, 1864-04-30

Especial Correspondence Chicago Tr1bune,l
- uuSTsv1lLr, April q, 1861
Within the week there have been rumors
about headquarters Of rebel designs upon the
bridges across the Tennessee. There has
been for some time force of the enemy on
the south bank Of the river, variously esti-
mated from 1000 upwards. This army Inns
been moved about, and on several occasious
has approached 60 near the river as 10 stimu
late vigilance, On Sunday they moved to-
wards Decatur and attacked tue pickets with
sAfrmisheTs Us II they intended to give bat-
tie. sktEmishing continued for some time,
ard rclnforeements were moved up to the
river. But the rebels hesitating to push the
affair into. TN assault upon our position,
Gen. Dodge u ILL q small lUrce attacked snr
drove them back Several miles. It is quite
probable tlsat The whole aliasr was rebel re-
cunhoissance Of our Notifications. It is well
known that 1le poutoon bridges at Larkins'
Ferry and at Decatur are source of sreat
annoyance to Tie rebels. They are very
an5fops 10 accomplish their destruction. But
ii is yerF doubtful if they will make auy Mt
tempt upon either with their present force.
ard with the knowledge they must possess
OF The means and lUrce with which ttey nre
held and will be defended. I ca1aot, there
IN this vicinity Until 1t Is sought by our
Gencrnls.
William Ryan, one OF those wounded by
the explosion Of the caIsson Of Cogswelrs
Euitcry, has deceased, u4i1iEg scyeu victims
q that unfortunate occurrence. The Post
G1Ecr ;E scutess CT 1Ae battery ID now Nash
The agent Of the Treasury Department has
lcastd considerable number Of abandonrl
plantations. The lessees arc all Northern
mvn- So Tar the SESSION has been remorE.
ably backward und cold. There is time. haw.
ever, IN which to mature 3 crop, and il the
pleasant weather Of the past few daEs con.
unues, at least IN average crop NAV be ex-
pectcd. The number OF acres cultivated will
be in comparison with former Seasons. ycr-7
small In q naEbcr Of instances al1e.dy tho
resident p}snt.rs have made arrangements
Tor The bring uf their former Slaves. Enough
futi arrangements lave already been entered
into TO answer for experiments. Ii tbcze are
successful, as have no doubt they Will be,
there is every reason to believe that by the
commencement Of another planting season,
compensated nesEo labor will be adopted on
all OF the plantations. There is, SO Tar Us /
Lave been able to ascertain, aud ! have
given the mattcr much Intention, m objec-
ton On the part Of the la1Eer and better
clu.s OF planters rsainst the chause from
.l4ve labor to free labor. In fact, those pre-
.:.Iicte NuiCh Atye eIleted in the minds OF
come aI: Ers:drcilE being removed. The
Whole people tll:st still remain III the occu-
pir6 country are in dependent, fIapoyer-
,sAed conal.'on. The large proprtetors or
t:.nd owGtrs are as poor, practically. Us the
''M hile trash They nll want for the ueces-
sa1i's Of life. and must eventually obtain
t1n Ii 1y cu4.ir1tion Of The soil So TINT the
natural result Of war-the operation of
cytn:k brorsht about BY the slave v,sIcEs-
will compel them to make the experiment
T31AfYt fk,..$ Bal 1,.I1
is le who is Hi! his hire.
Just now there Is scarcity of negro labor
ers at this post. 1t is an anomaly that have
never found before, but Is nevertheless true.
There is hot enough able bodied negroes to
20 the labor Of the different departments,
kuen labor as 3.as heretofore s,cen done By
tEtu,- CEe reason fs the enlistmen: OF then,
In Tennessee Tegimcrtf- Another reason is
tic etuk loluIcnt ct numbers OF tGciu on the
lessrd plantations. There Is also great
scarcity Of rai1ruad. operatives uf ell classes,
engineers, conductors and brakesmen. Thc
is MT enough TO do The work. The railroad
necessities Of tie Division are very great, and
experienced 1ailroad men can do their coun-
tTy quite as great u service just now by q few
mouths service in their own callInCs, as II
they gave full term In thc ranks. As it is
now, the managers Of tho military railroads
are obliged to employ such men as they eau
find. in eome instances trusting trains 10 the
handling Of known rebels.
East Of Huntsville, on table OF land be-
tween the city and the foot of: Mount Sano, is
tie cemetery. A fed Of some ten acres
sloEtpg toward the east and enclosed by a
rough unpainted board fence, regularly laid
out In squares md avenues, ID the home
which public muniacencc- has provided tor
the dead.
Neithsr tree, nor shrub, nor fountain, nor
has been placed there ,by public
enterprise. Private mpnlhcence his made it
In sume respects one Of the most attractive
resting places have cver visited. While few
graves are without a monument of some
kind there are no specimens Of the best st, lie