Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-30
9ailg gppeal,
MORNING EDITION.
JACKSON, MISS
THURSDAY MORNING. APRIL 30.
MOVEMENTS IN TAX CENTER.

Southeastern Virginia, and upen the Missis-
sippi in the West, the center, defended by Gen.
JOHNSTON. has lately attracted but little public
attention There has been particularly SO much
of interest Iately transpiring in this department,
and west of the river, that We have failed to pay
but Httle attention to the situation in Middle
Tennessee, and the strategic movements now
being made to obtain possession of that section,
have almost escaped general observation, not
withs.snding their importance.
JOHNSTON and ROsECRANs, with their large
armies, continue to front each other in much
the same positions occupied by them months
ago Neither has as yet rendered She gage Of bat
tle-both appear to be awaiting the result Of 9th
er movements and, although we have had nu-
merous announcements that great battle was
imuinent, such an event seems no nearer today
than il did weeks ago Great movements are
going on, however, that are big with importance
il the future. The telegraph yesterday morn
ing informed US that 8 large Yankee force, ten
thousand strong, had advanced Ten miles east
Of Tuscumbia. This is q movement toward the
rear Of General JOHNSTON. Independent Of
any other movement, isolated from ROsECRANs'
main body, this would signify nothing, but,
taken in connection with others, it is significant
Oar special yesterday afternoon advises the
reader that BURNsIDE's advance had reached the
vicinity of Cumberland Gap, with the intention
Of penetrating East Tennessee. This move
men,, it is true, is stated on the authority of
Yankee papers, but we have no doubt it is cor
rect. BURNsIDE's arrival in Kentucky with
his own old army corps, and other troops from
the East, has been known for some time, and
since bis arrival, some six weeks ago, We may
rest assured be has not been idle. The North
ern journals have made frequent mention Of
reiuforcements of new troops, exchanged sol
diers, etc, having crossed the Ohio to join him,
and that be has quietly concentrated large
force, undisEurbed and almost unobseTved, we
cannot permit ourselves to doubt. Neither can
we see any reasOn to doubt the Federal
announcement Of his programme, to Op-
crate against East Tennessee. The po-
siton is one the Federal Government
hss long desired to hold, and has made sew
eral attempts to secure, and we can readily
believe they have not lost sight Of the sdvsnta-
geous position. Their idea IS that to hold it
against such an srmy as BURNSIDE commands;
JoHssTON viii be compelled to weaken his
army IN front Of RosECRAEs, or LEE send rein
forcemsnts from Virginia, and in the event Of
either becoming weakened to any considerable
extent, HOOKER or ROsECRAEs can attack. Or
should q contest with BURNSIDE be declined,
and cur great armies be preserved intact, O
small force can be left to garrison the country,
and cut of our northern connection with Rich
mond, while the main body either joins Rose
GRAMS, OF, proceeding directly in the direction
Of Chattanooga, compel General JOHNSTON to
give some attention to that stronghold, which
we cannot sford to lose.
Gentlemen of close observation, recently
from Middle Tennessee, are almost unanimous
in the expression of the opinion that ROSE
GRAMS viii not fight at sn early day, unless it
is forced upon him where he viii have the ad-
vantage Of his intrenchments That his army
equals that Of his immediate opponent in
strength, no one doubts indeed, the Yankee
journals bosst of its numerical superiority. Yet
he shows no disposition to give battle He has
lain idle for months, and bis movements prom
ise no activity soon He is wRiting-watehing
the result of the other strategic movements we
have alluded to, and thus be viii continue to
wait and to watch. He evidently dare not risk
a general battle upon anything like equal
terms.
How the situation and movements of the
Federal forces will probably affect the move
ments Of Gen. JHoEsToN, we have noticed but
little said, and do not feel disposed to speculate
The whole country places the most implicit con-
fdence in the general commanding our forces,
and that trust is well placed The original
army is noble one, that has been tried on
many battlefield whether it has been rein
fo.ced or not we are not advised. That is for the
enemy to find out, if he can. The position now
occupied is a strong one; whether it will be ad-
vanced from to fOrce battle, wo will not con-
lecture. Army correspondents have so predicted
Of late, but fortunately Gen. JOHNSTON keeps
his own counsel In the event, however, that
the strategic movements we have alluded to as
being made By the Fedsrals should necessitsts q
retiremsnt from TullEhoms and vicinity, tbs
stronghold at Chattanooga can be held against
the combined Federal srmies. We may enter
tain some anxiety as to the result of the move
meats against our present position, but have
not the least fear as to the ability of our army to
maintain itself elsewhere, and to say to the
enemy thus far shalt thou 60 and no farther"
STRAwBERRIEs-We observed some Of this
fruit on the streets yesterday, selling, like every