A Glance at the condition of Affairs in East Tennessee.
The
Chattanooga Rebel has the following article on the situation in
East Tennessee:
‘
The Federal designs for the occupation of
East Tennessee are beginning to be developed.
The well-concerted and deliberate programme so long in preparation is already partially unfolded.
It is evidently the design of
Gen. Rosecrans to fall back upon
Chattanooga, entrench himself behind earthworks in that strong position, and make it the base of his future operations for the further invasion of the
Southern territory.
But this will not be begun until the spring of 1864.
In the meantime, if not dislodged by a direct assault or sudden flank movement by
Gen. Bragg, he will proceed quietly to prepare for the winter, establish his depots of subsistence, guard the line of railway communication to the strong garrisoned city of
Nashville, and keep up a continuous line of communication with
Louisville and the
East.
He will bridge the
Tennessee with pontoons, with a sufficient portion of his army on the opposite side of the river to protect the crossings.
With a well furnished corps of engineers and sappers and miners, strengthened by the force of negroes impressed from the farmers of
Kentucky and
Tennessee, he will proceed to construct new roads and extend old ones through from the
Kentucky railroads to
Knoxville.
Already, as we are told by the New York
Times,
Gen. Burnside has ordered the impressment of six thousand laborers from the negro population of
Kentucky, to be employed in the construction of military roads in that State.
It is intimated that the Central railroad, which extends from
Covington (opposite
Cincinnati) to a point fourteen miles south of
Lexington, is to be continued across the
Kentucky river, and that the
Lebanon branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad is to be continued southwardly, in the general direction of
Knoxville, which place it is intended to reach, no doubt, by the proposed military highway.
’
"A large portion of the grading," says the New York
Times, "which is needed for the road between
Lexington and
Danville, has been completed some years, and abutments constructed for a wire suspension bridge over the
Kentucky river, quite superior to those sustaining the suspension bridge at
Niagara Falls.
The work needed to extend the railroad from its present terminus to
Danville will be comparatively slight, and may be finished up in a few months by a small part of the force impressed by
Gen. Burnside.
The extension of the
Lebanon branch of the
Louisville Road to
Danville will be a heavier undertaking, but the topography is more favorable than on the other line, and the roadbed, with the force called out, will be speedily prepared.
The project for a military highway through
Kentucky to
East Tennessee is substantially the same as that entertained by
President Lincoln at the beginning of the war, and warmly recommended by him — along with the extension of the
Southwest Railroad of
Missouri to
Springfield, in that State--in a message to Congress."
Thus far, the projects of
Mr. Lincoln toward the occupation of Southern territory has been carried out, in the opening up of the
Mississippi river, the possession of New Orleans, and a great portion of
Mississippi, and the entire States of
Kentucky and
Tennessee.
His projects for the holding of
Tennessee may be defeated.
There are two certain ways in which that defeat may be accomplished.
First, by the main strength of
Bragg's army hurled against the
Federal armed force on our border, and the rout of that army in irretrievable disintegration and irremediable disaster.
The second certain plan for the accomplishment of the same and will be the sending of a heavy column of cavalry to
Stevenson, Ala., and from that point to penetrate the heart of
Middle Tennessee, in the rear of the
Federal army, destroying the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad as they advance, and cutting the
Federal commander off from his supplies.
Then a simultaneous movement of our strongly reinforced army across the
Cumberland Mountain from
London, and we venture the prediction the
Yankees will "change front" faster than they ever came into this country.
All ideas about roads, military and otherwise, will be abandoned in the more momentous effort to save an entrapped army from capture, and get it safely back to its former base.
In the event
Rosecrans has these designs, and does entrench himself at
Chattanooga, will he be permitted to remain there until his future plans are arranged, as he was permitted to remain at
Nashville, as he was permitted to remain at
Murfreesboro', and afterwards at
Tullahoma and
Winchester?
Or, on the other hand, will he be attacked at
Chattanooga, or shall we wait until he is sufficiently fortified to make a respectable battle of it?
Or, will he be withdrawn from this side of the
Tennessee by a well-executed flank movement, or will he be permitted to stand in the door of the
Southern granary and provision house, while our army is starving outside for bacon and corn?
These are momentous questions, but time, alone will bring the answers.
On the authority of a gentleman who arrived at Marlette from the vicinity of
Clarksville, yesterday, the
Rebel gives us some important intelligence as to the movements of the
Federals.
His intelligence from
Clarksville, on the
Cumberland, is up to Monday a week ago, and is to the effect that
Rosecrans is being heavily reinforced by
Grant, and that large numbers of troops are landed daily at
Clarksville, to which point on the
Cumberland steamboat navigation is still open.
The troops are marched from that point to
Nashville, and there take the railroad to
Murfreesboro, where they rest one day, and then proceed to the
Tennessee river, other arrivals taking their place.
The reinforcements were arriving at
Clarksville at the rate of from a regiment to a brigade per day, and the stream continuous and uninterrupted.
He also stated that the
Federals were pressing large numbers of negroes in the counties of
Montgomery,
Robertson, and the northern part of
Davidson and
Sumner, in Tennessee, and in the counties of
Logan and
Simpson, in Kentucky, ostensibly to work upon the fortifications at
Gallatin, at which place they were digging a good deal of dirt.
They had erected seven strong stockades in the public square, and felled all the timber on the southeast side of the town, and constructed out of it a regular abatis.
The pressing of negroes is widespread and indiscriminate.
Immense numbers in the counties named had been taken, and the owners when they applied for them were informed that if they would take the oath of allegiance they could get a receipt, which is all they could get. The negroes are never returned.
The country about
Columbia was fully occupied, and thoroughly devastated, by Federal troops.
A letter from
Ringgold, Ga., dated the 15th inst., says:
‘
Rosecrans seems at present falling back in the direction of
Chattanooga.
The main portion of his army is massed on his right.
Crittenden's corps moved down on the
Ringgold and
Dalton road a few days since.
This was done for the purpose of protecting immense wagon trains, which were immediately sent to the vicinity of
Pea Ridge.
This being consummated, one division followed the trains while the remainder of the corps went down the
Lafayette road to Leak's Springs.
Here they met
Gen. Pegram, who, with the 6th Georgia,
Col. Hart and
Col. Rucker's Legion,
Col. Rucker commanding, gave them battle.
The fight lasted some three hours. The casualties were small in
Gen. Pegram's command--four killed and ten wounded.
Capt. Geo. P. Yae, of
Gen. P.'s staff, was slightly wounded.
Of the
Yankees, twelve were killed and twenty wounded. Our forces fell back a few hundred yards, when the
Yankees took fright and retreated in confusion.
They pressed citizens to guide them out to the heights of
Pea Ridge.
They scattered through the cornfields like partridges — officers and all — in confusion, remarking at every step that "the rebels had them surrounded." I omitted to speak of the engagement that
Col. Scott's cavalry brigade had with the same force on the
Ringgold and
Dalton road.
On the morning of the 10th
Gen. Forrest, with
Col. S.'s brigade, went to
Ringgold.--On the way thither evidence of infantry having passed into the town was violate.
Had not been in town more than half an hour before scouts reported the enemy on the
Graysville road.
In a few minutes more signal guns were fired from all the heights adjacent the town.
Simultaneous with the firing our pickets were forced in on all the roads north of
Ringgold.
The artillery was soon hurried back on the
Dalton road with portions of the cavalry.
In a few minutes the enemy began to shell the town.
In the meantime their sharpshooters had cut off any further retreat on the
Dalton road.
140 men, under
Lt. Col. Montgomery, of the 5th Tennessee, were thus cut off, and were forced to climb the mountain south of
Ringgold.
The enemy followed with much spirit two miles on the
Dalton road, where our artillery being put in position, opened on them.
After an hour's duelling the enemy began to turn our flanks by their superior forces.
Gen. Forrest retired to
Tunnel Hill.
On the road several ambuscades were formed for the
Yankees, which resulted in checking their advance considerably, and the killing of some twenty of the enemy.
At
Tunnel Hill an ample force was concentrated to give them a good fight, but they did nothing more than throw forward their line of skirmishers.
It was here that
Gen. Forrest charged the enemy's line and was slightly wounded.
Cavalry skirmishes occur, almost daily.
Rumor reports
Burnside's advance at
Cleveland.
I have no doubt but what this is true, if so, we shall have warm times on
General Bragg's right.
’
