The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-01-21
The Esst Tsu"ss.ee csmpaisn--I,s rmpor,-
nnes and sI.natlon.
from The Richmond Examiner. Jan l4th,I

[From the Richmond Examiner. Jan. l4th j
The campaign in East 'rsanessee has assumed
a esrIous form. Tie commandant of that militia
~ district, General KIRBY Smith. is now IN
Richmsnd, on special mission to consult with
the Gever ment on tho subject. The affair Of
East Tennessee involves that Oi Southwest
Virginia and General JOKES, commanding that
Confederate District. has recently held con.
sultation with General FLOYD, commanding the
State Line. on the defenses of that region
which has resulted In specific visit of Gene
raj FLOYD 10 thia city, for conference with the
authorities here.
The cessation of hostilities in the East has
enabled the Federal Government to eoncen.
trate heavy forces in the West The battle Of
Mnrfrscabero' proves that they may succeed
IN their designs upon East Teunessee by mere
dint Of numbers; and that the Federal Gov.
ernment is supplying RosENcRAEz troops with
out stint. That government is determined to
eonquer East Tennessee, if bringing to bear
upon the object every possible physical appli-
ance can effect it. The stake is a very impert.
ant one. The enemy already hsds West and
Middle Tennessee. 1t requires but to occupy
East Tennessee to have entire possession OF
one Of the most valuable States of the Confed-
eracy. They slss feel bound N honor and du-
~ to render the lsng promised assistance to
the Unionists Of East Tennessee. Tennessee
is more thoroughly theirs than Kentucky, when
once they'f this eastern portion Of il with
their armies. The essential geographical i'm
porlance of this country to the Confedsracy is
too obvious to be dwelt upon. Through il al
so runs a great continental line of railroad OF
which the South could not be deprived with,
out unspeakable detrinent The importance
of this road as an avenue Of supplies is attest
cd by the fact that the recent burning of two
bridges upon il, SEM up the p,ce efsugar from
seventy-fys cents TO delIar and a quarter q
pound. its Importance TO the supply Of ou,
armies is no less considerable than to the sup
ply Of our general population.
The enemy ara determined TO conquer this
country il a heavy concentration Of troops
against II can effect the object. Engaged
themselves in u.assing troops beiore Muirees
bore, they thought our Government would
certainly do the like and, in order to prevent
il, they dispatched body OF cavalry Irm in
terror Kentucky distance OF several hundred
miles, against our railroad in East Ttnne, see;
which, tndiug no obstacle in their p plh sue
cesded in reaching the railroad, burning two
Lridges, and escaping with ease fronl the tar.
dy pursuit which was made after them.
The lime has arrived when the Government
can no longer, With prudence. neglect the de.
fenses OF that country. Measures must imlne.
diaey be taken TO secure them. or we shalt
lose East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia,
including the railroad and salt works, III less
thans ak weeks. I've m des Of defense pre-
sent themselves. The one consists in station
ing eur troops in and near the gaps Of the
mountains, and resisting the first approach Of
the enemy. This plan Of defense ia said 10 be
advocated by Genorsl SMITH for East Tennss
see; and 10 the one plactced hy General FLorD
for Southwest Virginia. The latter General
even went far beyond the mountains. tack
lug the enemy at his depots o supply in Ken
tacky, and breaking up projrcred expedition
by nippiRg in the bud.
TIE other plan Of defense consists in lsav
ing the mountain gaps undefei ded and with
drawing to the lins Of the railroad and Il Q
villages that skirt il. awaiting there the enc
my's approach This IN said 10 be the plan #
GsneisI MARSHALL, 1t ia proved to ho de-.
feclive one, for while General AlARsHALt 5 for
ces were quietly resting on the line of the road
the other day the enemy came unseen through
the nndeiended gaps OF the mountains. dashed
down upon the road at po'nt where General
MARSHALL huppened not TO be, did their wsrk
sf destruction, and escaped impunished. The
plan will not answer and it 10 fraugijt with
danger. Wo are infinitely superior 10 the o. +.
cny in cavalry. Wherever he has pace IF
rendezvous for troops, or depot Of supple,
bowever far within his lines, there should our
CaValrV n ha h.,.,..e.s,.. ~ Ioab
their prey. Our Confederate cavalry ought 10
be making raids into Kentucky from Eastern
Tennessee and Southwestern Virgnia. instead
Of ingloronsly huggng The railroad and the
villages, and permitting the enemy TO dash in
amongst them, strike their blow and escape
unharned in high gles Ifhalf the enterprise
had been exhibited in the district under con-
aideratien, which has been shown by FoRREsr,
MORGAN and WhERiER in the West. Stuart
and HAMPTON in the East and the troops Of
the state Line on the waters Of the Guyandotte
and Big Sandy, the enemy never would have
dared to conceive the project Of a raid upon
IN, railroad Of East Tennessee. and would not
now be projecting on large scale the con-
quest oftl.a, country.
II is believed that the Confederate Govern
ment has an army in that disrict Of copptry
adequate for lie protection against any or6iBa-.
~ force OF the enemy. But facts have recent.
" trauspircd which leave no doubt tina, 70,
ry heavy Federal force is concentrating against
II. Alive to the emergency, some efthe com
mandng officers In that country are In Rich.
mond fer conference with the Government, and
we doubt not that adequate and energetic
measures will At once be taksn 10 meet the
grave emergency Of the oaae,
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