American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-03
Rebel plans and Projects.

A letter from Washington correspond
ento Of the Yew York tribune, who claims
to speak on good information regarding
rebel designs, has the following.
1t has been decided that Longstreet
shall be recalled from East Tennessee and
placed at the head of new army which
is to have its basis at Suffolk, and operate
on the south side of james River, in ex-
pectation of an attack on that side by the
Union forces.
Kirby Smith, we'll acquainted with the
ground now occupied by Longstreet and
with the people of Tennessee-which de-
partment he commanded when Tennessee
was under rebel rule-has been appointed
in his place. This choice of the Rebel
Government has been determined, it is
said, by the popularity which Kirby Smith
enjoys in all parts of Tennessee where the
rebels contemplate, as l have told you, a
great movement for next Spring. 1t is al
so surmised that their army now located at
Rodgersville, having been advised that a
strong body of Kentucky troops were ad-
vancing to reinforce Knoxville, has been Oh
dered to move southwark in the direction
of Nashville, as preliminary step to its
junction with Polk forces. As this move
ment uncovers the Tennessee and Virgin
ia Railroad, Early has been advised to
keep close watch in that direction, by de-
Tending the approaches of the Shenandoah
Valley.
The advance of therebel army in West
and South Tennessee, although an article
of faith among most of the Richmond pol
itieians, is not, apprehend, so certain as
people affect to believe. l am, on the
contrary, assured that Longstreet or his
successors have no idea of so soon giving
up the safe position he occupies for one
not presenting the same advantages. 1t
may be even doubted whether he will feel
strong enough to venture upon an isolated
expedition either in Tennessee or Kentuc-
ky, where he has thousand chances to
one to be surrounded and captured. 1t
is far more probable that his army, now
located in Rodgersville, is there for the
purpose of threatening the fanks of Gen.
Grant, of interrupting his communications,
and of cutting off his supplies, and for
that alone, until he feels strong enough to
march upon Knoxville, and take that city.
Until this is done the Rebel army in East
Tennessee is simply to remain on the de-
fensive. All its efforts at present are to
prevent Knoxville from being reinforced
and supplied. The attack upon our train
at Charleston, in which he was repulsed,
that Of Martin at Talbot's Station, and
that of Vance at Messy Greek, in which
the latter was made prisoner, are all un-
mistakable indications of one and the same
design, the capture of Knoxville.
Ii would not, then, be astonishing to see
the rebel army in East Tennessee march
before long, wi the additional re- enforce
ments it has recently received, upon the
latter city, and attempt to carry it by storm.
Indeed the critical position in which Long
street is now placed forbids him to stay
long in passive attitude. As the Rich
mond ptspatch of the 26tb inst Essays, ev-
cry day spent in inactiQn, adds to his weak
ness, and increases his danger Placed as
ne is between two Union armies, one Of
which, that gathering at Cumberland Gap,
is only waiting forreinforcemeuS's' to march
upon him. Longstreet has no other alter
native than to push forward upon Knox
vile or to fall back upon the Tennessee
and Virginia Railroad, which has just been
put in running order by the repairing of
the Wasauga Bridge, on. the Wasauga
River. But as retreat at the present mo-
ment would materially disturb his plan of
operation, if not destroy his prestige, the
probability is that he will attempt for
ward movement before he is compelled to
fall back by the advance of the Union for
ces.-Patsb'ryh Gazette.