies and transportation be accumulated for a further advance into Georgia, before next spring. But it is unsafe to reason about the movements of the enemy. With such a victory as that at Missionary Ridge, and such an army as he has at Chattanooga and in East Tennessee, he may conclude the Confederates are in to condition to resist him, and consequently decide upon a winter campaign. If such are his intentions, however, it is impossible to explain his conduct in destroying the Georgia State Railroad from Ringgold back to Chickamauga Station, and the Georgia and East Tennessee Road from Cleveland to a point twelve miles this side.

The following table embraces our casualties during the late battles around Chattanooga, including the affairs on Lookout Mountain and at Riggold, as well as the battle on Missionary Ridge. It will be seen that our less in killed and wounded is very slight — a fact which can only be accounted for on the theory that our forces were well protected by their position. The greater part of the loss on the ridge occurred after our lines were broken and subjected to an enfilading fire. The artillery is not included in the table:

Division	Killed.	Wounded	Total
Cheatham's	59	342	401
Hindman's	56	335	391
Walker's	10	95	105
Bate's	45	241	286
Stevenson's	33	316	349
Cleburne's	51	353	404
Stewart's	69	314	383
	823	1,996	2,349
To this should be added our missing, which is less than first reported--			2,600
Grand total			4,919

Since the subject has been alluded to in the public prints, it will not be amiss to say that Major Nocquet, of the Engineer Department, deserted from this army a few days before the late battle, and took with him about $100,000 of Government funds, which he had exchanged for Tennessee bank bills before he left; and that Capt. Meister, a draughtsman in the same department, deserted some time previous to the battle of Chickamauga. Nocquet is said to be a Frenchman, and Meister a German or Swiss. It is believed that Grant was induced to make the attack as soon as he did by the information furnished him by Nocquet. When will our people learn that, with few exceptions, only native and fully naturalized citizens are worthy of their confidence? Cannot Congress be induced to pass an act at once no one but natives and persons already naturalized to hold office, exercise the elective franchise, or own real estate, except by a special act and for meritorious services?