New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-28
From PaducnIl.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

From Paducnh.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.
PADucAH, Ky, sep.22. ls6l
In my last, explained the magnitude O. the loss
which had been sustained in the seizure Of hickman
and Columbus by the rebels. j have cone down
to this place pmpo'ey, that may speak innligently
of the steps which have been taken TO retrieve the dis
aster. And, in the first place, be these meaues never
so able never so full of promise of success they can
not right the great wrong and wipe out th damning
Disgrace of the past. The rebels where they
ought never to have BEEN with breath in their bodies
and all that it costs to diflodge them ia much ie-
plorable and wicked sacrifice. Every MAJ who falls
in the attempt is murdered and his bloo( lies at the
door of the Capitol n, Frankfort Every d,lar that is
spent ought to be made good out Of the Safe Golfers
To undentand the military situation here, it is nctes-
sary to call TO mind few facts in GEOGRAPHY. Ken
lucky it will be remembered IL shaped exicty like
shoe the heel resting on the Cumberland Mounta ne,
and the toe thrust into the Mississippi River. We
may without any unlawful stretch Of the Imagination,
suppose the shoe to be of the military Style
much in vogue and then the Tennessee River viii
represent the notched edge Of the cap piece. The
elongated point west of the Tennessee has bat little in
common with the rest Of the State, in any point Of
view. Its geological and Typographical chiracterisics,
its climate, SOIL growth, etc., differ from tlose Of east
and middle Kentucky as widely AZ do the sympa-
thes and habits of s people. This physical and moral
opposition is not striking than the military dual
ism Of the State. Southern Kentucky can never be
successfully crsmmed into the department with
the rest of the State. lite ia fact far vital paro
Fremonts Department. more necessary 10 the snecess
and completeness Of his operations, than any portion Of
Tennessee not lying Immediately on the Mississippi
River. When the Rebels seized Hickman and Colum.
bus the only hope Of disodgng them without enormous
cost was TO take them the rear. This has been ef
fectively done by occupying Padueah. Paducah is
town of some thousands Of population on tie Ohio
River, fifty miles from it's mouth. Ii commands the
navigation Of the Tennessee, and is the terminus Of
important railroad This road passes wn in the
Of Hickman and Columbus about thirty miles distant
from them. The country between the railroad and
the towns is level with very few elevations avincs
creeks other strong traegec points. There are no
macadauized roads in this part Of Kentucky but tbs
dirt roads are numerous, and, at this season. good.
A number Of these roads enter Iiiohmsn and Counl-
bus on level with the towns, the whole country back
being as high as the Bluffs themselves. Thus the
cupaton of Padncah threatens Hickman and Coumbus,
They will certainly fall with the fret forward move
ment made from this place.
On the journey down, enjoyed the melancholy
privilege Of witnessing, shortly after the catastrophe
the scene where the gallant 18th Illinois wa. hurled
upon sudden, frghtful and inglorious death. To de-
scribe the scening and hearrending scene ranscends
tue power of words. Just in the gray dawn, in the
midst ofa thick and clingng mist which aided horror
Il.
dened with nature tearsfor the unreturning brave"
/ stood at the fatal bridge in the dense aud lonely
woods, and saw mangled and shapcless heaps which
had once been men, drawn by dozens from the wreck.
Broken muskeis shattered canteens torn and bloody
blankets tatters Of uniform dripping with gore,
scattered in wild confusion. LARGE fires were burning
in many places, and the wounded lay around these,
writing in agony vomiting blood moaning anguish,
while purple streams stealing slowly along the ground
or saturaBg their blankets told the extent of their in
juries. eliicd and unacceptable macs was pointed
ont as having once been a gallant officer, while more
thau one poor fellow literally disembowced was st
alive. No battlefield could snrpass the scene in hor.
roIs, while every redeeming feature eve reconcng
association, Of tic battlefield Intrepid cLiyalty tho
ldy fray the noble for which IL r. sweet 10 die
the compenctiDg deaths of ioemen--all these were
wanting Noble Ilinoans, lost TO your county in the
darkest hour Of hef need We Tie more deplore you be-
cause you miased the rich experience Of the hcros
death upon the eldbecaue to you the voice Of death
WAS not that prophets word IN whose hollow tones
are heard the thanks Of millions yet 10 be.
1t is not probable that any engagement will take
place here for a while yet This place is uow too
strong for the rebels to take it, aud things not rpo
for an advance from this point "a yet.
JONI G. BRrcKIsRIDGE on TIE WISG.--We learn
from Mt Sterling that on Friday morning, about 4
o'clock, buggy containing two gentlemen and O
negro boy passed through that town. stopping for
few minutes at tho hOuse of an eN-oiicial and took
TIE State road toward the Virginia line. Several gen.
Llemen met the buggy on the road One Of the tray
elers was closely muilIed, and, whenever they were
about meeting any one, the negro boy raised himself
90 as 10 cover the nuiHed figure. One Of the Secos
ioui,ts in sic. Sterling revealed the fact Friday
hat John G. Breckinridge had gone through on his
way to Virginia or Tennessee. Lincolns Hessian
Hoax" il forever psed now The ex-ohical, at
whose house the travellers called, was not in Mt.
Sterling on Friday ilht. A number Of the State
Guard stole portion of the State Friday after
lark, and started the road the buggy had taken
Perhaps they accompanied Breekinridge aud his COM
,anion as q body-guald.
fLouis,ilIe journal, Sept IS.
TRE URFFEaE OF LEXINGTON,