New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-30
HoNGsTRRET,s ADVANCE.


The news from East Tennessee looks 10 il the
Spring campaign had opened in January A
accommodating column under Gen, Sturgcs
pushed forward by Gen. Foster 10 cambridge,
about forty miles east Of Knoxville, on the 18th,
came upon heavy body of infantry, were at
tackled with determination that indicates tho
presence Of strong supporting force OF the
enemy, and barely held their ground after an
obstinate action. Gen. Sturgcs fell back on tho
18th 10 Strawberry Plains. which was not on
his direct road and two days after retired to
Knoxville. There is nothing in the dispatch 10
show that he was followed, except the panic at
Knoxville. But il seems plain that Longstrcct.
whom We not long ago heard OF as cut of from
his supplies, and subsisting upon captured
stores. has suddenly and vigorously assumed the
offensive, and Is moving upon Knoxville. 1t Is
stated that he has been heavily Reinforced.
The retreat of Johnston. which was an
nssnced only yesterday. and the advance OF
LongStreet, might naturally enough be con-
strued together as indicating a concentration OF
the Rebel forces. il has been intimated that
Johnston reiterated because he had sent heavy
reanforcements TO Longsireet and that theory
may seem to be confirmed by the news Of this
morning. We do not believe ii. Gen. Grant
has held the valley by corps of observation At diff
ierent points, and his lines, since the battle Of
Chattanooga, have stretched from that place TO
Knoxville. II il inconceiyable that he should
have allowed any considerable force 70 march
past him undiscovered. II seems almost equal
" impossible that the Rebels should have
moved in force, even IL uninterrupted over such
roads as those Of East Tennessee in Winter.
Infantry might march, but wagon and ammuni-
greatest difficulty, if at all. In both aspects the
supposition is so violently improbable that al
present wo reject it.
Longstreet, however, may have been re-
enforced from very different quarter. and the
statement that several Rebel prisoners just
taken were fresh from Richmond j. probably
correct " is all the more likely 10 be because
some pains have been taken in disloyal journals
TO create the impression that Less army is in
Fact in Virginia. Communication between
Johnston and Longstrect is next 10 impos,lble
between Lee and Longstreet il is wholly by rail
- supposng the road repaired - through q
friendly country. Ii would have been no cause
for surprise if Lee had strengthened his licuten-
ant as Spring came on. II Virginia was - be
held, it was 10 be held not by a successful cam
pagn on the Peninsula nor on the Rapidan, bat
By the repossession Of East Tennessee, and only
by that. The movement to have been expected
in Spring was Longstreets, aud to in
crease its chances of success the numbers
Of his army must have been augmented
1t is necessary that he should hold Southwest
cru Virginia in orderto conquer East Tennessee
We adhere TO the opinion We have previously
that he has 10 other real base, and
we cannot credit any extensive cooperation Of
Johnson in his undertakings. Therefore, what
might have been regarded as q necessary effort
at later day, has only been anticipated in this
and proceeds on the same theory.
Circumstances have compelled haste. n cannot
be Longstrects choice to fight in the middle Of
Winter with an army whose physical strength
and whose morale are seriously impaired by ex-
posure and by extreme pryations-an army
which marches barefooted in the snow, and
which he has to send into action in January TO
keep it from deserving under the Amnesty Proc
lamation. An advance at this moment, though
made in force, and supported by all the
strength that Lee dare spare, is not q mill
tary movement; it is sn effort of deS-
peration. 1t begins in u climate which renders
every wound fatal, and proceeds through a.
country in which retrest must be impossible if
a battle is lost. A snow.stom might be
worse than defeat; might blockade the roads
and stop his supplies utterly. The movement
anticipates the CONSUMPTION which is rapidly
the Rebel armies, but which cannot
yet have strengthened them by many service
able soldiers. There are all reasons against it,
and only one reason for it-necessty. 1t is be-
cause. Longstreet Cannot wait, that no now
marches. The immediate possession Of Knox
vile hes become essential To 90 possibility Of oil