The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-11
Nmhmnn1. 4ispatrt.
WEDNESDAY MORNING DEC. ii. 1861
FROM oUR ARMY IN KENrUCkY,
ESPECIAL coRREspoxpKScE OF THE pIspArcH. I
COLUMBUS, XIV. Dec 4. lsGl

COLUMBUS, Ky, Dec. 4, 1851.
Contrary, no doubt, to what You mig hit ex-
pect from your point of observation our
army VIII. presume, go into winter quar-
ters The rigors Of the season furnish a.
severe argument against anv forward move
ments Just at present. j am afraid that our
policy Is too severely defensive, both here
and upon the line Of the Potomac Tho
PRESIDENTS plan to merely repel invasion
nave regarded as the correct one if MOI car
ried to that extreme that would seem 10 grant
the enemy a too conscious immunity and Sc
curlty from all intrusion on our part Rut
occasion has arrived, l think, for change in
this policy. Heretofore we had to cope wi tn
the tedera]s at such disadvantages that it
would nave been the height of impoIicy to
have provoked them by invasion but now
that our resources are sufficient to make us
respectable contestants, the attempt of the
enemy 10 divert our forces should he coun-
terac ted by our diverting theirs, by resorting
10 the very means they to divert ours
namely, invasion, or at all events some de-
monstration OF active hostility. The threat
ening advance of Price and McCuilcch
against St. Louis, for illustration, has in
some measure already demonstrated that the
policy Of attack would greatly relieve Ken
lucky. The present inert policy is GER
tainly opening the door Of invasion very
wide 10 the enemy, without affording any ad-
vantage to ourselves, whereas by Invading
their territory, or even attacking their lines
We would draw their armies back from our
soil to defend their own.
as TOO important point, and have expended
TOO much money III gun-boats and floating
batteries Tor the express purpose of takin <
Columbus to long defer the attack in carry
ing out their tavorite plan of descending the
Mississippi. They say they must have it, and
we are ali the time adding to the strength
and nature OF its detences. Reinforcements
are arriving d lily, and we now have suffi-
cient force here, think, to repulse the en-
emy, no matter in WhaI mum ber
do not expect another engagement, unless
naval one entirely, before next week as the
roads are now too moist for the enemy's artii-
lery. The Lincoln boats, l think, may
be expected at any moment. L have barely
time before the mail closes to narrate an an =
ecdote too good to be lost. One OF our Gene
rails had been very frequently applied to with
requlsltlnns Tor Spurious Uini dAtci, the abbre
Walton Spir. rim. Gdt. only bell used, and
the General not knowing what was meant
bnt suppOsipg that the applicants, Surgeons,
of course,l only wanted some KIND OF medi-
cine, gran ted every application. He applied
10 the medical purveyor to know why he had
not supplied the earmy with this Spir rini Gal ,
and why so MANY acquisitions had 10 be made
for the article. "Weii I'll be DID, SAID the
purveyor, 1--we just found ont how so much
liquor has been finding lis Way intoSur army;
II is upon your signing acquisitions for
French brandy - and the doctor had his
laugh heartily at the cruel expense of the
General. STLDYX.