Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-13

East Ienhessee'
A Geographic report has stated that Seen
Buell. has taken possession of Chattanooga
We hope it is true, but do not feel certain of
it, for Gen. Buell. has not been accustomed to
move rapidly, and do things suddenly and
boldly. If Gen. Mitchell was in his place,
and it had been reported that Seen. Mitchell
has taken possession of Chattanooga" the re-
port would seem very probable. 1t may be
that Gen. Buell., who does not lack ability, is
now disappointing expectation by unusual en-
ergy and swiftness. He has force enough to
take that place and march into East Tennes-
see, and we hope he has resolved to perform
an important service. and win reputation by
doing so.
There are great and pressing reasons why
east Tennessee should he occupied by our
troops as soon as possible. The great major
ity of the people there are ardent Uniouists.
They have been horribly prosecuted and OPP
pressed They deserve deliverance and ought
to have had it long ago; and by giving them
deliverance, we shall at the same time break
up direct communication between the reb-
els west Of that point and Richmond,
and establish communication between our
troops in Tennessee and those in Vir-
gina. Fremont was going there when he
was turned from his course and taken out of
his department to aid our armies on the east
side of the mountains. Thus Fremont's de-
partment and the hope of the East Tennes-
scans were sacrificed to the campaign against
Richmond. We trust that the march to East
Tennessee will not be delayed much longer.
Let Gen. Buell go there, drive out the rebels,
and put arms in the hands of the Unionists,
and that great and important region will take
care of itself 1t will not need great garri-
Knoxville Register, a secession journal, de-
scribed the situation there as follows
''During the past week the enemy. who en-
tered East Tennessee at Wisons's Gap in
large force, has been steadily making way up
Powell Valley, and at our latest advices was
in possession Of Tazewell, the county seat of
Claiborne. The enemy'S position at Taze-
well is a threatening one, and if he is not at
tackled at once and turiousy, may result in
giving HIM advantages that will be irretrieva-
bic ruin to us. Tazewell is Immediately in
front of Cumberland Gap, on the nearest
route from Knoxville to that point.
''Powelrs Valley extends into Virginia, and
from Cumberland Gap through the valley to
MocaSsin Gap is one OF the best roads in the
country. Thence to the salt works. and the
Virginia and Tennessee railroad to Abing-
don, there Is nothing to stay his victorious
career, unless lie is at once attacked and
routed by the army under General Smith.
The possession or even partial destruction
Of the salt works by the enemy would be a
calamity 10 the confederate states more seri-
Gus than the fall Of Richmond for these works
are almost the sole reliance of the south for
one OF the most indispensable necessaries of
life.
THE character of the enemy in Powcll's
Valley is one also which should rouse up our
government to every possible exerton toat
once destoy or drive him back. His force is
in part composed OF five or six regiments of
east Tennessee renegadeS A feature of their
programme is the destruction of the bridges
on the upper end Of the east Tennessee and
Virginia railroad. If they are permitted to
reach Moccasin Gap in Virginia, an easy and
protected road through Hawkins, Sullivan,
and Washington counties brings them to the
bridges at Union and Carriers Depot Carter
and Green counties are now swarming with
armed traitors and bridge burners, who open
ly aYow their readiness to cooperate with any
force the federals may send on this mission"
Let Buell. move that way quickly, and the
work will be done. At present that fertile
region, with its grain, cattle, and salt works,
is very important to the rebels. Moreover,
the Morgan guerrillas make it their headouar-
tiers. Morgan has Just left Knoxville for an
other raid. Let us have east Tennessee as
soon as possible.