The
Atlanta Confederacy, of the 24th, has an article (written of course before the reverse of
Gen. Bragg) which shows that the impression prevailed that
Grant was reinforcing
Burnside.
The
Confederacy says:
‘
In front of
Chattanooga active movements are in progress upon both sides.
The indications are that the enemy is removing large bodies of troops into
East Tennessee.
Our movements will be governed by those of the enemy.
We may add, in this connection, that it would not surprise us if the next general engagement is fought upon the
Kingston Plains.
We hear of shelling on yesterday from our batteries on Lookout.
The enemy are suffering extremely from the want of firewood.
’
ss The
Atlanta Register, of the 24th, has the following relative to affairs in
East Tennessee:
‘
We are advised that
Burnside, with twelve or fifteen thousand men, is now cooped up at
Knoxville.
The place is strongly fortified.
Gen. Buckner had begun a system of earthworks, which the
Federals have perfected, before, under the orders of
Gen. Bragg, he abandoned the city.
We learn that before
Longstreet had reached
Knoxville,
Burnside had gathered there a large supply of corn and wheat, and that two mills of the city have been for some time past constantly used in the production of flour and meal.
The
Yankees, then, have enough bread and water, and hence the stronghold cannot be reduced by famine.
In addition to this supply of provisions, the enemy have collected in the place six thousand hogs.
We are, therefore, inclined to believe that the
Federal soldiers have been furnished with half rations simply in the excess of
Burnside's caution.
’
There is one fact which is very consolatory: The enemy have been unable to bring across the mountains any guns of heavy calibre, and in this
Longstreet must have a great advantage.
The grist mills will not ran many days.
From what we have heard and know of
Longstreet his impatient spirit will hardly brook the delays of a siege.
The heights will be carried by storm if
Burnside will not retreat across the
Holston.
Wheeler and
Ransom are now beyond the city, and thus
Burnside is cut off from communication with
Cumberland Gap.
If he crosses the
Holston he will be lost in the mountains of
North Carolina, and his escape would be as remarkable as that of
Xenophon's ten thousand.
But he has not retreated yet.
The success of
Gen. Bragg's strategy depends upon two events — the capture of
Knoxville and the failure of a rise in the
Tennessee.
If the
Tennessee become navigable,
Grant's armies will be abundantly supplied, and they can at once flank
Bragg and move South, when another fierce conflict will speedily occur, the result of which we do not fear.
If the
Tennessee does not rise, and
Knoxville fall into our hands,
Grant is flanked, his communication with
Nashville is threatened, and he must retreat.
The railway can hardly feed his immense army, and with it endangered his troops would starve.
Twenty thousand Federals were, on Saturday, at
Trenton, a place thirty miles Southwest of
Chattanooga, at the terminus of the Wills Valley Railroad.
This is said to be
Sherman's corps, or a part of it. We need not state what measures have been adopted to check this movement; but it will be done.
Five hundred tents or more disappeared in
Chattanooga on Saturday, and there seems to be a considerable diminution of the
Federal force at that point.
Bragg is on the
qui vive. There was heavy firing all day yesterday, (Sunday.) This was done to cover the movements of the
Federals.
It is thought that
Grant wishes to relieve
Burnside, and hence is sending troops towards
Knoxville while making a diversion in the direction of
Rome.
Our lines in front of
Chattanooga are entrenched, and we need only leave a small force there, reduced as the enemy reduces the garrison.
The
Register contains the following telegram dated
London,
Tenn., the 21st inst.:
Burnside burned twenty-five houses along the railroad last night fronting our lines.
The machine shops and the
Humphrey's House is supposed to be burned.
Burnside charged
Longstreet's right and was repulsed.
Longstreet opened from our batteries and silenced them.
Great confusion prevails in the
Yankee camps.
Brownlow and
Maynard have gone to
Kentucky.
