Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-29
GEN. zOIIicofrer,s Command.

The Richmond papers are enforcing with irre>
sistble appeals the importance of reinforcing Gen
ZoLIICoFFERs command in Kentucky, and thus eff
fectualy protecting East Tennessee and Western
Virginia against the threatened incursions of
strong column Of the enemy. Although, for the
present, Gen. ZJLLCOFFER msy be secure against
any successful effort to dislodge him, yet if all
hear b. true, about the heavy masses that the enc
my are bringing forward to meet him, he will soon
have need of much larger body to defend the i'm
portant section of country which relies him for
protection. We all know that Gen. ZoLLTCoFFEE and
his brave army will do all that herOism energy and
daring can to repsl the invader. But we cannot af
ford to risk the loss of important position as
he holds as long as an additional regiment can be
spared for his relief. The Examiner very forcibly
says
ut is of the highest Importance that strong col
umn should be sent to the aid of General ZoLLICoF
FER before he can be compelled to fall back by su
perior numbers. The prestige of holding our
ground is invaluable among a wavering population,
To fail back is to lose the popular support of the
country, which would, under al advance movement
rally in overwhelming power around our banners
For once, we ought to be in the field in time. Gen
Scott boosted that he had got thirty days the start
of us at the beginning of the war. He has verified
his words by keeping US on the defensive all tie
time and at every point.
This demonstration of the enemy upon the Cum
berland Gap is the only instance in which he has
been behind in point of time. Gen. ZoLLICoFFER
was there before him, but that energetic General
may yet be driven back for wasn't of timely support
from the authorities at Richmond. The enemy are
pushing forward large forces in his direction and
may yet get ahead of US in time, by concentrating
large army where we have only small one.
'The Importance of anticipating him in throwing
a strong column into that region is too obvious to
require calculation. The breaking up of that line
of railroad communication to the West and South is
not to be permitted or hazlrded for an instant
E.st Tennessee, though fast coming around to her
true Southern moorIngs is still too full of Unionsis
for the near approach of the enemy to be allowed.
Southwestern Virginia is a country too full of the
true Southern grit, Of army supplies, and of brave
soldiers, = be occupied by the enemy.
The Dispatch speaks in the same strain when it
concludes strong article as follows:
1.-THE Federal Government is pouring in troops
by tens of thousands from the prolific Northwest
into Kentucky. \ formidable army is rendezvous
ing in the neighborhood Of Lexington for march
upon Virgini. and East Tennessee IN the direction
of the Cumberland and the Pound Gaps, in Lee and
Wise counties. Gen Z)llicoffar stands in thepsth
but the force ia his command is not more than ade
guate to hold the UrioRisss of Eastern Kentucky in
check and is unequal to the additional task Of re.
sistiag q score two of regiments from the North
western hive The Confederate Government has
yet time to reinforce Gen. Z)Icofar; but if it
delay in the work at all, he must fall back, q" AMI
the country be entered by the enemy.
"Tha Government cannot afford to permit the
crest line of railroad running through the country
thus threatened, to be moment imperilled. 1t
cannot afford TO lose the support of the brave and
liberal people of Southwestern Virgins, where as
yet not single traitor has been found. 1t cannot
afford to admit army of the enemy into close
proximity with East Tennessee, where BRowNLow
and ANDY JOHNSON have made so many Uniouists
among community the most prolific of good SOL
diers on the continent. The people of East Tennes.
see, under the admirable policy of Gen. Z1LLICoFgER,
and under the influence of the patriotic contact of
Southwestern Virginia. are rapidly giving up their
JoHXsoNIsM and BRowNLowIsN, and warming up with
genuine enthusiasm for the South. It is the region
of all the others in the Confederacy, from which
we may soon expect the largest accessions to our
Southern armies, Astounding, it does, most pro-
fusely in men, and having furnished SO far no re-
cruits from its supersbundant stock
ITO permi: large army of the enemy to enter, or
even to threaten East Tennessee and Southwestern
Virginia, would be attended by sccumulating and
irretriev4ble misfortunes. Civil trouble and divis-
ion might be engendered in Tennessee where it has
been fortunately avoided, and the magnificent coun-
try and noble people Of Southwestern Virginia be
paralyzsd and chief line of communication with
the West be broken up.
"If these outward misfortunes are to be avoided,
pains must be taken to Illustrate the designs of the
enemy upon Cumberland Gap ithout delay. Even
the loss Of a week may entail consequences which
it might require months to retrieve, and nfict loss