, 1865-03-24
FROM NASHVILLE,
Especial Cor1espon dence Chicago Tribune.

Especial Correspon dence Chlcago Tribuue.1
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March IL, 1855.
A few days ago considerable excitement
was created here by reports that fighting WIS
going On at Strawberry Plains, above Knox
Vile. The somewhat propahle suppoaition
that Lee, in the event Of abandoning Rich
mond Is untenable, would dash down upon
the Eastern portion Of the State, and attempt
the capture OF cur principal posts there,
caused the said rumors to be discussed with
lively interest. The news, however, turned
out to be of very little importance, being
founded upon d Teeontra With q guerilla band
Iath.r above the average size.
Simultaneously with this report came dis
patches to Headquarters here which contain
ed Information Of such moment that Gen.
Thomas left Immediately for Knoxville, In
company with several Of his st1fE. tits infer
red, and very correctly too. that the prospects
indicate active movements in this portion Of
the Department. Should the rebels concen.
tIate force and move down upon Knoxville,
they will not find their task an easy one ; on
the contrary, they will be confronted by
troops whose exploits, under Sherman and
Thonas, and the prestige Of whose good
name viii not be rel}nqelsl.ed by them at this
hour Of the struggle, On the other hand, II
the Confederate forces do not assnme the ag~
gTesslye, 1t Is not at all improbable that an
expedition will be speedily organized Ia East
Tennessee to cooperate With 5chofeld and
Sherman in the grand advance upon tho rebel
capital. Such move would be greeted with
delight BY every soldier In Thomas' army.
The 4th corps received marching orders
EeYeru1 days ago and leaves Huntsville, Ala,
g. portion for Chattanooga, aud one or two
divisions, it is understood; for Knoxville. The
4th L. under command ortho gallent Stanley.
who Is honored and loved By every officer and
man In the corps. 1t ia In splendid condition,
fully recuperated after the fa1igncs Of the
Nashville campaign.
New regiments are constantly streaming
through the city IN route for the front. They
looking men, and really, although many oil
them have had brief experience in handling a
musket, present nevertheless decidedly
martial appearance. Several Of these regl-
ments were detained at this point 2 number
Of days by interru tions in the military rail
roads, but to their credit be 1t said, they be-
haired il; q strictly quiet aud orderly manner.
The grcat frcsheI here; only second to that
OF 1857, has abated. After flood Of nearly
fortn,.ht's continuance, during which no in
| significant portion Of the suburbs was com.
| p!eicly submerged, the waters Of toe Cam
Dc,lard hare Withdrawn 10 the limits Of Its
bahks. Much damage has been experienced
By pliyate property holders, bu: tho loss to
| the government has been immense. Railroad
| bridges were swept aWny everywhere, and for
some time not train WAS running on any Of
| the military rail Dads south Of this city. The
loss in sto1es, forage, Sc. WAS likewise very
| heavy.
The Chattanooga road was repaired after
M interruption Vi four or i've days; bit the
| Nashville and Decatur line, as welt as tho
| Northwestern road TO Johnsonvlle, will not
he in complete running o1der short Of couple
| OF weeks ut le4s..
Gue1illas Ia this State are still rampant,
and their outrages, Notwithstanding the vlgi-
| liant surveillance OF ~nr forces, cannot be ell
tire]y suppressed. This brings ME to speak
| OF the capture Of a train on the Louisville
and Nashville road day or two ago. 4. band
Of about tllty, belonging to the organization
Of the notorious Harper, attacked the pas
sepecr train which. should have arrived In
| this CITY "Wednesday ut 10 =. m. The wretches
! tore mp the track for perhaps hundred yards
| near Glasgow Junction, md when tho cars
were huiled from the rails, fired several vol
legs indtscrtmlnately upon the wreck. The
train guard replied with o few dzzlingg
shots; but soon threw down their arms,
when the Johnnies pouuced upon the
passengers, robbed them Of nil their
money tnd other yaluables, after which they
| piundered the express ear and then set fire to
were c1tlnguished, however. The mail and
baggage cur was not molested.-
| About dozen individuals were Injured,
| two or three By the ehots Of the guerillas,
and the remainder. BY the upsett1ng OF the
train when thloWn from the track. Many Of
the passengers censure the trim guard as
actiQg rery covaFdly on he OCCASION:
| Bl5galIer General Crufr, with several hun
dred men belonging to corps with Sherman,
passed through the city yesterday. IN route
| for the East.
| The weather yesterday Vas very warm and
In the shade. Last night, however, q severe
storm occurred, and to-day the temperature
hns changed 90 much that oveIcoats and
shawls are again In requisitton. D. n.