The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-02
Tns Rebel Pinn-The Next Battle.

the clutches of the Aboliiionists," and
remarks:
1--WE begin now 10 believe that We shall
be driving our Quill in the capital OF Ten
uesaee before another month has pass
ed"
The Ex.Chattanooga editor will more
probably be driving mule wagon at
fast gait in the opposite direction. AT
least we are not alarmed at the prospect |
that the Rebel will compete with the
UNION for the patronage Of this city,
though there are many who would be
grAtifed at the exchange. The Aiheni-
ans poisoned Socrates their greatest phi
losopher, with hemlock, and why should
not some of the bigotted rebels of Nash
willie desire to put their greatest editorial
benefactor under paddock? If the Rebel
scribbler, whose hungry belly doubtless
makes him eager to break into some suit
ler's shop or commissary store in Nash
Vile, has no better prospects ahead for
living than to drive his quill in the CAPT
al, he had better white it down to
tooth pick, even though picking ones
teeth in Dixie must be the hollowest Of
all shams.
But il is certain that the fugitive reb-
ell editor expressed hope generally en-
tertaiued by the rebels of Bragg's army
when he expressed his belief that the
Confederate troops would soon re-c occupy
Nashville. Many are puzzled to account
for the evacuation OF Chattanooga and
the abandonment of East Tennessee, if
the rebels really expected to regain this
State. Why did they not hold on to
Chattanooga? We think that an ex-
PLANTATION may be reasonably given.
The evacuation of Chattanooga, and re-
moval of the rebel army South, was a
step adopted to make the recovery of
the State more sure. The plan was
TO decoy Rosecrans as far as possible from
Chattanooga, and then swoop upon his
army, and not defeat it merely, but an
nihilate it. Had the rebel army held on
to Chattanooga, and brought their vast
reinforcements TO that point, they might
have held on to that all-important strong
hold for a long while; but the army of
the Cumberland could have easily fallen
back upon Tullahoma or Murfrees-
borO, and the fairest part of Middle
Tennessee would have continued to
be held by the Federal Govern
ment. But if the impression could be
made that Bragg's army was hopelessly
demoralized, and Rosecrans, elated with
the sanguine hope of destroying it, could
be decoyed into pursuit so remote from
his supplies, and then be set upon by an
overwhelming army, reinforced from all
quarters, the rebels felt sure of being
able to destroy the Army of the Cumber-
M land totally, and that the entire Federal
force, routed, overwhelmed, and oircum-
vented on all sides by a military ava
lAnche from tho whole Confederacy,
would never be able to recross the Ten
neasee river. The rebels had from 3d.
600 to 10000 more troops than we had
at ChickamAuga, the pick and flower o.
their whole army.
They had the most important military
position to fight for in all the South
Vicksburg not excepted. If they con.
quered us they could march to Nash
vile, and to Louisville if they saw pro-
per, without being interrupted by a
Federal soldier. One of the most formid.
able Of the Federal armies, distinguished
for its successes would be totally des
troyod, for not a company, not squad
could make it's way across the Tennessee
Rosecrans could retreat il defeated be.
fore Chattanooga, and still hold on TO
large portion of Tennessee, until reinforc
ed but he could not retreat, they argued
if beaten badly At OhickAmauga. w
shall bag him, they exultingly said, a
completely as Grant bagged Pombertol
at Vioksburg. Such were the hopes O
the rebels previous TO the late erea
battle. The fOrlOrn wandering Governo
Of Tennessee WAS intoxicated with th
vision Of regained honors and emolu
ments.
The trophies Of oonquerer,
m dreams his song OF triumph heard"
On the 10th and Goth Of September tn
rebel army some 10000 strong cam
rushing like a vast herd ofwild beasts M
on the army of the Cumberland, conilden
Of an easy victory, from the mere force q
numbers. For time terrible suspens
prevailed no such fighting has ever rage
for so long time, even upon the memora
BILE field of Shiloh. Our soldiers tough
mAnfully, nobly, heroically, and sd
wave after wave of frenEied rebels rush
ed upon the army which was now IN
bulwark of Tennessee and Kentucky
as the waves rush fOamiDg and roarin
along the rocky sea-shore in an equinoc
tiAl storm. And for a season
seemed as though that resistance woul
be in vain; Federal corps were beate
back; Federal flags went down into th
dust amid horrible carnage Federal bat
teries were captured, while men An