Washington telegraph., 1863-06-10
We extract the following from a long letter
OF our correspondent in Bragg's army:
W.yr,.c, Trxx Nr,v11 1890

OF our correspondent in BRACES army:
WARTRAcE, TESS., May II, 1868.
| Dear Telegraph: Perhaps it would be well
to trace the position Of our army. Look al
| your map. Our line forms the arch OF large
circle, curving Southwark. Our right rests at
| McMinnville, and the line extends thence west
ward by Manchester. Wartrace and Shelbyville
to Columbia. Our left flank is sheltered BY
Duck river, and by the bravery and vigilance
of Wheeler and his devoted followers. Our
right is protected by Elk creek. 'Caney Fork.
with its numerous tributaries, the abrupt peaks
of the Cumberland mountains, and several
thousand dashing, dauntless cavaliers, under
| the chivalrie, impetuous John Morgan.
| The army is in splendid condition. Perhaps
! there never was an army Of the size Of this IN
better fighting trim, or in fiuer state of dis
cipline. Ii has fine health, il well fed, wei
clothed. in good spirits and glowing enihu-
siasm, and is eager for the fray. As DIR.
Mitchell said in speech here the other night
you never in your life as healthy, fat, rosy
| checked dirty set of rebels as constitute the
| army of Tennessee. Gen. Bragg certainly de.
serves the approval of all Southerners for the
manner in which he has organized and disci-
| plned this wondrous mass of soldlery ont Of
such unskilled material. One word from him
would move the entire grand army with the
order and regularity of woodworking ma
chine.
| The country is called upon to mourn the loss
or another great hero-Mai. Gen. Earl Van
| Dorm He was assassinated at Columbia On
Wednesday last. by one DR.. Peters, for alleged
| intimacy with Peters wife The circumstances
| of the affair are these: Peters, who, pre-
sumo. had some knowledge of & too close intl-
macy between Van Dorm anu his wife, went &
the Generals headquarters and requested. :
passport out Of our lines The pass was writ
| ten out ard duly signed by Gen. Van Dorm and
| handed to Peters, who carefully folded the pre-
cious paper and put i in his portmOnine
Having accomplished this, 10 necessary To His
escane5 he drew navy revolver. and DELHI
erately shot Van Dorm through the head, killing
him almost instantly Mounting q fleet horse
with which he had prepared himself, the assas.
sin made his escape ere the alarm could he
spread. and is now safe within the enemy!
lines. Whatever may have been the circum
stances OF justification or mitigation on tht
part of Peters for nothing IL known only from
rumor-it is enough to know that the valuable
services of a great cavalry chieftain are lost t,
| the country one whose place II will be no cas-,
matte. 10 fill The name Of Van Dorm. since
his advent into Middle Tennessee. has been
terror to the enemy. His brilliant exploits
will form bright page in the history Of til,
| camgaign in this State. During his operation.
| in this department. he has killed and wounded
over 1900 of the enemy, and captured over
| 5000 prisoners. As a cavalry officer. Ear
Van Dorm had no peer. No doubt he had hi:
faults flor who has not?) Let US try and forge
them-let US throw the mantle of charity ovel
his fobIes, and look upon the brigh, side Of hl.
career.
Gen. Van Dorm has been succeeded ia tn,
command of the cavalry corps by Maj. Gen
Joseph Wheeler, the ''boy general as he il
Familiarity termed, being only % years oil
Great expectations are held out for this youn.
chieftain, predieated upon his former rallan
exploits while ia command of a brigade.
McNhir's Brigade took the cars Ill this place
on Sunday last for Bridgeport. Whittier thel
are bound thence. | am unable To say. Ector'.
Texas brigade followed on Monday. Genera
McCowa has been tried by VI court martial. ant
suspended from service ior siz months, for iis
| obedience of orders.
| " IT NJ