Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-05
LETTER FROM KNOXVILLE.

| LETTER FROM KNOXVILLE.
recarious Hold on East Tennessee - What Is Ne
cessary to its Permanent Occupation.
/ Correspondence of tho Cincinnati Commercial.
! KNoxvILLE, OCTOBER Is, 1868.
Before consider the practicabty of holding East
Tennessee, despite wind and weather would it not be
we'll to make of acquisition of ' for nothing is
certain than that we tonight do not hold occupy
and Tennessee any than did the first
day of arrival in Knoxville We not sure from
day to day. OF occupation of any thing south of Lou
don further east than the Watauga river and unor
tunatey for u.s. the best farming lands the State lie be-
yond what honestly call lines The road due
south from here to Maryve, with its branches via Se
viervlle into North Carolina, and via Morgantown TO
Braggs nes below Chattanooga all infested with re-
bel scouts and raiders rendering possession of that
section of tenure the most uncertain II drive
the rebels completely out either sde and keep them
out after they driven then consider the task
accomplished. Can it be done7 think It on the
east
Gen Burnside began the work Saturday last at Blue
Springs, by vigorous attack Sam Jones, whom he
found there dispung his progress, All day Saturday
Carers brigade composed of the Second Tennessee Sec
ond and Seventh Ohio, and Ninth Michigan cavalry had
been diminishing with the rebels and by four O'Clock had
driven them back to their lines brisk cannonading then
ensued the rebels using twelve pieces according to one
report and three by another just before dark charge
made by the first brigade Of the first division Ninth
army corps under Col Norris in which the Seventynnth
New York, Forty-ffth and Ffteth Pennsylvania, and
Thirty sixth Massachusetts bore themselves like gallant
veteran soldiers they ard drove the reb from
their position open fields for three-quarters OF
mie where the rebels again formed in line in the timber
and there night put end to the contest Our loss had
boen about eighty during the day. and the rebel loss about
the Next morning it found that the rebels bad
fled during the night and forces marched to Green
VILE without again meeting them.
A..nl.r fa.ur II. tha E~k%
which blszoned the North great battle and
over which interested parties sing the unesant refrain
" But twas famous victory" But the rebels retired
and it is thegreat thing in hand to compel them to
nue the operation until they have retired beyond the Vr
gina Salines. II, by mys sterious dispeDsaon we
should capture the band now in the State and Burnside
know, has set his heart upon that) why much the
better, provided continue march without stoppape
to the Saines. Driving Sam Jones out is a matter of
minor consequence and thing do at any time,
aud have nearly done three several times during the last
month"; to the infinite disgust Of the unfortunate hor.es
branded u ST. who are tired Of persmbulating the road
from Bulls Gap to Jonesboro
No section of country be ea.y held than East
Tennessee but the proper be taken or
pretty trap as any army set s foot in If any
OF military authorities consider Knoxville the kew of
the country the nation will probably awake some morning
wondering how it lost East Tennessee We must get the
narrow valleys Of Virginia, ust beyond the Tennessee
ne and hold them or our occupation is not worth
slderng
| From gentleman connected with the East Tennessee
and Virginia railroad from its infancy have gained some
information that may be Of benefit to the public From
Bristol which is on the boundary ne there but road
down into the lower Tennessee valleys and that the old
National Road, from Nashville to Washington City via
Knoxville, frem which place to Bristol the railroad closely
follows it, But stopping at Bristol does not insure
either the Saline Pound Gap, the roads down Powes
Valley Glade Springs few miles further in Virginia
is apparently the Key OF East Tennessee and its perma
nent occupation seals the State hrrmetcaly from any
vason from Virginia holds the Sanes eight miles to the
southwest and prevents the raiders from entering Ken
lucky through Pound Gap The country around Glade
Spriugs Is very defensbe and with proper Notifications
small force could compel hostile army regular siege
approaches.
doing but when he has captured Sam Jones' driven him
and all of his lk beyond Glade Spring. and has fortified
that or some similar position in that immediate
hood when he has permanently occupied JonesbOro,
Greenvie and Strawberry Plains an easy task then,
they would all be in his rear cutting of all enterprsing
raiders from North Carolina, then may boast of his
occupation of East Tennessee. Before then am afraid
all vauntings will prove premature. Thus far asuredy
there has been good ground for asserting that we hold
the country Sam Jonea had claimed to have an in
terest IN the eastern counties when and began
arguing the question with u.s. and yet nearly the
ground, continuing the dispute.
have had 90 much grumbing to do concerning the
southwestern end of our line that 10th touch the
subject again 1t may be, and, with the present drposi
ton oil Braggs army probably impossible TO clear the
country to Cleveland and thence to Chattanooga but what
military reasons preyeHt from advancing line per
manenty from Loudon, on the Tennessee to Calhoun
the Hawasse do not know Whenever cavalry feel
so disposed they down to Calhoun and stay there until
some rebels appear the opposite bank of the river
when they take the back track to Sweewater with the
their heels Then the rebels 20 back and we 20
after them and al infnitum. Our permanent cou.
patton of Calhoun could be accomplished aud accomplish
ed would in large degree protect the country south of
the Tennessee river and would certainly prevent the
movement OF any but large foree the Morgantown
road On the whole. after six weeks of occupation TO
nd these rebel gentry raiders moving about the country
raises doa6t ia suspicious mind TO the substantial
nature OF the occupation we have boasted.
have no great matter Of news to send you Exactly
where Burnside Tonight what engaged in am un
able to say ss the wire is not working 1t is impossible
to prophecy from day TO day. which will be the point OF
greatest interest," and have consequently adopted the
policy Of remaining at the central point observation and
watching tho whole field as best can.