The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-23

from Nashville the Sd inst, gives very inteslt
sible review Of Losestreet's campaies In East
Tennessee. He says
Il 10 not reasonable to suppose that L0neatreet
u his advance . week 81 swo aeo, had any 0esiOas
Intention Ofassaliag Kaoxville. He wss placed
withdrawal from the Siege last December, and took
refuge at points where ne could have q series of
lines Of communication with his rear. His inten-
ton AZ That time me was doubtless 70 iake Knoxville
Grant, and when he was forced to do 80 he with.
dre~.
But his presence In East Tennessee had another
object of far more importance than the capture Of
Knoxville, although his possession Of that city
would have greatly facilitated his plans for the
winter. II was necessary that his army should be
maintained without drawing upon the already sell.
exhausted dep0ts In Virginia aud Georgia. In the
course Of his military career In the fOrmer state he
had exhibited much determination Of purpose. and
his selection by bis superior for an ardu0as winter
wisest that could be made. His plans, ~ now re-
vealed, were 10 hold all the ground that he could
and to gain oil new territory that IL was p0ssibie
for him TO acquire. The passive nature Of his
siege Of Knoxville deceived Gen. Burnside aud his
successor Gen. Foster. Indeed, the maintenance
of his army In the position into which 1t was be-
ieved that 1t had been driven after that event,
believed on all hands 10 be difficult, II net impos-
sibie. This idea possessed not only the popular
mind, hut inspired even our aslute President with
the belief that East Tennessee was indeed free.
Longstreet's plans, however. soon began 10 be
developed He selected position in Nort6eassern
Tennessee, where he could hold Communication
with his saperors at Richmond, and entrenching
himself against all possbi ty of surprise, he pro-
ceeded to carry out his military pls ms. The Army
Of the Ohio was weak, and he knew It. II was
strong enough to hold Knoxville, as he had learned
by sad experience. The reInf0rcements which
peril, were Withdrawn, whether wisely or not ii
would be unbecoming for me to say, and he saw
that the field was open for whatever movements he
might consider necessary during the winter
months.
He, therefore, organised his forces for conquest,
not necessarily Of territory, but Of material for the
subsistence of his troops. The Telegraph has I'm.
formed you of the success with which he has met;
how he has oveTrun the entire section Of the State
east of line drawn from Cumberland Gap to
Cleveland; how he has gathered within his lines
all that was valuable In supplies Of food; and how
ho has made his army quite self subsisting In
tract Of country where it was thought it was inpos
sible for him to remain without external aid. ong-
street has tn fact, completely shut the army Of the
Ohio within the narrow precincts Of It's early con-
quests; has cat OF communication between Il and
Cumberland Gap, and only awaits the opening of
spring to enter upon the campaign reinvlg0ratsd
and supplied for active operations.
The Army Of the Ohio has been unfortunate in
its commanders Gen. Burnside rendered his re-
signatOn Immediately after Fescuing Knoxville and
Cumberland Gap from the rebel rule. While he
continued In command, after his resignation had
been sent 70 Washington, he had NO foe against
which 70 contend until Longstreet bssieged him,
and then he withdrew his lines 20 a. to lake and
resume tho defensive entirely. Alter that event,
until the time that he was relieved by Gen. Foster,
he remained entirely upon the defensive, n0twith.
standing the fact that he had wary foe in his
front Gen. Foster mas not added 10 his laureis
while he has been the department commander.--
He, ii all reports are ue has been careless Of bis
have been suffered 10 subsist upon quarter rations
most Of the time. But perhaps this IL no fault
of Gen. Foster. Until very recently he has not
exercised himself In fighting the enemy, and
then only because he was compelled 10 do 80 10
maintain his position. Under his administration
he has lost his lines Of communication with Cum
berland Gap, aud barely maintained those with
Chattanooga. LOngstreet with his army, isolated
from all support, has Out-maB0uvcred him Ia al
most every instance aud Gen. Foster owes to the
imDregnahle nature Of the deiences Of Knoxville
the securiiy ybOf hi1 command. II II known that Gea
Foster lab0red under difficulties insurm0uaabie -
He could not make or maintain roads. lie could
not advance with de6clent transportation; bat he
could have done more than he has done. II Long
street could move consistently, Foster could have
done 80; and that he did not, Will not c0ndace
much to his merits ~ a military commander IL
IL true that In the engagement at Fair Garden on
the a7th uli., thnt portion Of his command uader
Gen. Sturgis did signal service. But cannot
that Gen. Foster is eattied 70 credit for an acci
dent.
The new commander, Gen. Schoa~ld, has taken
the reips, and Il h hoped that he will infuse into
the army some Of that Western energy 80 essential
to that command. He II Gen. Gnafs choice, and
will doubtless fulfill all that reasonably be ex
pected Of him. There h one thing In his favor,
and that IL, that he IL fresh from the field where
his conduct has been such as 70 make him enemies,
which II 10 desirable that he should punish. He
has now m opportunity, not only 10 win the right
70 wear the double stars, but 10 bring confusion
and shame upon those who have SO persisaentiy
tFaduced him. His reputation II at stake. He u .
man Of ind0mitable energy, and I confidently be-
hevo that he will make bis power felt a. soon a.
he get the reins OF the military goveTnmems In
his own hands. l am e0nhdent that Longstfset
will not remain In the peaceable possessi0n Of the
garden 0f East Tennessee long.
MoDSL ARxT LErrEa.-In the Augusta
CAreNielc We 6hd the following model Of . checsfll
army correspondence. II will pay for the read
Ing:
DALTON, Feb. 5.
All ssrene In front. Isn't Il eFanfyihs 70 yoa 70
reject that you have . correspondent here 20 give
vfla nrev II