New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-21
PAST AND COMING EVENTS On
TIE UPPER TENNEsSEE.

Bragg army in the direction OF East Tennes-
see OF its progress toward Knoxville, the
intelligence Of the appearance OF a Rebel
column before Loudon, and the retreat OF our
forces from that place subsequently informed
us. Still later, the news of tho close approach
of the enemy TO KNOXVILLE, contained IN our
special dispatches from that point, printed
yesterday morning. may have disturbed inc
public We believe, however, that there IS no
occasion for sny apprehension as TO the safety
Of Gen. Burnside's command.
To our certain knowledge, Gen. Grant had
positive information that the Rebel force
advancing upon Esst Tennessee consisted OF
only three divisions of infantry. Allowing five
thousand nuskots for each Of these--a very
liberal cs'ima,c-we have an aggregate number
li,ie over one-haf the strength Of the army
We know to De at the disposal Of Gen. Burnside.
4 large portion Of his troops, II is true, are
mounted, and hence will hardly be available
in a pitched battle. Yet his infantry
consists mostly Of old and well-tried troops,
aud must be moro than numerically equal TO
tho euemy's. II, then. Gen. Burnside has his
command well in hand, Gs accounts indicate
and has only 10 confront the force cent from
near Chattanooga, We can see TO ground for any
fear as a. tie i'sne Of tie impending conflict.
Therc might be cause for uncasines7 If second
Rebel column were approaching Knoxville from
South Weston Virginia. simultaneously with
u..t from Chattanooga. Wall, II - possible
that force has been putin motion from the NiT-
giua line i Gems certain that II has NOT ncircd
Knoxville sufficiently 20 threaten Gen. Nun
side. 4 body Of troops coming from that dircc-
ton. wonld have Ia march nearly 100 miles
over extremely rough roads, and could not come
within many days march OF Knoxville with
out d.o notice Of It. advance 20 our army. No
information "a that eject e. yet made public.
Il + not probable that Gen. Burnside will rely
on fortified positions more than on the strength
and prose.s Of hi. army to foil the plans OF The
enemy. IT, the former the enemy would ha.ily
ni,ack him. Nor will bis supplies, aud the ne.
ce-siiy Of Keeping our communications with the
North unin,crruptcdly open, allow him to await
an attack If the enemy choose not 10 make ~
Ia only afa mode of operation is evidently to
trust to bis numerical alyantAgc, and seek the
chances oi battle az once. Delay may bring
tho Rebel force from Virginia upon him imme-
date action may enable him to meet both dan
gen fuccessfully, by defeating the Rebel bodies
separately. one after the other.
While We believe that Gen. Burnside has The
means 10 defeat the enemy IN front Of him.
We have aso reason to think that the weaken
ing Of The Rebel army near Chattanooga
by the diyer,iou OF part OF il into Last 1euncs-
zee, VII furni IA Gen. Grant tho opportunity to
relieve his command from the great pcrleyiiics
and dangerous uncertainties that aTo stil hang
Ing OYER H.
Since our troops. by finely conceived and
eNccuied eony. obtained control Of tie T'rucs-
ec River between Bridgeport and point n
short distance below Chattanooga ond t~o ncw
wagon-ruads respectively on The south AID
north bank Of The rlyer, the impr SION has PIE
vailed in the North that the difficulties ctper-
enccd in supplying IL, Grand Army ~ thc Ten
ncs-cc had been entirely overcome. This ~
unfortunately, not IN, ease. But two steam
bon's oi limited carrying capacity have been
available so far ior tran. poltation by water and
this method Of supply must depend upon The
condition Of the river. Maeou-irains are -cc-
ond mean: but tho wretchod character ol iho
roads aud he exhaustion Oi the dram animals
from ong-coninucd insullcency OF food, limit
tho supplies tbrougl this channel. fAcirequont
destruction Of the pontoon bridges over the
Tcnnes see by Rebel rnfs hoaicd down from
above Chattanooga ha- also proved great ob-
staco t0 the RAPID movement of provisions and
forage. up 10 thc present time, indeed, our
army has been subsistcd IRON week to week,
but that .s all. Gen. Grants object, however.
must d. not only 10 feed il from dag TO day, but
g. re-cotho il, aud equip IL anew; replace the
lost and biokcn-doWn horses and mules, num-
bcrng BY thousands accumulate supplies for
the fntur-in Short to put IL once more in
condition ior offensive movements.
Tho full means OF communication with
the North required for this end and
their undisiur.ed control during the Win
ter, he can only secure by driving the enemy
from his immediate front Aud ia addition Ia
the question Of supplies, there are strategic
motives that will induce him to make mn effort
+, relieve hi army from the close pressure of
the enemy. The Rebel gums from Lookout
Mountain, IA well as from other points of the
Rebel front, cover our position. Their spas
modio use has hitherto occasioncd bat III