, 1864-12-14

50 as to fully command and rake every ap-
Our line Is si1 or seven miles long. From
the Capitol It can easily be tEaced by the con-
fortable, blazing camp fres, that stretch
around from the river above, to the river
again, below the city.
Going out 10 the front, dark line can be
discovered away out in The valley. There are
no white tents along this line-no sign OF
life excepting thin cloud Of blue smoke that
arises from behind it. Excepting at one
point, this line is far beyond tho range Of or
dlna'y field artillery, and for stx days 1t has
not been advanced an inch. At one point
near our center, the line approaches much
closer, 50 close that the naked eye clearly OBJ
serves The plan and strength of their works.
No artillery Is visible, but In number Of
places their works nrc prepared with embra-
sues for guns-embrasurea that military
eye discovers at glance arc constructed. not
for attack, but for defense.
Here, then, we have the two armies. The
condition OF our men is not comfortable.
They have only tents to live In, and It Is the
dead Of winter. But 50 far as little canvass
houses, good, warm clothing, with overcoats
anl blankets, and plenty to eat, eau make IN
army comfortable in such weather, they are
comfortable.
But what can be said about the condition
Of the enemys We know that month ago
they were complaining Of scarcity of cloth
iug-of shoes and blankets They certainly
have not been suppl ed since, A long and
arduous march has orly increased their
wants. They have no tents, and to-day,
-"Drcnd Winter spreads his latest gloom,
And reigns tremendous DER the conquered year"
they lie shivering and houselcss In the
trenches, much more an object of pfty than
Of uneasiness to our wcll-fed aud warmly y-clad
boys.
/ nm not ono Of those who think IN inferior
army cannot fall back before. and escape from
2 superior one. have often seen 1t done.
1t may be . very hazardous undertaking.
military authorities all say it is-but it las
been successfully performed every time 1t has
been attempted IN this var. Hood might sud
denly vanish from before Nashville, and be-
fore he could be overtakcn, and compelled to
deliver battle, he might be south of the Ten
nessee river. It Is not at all certain TINT he
could do this, but it Is by no means an impos-
sfbility.
But Hood has Obstacles in the way of re-
trogade movement, greater even than the
fiom Kentucky and Tennessee have been
promised that they should occupy and pos.
scss their native States; they have been per-
sEadcd that Thomas was weak, and unable to
stand before them, and thnt at franklin they
gained splendid Victory over his entire army.
Besides which, the whole army has been
promised Nashville fur winter quarters.
Even in the fact Of all these representations
Hood might readily order his army to retire
again to Alabama. But will It 90? All the
Information We can grt in regard to the ssn-
tinent Of his army, Indicates that the men Of
Tennessee aud Kentucky will not go back.
On the promise Of jeff Davis himself, they
have marched hundreds of miles to sec their
friends. They have bern made to believe they
are strong enough to 60 TO the Ohio River,
why, then, should they retire after getting
but distant view Of lie rich city of Nashville,
full Of beauty and Of brcads They have had
but one killing and that not large one
for Hood. They must have anothrr-such
another rs this war has never witnessed-to
convince them that their hopes are founded
on deceitful lies. Until convinced of this,
they will not retile and when they arc con.
yinced Of it, whether those that survive 70
with Hood or not will be matter Of small
consequence III the general result Of tho war.
SAXnY