, 1862-09-05

O0Ea Not EyacuAted-Ehe 1ke.
movements and h's Desixns-W nat
Bragg IL Allie IL suppoa cd to b a adj
yaptin. on Ruelt-1ils Army 40.OU0
ccfve Rim-He cnforees the Contra
band Act
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.1
STEVENSON, Ala. Aug 26. 1862
The rebels have at last taken the offensive,
and are about to prec-pitate heavy column
upon this army. Whatever you may have
heard regarding the evacuation Of Chattanoo-
ga put no faith in it. If the rebels have done
SO, it has been to cross the river, and advance
upon the position Of our army by the Sequel
chy Valley. It is more than probable that
they have evacuated Chattanooga-tha is
their main fo1ce-but the evacuation is not
the idea we have had heretofore Of such
movements. The truth is that they have
taken the offensive, and mean to take adgau-
tage OF the remaining warm weather, aud fight
us before we can raise troops from the North
here. 4 good idea on their part, but I do not
think 1t will succeed. If report is to be b.
believed, the rebels will be astonished by
movement which they little suspect, but
which 1t would be contraband to mention.
From all can gather, the rebels have moved
from their position east and south OF the Ten
nessce River, in two columns. O1e of these
is under command Of Major General E. Kirby
Smith, and is 10000 strong, marching into
kentucky, By Wheeler's Gap. It WAS the ad-
vance Of this column which had the fight at
TazewelI, East Tennessee, short time since.
With this column John Morgan also acts, and
his work in destroying the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad was the preliminary move
nent of the column. It was, Of course, in
tended to cut of supplies and reinforcements
from Buell.. While Bragg precipit4ted him
self upon the troops in the valley, Smiths
purpose, as loudly declared by the rebels, ia
to push to the Ohio River. think be will
succeed. You mag also expect hin at Chi
caSo, where apartments should be preparing
for him at Camp Douglas. He has as much
hope 1f reaching the lake as the rlver; but I
have no doubt he makes his men belisve they
are going as far as the Ohio.
The other movement Of the rebels Is under
Bragg, and has for its purpose the dispersal or
destruction OF Buel4's army in the valley.
Buell. has his force, as is well known, lying
| along this valley from Battle Creek to Nc
Mirlylile, ard it presents great temptation
to the rebels. Bragg is not tie general to re-
siet kuch temptations, and he has crossed the
river to some point above Chattanooga, and is
/ reported advancing towards Mch1lanyilIe.
| His army is reported ZOO strong. It is
| probably not quite SO large-say 5000. It il
Represented, however, that his regiments are
| full, and that his divisions are each 10, 00G
| strong. We know OF no division conlmand-
ers, but it is presumed that Buell. is about tc
| defeat the same men he defeated at Shiloh I.
is said that the point Of crossing the Te1nes
| Re 1I.Ttk hid 1,ns
| been built, and where there is a ferry. at this
point the river is sometimes fordabIe, but il
not 60 at tits time.
As to the movements on our part to repe
! this attack I cannot, Of course, speak, bu
t they are on scale which 1 do not think vii
allow OF our being outnumbered. Buell. ma5
] he ontgentraied, however. He is q man o
I discretion and GOODNESS, however, and 5hai
| be much disappointed in the man it he is.
| have great tai'h IN i7on-gray beard men. will
eunburnt countenance and eyes continu .ll]
| fixed on the ground I hope that faith, fool
5sh as it may appear, 1s not to shaken By
failure On Buell's part in this Campaign, whict
| must result in the loss Of TENNESSEE to us, o
Eas': Tennessee and perhaps Virginia to th'
rebe1s-a wager Of vast importance to boil
| IaIties to the conflict.
General Buell. and staff arrived here at q lat
hour yesterday, removing the headquarter
from Huntsville to this dull and dreary spot
have not learned what restrictions he is put
ting on correspondents, but understand he i
very bitter On them. I suppose it is becaus
they are so bitter on him. I shall endeaVor il
some way, however, to send you a full repor
| OF the tat1le shonld one occur. When I sa
that great one is at hand am quoting tn
thousand and one officers who lounge in thi
niseIab1e Alabama hotel.
The Michigan Mechanics and Engineers
Gel James, are again together. Their cam
is but a short distance from the town Eher
they have been engaged in building pontoo
hrioge ard forttfylrg this place. That is, the
oversee the negrots at That elegant labor. Tt
day for working the soldiers Of this army
tol1itications is past. Gen. Buell., be it said
Ills cre dit. enforced the presidents order wit
a]acrity and energy: Thousands Of slaves al
now engaged in Building Notifications in di
fcrcnt parts OF the country. Adjutant Mile
Of the Michigan regiment, is employed
Nashville in building q fort On st. Cloud Eli
: Some heavy seigs guns have been sent fro
here to be mounted upon the works.
! SPECIAL,