The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-10
something more than talk for their couu-
try. While this ia true of the great body


try. While this is true of the great body
tnere are many of the leading men of
knoxville who are indulging in North
ern copperhead species of Unionism The
bnttetln has been discussing the everlast-
ing Niger question, telling them in plain
words that slavery is dead. They did not
iike 1t; they complained to Provost Mar
shals, to Adjutant Generals, to Generals
themselves, that the country was not ready
1or TINS sort of thing; but the Bulletin kept
subject.
It's fortunate for the country and for
East tennessee, that the days of the Bax-
ters, Nelson's, &c, are over. Mentioning
Neison reminds me that he came to Knox
snaS Two DAYS ago, but as yet has not de-
nhed ms position in public. You all recol-
lect now the country wept over the letter
mat closed his public career two years ago.
undoubtedly the ablest man in East Ten
nessee, and probably as honest as the ma
lorlty OF public men, it would be gratify-
ing II ne would step out as a leader equal
10 tne times; but have no idea that he
will.
In East Tennessee, as in Kentucky. Ohio
and everywhere else, we have two Kinds Of
Union men-the genuine, who, as General
ShackelfOrd expresses it, stand by the
Government, no matter what she does and
the false, who plead ifs and butts.
met in Col. Goulding's Office, an hour
or two ago, Mr.. John B. Hoxie, who has
been Identified, for number of years past.
with and is, at present United States Su-
perintendent of the railroads coming into
Knoxville. Mr.. Hoxie is thoroughly ac-
quainted with the condition Of all the roads
in the South, and is convinced that the
main lines have about reached their last
gasp. The endurance of track, road bed,
and rolling stock has been stretched to the
onGf lo.s. g. g. 80.
are so limited that the roads can be Of but
little further service to the Confederacy. 1t
is generally supposed that all the roads of
the South are of the same guage, but
this is mistake. The roads running
from Richmond to Charleston, ola We'll
don, North Carolina, are four inches mar
rover than the roads running from Rich
mond to the South by way Of Lynchburg
and Knoxville. This fact now becomes
important. Our seizure of the Knoxville
Road has lessened by one half their facili-
ties OF communication between Richmond
and the South. Their possession of nearly
all the rolling stock of the East Tennessee
and Virginia, and East Tennessee and
Georgia Roads will do them very little good,
as none of it will tit the roads south from
Richmond via Weldon. Mr.. Hoxie is of
the opinion that there is not a main trunk
in the South that can hobble along for six
months longer, unless they get materials
for repairing outside of the COnfederacy,
Railroads are an important element in
modern warfare, as the army in East Ten
nessee have discovered. 1t is absolutely
necessary to our continued occupancy of
the country, that railroad communication
with the North shall be established.
London Bridge is in the same condition
as the day after it was burned. The bridge
over Hiawasse River, at Calhoun and
Charleston, is also destroyed, but Scott and
Pegram at present would interfere with
any attempts at repair that might be made.
In addition to all this, Bragg must be kept
south of Chattanooga in order to make the
road available for con- munication. Rose
Grams driven from Chattanooga, out of
East Tennessee we must go. There is no
help for it. This country may supply the
army with forage and wheat, but it would
be hardly safe to trust it for any thing
more.
Since writing the above have learned
definitely the position of Rosecrans on
Wednesday last. 1t may be that our whole
force will move to his assistance tomorrow.
Scott and Pegram's cavalry have been
driving Byrd and Woolford about the coun-
try yesterday and to-day, but this after
mood the tables were turned, and the rebels
were driven back from Philadelphia and
Sweetwater.