The New York herald., 1863-04-21

prosperity Of the place Now, however, being cut or
from trade necessarily arising from tho running Of
the roads from Memphis and Nashville, and relying en-
tIrsy on that Of the Western and Atlantic road this teo
it's former prosperity may considered having been
reduced very small extent Tho East Tennessee road
running Knoxville afford but little advantage al
that has its southern proper at Cleveland renn
where junction is made by drect:southern route
via Dalton Georgia. with the cotton and Southern seaboard
States The strategcal Importance Of Chattanooga can
not be overraed It's possession by our forces would oy
keeping open the most important channel OF communica-
tion with Middle Tennessee, including Nashville, enable
the government troops at the most available
point for offensive operations both in Eastern Tennessee
and Northern Georgia. The line Of the Cumberland river
being In possession, by occupying Chattanooga we
bring Knoxville between two divisions Of our forces,
which, being marched respectively northward and
southwark, menace Knoxville, with the rebel general
commanding this point and his forces, both In front
and Chattanooga contained previous to the rebel
lion four ave churches bank, i've hotels two print
ing oices each issuing weekly newspaper and num-
bers Of ne residences The country around Chattanooga
is Tor was) annually frequented summer resort by
the residents Of Southern Georgia and Alabama.
It has been asserted by refugees that forncations
have been constructed at this point at ALL the rebels de-
pending mainly upon the natural impediments to federal
advance. Time, however, will solve this, a. well %
many other rebel problems.
WHERE BRAGG FELL BACK TO FROM MURFREHsBoRo.
After the battle Of and subsequent skirmishes near
Murfreesboro was supposed that Braggs army would
have fallen back Tullshoma, instead Of which tho
main portion took up position at Shelbyvi'le It Is
true that Bragg took his headquarters at the former
place still his main army rested at the latter point
during the principal part OF tho winter. OF Gene.
nod h,vrfvo that khnp
point shall be given up to the Yankees" but when the
armies move the truth will be better known.
SOMETHING ABOUT sHELBYvILLs.
The vicinity Of this village, or, the rebels denomi
IT, city, s considered the garden spot Of Tennessee
The itself is pretty, and has population OF about
two thousand persons It was before the war; connected
with Nashville by both rail and turnpike roads,
and was supposed to be rising place. General
Bragg has threatened to destroy IL II he is COM
PEELED to evacuate the position, as he feels
that from former evidences Of the feelings Of the people
around him. they would gladly the faces Of the
Yankees and give them welcome as they would the
backs Of his rebel troops.
THE ELK RIDGE
range OF hills In this vicinity which Braggs army
have turned into good use as defence Of the head
quarters at Tulahoma. All the typographical advan-
ages Of this position lie directly north OF that place. and
are Of course between It and Rosecrans' army Nor
mandy and Rowesve e each at the foot Of the ridge,
while the rebel headquarters located the table
land known Is "the Barrens." few miles south Of
Normandy the railroad track commences an upward
grade the rebels have taken good TO forty
upper part OF the grade the whole track
with their guns. AS the track directly into Tuls
homa these works act extra defence Of that place.
SKETCH OF rULLAHoxA.
Tullahoma Is post village, situated In Coffee county,
Tennessee the point where II borders the
ties Of Bedford and Franklin It Is not Of any very mate
rial importance in ITSELF but, being the junction OF the
Manchester and McMinnvie Railroad with the Nashville
and chattanooga Railroad which ntersects, II becomes
Of strategic interest 10 the rebels depot for troops
supplies II Is located on Rock creek and is distant
from Nashville about seventy miles in southeastery
direction. It is eighty miles by rail from Chattanooga
and thirty nine from Murfreesboro II was laid out In
1851 and then supposedto be In promising position
for ultimate improvement. The county In which IL is
actually situated has OF about hundred
twenty square miles, or over hundred and forty thou
sand acres.
THE RIVER DRFnscEs At sHELByvILLB.
The Duck river, approaches this post, has been
made artncaly well already being naturally, strong
by tho rcvs In consequences Of their fortying the
raj prominent points north Of the town. as we'll as the
ridge lying between Duck river and Big Flat creeK Al
here the only available fords In this vicinity there
but little doubt that the rebels will certainly show
amount OF obstnacy In their resistance before they will
give up point 80 valuable to them.
THE LEFT WING OF BRAGGs ARMY.
But II must not be considered for moment that Shell
byvie and Chattanooga the extremes Of the line
operations Of this army in the Tennessee region The
cent operations Of Van Dorm TO the Of tho Nash
vile and Decatur line have demonstrated the fact that
the left wing extends beyond Columbia. From this
try 10 turn right flank, and IL possible make dash
into Nashville These movements merely raids per-
haps In little orce intended to diversion
more probably for the purpose OF rsconnoering the
Union position. suce to say, they looked for and
provided against, and with the exception OF capturing
few outposts have done very material damage the
Union cause In this vicinity.
IS TULLAHoMA FoRTIPIED,-BRAGG's RECRUITS.
This Is one Of the vexed questions that has not ye
been solved. II Is certainly known that General Bragg
has large portion Of his army, lately heavily rein
forced, in this vicinity still leaving heavy force Pok
corps) at Shebyve II has been stated that this army
is, or was, entirely unprotected by intrenchments de
pending upon the advance posts for sufficient timely warn
ing to enable them IL necessary to throw up temporary
works should the enemy be successful in forcing
those positions. II is also asserted that Bragg
would rather that Rosccrans should fight him
either Tulahoma or shebyvilc. Therefore he has not
fortified tho positions to any extent with the purpose of
tempting Rosecrans TO advance All the males from four
teen to sixty residing within reach Of Braggs troops have
been conscrpted into the rebel ranks made to learn their
duty BY being placed between veterans and have ac,u
ally to become veterans before they have been raw
recruits. None are allowed to escape whether their sym
pathes are with against the rebel cause And thus
this army has been recruited and reinforced
ARE ALL THE rENSEssEEANs REBELS,
The following order would certainly give the negative
10 that idea:-
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT No. 81
INSPECTOR GKxKRAIs OryIcE,
TufIAHoMA, Tenn., Feb. IL, 1863.
The General commanding this department learns with
regret that there are In fennessoe number Of evil dis
posed persons wno Instead OF contributing 70 the
OF country from abolition invasion arc melting those
who are 70 the dsgraceu crime OF deserton and harbor
ing them Al persons within the limit OF this depart.
notified that the penalty Of such offence s DEATH
and mat the srcest efforts will be made 10 detect those