, 1864-04-06

Matters with Gen. Thomas Army,

Especial Correspondence Chicago Tribune.1
HUNTSVILLE. AlA., April !. 1854.
Little that the public ought to know has occurred
during the past few days. The fact that your read
ers find nothing OF startling interest or import
anee In the news from this fe1d, Is not to be re-
cctTed rs evidence Of idleness or inaction. It ia
rather ei1ence to them, such IS precedeaa storm.
While all seems to them quiet and in tho excite
naent Of peaceful pursuits the grand army OF Sher-
man Is almost forgotten by the money makers,
through the camps, along the lines, and at the
depott. there iB acttEIty and labor. Preparations
are being made On the most gigantic scale-prepa.
Eat1ons that occupy not only the enlisted men and
officers Of the arnv, but whose details and ramif-
cations wind through all the Nor.hern cities
through I'll the states ''ne,e1 dl.loyal'' stcam-
boats asc daily bought, seized OF char
tered. Qnlet gentlemen, with a touch
Of gold cord on their pants, and .. s.
on their caps cali upon your railroad kings, and
veterans and recruits take the place of freight.
Missouri and Upper Mississippi lines OF steamers,
as well as the locomotive shops Of New Jersey and
New England, hear and heed the order that they
contribute to the preparations for the comm. cam
pa3gn. Ton sec it in huge piles Of freight unknown
to the commerce Of peace-on the Ievees Of the in.
Land cities md in the counting rooms OF those who
sell whatever supports or destroys lie. But most
plainly do you who live ut home Sec It in the bur.
ried visits Of your and brothers, the veteran
and the recruit, all haetening to take their places
In the ranks Of the army, upon which 40 much de-
ponds, leaving your and their dresldes, many Of
them for the last time.
The tour Of inspection Just made by Gen. sher-
man md his chiefs Of ztah, Of which have In.
formed you, h1s infagcd new life In the army and
Its departments. The heavy work OF the Quarter.
ma.ters', Commissaz3 and Ordnance Departments
is inst prior to campaign. These are all hard at
work. Incompetent incumbents aud those who
were spending their time 1iotoualy have, 70 far Is
they became discovered, been relieved. At this
post alone three Quarteruasters hare been relieved
within the week. 1he use Of the military railroads
for the transportation OF curious speculative clt
liens to the 'front.' has been absolutely prohibited
e Il a
from lettering about that demorallzing vIcinage,
move BY cney stages, and thus the veteran ngain
gets on his legs. and the recruit receives his
nr1t fceaons IN marching.
to use = homcly phrase, day and night. When be
ofthe Department Of the Tennessee, attended only
route tor bis home for the first time since he took
proposed !isit, be REPORTED to Gene1si Sherman II
mains with hi@ as bis Chief q arilety aea. Nc.
fQe1EoH'E CQmIuAn0 III tue army HOW IN &ne uelA
consists olthe 18th and the LEFT wing of 10th corps.
Gen. Dodge, who commands the lei& wing Of the
18th corps, is seriously III at Athens.
Gen. Stevenson commanding ut Decatur has or.
dercd all citizens. male, female. and children to
leave the place. The consequence ts an exodus,
principally towards tho North.
An expedition from Decatur under the command
Of Col. Phillips Of the 9th Illinois, somo days
e1ncc, almost met with q disaster. It encountered
q considerably superior force. and Waa e1tricated
by Col. Phillips with ZONE trouble. Since that
time there has been no threatening movements,
although the enemy ia known to BE- In consider
able force south Of the river.
The day before y:sterday. the rebels played
fnksse on come Of our boys at Whitesburg. a few
persons came TO the opposite bark Of the river at
that place Andrhouttd to our p}cketB that they
wanted to come over. Supposng them to DO re-
fugees or deselters, the officer III command sent
four men Of the seth Illinois ACROSS In skin. The
rebels most uace1cuoniously came out Of their
15he-plts and captured them, and hare them still.
Yesterday morning, at IN early hour, Gen. Shet.
man reached Athens on special Train. He was
companied by
Nal. Gen. James B. Mcpherson. commanding
The Department Ct tho Tennessee;
Brig. Ger. =. F. Bsr1y, Chief u Artillery Of the
RE. Gen ". s. smith, cblef Of Artillery or the
sse Aisa cBa Of
Mai Willard, Il. D. @. to Gen. Mcpherson;
Capt. l. y. Dayton, 4. D: c. to Gen. Sherman;
Capt. J. c. Audenrcid, A. D. c. to Gen. Sherman.