The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-07
Letter from Nashville-The Pend.
1ng Active Campaign about to

NASHVILLE, April q, 1864.
Everything is in readiness, and General
sherman might, to use the language of the
commander of the Maceral Brigade, give
the Confederates notice that the battle is
about to begin.'' sa
az TO when, how, or where the great move
ment OF General Sherman's column is about
TO take place, which being evidently contra
9sod news, we omit for the present.-ED.
JOURNAL.]
It will be indeed a hazardous advance !;
not that any danger Is to be apprchended
rom the result Of . battle; but by it, our
nnes VIII be extended another hundred or
Two miles, and hence we shall be more liza
Die TO cavalry raids; and East Kentucky
Viii De exposed to Longstreet, should Lee
nnd mmselfstr0ng enough to detach force
ior diversion upon our center and moth
ing but entire confidence, on the part Of
Grant, IN his abilities speedily to beat Lee,
and destroy the East Tennessee Railroad,
AZ base for an invasion Of Kentucky,
would justify the movements now on the
military chess-board. That they are or
dered, convinces me that Gen. Grant is sat-
lsned that he will succeed in his advance
on Richmond and may add that q simi-
Lar confidence prevails among military men
here generally.
AZ have before, frequently urged, we
are too apt to overrate the rebel armies;
and it is because, having the inside track,
Garrisons. The 10000 men who fought at
plymouth, on the Goth, could have fought
on the Rapidan three days afterward. The
capture Of Richmond will break up this
facility for concentration, in . great meas
uae; as the rebel Capital is the key TO the
whole railroad system Of Dixie.
The rebels, I am fully convinced, will
no condition to concentrate in sufficient
force to resist our overwhelming numbers
this side of that point. That they will make
stubborn resistance there firmly believe;
for if not there, where?
Gen. Rousseaus district has been extern
ded TO Lookout Creek, three miles from
Chattanooga, and he has been supplied
order; and the public need entertain no
apprehensions but that he will do the work
assigned him.
The weather is not only warm, but is get
ting sultry. We have April showers al
most every twenty -four hours, but they are
not sufficient TO render the roads muddy;
Indeed, they aid travelling, as they lay the
dust, and cool the atmosphere.
Since the publication Of the order from
Gen. Sherman, prohibiting quartermasters
from selling ra.ions to citizens, thousands
of destitute families have reached Chatta-
nOoga and Knoxville, asking transpOrta-
ton North: but that is cut of, also, and
see nothing but starvation for the poor
wretches-and more loyal people never
the Administration inter-
feres, as it should do. HANDEL
LATER-ANoTHER LETTER FROM THE
NASHVILLE, May l.
A contraband time is here given, will
mark an important era in the annals Of the
army of the Military Division of the Mis-
sissippi, if the late rains have not swelled
the streams so as to render a movement
impracticable; and though much water has
fallen, do not think the mountain creeks
have yet overlooked their banks; and il
the storm does not continue, am assured
the advance will not be delayed beyond the
appointed time.
The people, both civilians and soldiers,
are on the alert; their expectations, their
hopes, and their fears, are at fever heat;
announces the contamination of events
which are in progress, will be watched with
an earnestness which none can fill but those
who have carefully studied the situation,
and know and feel the magnitude Of the
hazard, and the consequences which must
follow either victory or defeat. If the re-
bells are victorious, the independence Of the
ed sacrifices and additional exertipns will
be called forth, and great will be the dan
gers we shall incur, from the virulence of
the copperhead faction Of the North; but I
have faith in our destiny, in the virtue, in
telligence and patriotism of the people, and
thus am assured that final and glori-
GUS triumph awaits W. Na'' $780,
But if the rebels are beaten back !? What
consequences will then follow? Could you
as can here, listen to their conversations
in saloons, restaurants, and on the street
corneras could you read their feelings in
their faces, you would not be ut loss to
answer the question. They know that in
defeat all is lost; that in a Union victory
In Virginia, and an advance of Sherman 10
Atlanta, the success of the national cause is
secured beyond peraGtenture. a
have Just conversed with a deserter
from the 18th Georgia rebel regiment, who
left Dalton less than two weeks since and
he confirms the impression which has gain
ed credit here, to the effect that Joe Johns
ton has been reinforcing Lee and he says
that 50 great has been the depletion that
there are not, between Dalton and Atlanta,
to exceed g, 600 men. He states that there
are not Is menin his regiment for duty
the residue having been killed, or have de-
serted. ,ae.s,5... AS ass..
He ridiculed the stories about the re-en.
listments Of rebel veterans the men were
compelled either TO volunteer, or % con.
scripted; and they choose the former q.
tentative, ~ the better of the two. AL
that 10 necessary, he adds, to secure the res
/ toration OF the Unien, IL the destruction D.
the military power Of the rebels.
Can that be donef He estimates the fol
lowing - the rebel force East Of the Miss
kissippI, and, II the figures b. correct. Gen
eraf Grant win speedily solve the pro
blem: sa.a a4- 9@l 5s f@t,
Under Polk. Jz,UV
At mobile. 6OV
Ou0oT yOauSUOu 1sS0
Unter Lee In w. and N. 5000
South Carolina and Florida. $40
Under Bfeckinrldge 500
FORESTS guoETilla 6S0
It would b. improper 10 speak Of th
number Of our forces; but it b certainl,
not out Of place to cay that no apprehen
sions need Be entertained Of the result Of ,
i hattle-rat least IN the West indeed, / vii
4 take this occasion t. reiteraes what / hav
already said: that Johnston will not. fgh
ut any point north Of Atlanta and no
there, unless Polk 10 able to join him.
| Nothing but the most outrageous incompe
ltence on the spart Of our commanders, q
which have no fear, can cause disaste
at this time. Our army il stronger thai
i ever before; and tho men, DESTROYS Of clos
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