New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-17

MASTER OF the Confcderacy-Intcrcst
Manifested in Longstreet-Wbat he has
r,one TO secure Safe Position IN
East Tcnnessee-His Army, and How
II 10 Composed - Breckenridge and
uuckuer Acting i'm Conjunction with
b;m-Thc Invasion of Kentucky Con.
,empiated-Thc Object IL to Procure
Recruits and Provisions-Lo ngstrcct
Abandons tho Idea Of falling Knox
vile or of Attacking Grant-What she
Rebels Think of Grants Army.
From On Occasional Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1864
All the advices received lately from Rich
Hond agree in stating that the Rebels are making Gu
srgetic efforts for the next Spring campaign. They
are now organizing their finances, so as not to be
troubled hereafter by deprecated currency; their
rranaTies are filing mp rapidly by means Of the tax
in kind; their equipment by means of voluntary dona
tions and their armies by means of a sweeping con
rcripton embracing both young and old. OF course,
ihese extraordinary levies not executed without
difficulties People who had hitherto escaped coDscrp
iion grumble, and have resisted by force the re-
erutug sergeant; violence hes been used against the
reluctant recruit newspapers have carried their voices
against these hgh.handed measures; public speakers
IN Out OF lODgrtSS uuNc opppstu pN''iH"'h'i
mothers have protested against the enlistment Of their
boys; planters against the impressment OF their
slsyes; farmers against law which deprives the
so Of The hands necessary 10 their cultivation Bet
Notwithstanding all this yet 10 discover a single
fact which lead me to doubt the ability of the Rebel
Government TO carry all these hghhanded TO
q successful issue. People will resist but resistance
win be partial AT all events it viii yield to the mex
cradle law public necessity the aliao ratio of the
leaders ofthe Rebellion. When Rebellion is reduced
intricate straits the Confedoracy is what
lite leaders do but demand implicit obedience and the
surrender of all the rights Of the people into the hands OF
a single mann That is what the South has done You
msy then assured that whatever jeff Davis chooses
TO require the Confederates viii either Willingly by
force grant.
THIS may be illustrated in different ways: by The
rapidity with which the Rebel armies have been
filing up their ranks; by the Legislature inexe'
cutting the biddngs Of the Executive, by the initia
sive which lie army has recently assumed in all
military matters and by the close intimacy which exists
between the chief of the Rebellion and his generals
in the field Long before the CONSUMPTION bill was dis
eussed JeG Davis had taken measures TO secure the
rorsent of the Governors of States and Of the majority
cf tie Legislature the subject Of enlistment that
his agents would act in various parts of the country
~
tie large number Of recruits which have recently have
udded to Lees and Johnsons armies and for the i'm
nense preparations made for the Spring campaign pre-
rarations which do not consist merely in increase
@. the contingent but which includes also
vast military works. tie opening of routes,
tie building up of bridges. the erection Of
Notifications, Sc Had not JEFF. Davis been the uncon.
troled master OF the Confederacy. all these things
would rot have been accomplished in the same length
Of time without creating strong opposition in the
South. nnot revolution But knowing as be did the
temper Of the population he had TO deal with he
eee5eG in faterng the favorte passions Of the multi
,ude in crushing all serious resistance and IN obtain.
ing what he wanted In this be was powerfully assisted
BY circumstances which, forcing every citizen to be
soldier soon reduced them TO state of passive ODE
1ence eminantly favorable TO tie conquest OF absolute
power and TO the government of single man.
OF tie three armies formed by the arts Of the Rebel
header that which, Of the present moment, exetes the
greatest interest is Longstreets fhs Is attributable
20 seversl to the ability no las shown since his
repulse from Knoxville in making his army live upon
rceaisition; TO tie formidable position he has sue
teeded in securing position which gives him access
10 the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad to Cumberland
Gap 70 Kentucky and North Carolina in the north, and
10 sx Of the richest valleys Of this country In the south
but principally TO the prospective advantages which
such position promises 10 the Soath. These adyan'
fsres as you viii see have not been lost sight or
The question with the Rebel Government Is to make
Iongstreets army fully equi TO any OF the great ar
mics If the Confederacy and quite as efficient. If the
shng has not been done yet 1t is not the wish but the
means which have beer wanting. In the first place, |
Lee on whom he reIsd for re-ehfof6cments having
himself 10 more men than he needed could be Of no as
sistsnce TO him. NV the things have changed. Lee
having received nearly thirty thousand recruits
whose numbers are increasing every day. Long
street can be easily strengthened For the second
Wan Is vet doubtful whether the Tennessee and Vir
rpis Railroad injured at Carers Station by the Union
froous il in rinnng order The latest news says that
the Wataug. bridge. although progressing very fast,
had NOT vet beer completed This bridge, although not
absolutely indispensable to the increase Of the East
Tennessee army is essential 10 the transportation Of
Yuns and materials Of war; without which Longstreet
rsn peitheray siege TO Knoxville fortify the posi-
s;ou he his selected basis Of his future operations
Ar long o. il remains unfinished he viii probably con-
fine his perations cavalry raids and to the cxpora
zion of he ground on which be intends operate next
Spring He is in possession Of the six fertile val
zeys witch run between the Kentucky and North Caro-
lima iue, and of nearly all the avenues leading into
shese two States These valleys secured nights and
DAYS by parties OF borsemcn, who take all they can lay
ser hands upon and push their predatory excursions
even faE south as Knoxville in the vicinity OF which
skirmishes are Of daily occurrence.
Although it is pretty difficult TO ascertain the
Precise amount Of Longstrect forces it is generally
ev ed that his army has received large recufrce.