, 1864-02-13
CUR NASHVILLE LETTER.
The. Military Situation lin
Tennessee

From Our Own Correspondent
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Feb. 8, 1854.
The military situation in Tennessee is un-
changed d-substautially rs it was. The troops
comprising the left Of Gen. Grants army ut
the time Of the panic week before last, were
moved In from the different advanced posts
which they had occupied and concentrated ut
and abont Knoxville. This movement you
will remember took place soon after Gen.
Grant's visit to that part Of the liuc. Tho
enemy, under Longstreet, was threatening his
flank and the Importance and danger OF the
AL this was accomplished without great 1oas.
Gen. Foster absolutely unqualified By physi-
cal disability for field command has been
relieved By an active and competent officer,
and the command Of the Esd corps given to
Stoncman, IN officer of ability and experience.
Troops which could be well spared from the
center have been moved up within support
Ing distance. Supplies have been crowded
through as rapfdly es possible and everything
now indicates readiness for defence ut any
time, and rapidly approaching preparation
to assume the offensive If the enemy on our
left will wait time with patience, they will
be accommodated with all the battle they
coyet, without the labor Of d march from the
Smoky Range to Knoxville.
As to the reported reinforcement Of Long
street, there is no reliable evidence Of Its
truth. There have been innumerable rumors
to that effect. It has been stated aa fact, In
dispatches from Knoxville, as well as from
this city. Only yesterday, thoaesocfatcd press
telegraphed to this city, and suppose to all
others. the Wild conjectuses Of q World let
ter written hero, In relation to tho position
In Grants front. But there is no evidence Of
their truth. Longstreet occupies substan-
tinlly the eame position to which he retreated
when Sherman came thundering on his flank,
before Knoxville. His cavalry followed Eos
ter's brigades AZ they fen back from their
scattered posts, and picked up struggling sol
diers, abandoned cnttle and deserted wagons.
But his army has never, since the siege, been
within thirty miles Of Knoxville, md 1t is
hardly possible, since tho admirable di6posi-
tions which Grnnt has made, that the enemy
will ut present mike the attempt. There is
every Indication, however, that another bat
tie must be fought in East Tennessee. Move
ments that have taken place and are still In
progress, are delaying the collision, and 1t
may be- ayertcd by events In other quarters
Tie rebel opportunity for an offensive cam-
paign las passed. Before Grants % vislL on our
titute OF supplies. a campaign undertaken
at that time, ,Would have been full Of danger to
our possession OF East Tennessee. The manner
of our falling back from awberTy Plains-
the loss Of cattle and stores are but an lnd1ca-
| tion Of what might at that time have happen
cd If q rebel army had then and there been
moving upon us. But the rebel commanders
faicd 10 eelze the opportunity, and the dan"
Tic army which under Hardec has held a po-
sition neaF Dalton, SINCE the battle Of Mission
| Ridge, fe believed to hare fallen back. Col
| Burke, of the 10th Ohio, wns sent By Gen.
Thomas, with flag Of truce, ior the purpose
/ Of delivering into sccesh hands hevy Of re-
/ belliors women, sent outside our lines by
| order OF Gen. Rousseau, and to effect an ex:
| change Of surgeons In our hands for An equal
number captured by them. He did not lind
| the army, is was expected, ut Dalton After
| reporting to Gen. Thomas, anu receiving IN
| stIuctions to proceed until they were found,
| he proceeded by tile main country road as 1ar
south as Kingston. At this place-forty-on
one miles eouth Of Dalton, he found tae ens-
my in forcc-was very Hospitality Eecei1ed,
md accomplished the object Of his laS.
| Kingston fs the junction Of the Mobile kali
road with the short railway which runs to
| Rome, where the Confederates have exten'
Etve and valuable foundr1es 1of Tue naa"l@e'
It is quite evident, from this information,
TINT the main army in Thomas front has
fallen back and th.t The present nten11oh o has
hcen scnt to Mobile The truth with regard
to their leaders seems to be TINT they have
been in great uncertainty what to do Ihe
movement from New Orleans toward Mobile
Tho column pushing sopthward from Nem zen.
| nhIs under Eherman-the movement fron
Wcksbnr,T to Jackson-the formidable CAV
a1Ty raid threatening them under soWar!
smith-the expedition Of the 18th corps sontl
Of lie Tennessee, with the rapid concentFa
tion and reinforcement Of the amy At Ano1
nsifons on The military chesz-board asto4nd
| ID and EewiIderea tAen The LATEST ind bed
INFORMATION By. dsssEters!aa seousa' saoW