The War in East Tennessee.
The Columbus (Ga.) Sun has an editorial reviewing the position of affairs in East Tennessee, which we copy, inasmuch as, in the whirl of stirring events near home, the more distant fields of operation have to some extent been lost sight of:It is now quite evident that the enemy are about to put into execution their long threatened inroad upon East Tennessee. From the best information we can gather of the situation of affairs in that section, we take it that fighting will soon commence there in earnest. The Yankees already have possession of Sequatchie Valley, a productive and stock growing country, and have a force of perhaps not less than 5,000 men in Powell's Valley, a portion of country still more important to an army in the way of provisions. But the great valleys of the Tennessee, Hiwassee, Holston, and French Broad rivers, are still in possession of our troops, and can we have reason to hope, be held against almost any force that may assail them. We think it altogether probable that Cumberland, Wheeler's, and Big Creek Caps, will be evacuated, if indeed they have not been already, and that our forces will make a stand at Chattanooga, Kingston, and Bean's Station, in order to keep the enemy North of Wallen's Ridge and the Clinch Mountains. This, we feel confident, can be done successfully with the force now under Gen. Smith's command, which cannot be less than 30,000 men. There are, besides this force, which is a low estimate, several efficient guerilla bands, among which that of the famous Morgan is the most conspicuous. This line of defence, should it be adopted, will save to us about three fourths of the territory of East Tennessee, including Jonesborough, Greenville, Knoxville, Athens, Cleveland, Chattanooga, and the line of railroad from the latter place to the Virginia line.
The part of East Tennessee thus defended is one of the most productive and healthy regions of country in the Confederate States. It contains, even now, bacon, corn, and flour, in great abundance. Nearly every farmer has bacon to sell, and which can be bought at not exceeding twenty seven cents per pound. It is one of the finest wheat countries in the South, and we have it from good authority that the wheat crop in that section this year will fall but little short of the average crop, particularly in the upper counties. There is, per haps, at this time, more hogs and cattle in the thirty-one counties of East Tennessee than in the whole State of Georgia, and upon this account, were there no other consideration, that section should be defended at any cost.
While it is true that the majority of the voting population in East Tennessee is deeply tinged with toryism, it is equally true that some of the most staunch Southern men, and many of our ablest military leaders, are East Tennesseeans. There is one fact in connexion with this disloyal section not generally known. Nearly every man and boy capable of bearing arms, who were advocates of separate State action are now in the Southern army, and although the conscription act is not in force there they have joined for the war. In addition to this, there are, to our certain knowledge, not less than one-third of the original ‘"Union"’ men now in that section — the ultras having joined Lincoln in Kentucky--many of the more moderate have changed their views since Lincoln's free-negro policy was promulgated in November last; while the remainder, being too indolent and cowardly to take any part in the contest of arms, are content to remain at home, cultivating their farms, and make something to support the army.
