Year: 1861

by Union loving body Of men, who, doubtless If sup
Ported by the government will maintain the stand they
have taken against the cbels This road is with the
exception Of round about via Charleston and vii
mingon, the only railroad communication between the
South and Richmond, and if this communication only
b. kept broken, will do great deal to aid the Union
cause, by the stcppage of supplies placing difficulties in
the way of transporting troops to and ro and in many
other ways too numerous to particularize


CUMBERLAND GAP.


But another point before us, closely connected
with this railway, is Cumberland yGap This is situ-
ated nearly due north from Knoxville, and is the pre-
sent position of tho rebel General ZolllcoGer How
will the action Of the Eastern Tcnesscoans affect the
rebels congregaed at the Gap9 First it will prevat any
rcnforccmens being sent from Memphis TO their sup
port which, considering the recent victory at Pkeon
they doubtless will greatly need, large portion OF
their force there captured Secondly, it will cause
diversion In cir rear for If they should turn put
down the Tennessccans tho Unonsts In Kentucky would
march doVn upon them aud If the rebels should leave
the TcnncSsoeans alone the former would know at
what tnc the latter might rsc up ard advance upon
them by the road there is much less than hundred
miles distance between Knoxville and the Gap and such
distance times like the present rayersei by
army, if necessary for them to be pushed forward
Thirdly, their supplies great danger Of being
tirey cut Off for although the communication with Rich
mond may be kept open the army in Virginia
will require all the provisions they get for their
use and If the men are sent away from before Washing
ton, along the line to put down the Knoxvcans, they
viii have TO leave important post do So and ono
whore they may any be required to face the
OF Geera Mcclellan. Thus appears plainly that ali
sides the rebels will find that the gallant Tenuesseeans
viii be thorn in their side Of very painful nature az
by cutting or the railroad communication Ia this direc-
to and the Union army Beaufort being able to do the
along the ether line IL is all improbable that
thc extreme rebel South and the rebel borders will
shortly be completely satcd, aud all swift communica-
tion between them destroyed.


THE PROBABILITY OF ZoLLIcoFFEg FIGHTING.


II Is not probable that the rebels will make another at
tack upon tho Union troops. The Wdca. affair cost them
too dearly While rerea;ing, their officers openly pro
claimed that they would not undertake to whip the Lin
colates again in chosen position; that must follow
them IL we desired TO fight This forces did at Pike
ton and bitterly did the rebels suffer from advance
Before the rebels left the ford they got tired waiting Cor
us and syyore that If We did not before
get ia we would find nobody to fight. 1t is also stated
that JEFF Davis ordered them to fall back from the
ford and go into winter quarters Their opera
tons at the Gap Indicate that they will water there
whether they will winter there in peace not time will
show The news Of The victory al Beaufort has doubtless
given encouragement the Unonsts in the South to
licve themselves Of the thraldom Of their dctaorio
rulers aud as they find that advance to their
lief so surely viii they step forward to meet Us hall way
It is almost needless to expaato on tho result of such
news have just received 1t viii not only denorol