New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-16

The Rebels steadily Advanciua-A Battle
st Hand near Auoxviise-O"r Lines
Narrowing Prisoners Taken - Rebel
sympathizers Expelled - Taking the
Oath-NegIigence Iva Securing Stores.
Rfem Oar Spec.ll Corespondont
KNOXVILLE +. f L

EfoD Olr Spec..i tOrIetpOnitht
KNOXVILLE f. f.. Feb. /, 1864.
Ny letters for the week past have contained
recital Of current events which the resder viii
~ fail to interpret the orerrnnner OF important mill
sary operations at hand Taking from their ap-
parent successes troops we're ordered to fan
back from cambridge. sad subsequently from Straw
berry Plains the enemy has steadily advanced Lis cav
stry and skirmishers up 10 and south Of the French
Broad River. and we are SOW dispgting bis advance
along the seyerviIe Roai. The Rebel force south Of
,he river cavalry and isiantry is estimated from five
IN seven thousand Imay prove 10 be twice that
ssr Last evening party OF Rebel cavalry upon
our pickets statioBed shout miles from town upon
the Seyeryie Road the camps Of the 5tl and 9th
Indiana tdsmoun,ed troops and discharged several
,ousys at the They then retired, receiving in turn
The hest IRE had 20 give them. The object re-
possible 10 capture few prisoners. The
onps were emoved further inside the lines and
.se defusae works on the south side Of tn river The
enemy a. will be seen. thus taking the offensive
once tIre, and We are &C ting upon the delcusiye.
Ih near presence Of the enemy renders It necessary
N serye much circumspocon in speaking Of tie dis
roation and movements Of The troops under these err
.slnstanees. the mails and individuals carrying let
rs liable be captured. Suffice il o. say that i'm
portant movements foot, and en engagement Is
~,pected within day two An order was issued 10.
day recalling oil leaves OF absence. Temporarily, ana
those officers not already beyond The reach of OTceTcs
have been ordered 10 Teioin their cOumandS The
troops are in motion aud the next few days wiz wit
ness ia all probability, important II wish could say
secsiye) battles Knoxville. These operations have
been delay ed longer than many predicted and the
other hand there are sanguine people who still peris.
that M IOnestrce" viii not invest Knoxville, be-
cause he cannot feed his army within hs htng distance
of the place The steady advance OF the Rebel forces in
this direction, however is not calculated 10 soo,hc ap
Experience has shown that the Rebels can live and
thrive where should starye; and with the best and
nearly all the foragng country in their Immediate rear
what should hinder the Rebel army from advancing TO
their old work Of besegng nsf Every mile they close
IN around enlarges eir field Of resources and
eirenmscribes ours. The impunity with which they
have moved upon our works during the month past ie
sleo calculated 10 inspire confidence that they do
very much they plense. This confidence may yet
prove disastrous them. Small squads Of TOO advcn.
turoQs soldiers who stray beyond lines continue TO
yet eohbed, while in pursuit Of delcGccs about the
farms and neighboring barn yards. Serves en- right.
The account however IL pretty nearly balanced By
captures made somewhat in the samo way.
We ROW have over 20 prisoners IN the ails. Among
them IL usually fair proportion 0f preachers OF e1hort
srs who Keep up religious exercises IN the jail These
dsy0ut Rebels mako the street resonant with the
melhuons strains of canplncetng and other good old
Methodist hymns snng with TIE peculiar twang OF az
the pious Old lady called IT, heavenly tone 70 com
down Sonth They say SATAN If not always SO bad
be Is painted. have met apparently concentrations
Christian in the Rebel army. though they IRE gen
orally conseripts, and have heart in the hgt for
Treason and rebtihon. The true ChrBiinn j. always
loyal Perhaps h was Of this class who last
ing we're heard " sing with such uneon:
80 " bile SleGt with of bis love,
pzlsee toy would appear.
spd prisons would pa prove,
II Jesus would dwell with There
Two OF tho oldest rcsJnnts Of Knoxville have passed
AWAY during tlc last fortnight both Of thon haying
been strong sympAaizers with the Rebellion trough
Zoo Ear advanced IN lie :" AFFORD much active ooper
stio One OF these tte Rev. Isaac Lewis fuini,yly
a Pension Agent OF tle Government. WHOM Par,orr
Byowrlow wished 10 hive scut South a. a fesdept
Rebel spy the other. Mr.. bcFari nd formerly M ts
watch and icwelTy bunosg. Ire latter died IN trept
psAee exhortng bs family with his last breath 90 live
~ rood and loye citizens of che United state Govern
menf for swng the Scrptal advice 10 be Subject 10
the powers that be-"
Families syDpathiziDg with tie Rebellion continue to
receive notice 10 take The train irosn time to fine. I
seems they al booked and then given number Is
drawn Tor czech Shipment ron the whole.
Another exodus occurred 90 Wednesday, Some persons
DO have persisted IN their rebcHoas Of opinion
until the eleventh hour. finding Themselves among those
who ore to be ssnt Of. forward take the OATH
In such cases they La,e been refused that privilege
sous questions have ar here what Invitations
loyalty II any, the Proclamation Of the President
holds out 10 batants snd to women and child
wn Does The mere terta'L 'g Of cltloy tehtmeDts