East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-02-24
FROM TENNESSEE.
HEADQUARTERS 23d A. c.
Knoxville, Tennessee, Feb. 6, 1864.

detail OF matters and things IN gen.
eral in and about Knoxville. For the
past two or three weeks the two ar
mics have been fighting in the vicin-
ity of Messy Creek and cambridge.
In five different engagements, mostly
heavy skirmishes, our forces had the
advantage and whipped the enemy
straight out, on one occasion taking
the rebel General Vance of North
Carolina and the remnant of his brig
ade prisoners. These have gone on
North, ria Nashville.
In disposing of part of our caval-
ry it became necessary for them to
pass through this city, and they occu-
pied portion of three days in doing
SO. This movement gave rise TO all
sorts of conjectures, and some cried
out, another seige, others declared
that the rebels were coming, while
some limited that Knoxville was to be
evacuated; your humble servant said
nothing, but awaited results, mean
while the excitement increased among
the contrabands and uninitiated, some
actually leaving for Kentucky.
Now the whole stir, as near as we
can find out, seems to have arisen be-
tween the two great armies, as to
which should take care Of about 65,-
900 bushels of corn, anda correspond
ing amount of hay and fodder, lying
on the south bank Of the French
Broad, a river some sixteen miles
from here. If Peter Longstreet will ap-
ply to the General Commanding about
twelve or fifteen thousand Federal
Cavalry, he can learn something con-
corning who is in possession of the
products of the country, and if he
wishes to divide, he would do well to
make the demand before it is disposed
of by our forces.
So far as the movements of our ar
mics is concerned we know but little,
we have perfect confidence in our
Generals who command, and in the
bravery and endurance Of the forces
under them, we are certain that they
understand their business, and that
they will do it up right. The rebels
have been fattering themselves here
that they will soon be in power; they
will have to pass through a few more
days of sorrow before they enjoy the
luxury. In the meantime many of
them who have taken the Proclama-
ton oath have been quite jubilant and
excited of late, but they had better
keep cool little longer, or the au-
thorities will send them still further
on to dixie.
Our armies are in good spirits and
sure of success, although for the last
two or three months we have been
cut down on grub, no one murmured,
but all made the best of it and each
one forraged for himself For the
past few days, however, things have
changed materially and everything
looks brighter. Bread Stuffs are
easier, and will continue 80 until we
get our full allowance. The rail road
will soon be completed to Loudon
from Observation-Disclosures being only
80 miles from here-then we will
come out all right. Our rations
now consists Of one pound of fresh
pork, 1 OF. of soft bread or flour per
day, per man, A pounds of coffee and
Z 1-2 pounds of sugar for 100 men
for one day, besides salt, soap, can
dies, &c, to kill. Plenty of &C., (viz:)
beef fattened on corn cobs-or, as the
boys term it, dried beef on the hoof
The 23d Army Corps are at present
stationed at Knoxville, how long we
are to remain here no one knows, we
get orders about twice each day to be
ready to move at a moments notice,
but l don't think we will go, especially
as our transportation is limited down
to about ten wagons and five horses
for the corps which numbers fourteen
thousand men for duty, the balance
of mules, horses, &C., being sent over
the mountains to keep from starving.
We are having delightful weather,
much like the months OF May and
june of the North, very favorable 70,
the troops who are in the field. Oul
town is filled with the sick and wound.
ed of both armies and presents dole
full appearance, it is no longer the
Knoxville of SO OF go, but on the con
trary one vast burial ground Of mules
and horses. If the dead mules ant
horses, mud and filth continues to &C
cumulste, we must have sickness to al
alarming extent, if we do not have 4
pestilence. The old 23d are at tn,
front giving report of themselve
each day.