Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-04

The people have ample opportunity now for
learning the value of truth IL seems 10 be i'm
possible TO place any dependence on the tele-
graphic dispatches which come over the wires.
protesting TO give news Witness the case Of
Eastern Tennessee. We heard iew days ago
that Longstreet had been reinforced. and that
Knoxville was threatened. Some one i'm power
thought it wrong to let the people know the
truth, and accordingly we bad, in lew hours
more, dispatch from Nashville denying all
this, and assuring ms that the excitement about
Knoxville WAS wholly unfoUuded: that they
were all quiet in winter quarters there and
nothing important going on. This dispatch
must have been manufactured in Knoxville.
as ordered by some government OH 'ials
No other explanation seems tenabe. Now
comes another story, after few days, during
which the alarm has sub>idei, and il appears it
this is true, that Knoxville may well be excited
is in fact ia danger-and Eastern Tennessee is
in most critical condition 1t is by no means
impossible that Johnston. perceiving that Grant
could not possibly advance upon him. has slipped
up towards Knoxville. joined Long street, aud is
threatening with great injury there The most
active and skilliu management will be needed To
save Us from serious disaster. When shaii We
have an Administration at Washington that will
understand the pr0priety OF telling the trulhr
This absurd concealment or Justification of news
does tenlold the harm that would follow from the
publication of the truth, however bud IL l..
" has been evident for some time past that the
rebels mastering their forces in East Ell
neSsee, preparatory To more active movements,
perhaps on the opening of spring: but that they
should venture To take offensive at this early day
was hardly anticipated The struggle for the
recovery OF East Tennessee i one or which the
gravest consequences depend, concerns the
rebel cause, and the longer they are deprived Of
the resources which the COME lert.e army his
been ace u-tomed To drain from the rch asIivul-
tural districts wrested from them by The loss of
Chattanooga. the greater l. the embarrassment
they must suffer No effort will be splrei offer
Ing the least chance of restoring their fortunes
Moreover the Federal occupation OF Rockville
is "a constant menace OF the large salt ai'i nitre
beds on which the CouledeTates are dependent
for supplies vital to their existence; and the i'm
portant works al Atlanta for the manGiacl ure> OF
ordnance aud munitions are in position OF peril
which would become imminent whenever the ad-
vance Of the Union forces takes place.
Notwithstanding the widely circulated stories
of rebel weakness and differences among them
selves we have reason To believe that sweeping
conScripGon has augmented their armies to
very great strength. and that, although deprived
OF Injuries and some of the articles which we are
accustomed 10 call necessaries of lite they have
nevertheless, ample provisions AMI plenty of mu
nitions OF war n the shape OF caissons muskets
powder and ball 1t becomes IA To know these
facts: and lie prepared in the spring iog re,anin
ton Of the c1nte-t Oi "a grand scale II would
be folly TO relax our Efforts now. or allow our
selves ~ be deceived iu'9 p0siaunng our own
preparations until new iever>es shall have taught
new wisdom journaIof Commerce.