The New York herald., 1863-04-21
Sketches Of the Principal Places Now
Held by the Rebels.
Isham q. Harris Letter and What
It Sets Forth.
Kentucky to Be Set Free, and the Ohio
River to Form the Northern Boun-
Diary of the Rebel Dominions.
"DONT THEY WISH THEY MAY GET IT."
Ia ko. II.


Ia, 10. -.
The recent movements aud threats Of the rebel army
have to drive forces out Of Tennessee and to
take possession OF Kentucky The rebel Governor Of the
former State Isham G. Harris, while at Tuahoma issued
letter intended operate with tho rebel sympathizs
in Tennessee and written in favor election Of
Governor State officers &c. the regular day. the nrst
Thursday IN August for, he says, "ons before August
the rivers he Tennessee and the Cumberand) will have
fallen TO low water mark giving open field In which to
meet the enemy and he further says he is confident
that before election day will have crushed driven
from State the miserable mercenaries and vandas
who have long plundered and oppressed brave true
and patriotic people, leaving every portion Of the State
free and untrammelIed."
will thus be plainly manifest that the rebels have
plan by which they hope 10 accomplish this end,
and. BY driving away every Unonst from the soil Of the
States Of Kentucky and Tennessee make their Northern
boundary, as they have long wished to have IT, the Ohio
river. As they also have plan aAoat for the re-
covery OF the lost ground in Mississippi Louisiana and
along the Gulf coast there may be something moro tang
be in Ishsm G. Harris statement than a mere empty
boast With the Mississippi the west, the Ohio the
north the Gulf the south the Atlantic on the east
it Ia doubtless believed by JEFF. Davis Co. that com.
pact conederacy may be formed likely be
by any Invading force, will have for backbone the
mountainous region Of the Cumberland, Aleghanes &c
To accomplish this object the Union army in Tennessee
70 be destroyed and that body determined
be annihated, there is very little doubt but that tho
coming campaign will be most obstinate one and the
principal battles viii take place upon the ground Illus
traed by map. We therefore endeavor set forth
clearly the positions operations and strategic line be
adopted by the rebels In the coming contest In the West
for come II certainly must, and come quickly.
THE REBEL LINE OF THE DUCK RIVER.
The rebel line Of operations in Tennessee may be den-
ntey located along the Duck river although it's principal
base OF operations is further south Between the base
and line OF operations several depots, each almost
large enough TO be considered base itself but while
the principal standpoint remains Chattanooga all other
points depots, be they large small T, Illus
trate this particular rebel movement present our
readers with clear and comprehensive map, which will
action in Tennessee.
OUR MAP,
will be seen has It's southeastern corner the rebel
basc-vlz: Chattanooga. From this point II proceeds
westerly TO the line of the Nashville and Decatur Rail-
road thence northerly TO the Cumberland river and
taking in Nashville, proceeds easterly point nearly
due north OF Chattanooga and thence the place Of
starting II embraces within itself the limo Of operations
along the Duck river, the depos of rullahoma Shelby
that can be seen at glance.
THE DUCK RIVER
Is the first point OF interest This passes through
Middle Tennessee, and flows In wcstnorthwes,erly di
recton rises in Cocc county the base OF that
Iar Of the Cumberland range Of mountains which passes
from north 10 south through Tennessee, thence runs
through Bedford Marshall, Maury, Hickman and Hum.
phreys counties and falls into the Tennessee river from
its right eastern bank the border OF the last named
county Its whole length is estimated at about two hun.
dred and fifty miles. Tho navigation Of this stream when
In its natural state was far from good Therefore compa.
ny some years since had been formed to improve IL BY
the construction Of dams and locks Tho war has Of
course put stop to such improvements by any private
corporation, and the that may adopted by mill
ary operations for that purpose will take into consdera
ton more the plan Of defence and the facility OF military
movements than the peaceful pursuits Of commerce
The soil Of tho country through which the river nows IN
fertile and generally rch but tho surface varies between
tho hiy and tho undulatng, which will make IL strateg
cally valuable to the rebels.
SKETCH OF CHATTANOOGA.
Chattanooga, the rebel base, Is q city OF about nvo
thousand inhabtantsy In Hamilton county, Tennessee,
Just beyond the dividing line between that state and
Georgia II situated tho left bank OF the Tennessee
river and Is the northern terminus of the western and
Atlantic Railway, the southern terminus OF which IN
Atlanta Georgia. II Is also tho eastern terminus OF the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad aud forms tho an
guar connection with the line Of railroad from Charles.
ton C., to Memphis. Tenn. II one hundred and aftv
one miles from Nashville four hundred and
from Savannah four hundred and forty seven from
Charleston. The city IL situated on a hieh buG
overlooking the rushing waters OF the Tennessee
river, which at this point widcns out to a greater
extent than At many others In the vicinity po
fore tho breaking out Of the present wicked rehs,
Ion Chattanooga enjoyed a most aourishinu traas
being the ontrepct for tho immense number or mu,s.
horses and cattle raised In Kentucky and ara
which being constantly shipped to the cotton sta,o
Its trade also greatly increased by the immense auan
titles Of bacou which put up for the planters IN tho
cotton States bought and sold here commission FOR
which the city was made tho depot. Great numbers OF
Tennessee farmers making speciality OF raising hogs for
tho southern Market those In West Tennessee shIpped
their stock by way OF Memphis down tho Mssls
s'pH' while Chattanooga monopolized the shin
mcnts OF nearly all In the eastern portion OF tho
STATE. Being tho terminus OF two important roads.
ana the e' prominent point another (the Charleston
ana hempns) became the most available place WHARF
tne rong stock OF all could be repaired and new stock
manufactured. Hence were established here nupero,.
machine shops foundres, &c which up TO the oubre.r
OF the rcb lion, we're doing thriving bus,pes. ana 60
'beting 10 great measure TO the sdyapcs,ron, -.