I think the devs might've tied up auto heals on battles to the setting in the city they fought in. Most likely an unintended bug.
Btw, totally agree that troops headed your way should be visible in enemy movements. Same rules as any other incoming attack. You should be able to see what's camped and any reinforcements headed to the camp as it's all happening to/from your city.
as for seeing what is coming to crush an uprising… hmnnnnn. It might actually get open to too much abuse to let you see that. Maybe a report 15 minutes prior to the uprising!
I think the whole suppression troops magicking in plain BS. You should not be able to maintain colonies more than 8hrs march away! This is something game designers have stuffed up in concept and then tried to smooth over with a lot of silly game rules. Needs changing to something more sensible.
