, 1864-02-09


A heavy rain storm has just spent Its force
here, rendering the roads very muddy.
The 5lst Illinois Infantry regiment COM
mandcd By Col. L. P. Bradley, has re-enlisted
as veterans, and leave for Chicago in few
days on thirty days furloueh, as I nm in
formed by Capt. T. F. Brown Of Co. D, who,
~ the way, is son of your townsman, VIM.
Il. Brown, President Of the Chicago & Galcna
Railroad. Also the 42d Illinois regiment have
rc-cn1isted Us veterans, aud will soon return
to Chicago for thirty drys.
The army Of the Cumberland is now being
paid off as fast as the greenbacks can be hand
cd ont to the boys.
a few days since flag Of truce was sent
out to the front, for the purpose of sending
some citizens into the rebel lines. The picket
lines Of the enemy VIC supposed to be
about seven miles distant, and the escort Of
the flag travelled to near Dalton. Georgia,
distance of some forty miles, and were unable
to find Mr. Rebels. A courier was sent back
to inform Gen. Thomas Of the fact, who sent
supply OF 1ations, with orders that the CO.
cort should proceed until it found the enemy.
It proceeded and found the rebel pickcts near
Marietta, some eighty miles from here, In
the direction Of Atlanta. It Is believed BY
those high in military authority here, that d
vigorous move is being innyurated By the
rebels. By some It is believed that they arc
concentrating their forces against Knoxville
tor thepurpose Of getting foothold in East
Tennessee, and by others it is thought that
Johnston is moving on to join Lee, to give
Gen. Meade battle, and thus take advantage
of the weakened condition Of his army. But
nothing definite is known, farther than that
the rebels are on the move in some direction.
From the best information am ablc to gather
should sooner think that they are coucen-
trating at Atlanta, as this Is one Of the most
important points they have in their tottering
Confederaey. We shall soon know where
they turn up.
The Provost Marshal OF the department Of
the Cumberland informs me that an average
OF scytnty-Gye confedeIatcs per day come IN
voluntarily, and take the oath under the Pres
ident's late amnesty proclamation, and they
citizens, but mostly they are dcseFteEs from
tho rebel army. To-day saw squad Of one
hundred and tweuty-nine deserters, f1e5h
from Johnbton's army, who escaped during
his recent movement, come into the Provost
Marshal's office and take the oath. The
other day squad Of rabel cavalry came In,
mounted aud equipped, from the rebel army
| md took the oath under the late proctama-
tion, and joined our army. The Presidents
amnesty proclamation is destroying the rebel
| army as fast as shot and shell Gun do it.
/ was amused to-day when rebel WINS
brought in to headquarters for disloyal con-
duct. When interrogated concerning 1t, he
said he was III honest man; lie was rebel,
always lad been, and always expected to be.
I Thought he was honest to AyOW hts true
colors, but the Provost Marshal General told
linn he could not be IN honest man and be
d rcbel-a traitor to his country. It is un-
necessary to say that he WIS lodged in prison.
The 4th army corps arc on their way to
Knoxville, to rc-enforce Gen. Foster. Gen.
Granger and stuff leave to-day for the same
pl;ce.. He Is in command Of that corps.
A fight is daily expected ut Knoxville
Longsifcet is eatd to be within five miles
OF the town and largely REINFORCED.
A large force is ut work on the Chattanooga
&: Knoxville Tailroad, and it is expected to
laycTt completed and in running order in a
arc forwarded By steamboats, from hore to Lon
don, thence BY rail to Knoxville. His ARMY
is now better supplied than it has been Of
late.
We have good authority for saying that
there will be a forward movement or the
Cumberland army ut an early day, which
will he very gratifying to the public, no
doubt.
The Sanitary Commission at this place Is
under the Charge at present Of DR.. j. II.
Hazen, Of Illinois, during the absence OF the
agent, Mr. Read. The duties Of the Comrnis-
sion at this point are exceedingly onerous.
In addition to the usual duties, Il register Of
all lhe daily changes in all the hospitals here,
is kept by the Commission. Any person
learning Of the sickness or casualty IN battle
OF friend, can learn OF his condition if alive,
and where buried, If dead, giving tul1 partfc-
ulars. After the morning reports are sent to
the Medical Director, he transmits copies of
the came to the Sanitary Commission daily.
1t is very convenient and important arrange
mcnt find that these Commissions are
doing good work everywhere in the army,
and the people at home arc assured that their
labors in this direction are not in vain. DR..
Hazcn seems to be very efficient IN the dis
charge Of the arduons duties devolvfng upon
the Commission ut this very important point.
The weather here has clcared of warm, the
graEs begins to look green, the trees are bud
ding, and the birds sing, reminding one that
spring in "Dixie" is near at hand
FRANK FORREST.