Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-09-01
THE NEXT BATTLE.


THE NEXT BATTLE.
Probably the next great battle will be
fought in East Tennessee for the occupation
of that important region. The late demon
STATIONS of Rosecranz near Chattanooga may
possibly be intended to feel the way round
Bragg's left flank; and the towns of upper
Georgia have been somewhat alarmed at the
prospect of horde of Yankees upon them !;
but from the best information we have been
able to procure those demonstrations were q
feint to disguise the real aim Of combined
movement upon our great line of railroad COM
munication through East Tennessee to take
possession of that country, and of the portion
of Southwestern Virginia through which the
same line of railroad passes.
Up to the 25th of this month no very seri-
GUS attempt had been made to penetrate our
lines along the Cumberland mountains; but
the people of Knoxville and the neighborhood
we're quite on the alert, and preparations
have been made of such character-thoug
we must not mention the disposition Of our
forces under Bragg and Buckner-as will be
sufficient to eHectually defend that mast de-
sible country General Buckner is in i'm
mediate command of the region north Of
the Tennessee river, including Knoxville
up to the Virginia line, and has bodies
of troops disposed near all the passes
through the Cumberland mountains. We
have received letter from Knoxville which
fully describes the operations of last week on
the part of the enemy, and the greater part
of which we extract:
Friday last Bragg's headquarters, then in
command of 1t. Gen. Polk, were startled by a
shot from the enemy from the opposite side Of
the Tennessee river, where the enemy had sud
denly and unexpectedly appeared in small
force, not exceeding 1000. shot and shells
were thrown into the town throughout the day,
with little damage either to buildings or per-
sons. We replied with our field pieces, there
are % siege pieces mounted there,) but with
little OF no effect. Saturday the enemy re-
sumed the firing, and continued throughout
that day; this resulted in nothing. Friday, at
about IL o'clock, a column Of cavalry and in-
'fantry, estimated at about ten thousand, en-
Rhea county. They destroyed the property Of
two or three citizens totally, and proceeded up
the valley in the direction of kinston. Satur-
day they had halted as if to rest; where they
are to-day I do not know. Saturday also O
force of several Ia few thousand appeared be-
fore Harrison, and threw some shot across the
river, (su am told,) into that place. The
enemy at this point have commanding ground,
and hive been throwing up earthworks. We
have rumors Of several other detachments on
the North of tn river, but these have no where
made any imposing demonstration. Along
with all this, Knoxville, hear, is full Of ru-
aors, to the effect that Burnside is pushing
one or two columns towards Knoxville. No
portion of the enemy has made any threaten
ing movement west of Chattanooga. Hence it
appears that the time is at hand, when the
strife is to be for the occupation Of East Ten.
aesses.
"Gen. Bragg, ON happy to soy to you, I
believe has his troops admirably disposed
The passage Of the Tennessee river at any
point between Loudon and Bridgeport can be,
I think, successfully contested. There are
but two or three fords, and these can be easily
commanded, and indeed along the entire river
line, generally speaking, the low lands are on
the north bank, while the commanding hills
are On our side.
"The General, I am sure is hourly posted
by his signal corps extending their line for
MANY miles up and down the river, and by a
most perfect system Of couriers; so that, with
the railroad broken or the telegraph line in
terrupted, he -sill still have uninterrupted
communication with tho extremities of his
lines on either hand.
"The Army of Tennessee is now to have
tia opportunity to achieve as great, if not
greater fame, than the Army of Virginia, and
feel sure they will do 80 cannot give you
the exact strength Of this army; it is, how
ever, considerably inferior to that of Rose
atanz. I understand achievements are ar
irving from Mississippi.
II believe it will be the policy Of the enc
nv not to attemnt the passage of the Tennes-
see at any point West of Loudoun. These
demonstrations regard as mere feints. So
think YOU will hear that the bloodiest scenes
Will be in front of Knoxville, if Bragg shall
choose to fight there; if not, Buckner will be
constrained to yield the place and with it all
of East Tennessee north of the Tennessee
TITS true the occupation Of that portion of
Hast Tennessee by the enemy might become
10 them o culde-sae, but / should distrust
such strategy on our part"
So should we. By this kind Of strategy
the enemy might get into the whole Confede-
ra.y by way of cul-de-sae, and would never
wish to escape from it again. East Tennessee
and our great inland line Of railroad are worth
fighting for, and must be fought for. General
Bragg has given up just about enough Of Ten
nessee ; and with the army that he now has,
and in such condition, and driven to bay as he
is, too, in the very heart of the Central Noun
tains, it is time that he turn upon the Yam
kees who thus beard US in the Businesses Of
our hills
A resident Of Southampton county, Va,
named George Bishop, was found dead few
Oars $50 IN oae Of tie psbks roads Of that
10y, With lla theoAt cut fon sT y sa..