Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-30


That Essfamons CSneplracys
Indications go to prove, as we first surnised, says
the Memphis appeal thar the burning ef bridges by
East Tennessee traitors, some two weeks SINCE con
attuted enc part Of an important programme in the
enemy's project Of invading the South. 1t was no
htful enssts breaking out In disordery confusion,
without plan or generalization. On Ethe con-
trary, il Was done by instigation Of the enc
my, and was designed as the preluds to an ad~
vance movement Of the Federal army upon Cu1ns
ern section Of this State. The following article,
which we find in the St. Louis Democrat Of the 10th
inst, renders this fact palpable:
"A foretaste of the feast preparing for the Con
federates at home has been furnished them BY the
wide awake patriots of East Tennessee. One of the
most important events of the war is the burning of
certain bridges on the line Of the Virginia and East
Tennessee railroad, IS announced by telegraph last
week. The movement was determined upOR and
carefully arranged some three months ago. At that
time several eminent East Tennesseaus visited
Washington called the attention of Gems Scott AMI
Mcclellan to the advantage and feasibility of de.
stroying those grand lines of communication, and
submitted plans for consummating the work.
I" A glance at any railroad map of the Southern
STATES VIII show the reader that the great through
! line" connecting Virginia with the South and
Southwest, is the Virginia and Tennessee railroad
! From its eastern terminus, ST Lynchburg, railroads
rsdiate to Richmond, Fairfax, Manassas etc. and
from its western terminus other roads branch off
to Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta, in Georgia. and
\ Montgomery, in Alabama. This Is the line over
which one hundred thousand rebel soldiers were
brought into Virginia, and by which nearly all
| their supplies have reached them from the South
west, To cut or the main artery Of these railroad
lines was TO destroy one Of the most vital commu-
nications of the enemy.
Upon consultation it was concluded to leave the
Bridges in security until the Federal army in Ken,
lucky should be ready TO assume the offensive,
and then simultaneously to march into Eastern
Tennessee and destroy the communication with the
rebels IN that region. To have taken the latter
step in advance would only have startled the nsur-
gents to sense of their danger, and given them
time to effect repairs. s--
1.-THE Unionists of East Tennessee have long been
thoroughly organized, yet have kept the fact cons
cealed with remarkable success from the Confeder
stes. One Of the bridges destroyed is of great
eugth and is said to be Of so difficult construction
as TO require at least six months to supply its
| place with even temporary structure. Two 9TH
ers were also works that cannot be replaced with
out very serious delay. Each was of the first i'm
portance, and the destruction Of the whole of them
has the further effect of securing an additional
width of about one hundred miles of country for
the operations of our armies In this district the
! population is mainly loyal and will embrace with
delight the opportunity thus afforded to arm and
drill for the rescue Of the State.
"Itis trusted thst Gen. Buell. will vigorously fol.
low up the successes of Nelson and the East Ten
nesseans by an advance to and through Cumber-
| land Gap into Eastern Tennessee aud Northern
Georgia"
| 1t thus appears that some Of the exiled traitors
from East Tennessee, says the Memphis appeal,
have been the instigators Of this foul and fendish
conspiracy. Their presenee at Washington, in dai.
| ly consultation with the LEcoLS government, has
4
under the folds of its pirate flag. They have been
sctive in their efforts to bring about the invasion
of this State, and as fair consideration for it,
have volunteered to engineer this reasonable and
nceudiary scheme through to what they fam
hoped would prove asuceessful end JOHNSON and
/ MAYSARD-those .Siamese twins of blacklist treason
are the "eniReat Tennesseans,n doubtless, who
are really responsible for this .foretaste of the
"feasti which, we are informed by the abolition or.
gan, is in preparation for US. The bridge burning
according to this testimony, Hwas determined on
and carefully arranged some three months ago.
and "plans were submitted for concentrating the
work" ~ a
Though the st. Louis. Dem 1crat does not aeknoWl-
edge the fact, the whole affair proved premature.
Is was miserable abortion, and, as we have before
Iceedingy fortunate, inasmuch as we are now fully
advised touching the extent of the conspiracy and
its nefsrious designs. The army Of invasion failed
to make connection" owing to the vigilance and
energy Of Gen. zoEL1coFFER, who has been making
vigorous opposition to their advance BY both arms
and strategy. The promises which the Gorilla
government held out to the ears of the traitors has
been broken to their hopes. The grand expedition
against East Tennessee and Northern Georgia, in
addition to being tardy, thrown into terrible
stampede when It did advance, and is probably at
this hour engaged in the "crawfsh drill, making
good time towards the Ohio river.
/ The result Of the whole afiir has been beneficial
In the extreme The traitors, flushed with the hope
of tie foes success, have shown their hands, and
have been marked for terrible retribution. The
extent of the damage is of course, greatly over
estimated by the enemy, fact which is excusable
owing to the constitutional prociviy of the north>
ern people for falsehood and hyperbole. But little
has been occasioned in the regular intercourse be-
tween the East and West, and punctusl commune
cation is again established for both passenger and
freight transportation. The expected opportunity
to 'arm and drill for the rescue Of the State has
not been afforded, butthe speedy uprising of loyal
kpeople has dsarmed the hell born conspiracy of its
danger, and driven its last cowardly Gdherent into
| the dens and caves of the mountains.
The rigid policy which had been commenced, if
carried out with proper determination, viii make
examples of the ring leaders engaged in this out
rageous and wanton movement, and thus exercise
most salutary effect upon their dsluded followers.
This will secure US against the repetition Of their
incendiary scheme, and even otherwise quell the
slightest spirit of turbulent disaffectiOn.
Ofcourse, our military authorities win see to it,
that Gen. BELL does not fulfil the popular expects
ton that demands of him, san advance to and
through the Cumberland Gap into Eastern Tennes-
see and Northern Georgia.
From Gen. FlOyd's Brigade
From the Richmond Enquirer, Nov. &C.. =.
A gentleman who arrived in Richmond last night
from the neighborhcod of Gen. FLoYD'5 camp, fur
nishes US with the following information:
On Saturday evening it was reported at Neehsn,