New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-05

had bocn two brcades Of Martins Cavalry under
mand OF Coils Maclamore and -. encampod IN ana
around Shocks Gap of Bays mountain but they had
broken camp and crossed the Little Pigeon River on the
preyious morning Determined to verify the truth OF
this report the General pushed forward, pas sing
through the Cap at ocIoG6 e M. ana aDeg' aay
bnrping From citizens living in the noighborbood'
fun particulars were obtained oil tho exodus OF tAe
Rebel cavalry on the previous day. They had taken
the road 10 rabsons Ford Of the Irench Broad. ana
had already twenty hours the start Of with ample
time 20 h1ye crossed tho river To pursue cavory WIN
foot troops the former having the start was OF course
limpraoieabe The troops halted. and Lieut. Col
Klein was sent forward 20 follow the Little Pigeon
down TO its month and ascertain the position oi the
enemy. He reported on "Wednesday evening that lie
Rebel cGyary crossed the French Broad taxing Le1r
way toward Bulls Gap and that the infantry whieh
had been lying cncamped the north side OF the river
had moved via cambridge. They stated 10 clsi[sHs
along their roule that they had consumed all the forage
and food In the country and could not stay any longer
This cbmuIetes the evacuation by the Rebels Of tho
whole country south of the Hoon md we have now no
Rebel force within twenty iyo miles OF Us on tha slGg,
EXCEPT perhaps scattering bodies toward MarysyAi1
nnd the Little Tennessee WHO viii soon follow tue route
taken by their friends. Which way tie enemy arc
moving Is now the pcrpiexng question
THE ENEMY observation-disclosures.
Trustworthy Information WAS received by Ten Sc1o'
field late yesterday. that LOngsrcct had burned tne
bridge at strawberry Plains taken up the railroad III
sections destroyed bis stores and wagons ana ad re-
treated krriedly up the valley Several Rebel oflcers
odd residents OF Knox VILE who escaped from the Rebel
army as ii moving away arrived Ia town TO day
went 10 the Office of the Provost. MarshaG ana
took the Amnesty oath OF the President. Reports
simultaneously came IN that large number Of tie
Rebel rank and file ere awaiting the advent OF our
troops at the Plains to follow the wse course OF the
officers and give themselves up The town Is full OF r-
mors The most important and plausible OF which Is that
Longstreets railroad connection with his rear has been
destroyed by SedgNick 9th Corps which has been re-
ported for some time rs the way hther nom the
Potomac Army. Various theories are propoundcd Tor
this sudden movement Of the enemy. one OF when Is
that tho troops OF LOngstroet wanted in Richmond
to make good the place OF the troops sent South to re-
enforce johnson or Ilardoe. AS nothing dennite Is
known on the subject and little time VIII disclose
the existing mystery speculaons may as Wen Dc post
ponei
Gen Schofcd, at the head of the Union forces, IL
already nj Strawberry Plains. following or reconnoter'
ing the movements VI Longstreet Gen. Haseall has
been placed in command Of Knoxville and It's Qoi'hSeS
ad interim. They could not be in safer hands .
RATIoSs PLENTY.
It gives pleasure after so long season OF fasting
By the army to report that raols penfuly drriy'
ordinary commssary stores, and full rations Of meat
are now daily issued TO the troops. All fatigue parties
receive full rltions u al kinds including ample pota-
tiOns Of good old Bourbon" We now have, probably,
n. less than thirty days full ratons for an army Of
50 men accumulated here anu stl the cry IS, they
come. Vinegar molasses hommiDy ana sueh Injuries
which had become almost obsolete again greet tne en-
rapturcd vision Of our soldiers. Soft bread IS Issued
three times week. SO says Lent o. 5. Davis, issuing
Commissary of the 2Jd Amy Corps Tie army Is IN
excellent heart and stomach. l. D