Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-06-28
TEE SITUATION OF EAST TENNESSEE.

During the past week the enemy who entered East
Tennessee at Wilson's Gap large force, has been
Oily mskng his way up Pones Valley, spd at our lAtei
sdviees possession of fazeEe the county seat oi
Claiborne. The only opposition he has encountered 60
tar that hear Of has been from the cavalry Of
gallant Colonel Asbby, who has been continually skir
ns1ibg with his pckets and harrassing him no little in
bis progress Henry Asbby has the right mstte in him.
and bios fair to win as high came in the vsies Of Els
Tennesses, as MS brave cousin, the lamened Gen. Tur
ner Ashby, did in the Valley Of Virginia. We hope for
him ~ much renoWn but longer career.
The enemys position Tazewell lie q threatening one
and il he is attacked 1t once and turiousy," may
result in giving dim advantages that will b.
ruin 70 u.s. 1sZewells mms diaely in front Of Cumber
land GaS, the nearest route from Knoxville TO that
point. PoWelrs Velley extends mo Virgins; and from
Cumberland Gap, through this Valley TO hcccssin Gap
Of the hest roads In the country Thence 10 the
salt works. and the Virginia ana Tennessee Rsilroad
a. Abingdon, there is nothing to stay his victorious ca
reer unless he is at attacked and routed by toe
army OF General Smith, The possession, even the
partial destruction OF the saltuorks by the enemy, would
DO a calamity to the Confederate States seTicus
than toe fall Of Richmond, for these works nov al
the sole reliance Of the South for one of the moot
indispensable nsccesaries Of life.
The character OF the enemy in Povelps Valley Is one
aso, which, in addition to other incentives should rouse
up government 10 every possible eIerlon 10 at
destroy or drive him back Ms force ia in part com.
posed oil the five six regiments Of East Tennessee
rneEHdGe VINO come Win vengeance on tnelT
tongues and hsh rage in their hearts, not TO fight for
political sentiment nor to restore persisted Union,
bus gut their revenge in the blood and ruin Of their
former friends and neighbors, AID TO indemnify them.
selves by psgs for their time les. and substance waet
I'd during the selibsnisbment into which they were &C.
.ujed by the cunning and unprincp!ed leaders whom
the misguided eneney Of this government he's spared
10 hound them in this disboca work. Their course
| already has been marked by ourages which shock hu
humanity We learn from those Southern cizets who
| have escaped from their bands
Another feature OF their programme we have il plau
aoly hnted s the d. sTuc0n OF the bridges the up
per end Of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad
il they are permitted TO reach hoccasn GIp in Virginia
an easy and pprotected road through HaWkinS Sullivan
AID Washington counties, bIrgs them TO the bridges
U1on and Carriers Depot Carter and Greene counties
are Low swsrming with armed traitors and bridgeburn
ers VINO openly their readiness 10 COT p5rste with
any force the RederAs may send on this mission.
Ali these facts sufficiently indicate think the i'm
peraive necessity OF at checking the progress Of
the invaders up Powes Valley Gen Smith has crisis
encounter which will sdui. Of dAlyng or halfway
measures.
We trust and believe that be will prove himself equa
to The emergency By rapid and determined coup h
may rid Est Tennessee Of scourge avert moot sery
Gus danger from the Confederacy, and at once paci
hin self the front rank of the heroes of this Revolution
The troops who have long been pinng in this regor
for want Of active service well those who have
come from winning laurels 10 other fields all burn
ing with noble srdor at the prospect OF meeting the
enemy Let them at be led inst him, and vic
tory II the golden opportunity is lost and thu
foe has time to strengthen his columns and choose BIZ
positions the consequences ray be disastrous to
degree We shudier TO Questionable Register