Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-19
FROM THE ARMY or TENN EssEE.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or TIE WRIG.l
SWEET WATKA, East TINSEssEE,

SWEET WArKA East TINEEssEE,
November Z, 1868
Public attention has been so generally directed to-
wards events on the edse of development in this section,
tina have for the nonce changed my quarters 10 this
locality; and the overland journey hher has cOnse-
emily utsrered with the regularity Of my cOrrespon'
deIct.
Tiers are few fact, however, upon which it would
not be prudent at this time to enlarge. few weeks,
at srthest provided the weather CONTINUES good viii
the restrictions upon pen and speech, and then
no Dc to be ala to chronicle seVefal glorious resuts-
As skirmishing ha5 aleady tax place within twenty
miles Of Knoxville the enemy already aware Of the
occupation by of our forces oil this portion q
Tennessee and they also aware that if possible, we
lali eudeavor hold ground The railroad ID in
running oder to this point and beyond, well otected
and ad pied to all tee requirements Tat maj be made
ujol l. and if fortuns but fAvors the brave in this in
stance trust that within six months it will be as se-
eureJy running to Knoxville itself From events ntW
uApspitiag around chattanooga, the public may rest
assured there is for dependency, and every
reason to believe in out success We have army suf
sntly strong for every purpose essential to succes,
aud BODY Of men seasoned to hardships, unequaled
more than eighty thousand mqskets s ID around Chat
tanoog., KaOIviils and BddgeDrt Our forces are
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES meAsurably separated. To ure
vulgar phrase, I've have the Whip.band" Ct th;m in
every respect
l. must net be supposed that We investing Chat
1nOogi for the simple occupation of that town. With
out other Advantages it is Of less to than our
present position; bu! we are holding the enemy in
CHI ok where he s we awaiting his movement into
an opel field, and another opportunity OF dealing a
deadly blow at his most vital part.
can wrte, as it we're, only in riddles now, but
hope few weeks will enable me to speak of facts.
observe that attempt is being made to throw the
ons of blame on Gen. Longstreet for permitting the
enemy TO occupy Lookout Valley. The truth is there
iyno blame anywhere. The whole movement of the
Federals was kno 1n in advance to our Generals and
the fact that the Chief took steps to
counteraet showed that he ascIibed no especial i'm
poriance TO the occupation Of Lookout Valley. In
abort, believe that General BAgg was not Averse to
the arrival of reinforcements in Chattanooga, aud
would not object to the concentrate there of tie
whole Federal army. He had 4 deeper scheme in his
mind a. tue time, which is eVSn in process of de-
vsopnent aud, when fully known, it will show that he
acted wisely throughout
have already shown in previous letter that battle
in Lookout Valley would have resulted only In the de-
srucon Of tive small corps Of the enemy, and not have
Influenced the great issue involved while the loss OF life
on our part would no. have compensated for our sue
cess Again: an atlck on large scale in the valley,
cay with one or Two corps, might have brought on
general blte, during which the enemy could with ease
have hurried renEorcements across their pontoons al
Browne rry, in reanof Oh ittanoog', while our own
renforcements would have been subjected to terrible
FIRE for three hours or more while crossing the foot OF
Lookout. Mountain admit that the movement up the
VALLEY vas mastery conception, and mastery stroke
but il does not leave them masters OF the situation any
than ttey were before. They merely saved troute
BY advancing ria Bridgeport instead Of the mountain
roads from the rear and in the end h w, be seen that
they have really lost ground by the movement write
knowingly. and with no doubt that my remarks viii be
fully substautisted by developments hereafter.
In recalling the purpose of the fight or demonstra-
ton of Gen. Jenkins the other night would have you
hear in mind that Longstfeers only object was to car
turs rear guard and wagon train. Instead Of rear
Guard one brigade fell on whole division of the enc
nv who had come up TO the same point after DARK and