The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-09
che Next Batr,o.
From the Richmond E,T,rer, August %.

From the Richmond E,Tlrer, August o.
Probably the next great battle will be
fought in East Tennesseee, for the occu
patton Of that important religion. The
late demonstrations of Rosecrans near
Chattanooga may possibl} be intended
to feel the way round Brasg's left flank.
and the towns 0fupper Georgia have been
somewhat alarmed at the prospect of a
horde of Yankees upon them: but from
the best information we have been able
to procure, those demon trstions were
flint TO disguise the real aim &C a COM
bined movement upon our great line of
railroad communication through East
Tennessee, TO take possession of that
country and of the portion of Southwest
ern Virginia through which the same line
of railroad passes. Up TO the 25th of
this month no very serious attempt had
been made to penetrate our lines along
| the Cumberland Mountains but he peo-
pie of Knoxville and the neighborhood
were quite on the alert, and preparations
have been made Of such character
though We must not mention thu dispo-
sitiOn of our forces under Bragg and
Buckner-as will be sufficient to effsc-
tually defend that most desirable coun-
try. Gen. Buckner is in immediate COM
mand of the region north of the Tennes.
see River, including Knoxville, up 70 the
Virginia line, and has bodies Of troops
disposed near all the passes through the
| Cumberland Mountains. We have re-
ceived letter from Knoxville which full
| ly describes the operations of last week
on the part Of the enemy, and the great
or part Of which we extract Friday last
| Bragg's headquarters-then in command
| OF Lieut. General Polk-were started by
a shot from the enemy from the opposite
side Of tho Tennessee River, where the
enemy had suddenly and Unexpectedly
appeared III small force, not exceeding
two thousand. Shot and shells were
thrown into the town throughout the
| day, with little damage either 70 build-
ings or persons. We replied with our
| field pieces (there are no siege pieces
mounted there,) but with little or no eff
! feet. Saturday the enemy resumed the
firing, and continued throughout that
day; this resulted in nothing. Friday
at about IL o'clock, a column Of cavalry
and infantry, estimated at about ten
] thousand, entered the little county town
| of Washington, Rhea county. They des-
trOyed the property of two or three citi-
zens totally, and proceeded up the valley
| in the direction of Kingston. Saturday
they had halted as if 10 rest. Where
| they are to-day | do not know. SatIr-
day also force of several Ga few thous-
and appeared before Harrison and threw
some shot across the river ESQ | am told)
into that place. The enemy at this point
have commanding ground, and have been
throwing up earthworks. We have ru-
mors of severed other detachments on the
north of the river, but these have no.
where made any imposing demonstration.
Along with ali this, Knoxville, / hear, is
full OF rumOrs, TO the effect that Burnside
is pushing one or two columns towards
| Knoxville. No portion of the enemy has
made any threatening movement west of
! Chattanooga. Hence it appears that the
time is at hand when the strife is to be
for the occupation of East Tennessee
Cen. Bragg, | am happy to say TO you,
believe has his troops admirably dis
posed. The passage of the Tennessee
River at any point between Ioudon aud
Bridgeport can be, | think successfully
/ NNhNNHANNs uCAS ait DNt TWO OF infee
fords, and these can be easily command
ed and, indeed, along the entire river
line, generally speaking, the low lands
are on the North bank, while the COM
msnding hills are on our side. The
General, am sure, is hourly posted by
his signal corps, extending their line for
many miles up and down the river and
by most perfect system of couriers; so
that, with the railroad broken or the
telegraph line interrupted, he will still
have uninterrupted, communication with
the extTemities of his lines on either
hand, The Army of Tennessee is now
to have its opportunity TO achieve as
/ great, if not greater, fame than the Army
Of Virginia, and feel sure they will do
so. cannot give you the exact strength
OF this army; ID is, however consider
ably inferior to that OF Rosecrans. I'M
! derstand achievements are arriving
from Mississippi believe IL will be the
policy of the enemy not to attempt the
/ passage of the Tennessee at any point
West of Loudon. These demonstrations
! regard as mere feints. SO ! think you
will hear that the bloOdiest scenes will
be in front ofKnoxyille, if Bragg ,ehall
chose 70 fight there if not Buckndr will
be constrained to yield the place, and
with il all Of East Tennessee North Of the
| Tennessee. IT'S true, the occupation Of
that portion OF East Tennessee by the
/ enemy might become TO them a cui.de.
sac, but ! should distrust such strategy
on our part. SO should we. BY tlis
kind Of strategy the enemy might get
into the whole Confederaoy by way Of a
cUl. de sac, aud would never wish to es-
cape from il again. East Tennessee and
] our great inland lines of railroads ere