The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-07
From Gen. Iobnston,s Army.

10 rTespOndence Of the Richmond Disuatch.
THoMAsFoN, Ga, Dec. %, 1868 Il re-
sumo the pen for the purpose of disa-
busing the public mind Of an erroneous
impression in regard to the future move
ments of the Army of Tennessee. |
allude to the belief, ssid to be entertained
very generally in Georgis, that the army
was engaged in repairing the roads and
constructing bridges in the rear, with
view to falling back upon Atlanta
Having heard that some uneasiness was
felt upon this subject, csllsd upon Gen.
Hardee before lesving Dalton, and Ihave
his authority for saying that he has not
tie least thought of retiring from his
present position but On the contrary, if
the enemy should advance this winter,
which be does not beli5Ve be will do, he
will dispute every foot of ground from
Tunnel Hill to Atlanta.
BE believed, moreover, that tie abb
sentees will return TO duty and the peo-
pie at home will continue to supply the
army with the means of subsistence, the
Federal army will never succeed in reach
lug Atlanta any more than it has sue
ceeded in reaching Richmond. l. is nov
reported that General Johnston has been
assigned TO the command of the army:
but there is no reason to believe that he
will withdraw in the direction of At
lsnta st time whsn there is 10 prospect
of an advance by the enemy.
But will General Grant make forward
movement this winter To do SO. be
must first accumulate large stores of sub
sistence at Stevenson or Chattanooga, and
procure fresh supply of horses and
wagons to be used in conjunction with
she railroad in the transportations will
require, not days nor weeks merely, but
months. An army is an immense m&-
chine, which can be moved only with
much difficulty and expense. In the
present instance, Grant would first have
to repair The railway bridges at Bridge
port and Running Water, (nO easy matter
at this season of theyearO re-cOncent-ate
his army at chattanooga, bring up sup
Plies, increase his teams and wagons, re-
pair the Western and Atlantic Railroad
as he advanced, and bring with him cars
and locomotives to do his transportation.
1t is known that thousand of his horses
persisted or were disabled at Ohattanoo-
ga, and that Wheeler Destroyed and
captured over q thousand Of his teams,
and four or five times as many mules and
horses, few days after the battle of
OhickamaUga.
It is known, too, that the Federal army
encamped around Chattanooga was re-
duced to greater extremity for food than
the COnfederates have ever been, not be-
cause lhey did not have the supplies in
the rear, but because they could not geG
them up. And the recent intelligence
that portion of the army have gone to-
wards Stevenson and Nashville is all ex-
planned, it is believed, by the suggestion
that they have been distributed along the |
railroad 10 the rear with q view of lea
sening the pressure upon Chattanooga,
and 10 greater convenience 10 supplies. !
If any troops have been sent to Virgins, |
they are probably the two Potomsc corps |
which Hooker took to the assistance OF /
and which he is now return
ing to the RaPpshannOek.
For tlese reasons, taken in connection |
with the fact that the enemy has destroy /
ed the Western and Atlantic Railroad |
from RinggOld back to Ohiczmaugs, and |
the Georgia and East Tennesses road
LON Cleveland, fer the distance Of sew
aral nglss t5wirds Dalton, one may safely |
t-ese viii b. no forgard move |
nent undertaken by the Federal army 4
THIS winter.
Ths Oenfece'ateS hays all gone into
winter quarters.