The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-11-28
ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Missionary RIDGE. Nov. 2


Tho condition of affairs IN East Tennessee IA one
ofmuch gravity. 1t was stated In my letter 0iyes-
,,lay On tire authority of telegram In the Louis
vile Journal of the l7th inst. that the reinforcing
army Of he Tennessee, under Sherman, had formed
a,unetion with the army Of the Cumberland, uii-
der Thomas. The language oi Tic oo""o" 10 "S
follows:
Of III. Army of the Tennessee, dated yesterday,
tl6lh1 states that Major Gen. Sherman was In the
nuarers of Gen. Thomas, having made The june
,ou Of his entire corps with Grants right strong
tanes were left at intermediate points as Sherman
advanced, and everything is prepared for active
xorkbeioTe many days.
There are reasons, perhaps not proper 10 be
stated Tor believing that Sherman, after reaching
Bridgeport, marched his column up to Jasper, and
iha! hr is now pushing rapidly forward by way OF
liunlap, Pikeville, and Kingston, to Lenoirs Sta
tan, on the Chattanooga and East Tennessee Rail
laad, with view to getting In the rear OF Long
street and cutting him off. l.enOirs 3, the point al
which he would strike the railroad, IL only few
miles this side of Knoxville. The demonstration
on uur left a few days ago AT Johhs0n's crook, 0S
slephens's Gap, In Lookout Mountain, limited al
IN my letter Of last night, was doubtless teint TO
dyer our attention from East Tennessee, the real
polni of danger. The forces which appeared at
Johason', CrOnk, $50 called on account OF the zig
gag direction OF the mountains at tbat point and
al rmntnn, in Willis Valley, have already retired,
haviny accomplished, as the Federal commander
hopes the object for which they were thrown for
wad. II was through stephens's Gap (at the
Crook that Thomas and MeCOok entered McLe-
mofes Cove, just previous 10 the battle OF Chicka
mauga.
The last accounts from Knoxville were 10 the
rfee, that I.angstreet occupied all the outlets
from the town except one, and that he expected to
close that in few hours. Rurnside's forces were
supposed to be equal to his own. Whether they
viii be able to hold Oit until reinfOrcements can
reach them Il Il question now of the greatest ini
pottance. Their supplies must be meagie for q
siege. hut Sherman has shown that he Is no lag
gard IN the march. II is just possible, however,
ihal h. may meet lion in his path before he ar
lives, II indeed he bas gone 10 the rescue of Burn
side. The heavy rain Of yesterday, as well As the
absence of supplies on the reu'e, may operate 10
fetaih him somewhat the road.
], may he, after all, that the batiie for the posses
son of Chattanooga. will be fought around Knox
vile; for II side send forward reimfOrcemen's,
tie other will probably do the saline. To carry
Knoxville by storm is probably impracticablc, Ow-
ing 10 the natural strength and artificial defeEces
OF the place, and The army shut up there may be
able IL hold out quarter raiOns for ten days or
Two weeks, In which time succoT may be re-
c,iysd.
The enemy's batteries In front of Chat anoOga
nave Kept up a slow and irregular fire upon our
mes nearly all day, but without results.
MIS-. semnes, the wife Of tlIe famous Captain
'enineS, and bridal party 0f ten or twelve per
s'ns' are on visit 70 Gen. Bragg and the army.
SALLCsT.