The
Lynchburg papers contain some information in regard to matters in
East Tennessee.
Of the reported (and by the
Yankees officially claimed) surrender of the
Confederate force at
Cumberland Gap, the
Republican says:
‘
It was rumored in
Abingdon on Friday last, that
Cumberland Gap had been surrendered by our forces, and the rumor found its way here by the train on Saturday, with the addition that the enemy had taken two thousand prisoners. We are able to state that the latest information up to Friday late in the day, received by
Gen. Jones at his headquarters, was to the effect that fighting at that point had been going on from Tuesday last up to late on Wednesday night, and he denied having received any dispatch from that point regarding the rumors referred to
’
The
Virginian has the following:
‘
News by the
Western train Saturday evening was of rather an unfavorable character.
The enemy was supposed to be advancing towards the
Virginia line, and a good deal of alarm was said to exist among the people of
Southwestern Virginia.
It was deemed prudent to remove the deposits of the banks at
Abingdon to this city.
’
The
Bristol (Tenn.) Advocate says:
‘
That
Burnside and
Brownlow are both in the city of
Knoxville making public speeches to the people; that the latter is issuing a newspaper in the city, that they have imprisoned
Kirkpatrick, of the
Chronicle, and that they hung the enrolling officer,
Morris, at
Morristown, are rumors that have not been confirmed.
That two women were wounded in
Jonesboro', claimed to be by accident, is confirmed.
’
From the
Atlanta Appeal. of Wednesday, the 9th, we get the following:
‘
We begin to have something definite as to the situation of affairs in the
Northwestern part of the
State, where quick and important movements are now taking place, and a battle of the greatest moment will undoubtedly be fought without delay.
The Confederate troops have all been withdrawn from the line of the
Tennessee river, and we have pretty well authenticated accounts that
Chattanooga was occupied by a Yankee force of two or three regiments Tuesday morning. They came up the river.
In what force they occupied the country north of the river, between
Chattanooga and
Bridgeport, continued unknown.
Rosecrans principal column, strong in numbers; is, it has been ascertained, rapidly moving down along the line of the Wills Valley Railroad, and through the valley, in the direction of
Rome or
Kingston.
The scouts report his numbers variously ranging from 40,000 to 75,000.
The whole line of the river and railroad, from
Knoxville to
Huntsville, is in the hands of the enemy, at present; but a decided victory for the Confederate army will compel the foe to fall back at once.
We hope with great certainty as to the result.
The only thing to be feared is that the wily Federal General having obtained possession of the river and railroad lines and
East Tennessee, and the strong position at
Chattanooga, may turn west with his forces now in
Wills Valley, and unite with other columns from
Huntsville and
Corinth, penetrate south through the centre of
Alabama.
Every effort will be made to force him to give battle, but he may avoid it.
A prominent officer, just from
East Tennessee, reports four Federal regiments at
Knoxville under
Carter, and three regiments at
Loudon, all mounted, as the only force of the enemy in that division of the
State on Saturday.
If this information is correct, it is more than probable
Burnside is on the way to join
Rosecrans with whatever force he may have.
’
