The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-12-31

lucky.
We had visit yesterday from q man
named Andrew J. johnson, deserter from
the rebel army at Bowling Green. Mr..
Johnson Joined the rebel army at Paducah,
spsnt the summer at Camp Boone and came
into Bowling Green with the advance
guard Of the rebel army in Augustlast. He
was unfortunate enough to kill fellow
soldier in a melee and was threatened with
punishment by the authorities. He was
placed in the military jail at Bowling Green
and made to wait upon the Federal prison
ers confined there. johnson determined to
escape if possible, and take with him a
number Of the Federals. For this purpose
he secured and concealed a bed cord, and
waited for a fitting opportunity to leave the
prison. On the night of the 18th inst. he
notified Capt. Penn of Kentucky Regi-
ment and VIM. Weatherford of Jackson's
cavalry, who were confined in the Jail, that
he was going Northward, and invited them
to accompany him. BY means of the rope
they let themselves down from the prison
window and eluding the vigilance of the
guards reached the woods. They wander
ed about until daylight when they came
upon the house of a noted secessionist. Pre-
tending to be Confederate soldiers, the man
willingly conducted them to the road they
sought and soon they were beyond pursuit.
The Confederate troops at Bowling Green
number 20, 600 men, exclusive of General
Hindmau's Arkansas Legion consisting of
5000, at Cave City. The latter force con-
stitutes the advance of the rebel army
johnson says there are only five batteries
at Bowling Green and the largest guns are
IzpoundeEa EbaE 5 baTth gf earth wo1 ea
The infantry regiments are all uniformed,
but the Tennessee troops nh
main force at Bowling Green are wholly un-
drilled and are not able to perform the
simplest evolutions. In q field fight they
would be little better than an armed mob.
The rebels have two or three batteries
across Barren River and it was th cir inten-
ton to destroy the bridge over that stream
if they were compelled to retreat. From
Green River to Barren River the railroad
track is torn up and the way INSTRUCTED by
fallen trees. These will be very slight i'm
pediments to our advance, and as soon as
the railroad bridge over Green Riveris COM
pleted we may look for the forward move
ment of our forces.
The troops have plenty of flour, bacon,
sugar and coffee but no salt is to be had.
Il is worth $3.50 bushel in Nashville.
Coffee is selling ia Bowling Green at ST. a
pound butter fifty cents and other articles
IN proportion.
Great impotence is manifested in the
rebel camps at the postponenent of the long
expected fight. The men are anxious to go
forward, but General Johnston win await
the advance of our forces at Bowling Green.
Our informant, who visited the Union
camps between Bowling Green and Louis
vile, on his way back, says that we have
men enough to drive the rebels from their
position, and he is confident that this will
be the result, if our advance is made within
a few days. The rebels are being reinforced
however, and a protracted delay will make
their position more formidable, as they will
doubtless receive seige guns from the South.