, 1865-03-30
CUR CHATTANOOGA LETTER.
AT Kno1yiI1c-t:cn. Stonetnun,a For-
ce>-L1vcly Ttm.s Antlcipnted-1is-
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Especial Correspondence EhlcaG0 Ifibune.l
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn. March 26!h, 1876,
Within the last month the plan OF ThomaS
intended campaign in. the Department Of the
Cumberland has been radically changed.
When 1t became known that the major part
Of Hoods old army had been sent to the as
sistance Of the worsted rebels, fleeing before
the victorious advance Of Sherman into the
carolinds, the designs against Misstssippiand
Alabama were, in q great measure, abandon
ed. Thomas, whose work 1t was confidently
predicted would be confined almost entirely
to the southwest, now finds his attention
directed, to field Of operations exactly, op-
posite. Instead Of marching victoriously
through the Gulf Cotton States, he is'on the
ere of advancing along the last uuobstructcd
Avenue leading. to the rebel capital, and
which, when occupied, will leave the fated
city completely cncirc1ed BY the Union
forces, ..
Large bodies Of troops are being ~concen.
trait d in the vicinity Of Knoxville, East Ten
nessee, along The line OF the Lynchbusg aad
Virginia Railroad, which is being repaifed
with all possible celerity. The 4th corps has
already been transferred from Huntsville, Al
aban.a, to point near Strawberry Plains, and
st,u turther advance Is expected very soon.
Meanwhile thu rebels arc busily employed In
repairing the portion If the {oad destroyed
by Gen. Stoneman in bis famous raid Of last
Ueccmbcr-so That both ends Of the line are
occupied By construction corps, the one Union
ana The Other rebel; each party anxious to
outstrip the Opposite in the advance towards
d meeting. The rebels are eager to secure as
much Of the road as possible, In order to
throw cut = sufficient force to check the ap-
proach Of Thomas, and the latter Is equally
dcsirous Of making rapid advance to inter
teIe with this movement Of the enemy. Trains
are already running some distance above
Knoxville, transporting troops, supples, &c.
Ainj. Gen. stoneman, who now commands
the District Of East tennessee, has nearly
completed the re- organization OF his forces,
and will soon start ont Mt, the head Of his
spIend,dly equipped cavalry, designing ulti-
mate]y to cooperate with Sherman IN the
advance on Richmond.
Everything porteuds the approach Of lively
the Department Will undoubtedly be made
the theater Of fmomentous events.
Howell Cobb now occupies Atlanta with con-
siderable force. and the city Is being repaired
to the full extent OF rebel means. The rail-
road has been completed BY them to Macon,
and trains arc making reg9!ar taipa; n,,.
which Is well garrisoned and under command
Of Big. Gen. judah, wide awake aud ener-
Eetic officer. The prevalence Of guerilla
bands in the northern portion OF the State
gives him ample scope for the exercise Of his
talents. The railroad from Chattanooga to
Dalton, Distance Of thkty -stx miles, Is Kept
running daily between the two points.
ESCAPED Federal prisoners are constantly
arriving here, most Of them coming into our
lines above Knoxville. They oil tell the came
old story, 90 often repeated, Of cruel treat.
ment aud neglect, and no one who marks
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