The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-24
The War in East Tennessee.

The Columbus 0.a.} Sun has an editorial review.
ing the position Of affairs in East Tennessee, which
we copy nasmuch as, in the whir of stirring events
near home the more distan, fields OF operation have
10 some extent been lost sight of:
1t is now quite evident that the enemy are about
to put into execution their long Threatened inroad
upon East TENNESSEE. From the best information
we can gather of the situation Of affairs in that
tion, take it that fighting viii soon commence
there in earnest. The Yankees already have pos
session of Sefuatchie Valley, productive and
stock growing country, and have force of perhaps
not leSs than 5000 men in Po,ves Valley, portion
of country still more important to army in the
way of provisions But the great valleys of the
Tennessee, UiwaSsee, Hoston, and French Broad
rivers are still in possession of troops aud
we have reason to hope be held against almost any
force that may assail them We think it alto
gether probable that Cumberland, Wheeler's, and
Big Creek Gaps, will be evacuated, If indeed they
have not been already and that our forces vi Ill make
stand at Chattanooga, Kingston. and Beams Sta
tion, in order to keep the enemy North OF Wallens
Ridge and he Clinch Mountains. This, we feel con-
fident can he done successfully with the force
under Gen. Smiths command, which cannot be less
than 10000 men, There are, beaides this force,
which is low estimate, several efficient guerilla
bands, among which that OF the famous Morgan is
the most conspicuous This line of defence, should
i, be adopted, will to about threefourths of
the territory OF East Tennessee, including JonesbO-
rough, Grcenviile, knoxville, Athens, Cleveland,
Chattanooga, and the line OF railroad from the latter
place to the Virginia line.
The part of East Tennessee thus defended il one
of the most productive and healthy regions Of
country in the Confederate States. 1t contains,
even now, bacon, corn and -four i'll great abund-
ance. Nearly every farmer has bacon TO sell, and
which can be bought ut not exceeding twenty seven
cents per pound. 1t il one of the finest wheat
countries in the South and have it from good
authority that the wheat crop in that section this
wear will fall but little short of the average crop,
particularly in the upper counties. There Is, per
haps at this time more hogs and cattle in the thir-
ty-one counties Of East Tennessee than in the whOle
State of Georgia and upon this account, were there
no other consideration, that seetions should be de-
Tended at any cost.
While il il true that the majority of the voting
population in East Tennessee is deeply tnSed with
torgism it is equally true that some of the most
staunch Southern men, and many OF our abiest
military leaders, are East Tennesseeans. There is
one fact in come xion with this disoyal section not
generally known. Nearly every man and boy ca
pabe of bearing arms, who were advocates OF sep
arate State action in the Southern army,
and although the conkcription act il not in force
there they have joined for the war. In addition to
this there are to our certain knowledge, not less
than one third of the original "UEion men now in
that section-the ultras having joined Lincoin in
Kentucky-many of the moro moderate have
changed their views since LincOlns free-negro
policy was promulgated in November last; while
the remainder, being too indolent and coyartlly Ia
take any part in the contest of content 10
remain at home, cultvatng their farms, aud make
something to support the army.