The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-02
The East Tennessee News.


d The East Tennessee News.
The unexpected, not to say, alarming
change in the military situation in East
Tennessee IA change, on the part Of the
enemy, from defensive, to offensive. move
ENTHUSIASTICALLY enough challenges com
ment. s''
from the New York Times)
If any serious disaster shall befall the
Union fortunes in East Tennessee, it will be
difficult for the ecountry to appreciate the
merits of the military policy that has per.
mitted Longstreetto remain SO long in that
region, and there strengthen and prepare
himself for Q new attack. After he was
beaten back by Gen. Burnside, we were ex-
cited with the intelligence that the whole
force would surely be dragged" After the
prospect of bagging, however, had disap--
peared, the President issued proclamation
for day of Thanksgiving to Heaven that
the Rebels had been driven out of East Ten.
nessee, an act Of graduation which proved
to be rather premature when it shortly at.
terward came cut that Longstreet instead
of hurrying back to Lee, simply put Cum"
berland gap between himself and any pur-
suing column that might move through it
against him, and having reached Rodgers,
vile, faced about, fortified and stayed there!
No attempt has been made to deal dlsas-
trous blow at this isolated Rebel column,
occupying position militarily untenable
against q serious assault. His railroad com
munications with Virginia were indeed cut
by Averill, but these have long since been
restored, and he has received supplies and
relnforcements from that State.
Has Grant Been Outgensraled.
..7 From the World
"We Judge that in this matter General
Grant has been deceived by the enemy
After his tour from Chattanooga to Knox
Vile, and from thence to Cumberland Gap,
he seemed to have satisfied himself that
there was no danger of winter campaign,
and took leave Of absence to visit his
sick son at st. Louis. He, no doubt, by
this time is on his way to the front. That
the Administration is seriously alarmed by
the aspect of affairs in East Tennessee is
shown by the statement, which has been al
lowed to be made public through Boston
paper, that the Sixth Corps, from the Army
of the Potomac, under General Sedgwck,
has been sent post-.aste TO Knoxville.
The recent withdrawal Of the Rebels from
Dalton, if, indeed, that story is true, will
account for the reinforcements which have
been spoken of as having reached Long
streets army. The commander at ohat-
tanoega seems to have heen thoroughly de-
ceived by the movements of the Rebels ID
his front, and it was by mere accident that
the retreat of Johnston's army was disco
vered. If, as We fear, the rebels have been
quietly concentrating the bulk of their for
ces under Gen. Longstreet, it is not lmpos-
sible the next news we may hear will be the
capture of Knoxville, and perhaps the tax
ing of Cumberland Gap. Should the Rebels
accomplish both these feats, and be able to
send large force of cavalry into Kentucky,
it would put Gen. Grant to his mette to
preserve his communications between Lou
isyille, Nashville aud Chattanooga. His
fianks at Chattanooga at least would De
turned. The recent movement OF Forrest
upon Columbia would now appear to be
feint to distract attention of the Federal
commanders and employ their. cavalry at
po,nt where they could be of no use to re-
sist the advance Of a large Rebel cavalry
force into Eastern Kentucky.
The rebels have chosen good time Tor
their purpose to strike an ugly blow at the
Union armies. A great number OF the
western regiments are now on iurlough, and
the process of reorganization with the new
recruits is rapidly going on. Our army Is
not IN good condition to resist the impetu-
Gus onset of we'll disciplined force, den.
Foster, also is now lying sick in knoxville
and his military ability will not be available
to defend that city.
ceaIinx the Truth-The Truth Not TO
be Concealed.
From the Journal of Commerce.
We heard few days ago that Longstree.
had been reinforced and that Knoxville was
threatened. Some one in power thought 1t
wrong to let tho people know the truth, ana
accordingly we had, in few hours, des.
patch from Nashville denying all this, and
assuring us that the excitement about Knox
Vile was wholly unfounded; that they were
in quiet winter quarters there, and nothing
important going on. This despatch must
have been manufactured in knoxville, ana
ordered by some government of1clai. NO
other explanation seems tenaple. w"
comes another story, after few days, dur
inu which the alarm has subsidized, and 1t
appears, if this is true, that Knoxville may
we'll be excited-is in fact in danger-and
Eastern Tennessee is in q most critical con
dition. 1t is by no means impossible that
Johnston prrceiving that Grant could not
possibly advance upon him, has slipped up
toward Knoxville, joined Longstreet, and is
threatening US with great Injury there. the
enemy win spare no effort to recover that
region of country. Tue Federal occupation
of Knoxville is constant menace oil the
large salt and nitre beds On which the Con.
! federates are dependent for supplies vital
! to their existence; and the important works
at Atlanta for the manufacture of ordnance
and munirioDs are in a position of peril
which would become imminent whenever
| the Union forces takes place. u at