The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-30

MO FEMENTS IN EAST TENNESSEE-THE DEATH
OF NEUTRALITY- RELATIVE POSITION OF
THE OPPOSITION FORCES &c.
Correspondence of N. Y. Herald.

|
| THE OPPOSITION FORCES, &c.
Correspondence of N. Y. Herald.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Aug. l0.-The move
ments on and in Fast Tennessee are attract
ing much less attention than their magni-
tude would seem to warrant. The peculiar
position in which the true SONS of the
Union are placed in their mountain fastnes-
ses, the "Swtzerland of the South" is elic-
lting the feeling of every lover of liberty
IN our land and the movement which is to
relieve them is looked to with anxiety. Its
secresy is all that keeps the attention of the
people dormant for the time being.
have already notified you of "the death
of neutrality" 1t was the movement on
East Tennessee which killed it, and the his
tory of that movement is briefly and plain
ly this:
A few weeks since the Tennessee rebel
government, with view to fOrestall any
movement on the part of East Tennessee,
threw large bodies of men into that part OF
the State. AT Knoxville, the headquar-
tiers of the leaders of the East Tenneseeans,
two regiments were posted, and at Cumber-
land Gap, through which fine road en-.
tiers the State from Kentucky, and through
mitted, a brigade under General Caswel
was posted, and have entrenched themselves
on the mountain sides, covering the north
ern approaches of the road. Their encamp.
ment Is close upon the Kentucky State line,
and in one instance, it is said, a battery is
on Kentucky soil. These troops are said to
be under complete discipline, and in excel
lent health. In addition to the guard at
this point, there are portions of the brigade
at points further South, called Big Creek
Gap and Baptist Gap thus, it is thought,
completely blockadipg the Gap. Within
the past week or two Brigader General
ZOliicotfer has taken command of the forces
in this part of the State, and issued his
proclamation to the people of East Tennes.
see, which you have already published
General Zolicoffer was once in the United
States Congress, a leader of the Know
Nothings. He is man of ability, and
some sense and decency, as his proclamation
will show, it beng the only mild and decent
one yet promulgated by rebel General
But Zollicoffer, like Pillow, is much better
lawyer than soldier, and his achievements
are more likely to be OF the same sort.
The Union men are dormant. They have
made no demonstrations since the original
advent of troops into their section, when,
as advised, they in several instances sur~
rounded whole bodies of troops, were only
kept from compelling them to leave by their
leaders. Hopes were entertained that they
would grow weak by degrees, and in this
hope the State Government, fearful of them,
refraned from any decided hostile act, and
attempted to cOnciiate. The East Tennes-
seeans had been voting nearly % 900 strong
for the Union. AT the gubernatOrial elec-
ton, Immediately after the success at Ma.
nassas, when it was earnestly hoped their
strength had decreased, they ran up vote
of $4,000. We speak of these $4,000 as
being unarmed. They are lily provided
with arms, but not totally deficient. They
have the old fashioned rifles in large quanti-
ties, and are organizing ell over the State
in companies, which it is strongly suspected
have regmental organization, and the com,
panies, it is thought, could at moments
notice take their place in and perform a
reg mental parade. In this relative posi-
ton stand the parties in their own State.
Andrew johnson has promised them arms
and assistance, and while they are anxious
y awaiting the hour and the arms, the lat
ter are in this State, and the men who are
to convey them to them are assembling
rapidly and in large numbers. The encamp-
ment of the friends of the Tennessee Union
lists is at Bryantsville, Garrard county KY,
a village forty eight miles south of Frank
fort and ninety miles Northwest from Cum
berIand Gap, to which fine turnpike
road is the nearest route. At this point
the Kentuckians, who have privately en-
listed, are concentrating Jude Bram-
lettee, of this State, declined to hold
court in Boyle county this week, as be has
charge of a regiment of government troopsas
he calls them and had important military
business at Bryanttsvie. For days past
troops, consisting mainly OF cavalry, have
been pouring into this camp. On the 9th
instant 48O cavalry, from Marion county,
went into camp at that point. l am not
enabled to state the total number now at
Bryanttsville, but it is not less than 600
men, all splendidly armed and equipped for
the campaign. The time for the advance
has almost arrived. Yesterday the arms
stored in this city at the Custom House,
and intended for East Tennesseeans, were
removed and sent forward. AT the same
time 5000 stand passed over the COving-
ton and Lexington Railroad for the same
point.
The entrance to East Tennessee will be a
matter easy to accomplish. The Union
men there will do their duty, and their rifles
will serve in the rear to dislOJge the en-
trenched foe. With the Kentuckians ad-
vancing, and the Union men in their rear,
the rebels will more than have their hands
full. With West Tennesseeans aroused,
the destruction of the East Tennessee and
Virginia, and East Tennessee and Geneva
railroads completed, and Western Virginia
occupied, the situation will be extremely
precarious to the Virginia hosts who
triumphed at Manassas.
The possession of the railroads l have
named is one OF vast Importance to the
Government. 1t is the only direct route
either North and South or East and West
that the South has.
John Nj, Glover furnishes additional