The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-14
The Approaching Evacuation OF
Richmond

The Approaching Evacuation OF
Richmond.
From the New York Evening ost, January 81
Our readers will remember that, from
the bsgi ng OF tle re bellion, we have al
ways maintained that 10 capture East
Tennessee was the true way to produce
the evacuation of Richmond, and, indeed,
Of all Virginia, by the rebels. We have
urged, therefore, that the great concentra-
ton of our forces should take place upon
the centre of long continental line Of bat
tie; that no real offensive movements
should be attempted in Eastern Virgin
is; that the '0n to Richmond" CRY was
all wrong; and that we ought to have
kept in Virginia only enough men TO de-
fend the capital and the line of the PotO-
mac.
The course of the war has confirmed
this judgment; aud we are scarcely in
possession of Chattanooga or Knoxville,
before 3 report from Richmond goes out
that the chief arsenal and depot of the
rebels is transferred from that place 10
Columbia, in South Carolina. Important
removals of machinery and the heavier
supplies have been made, and the capital
Of Virginia is no longer the great depot
Of supplies for the rebels. We think
there can be little doubt of the truth of
this rumor The failure of Longstreet to
capture Knoxville, and the result of
Grants battle of Chattanooga, decided
the question of the possession of East
Tennessee. Until after those events this
question was still open; when LOngstreet
raised the siege and marched hurriedly
away towards Virginia the most impor-
tant blow liVered in the war had taken
effest. At Washington The importance of
the results was so well appreciated that
the President his heart filed with graf
itude to God for so great q victory. i'm
msdisteiy, on the 9Th of December, call
ed upon the people to join him in praise
to the Great DispOser of events. He
wrote:
Trustworthy information being re-
ceived that the insurgent force is retreat
ing fIom East Tennessee, under circum-
stances rendering il, probable that the
Union forces cannot hereafter be dislOged
from that important position and esteem
inc this to be Of high national consequence. l
recommend that all loyal people do, en-
receipt of this information, assemble at
their places of worship, and render spe-
cial homage and gratitude TO Almighty
God for this great advancement of the
national cause"
The possession of East Tennessee set
ties the fate of Virginia. No doubt the
rebel chiefs will remain at Richmond as
long as they dare; but they dare not risk
their most essential and indispensable
machinery there; they dare not leave
their great depots in place from which
they may be compelled TO fly st any
moment A glance at the map will show
that Richmond is now bound TO the
South only by a single narrow line of
communication, which can be reached at
any time by q dashing cavalry troop in
North Caroline; 4 line which is too long
to be defended, and which must be aban-
doned whenever il is threatened. Such
3 line cannot be maintained against an
active genaral; and the first demon stra-
ton made, with . strong and determined
force, against Petersburg or Weldon, will
carry panic 10 Richmond, and probably
interrupt the work Of removal.
As soon as General Butler has q sufi-
cient force (and we know be is incress-
ing il day by day we trust be viii dc
more than harsss and threaten the rebels,
by organizing effective movements upon
the North Carolina railroads, which are
within his reach. An expedition through
North CSrolina like that of Grierson
through Mississippi would annoy and
embarrass she rebels greatly. At the
same time il is important that cur army
in North Carolina should be kept well in
hand and prepared for = surprise. Lee
is not incapable Of falling suddenly up
on our forces there, and paniahlng Sc
versly the slightest negligence. Indeeds
as be expects 20 be compelled to vac4te
Virginia soon, he is likely to turn his
attention 70 the weaker posts along the
coasts.