Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-13
The Navigation Of the Ohio Threatened.

From the New York Times Sept 60
The rebels States Of Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee, ac-
cOrding 10 the official reports Of their depart
ments, have put into the field 10000 men. OF
these troops there are about $1,000 in Virginia,
mostly in Gen. Beaupgards army. This is a
low estimate if he commands near 200, 600 men,
for it would require that he should have $4,000
drawn from the States of Georgia, North Caro-
Ina, South Carolina, Florida Virginia and Mary
land-a number they can hardly yield. But
allowing for Virginia $1,000 men, drawn from
the States of the lower Mississippi valley 10 viii
leave Sl,0J0 troops in the field for home defense
in the rebel States, and TO operate upon Missouri
and Kentucky, which the Coufederates are striy-
ing 10 sever from the Union. Let us take off
10000 for home service-for coast guard and
garrison dUty-and we have 81 600 rebel troops
left for offensive operations against Missouri and
Kentucky A very large proportion of their
force was recently in Missouri, under Pillow and
Harlee. But these men have all been transpor-
ted to Kentucky, leaving in Missouri only the
regiments that accompany Ben McCulloch. 1t
IS not known how many he has, nor, indeed, Is
il known where he is at present.
But it Is, we think, an entirely reasonable cal
culation that the Contederates have, either upon
Kentucky soil or ready to be precipitated upon
Kentucky, fifty thousand troops, in the main
wei drilled, equipped with artillery, and alto
gethcr formidable in the field. But as the COLI
sion in Kentucky becomes more sharp and alb
sOrbiug, all possible reiniorcements VIII be
thrown forward by the Coniederates Theywei
know that their homes must be protected on the
Kentucky line, OF not at all aud SO every fight
ing man that can be spared from Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas aud elsewhere viii be pushed
forward 10 Kentucky 20 Kentuckyto prevent tine
invasion Of their own homes The Confederate
army 70 be met and opposed in Kentucky, win
amount, therefore, IN q very short time, 10 not
less than $4,000 men. Ii may in any emeTgen-
cy, be run up easily to 100000 men. And such
an army in the hands Of Gen 4. s. Johnston
will be powerful and dangerous adversary, re-
curing the best strength aud ahlest generals Of
the government to oppose it successfully. Il the
invasion of Kentucky is not met with all prompt
ness, and with all the power of the government,
no earthly power can prevent the victorious
march of Gen Johnston into the Ohio valley,
and the wintering OF the grand army IN the cities
of Louisville and Cincinnati.
Kentyclzy win be giant in the tight; bat
Kentucky is not armed. Gen Anderson is a
hero. and viii "die the death" in the field, if
need be- But Gen. Andersou's health is exceed |
ingly iniirm, and many think him fatally impair !
ed in vigor by his suferings in Sumter. Under
these circumstances b IS incumbent on the ad- |
ministration to look vigiantly INTO the movements
Of the enemy in Kentucky What mpends there |
Is not a duel between loyal Kentucky and rebel |
Tennessee. II is battle between the Titans-
the fiercest fighting men of the Confederate 4
States-in full force, under their very ablest gem
erals, fBcauTegard 10 the contrary notwithstand /
ing) against tie most gallant and resolute race |
Of men that the Union can boast of--the yeo- I
manry Of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. /
But the rebel forces are in the field, armed, drilled
and in motion The Unionists are not. They /
are Just rallying, without arms, without discip-
inc, and without a leader. They need the IN |
'tant care and powerful aid Of the government. |
They must have H. or the Ohio river win be as |
commanded by the rebels as the lower I
Mississippi sand that before Christmas and |
he provisions now carefully stored in the gran |
aries Of the Ohio valley viii go to feed traitors.