The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-03-02
Gr0ssls from q Loyal Military
sStittOr.
I rom ine OtiiO otalo JOuTnti,
EAST TENNESSEE AGAIN.


The 81 ation of aff.sirs in East Tennessee
| is becoming more threatening to our pcs,
tlon in that region. There is no disgui>ins
| he !act that the rebels have recovered full
possession Of the whole valley eastward and
northwestward of Knoxville. They occupy
the strongest positions, AMI are steadily pres
sing our forces back, and sill back, until
the rebel guns are now almost in position. to
shell Knoxville. Tazeweli is theirs ,Cumher
land Gap is theirs And the rebel forces.
under L:ngstgeet that were flying and star
wing and reezing-for 50 tho country was
informed-are now, not only holding their
own positions, but are actually driving our
commanders from theirs, and are even now
looking grimly down upon Knoxville ITSELF
What does this mean? Are we outnumb,r-
ed by the rebels in Fast Tennessee? Such
seems to be the fact; for such is the state :
ment attending the account oil every battle
and skirmish on that line. Why, then, is
not that line strengthened? There must be
troops in abundance that could now be spared
from Chattanooga and other points within
reach, aud which could render our possessions
of the East Tennessee valley certain and un
interrupted. Aud yet the people are con
ed ann0unc ments that LGngstree ct is daily
drawing nearer and nearer to Knoxville
To be sure we are treated tosstarnal emols
lents in the shape Of boastful statements
that Knoxville can't be taken, and that it is
IN good condition to stand siege. etc., ETC.
ALL this may be true; We hope it is. But
assuming that such is the faot still this does
not meet the requirements OF the situation
in that quarter. 1t is not enough that
Knoxville be held, while the whole valley is
overrun by rebel armies. 81
To make this matter look moro disheart.
ening, we hear of no measures of any effic-
iency being on loot to resist the rebel ad,
vance bile Longs'ree is moving down
the Valley and Our forces falling back be-
fore his superior Numbers, Gen. Grant is
eating good suppers at St. Louis, Foster is
confined by wounds and sickness, and Siho
field is pendulatng between Knoxville and
| Washington. We do not undertake to say
that the rebel advance upon our lines would
not have occurred had our commanders been
at their posts. But it would seem reasona
ble to urge that, when the advance was oc-
curing, our commanders should not have
renamed absent from their f,rces. The
country we'll knows the importance, in a
military point of view, Of a firm hold upon
East Tennessee. The rebel Generals, as
well as our ewn, have repeatedly assured
their people and ours that the possession Of
thai valley by the Union forces is fatal to
rebel success, Then why not have measures
taken to secure what we had actually won?
Must we be always on the defensive? Is it
sufficient for US to be told that our army in
East Tennessee cannot be captured?7 Ger
tainly, we are 10th to find fault with mill
tary movements; but wsJ are more slow to
a 'cept apologies for vim iicato of military
blunders. And we sincerely hope that Gen
Grant will not permit the splendid reputa.
ton he has won to be jo'pard eel by an over,
weenihg confidence in his good luck" and
and be compelled once more to sacrifice lie
and treasure in winning back an important
position which we once occupied and might
have held. .g.-. -1s