Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-31


A report comes from Richmond, KY, that
Knoxville, the capital of east Tennessee, and
destroyed the -four bridges" and the railroad
track" between that place and cambridge. There
may be something true in regard to movements
in East Tennessee out of which this report has
arisen; but it can not be wholly true, for Dam
bridge is not on the railroad That place is in
Jefferson county, on Broad river, some thirty
miles eastward from Knoxville, and not less
than fifteen or twenty miles south of the
railroad For this and other reasons the report
needs to be confirmed before we give it much
confidence. Moreover, the news is too impor-
tant to be left to mere report from post office
in central Kentucky. A successful advance of
our troops from Cumberland Gap to Knoxville
would be something to rejoice over We hope it
has taken place while the rebels have been con-
centratng their troops for an attack on Nash
vile. When we hear that our troops have gained
such a success in east Tennessee, we may begin
to talk of the "broken back" of the rebellion.
However this may be, affairs in Tennessee are
now in such a position that we may expect STIR
ring news from that quarter before many days
have passed. 1t is the purpose of the rebels TO
capture Nashville, and they have made careful
preparation to do SO. We do not believe they
succeed. The latest reports state that Gen
Rosecrans has routed portion Of the rebel
troops and driven them to Murfreesboro; and
there are some reasons for believing that the
rebels will soon find the situation in Tennessee
and the southwest a good deal more difficult
than they expected. A letter dated at Nashville
Dec. %, speaks as follows of the military si,ua-
ton at that time
"The rebels are in front of us, their Outposts
two miles distant from ours, about eleven miles
on an average in a south easterlv direction from
Nashville. Their CENTER consisting OF the divis-
ions of Breckenridge, Cheatham and Withers,
with Wheeler's cavalry brigade in front of LIT
vergne, and comprising the corps of the Right
Rev. Bishop Major Gen. Leonidas Polk, VINO
marries, breaches and fights by turns
freesboro, and on Stewards creek. This
corps numbers, say $4,000 men. The right,
say 10000 men, consisting OF Gen. Kirby
Smiths corps, with Morgan's cavalry in front,
rests at Perryyiie. The LETT, $4,000 men,
consisting of Hardee's corps, is at Tricure, with
Wharton's cavalry brigaue in front of Nolans-
vile, and 200 cavalry at Franklin. There is
also considerable detachment of Forests cav
airy between Waverly and Charlotte but they
may not be there tomorrow Hardee's corps
consists of Buckner's old division, and Ander-
sons. Major General Lowell will probably take
command of the former. Beside these troops
there is thin brigade at Bridgeport, and a few
trifiing detachments at other posts but the whole
effective force of their army does not exceed prob
ably $4,000 electives.
Bragg is the field commander of the whole.
Gen Joe johnson is simply playing Halleck. He
is incapacitated for the field Fair Oaks was too
much for him. People in rebel interests, who
come up from Murfreesboro', tell us The rebels
will surely attack us. You may rely that they
VIII not unless they receive large reinforcements.
They know better than to attack this gallant
army-which is getting better daily And why
don't we attack? You aoM understand in due
time The authorities at Washington have at
last found way 10 realize tue situation"