Bad news. The Unionists in East Tennessee have burnt several
of the railroad bridges between this and Chattanooga. This is one of the
effects of the discharge of spies captured in Western Virginia and East
Tennessee. A military police, if properly directed, composed of honest men,
true Southern men, might do much good, or prevent much evil; but I must not
criticise Gen. Winder's inefficiency, for he acts under the instructions of Mr.
Benjamin.
The burning of these bridges not only prevents the arrival of
an immense amount of clothing and provisions for the army, contributed by the
patriotic people, but it will embarrass the government in the transmission of men
and muniments of war, which an emergency may demand at any moment. Until the
avenues by which the enemy derives information from our country are closed, I
shall look for a series of disasters.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the
Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 92
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