Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-03-02


ACAR kHoXvILLE, L. 1ExN.
Feb 3f, 1854
Editors of Journal
l have seen, very lately, several ac-
counts of the situation Of our army in
East Tennessee, and some of them are
very incorrect. I viii try to give you,
as near as possible, the state OF things
as they axist AS to the number of
troops stationed here at this time, it
may not be proper to speak; but | can
assure you we have enough to hold the
place against all the forces Lengstreet
can bring. We have been engaged in
fortifying, night and day, with the ex-
pectation Of an attack from the rebels.
who have been in force at Strawberry
Plains-a distance of sixteen miles from
here. 4 report, however, reached here
last night, that they had fallen back to
Newmarket, n distance of nine miles,
in the direction of Morristown. This
report was brought by citizen, and
proved to be reliable.
Gen. Schofeld, on learning Of this
movement Of the enemy, sent two divi-
sions out on the front, at daylight this
morning, to watch their further move
ments, and, if possible, learn the cause
of the retreat 1t is thought here, By a
great many, that Longstreet is trying to
Let around us, cross the French Broad
River above Sevierville, and reinforce
Joe. Johnston, whom he considers in
great danger Of being fanked by Sher-
man move in Mississippi Be this as
it may, he will have great trouble in
getting around us. His men are desert
ing him daily, and all agree in saying
that should he have to retreat in haste,
be would lose at least half of his army
by deseriion His men are badl Y clothed
and fed. They have a keen appetite
when they can get some Of Uncle Sam q
grub, as the boys term it.
As for rations-our army has been
living on half rationS since their retreat
from Loudon, it being impossible to
keep up supplies by way of Cumberland
Gap. The railroad is now in running
order from Chattanooga to Loudon, a
distance Of twenty-eight miles FROM here.
There We have TO ferry supplies across
the Tennessee in boats, and then for
ward them on TO Knoxville.
-
the 23d Army Corps, is the most enter
priSing man in fhe Department, visiting
each regiment in his corps and person.
ally inquiring into their wants The
boys already begin to love him, because
he sees that they have something to eat,
and makes the Quartermasters do their
duty.
The smallpox has been among us,
but not TO the alarming extent some ot
the press would have it. 1t has now
almost entirely disappeared,
/ The common in the vicinity of Knox
vile is almost literally covered with dead
horses and mules, and you can Judge Of
! the stencil. They should be removed al
once.
We are making great preparations for
an early Spring campaign, which, |
think, should it prove successful, will
wind up the rebellion, and show to the
world that the Confederacy is failure
and that Republican Government caa
stand.
By the way, Old Uncle Abe is getting
very popular among the boys since hi,
last proclamation offering amnesty and
pardon to all the rebels who will take
the oath. have heard men whom
knew to be Democrats of the most radi
cal nature declare themselves ready tC
vote for Uncle Abe in preference to any
other man for the next Presidency.
The Old S0th has seen some hare
service since their arrival in East Ten
nessee, but we never murmur, and in
tend 10 stick 10 Uncle Sam as long as
rebel exists j. A. Nc.