Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-24
Letter from lebanon, KY.

The following letter, from Lebanon to the
Journal viii be Interesting as giving our
readers an insight into matters and things
in that portion Of the State:
Especial Correspondence of the Louisville Journall
LEBANON, KY., Oct. 16, 1861.
As informed you by telegraph last eve
ming, three men passed through Lebanon
yesterday afternoon on their way to their
homes from the Southern Confederacy. One
of the party was an old gentleman who re-
sides in Mercer county. He has two sons in
the Confederate army, and had visited Buck
ner's headquarters to see them. He was ae-
companied on his return by two young men
from Fayette county, who say that they had
gone South to join the army, but, as they
would not receive recruits for shorter Pc
Rod than three years, they determined 20
return home. A highly respected citizen of
this place coHyersed with the gentleman
from Mercer county, and, having had an
acquaintance of many years standing with
him, knew what estimate to place upon the
statements which he made. Ny informant
does not hesitate to place full confidence in
the reports which the traveller brings rela-
tive to the situation and motions of the rebel
army. 4 ta
He says that the divisions under Buckner.
Polk, and Zollicoffer are combining, and
that when the commands are finally Joined,
the grand army under Polk will embrace
from thirty to forty thousand men, who are
wen armed and equipped. 1t is the policy
of the rebels to draw out Gen. Bousseau's
forces as far as possible on the line of the
Louisville and Nashville road, and then
with their superior force, to flank General
Rousseau, cut off his retreat, and then,
with the Federal forces completely in their
power, to make an easy conquest of Louis
vile.
The officers ofthe rebel army, he says, are
regularly informed as TO the movements of
the Federal force, familiar with their num-
bers, and posted as to their leading designs.
The rebel spies are said to be cunning and
active, employing means heretofore unheard
of to aequaint themselves with the move
ments of the Federals. They pass our lines
upon forged passes, and even obtain passes
through the conniyance and interference of
persons of influence who are thought to be
loyal. 1t is the custom of rebel horsemen to
rip open their saddles, secrete their CORES
spondence in them, sew them up again, and
thus avert detection, even after submitting
to rigid search. In some cases they Sc
crete letters in the lining of their horses
brides, and thus delude the Federal guards
The old gentleman alluded to says that
Roger Hanson is at Woodsonville, which is
the nearest point toward Louisville on the
Nashville road at which the rebels have any
considerable force They are making en-
trenehments and erecting batteries there,
and will strongly oppose the Federal adj
vance beyond Woodsonville. He says that
on sunday he saw twelve heavy pieces of
artillery there, which were being placed in
position.
f,,ll, II
skirmish between Col. Crittenden's pickets
and those OF the rebels at Bacon Greek, on
Saturday last, mention of which has already
been made in the Journal. John Morgan,
or Lexington, hea ded the rebel forces, and it
was he who dismounted from his horse and
shot the Indiana captain. Morgan passed
through Lebanon about six weeks ago with
several wagon loads of linsey for the Con-
federate army. He had permits and passes
from the Federal authorities, and letters
from leading Union men. In this way pro-
fessed Union men in our very midst have
done more to aid the rebellion than those
who have openly avowed their sympathies
for the traitors.
TIL traveller spoke with a display of glee
of the condition and numbers of the rebel
army; of the perfect confidence which they
felt in an early victory; and of the com
outfit. 1 saw body of over two thousand
Indians, who were splendidly equipped, each
bearing a bowie knife of almost fabulous
proportions, in additian to the ordinary arms
worn by the infantry.
Col Harlan's regiment is filling up rapid 1
ly, and will soon be thoroughly organized.
Captain Henry G.. Davidson, of Louisville,
Company A, Joined his company on Monday.
HIS men are fine looking fellows, and will
do honor to the service. They possess the
true metal of soldiers, as an incident which
me under my observation last night amply
proved. Captain Davidson was called upon
at a late hour to furnish a squad of ten men
for an expedition to the ountry which was
considered somewhat hazardous. He called
upon his men for volunteers for the expedi-
ZION, and, in a twink ing every man in the
company fell into line and clamored to be
accepted. Nothing short of a. peremptory
order would induce any of his men to re-
main in camp. and, indeed, after the depar-
aure of the ten; they were joined by several
who had been left behind, but who had sue
ceeded in lodging the guard. SO determined
were they to take part in the first enterprise
which promised an exposure to danger
Lieut.. Jas. Wharton, of Washington county,
who is attached to Capt. Palmer's cavalry,
of Col. Harlan's regiment, claimed the priv
ilege to accompany the expedition. He is
gallant officer, and, should opportunity offer,
he will not fail to win distinction.
have just heard how Col. John NJ. Har-
Ian and Capt. Jos. G. Wilson, Esq, of your
city escaped trap which had been set for
them by the rebel scouts, who fell into the
hands of the Federal pickets as prisoners of
war. They left the vicinity of Hodgensyille
on Sunday evening on horseback, having
reason to believe it would be unsafe for them
to remain over night in than locality, and
were congratulating themselves upon a mar
row escape when they where confronted. by
the-pickets from Col. Willich's Indiana reg
ment, distance of three miles from New
Haven. They were ordered TO dismount,
and the display of half-a-dozen bright bayo-
nets attached to many Springfield rifles was
an argument that they did not feel disposed
to combat. In vain they exhibited passes
and letters from distinguished sources, and
were marched at the point of the aforesaid
bayonets distance of three miles on foot
to Col Willich's headquarters, at New Ha-
ven. And the German colonel was as in
credulous of their protestation of loyalty as
their eaptors had been, intimating that it
was not impossible that their passes had
been obtained in an irregular way The
prisoners were finally identified by some
loyal citizens of New Haven, who obtained
Col. wilich's consent to their release. They
spent the night with Col W., who gave them
the freedom of his tent, and the luekless
Colonel and his companions drowned their
sorrows in a basket of COL Willich's Rhen-
nish wine.
Ihave just had an interview with mem
Der of an extensive mercantile firm in New
York, Who has interests South, and who has
travelled extensively in the South, having
left Buekner's headquarters at Bowling
Green on Monday He says that Buckner
has 10000 men at Bowling Green, and Gen.
Hardee is in command at Cave City. On
Friday las. Zollicoffer was in Richmond-
III has a fnrca of two thousand M Cr1rn her-