The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-05
alnion.
respondonoo Of Tho Nashville Union.
Knoxville, TrNy, Feb. %, 1854


Knoxville, TrNv, Feb 81, 1854.
We arrived here on the 18th inst,
being seven days out from Chattanoo-
ga We left the htter place on the
llth inst, and came up here with
train Of four wagons, accompanied by
a guard Of 80 armed men. mostly new
recruits Nothing adventurous occur
red on the trip We found detaeh-
ments Of troops al every point on the
road. The dirt road was in excellent
condition, and but for the fact that our
mules were extreqlely lean and lank,
we could have made the trip in five
days. The railroad is in a miserable
condition for travel. The. ties are old
and worn out and topping OgerR must
eventually result in any attempt at
speed. About.eyery fourth Cor chair
tie is good, however, having been sub
stituted lately,in place Of rotten ones.
We found plenty Of supplies at-Lou-
don, and more were arriving daily. The
army at this place, however, was look
ing rather shabby, and not faring
very sumptuously, being on about half
rations Of corn-meal and sow-belly. A
little beef was being occasionally issu-
ed, but it was Of 50 lean condition that
that the boys say it had to lean against
& fence to be butchered. We are going
70 have drisa beef butchered in a short
time
To tell the truth, the army here IS
poorly clad and fed; and We cannot i'm
agine what business the 4th corps has
here, unless it is to guard and protect
the whole army Of the Ohio. 1t does
not belong to Gen Schofeld's command,
and yet it has the province Of doing
most Of the scouting and reconnoiter-
ing in this Department Hazen's bri-
gade has been on an active, arduous
campaign all winter, and though the
boys have endured indescribable suf-
ferings and priyations, they seem cheer
full and willing tocomply when the bu-
gle sounds the assembly.
Hazen's Brigade went out on a recon
noisance on the evening of the 22d inst,
and travelled about twelve miles that
night, on the road toward Seyierville.
It returned 10 camp next day, and on
the 24th inst, was again ordered to fall
in" and marched that day to Straw
berry Plains, where ii etremains. There
is a general movement ordered forward
and as a considerable period of time
will elapse before this reaches you, the
news will be eontraband The Army of
the Ohio IS going to march to Bristol,
which IS l35 or HON northeast from
Knoxville, and on the line between
Tennessee and Virginia Cen Gran
gers 4th Corps accompanies the expedi-
ton We cannot state the object Of
this movement We trust there is more
wisdom in it than meets the eve; but
must declare that We cant see it. -
The only basis for 1t that we can find is,
that several thousand troops $50 rumor
says have lately passed through Bristol
to join Longgtreet-and whereare these
reinforcements bringingup? That's the
question. We have for considerable
length Of time entertained the opinion
that Longstreet is coneentratinga strong
force at some point, with a view to a
telling blows but where and when the
denoument was to solve itself was a pro-
blem not to be anticipated by us. Per
haps the powers that ie arc posted
and ON that conjecture we base our
hopes of a successful move; yet we can
not appreciate the unpolitic scattering
Of our troops upon al sorts of expedi-
tons, when it is openly known that the
rebels are wisely and sllillfullY concen-
trating theirs. A-
All is quiet here, in a military way.
No rebs venture IN this vicinity, and
am not little amused in reading the
reports which reach you Of Longstreet
and Joe johnson, with their Al, 000 men,
cutting up the railroad and performing
all kinds of antics between here and
Chattanooga The railroad IS clear, and
guarded
have not been in the martial city Of
Knoxville yet, but only viewed it from
our camp, in the vicinity 1t is delight
fully situated, and must have been, ere
the ordeal Of Mars, an abode for the
lover OF peace, poetry, and romance. I
viii pay my respects TO the loyal, lau-
reled-erowned hero who has defended
its legitimacy throughout the whole war,
in few days. The veteran Parson has
been seriously indisposed, Of late; but
he is neither Politioal!g, nor in the spirit
of the flesh, dead the wishes and as
sertions of his enemies to the contrary.
His paper Hourishes, and every issue
deals death and despair to rebels. The
weather is mild and springlike More
anon Truly yours,
YoUHo SOLDIER.