The Portland daily press., 1863-01-10
ARMY NEWS.

From the Boston Traveller.
DAMAGE TO THE VIRGINIA AND EAST TEN
NEssEE RAILROAD.
The recent raid upon the Virginia and East
Tennessee Railroad was an neimportant affair,
and prevented the reinforcement of Bragg by
the rebels during the recent terrible battle
near Murfreesborb'. Nearly all the brigades
between Knoxville, and the Virginia State
line--a distance of 130 miles-have been de-
stroyed, and the track more or less injured.
SO combined was the movement that the whole
affair was completed In a comparatively short
space oftime, and as the rebels express it, the
line was SO much injured "that it will take
several weeks to repair the damages
The plan adopted is developed by the re-
suits. From the facts we have We know that
two bodies Of Union troops, belonging to Gen.
Grangers army Of Kentucky, left Richmond.
KY, shortly after Christmas, on an unknown
expedition. 1t now appears that one portion
ofthese forces took the left hand road run
ming south from that place, and passing by
Manchester, reached Mount Pleasant. Thence
1t took the road over the mountains TO Jones'
vile, struck the railroad at Union, station
situated about eleven miles from Bristol which
is near the State line between Virginia and
Tennessee. At this point the work OF destruc-
tion was commenced.
The telegraph lines TO Richmond. Va. were
first cut to prevent the rebel chiefs at their
capital from knowing anything of what was
going on beyond that point.
They next dashed up the line rs far as Bris-
tol, efiectually destroying the railroad track
as they went, and as they fell back burn.
ed the bridges over the streams. Arriving at
the point where the railroad crosses the Hols-
ton and Watauga rivers, the Union troops
burned those bridges, and beyond that point
the rebels give no Information. The telc-
graphic lines haying been, as we have before
stated, entirely destroyed west of Bristol, of
course the rebels could learn nothing beyond
where the principal bridges had been burned.
Aiter crossing the river, and passing Carter
depot, the Union troops pushed on to Jones'
boro, thence to Greenville and Bulls Gap,
now known as Rogerville junction. altogether
over a distance of over seventy miles, at the
same time destroying all they could during
their movements in the way of bridges, trestle
work, &c, along that line This ended the
line OF operations OF the column on the left.
The other column left Richmond, KY, by
one of the roads running south, and struck the
Cumberland Mountains at point nearer Cum
berland Gap and farther to the west of that
taken by their colleagues. They next pro-
coed to the State line, and crossing the Clnch
river followed the turnpike road to Rogers
vile. 1t was planned that this colu mn should
arrive at this point about midnight, at which
ton. Rogersville is place of but small i'm
portante, and contained but few Inhabitants,
who were easily secured and prevented from
giving any alarm.
The branch of the railroad was also of mere
local use, and conaected with the main line at
Bulls Gap, or Rogersville Junction. The
troops fonnd the train at the station as had
been supposed, and soon got it under way.
Having switched off at Bulls Gap, they turn
ed along the main line in westerly direction
until they arrived at Strawberry Plains, with
In few miles of Knoxville. All this was
done in a few hours, and then the work of de-
struction was performed as they wended their
way back to the junction. Between New Mar
ket and Morristown long piece of trestle
work, over haifa mile In extent, was totally
destroyed, and near RusselviIle another bridge
met the same fate as its neighbors.
Thus they fell back, destroying as they
went, until they again reached the Rogersville
junction, at Bulls Gap, where they met with
their friends who had been operating on the
eastern part OF the road. 1t will be seen that
the operations extended within few miles of
the whole length OF the line, and destroying
the travel Of greatly over hundred miles In
extent
A large force of troops had been sent by
this route to reinforce Gen. Bragg, and this
operation completely cut off their chance of
reaching Murfreesboro' by the Tennessee line
The Lynchburg Republican states that at the
present time "the road is taxed to its utmost
capacity" The break, SO extensive in its
character. must have been disastrous to their
arms, especially SO when it is taken into con-
sideration that these troops from the rebel
capital were wanted to aid In the resistance
offered to Gen. Rosencran's march.
No wonder, then. that the rebels at Muir
freesboro' retreated from that point. Their
reinforcements had been delayed and cut off,
and there was not the slightest chance that
they could reach Murfreesboro by any other
route In time to save the day. The plan is
certainly good one, and has been well car
ried out. All honor to him who conceived il.
We're this the only railway line from the
rebel capital to Tennessee the effect would in
deed be most disastrous TO the rebel cause for
the communication could easily be kent brok
en- at one or another part of the route To Sc
curely guard the whole line from raids would
require more men than the rebels could well
spare at this or any other time, and therefore
the road would never be secure from destunc-
ton. The rebels have, however, other lines
Of communication.
The line between Danville, Va, and Green's
boro' n. g, has been completed, and this gives
nearly direct route from Richmond. Va, to
Columbus, 5. c. This road by branch lines
connects with the direct route from Charles