The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-27

LETTER FROM THE ADVANCE COLUMN
,ss~ or KENTUCKY. rI1

LETTER FROM THE ADVANCE COLUMN
j or KENTUCKY. c
Dksc1xPa70x or xAs Pos1rrox- axHxRAL
JOHNS0N-HkNDlLlEN or TIE RBBELS-
PR0sPEcTS or A AlTzxz.
Righteousness 9Th BMaApE, CAM wooD, !
| AUNoRDsvMLI, Ky. Dec. II, 1861.
| 70 The Editor Pioneer asd Democrat
The long looked for onward movement
of this division Of the army has at last oc-
Cured. Early on Monday morning, the
9th inst, tents were struck by the forces at
Camp Nevin, and we moved forward to,
ward Green River, and the village of Num-
louisville, on the banks Of Green River, was
occupied by the Union forces yesterday.
We are about twenty miles South from
Camp Nevin, and eighty from Louisville,
on the L. & N. r. r. 1t was at this point
that Buckner burned the bridge over Green
River some weeks ago, with the hope of
delaying our advance into Southern Ken
lucky.
The river, at this point, is about half the
width of the Mississippi at st. Paul, and is
deep, rapid stream with high, rocky
banks, and not easily crossed in the face of
an enemy. On the opposite side of the
river is an earthwork, thrown up by the
rebels with view of disputing the passage
of the river. 1t is now deserted, the guns
removed and the rebel forces withdrawn in
the direction of Bowling Green, where is
now the only position of Importance in the
possession of the rebels in this Military
Department.
Mumfordsville is, or rather was, town
of about fifteen hundred, but having been
so long in the occupancy of the rebels, all
its loyal citizens, with few exceptions, have
been compelled to seek refuge within our
lines while the rebels fled Southwark at
our approach, so that now it presents a
desolate and melancholy appearance. Stores
and places of business were closed, private
residences deserted, and only about twenty
OF its inhabitants were left to welcome our
advancing columns. South of US the country
is still under the control of the rebels
Early this morning sharp skirmish took
place at the ferry near the town. A COM
pany of the rebel cavalry fired upon COM
pany of the 18th Ohio, on picket at that
point; the fire was sharply returned, out
with no serious results. The rebels rapidly
retreated upon finding that the passage of
the river was disputed.
The bridges for many miles above and
below this point, have been destroyed, but
the rebuilding of the one burned by rebel
vandalism is being pushed forward with
vigor, and we hope soon to be able to throw
forward column in the direction OF Bow
ling Green. The forces at this point are
under the command of Brigadier General
r. w. Johnson.
The selection of Gen. johnson to the
command of our advance column is merits
ed tribute to his military capacity having
had many years experience as Captain of
cavalry on our frontier, be is eminentIy fitted
for the responsible position he now holds.
The most outrageous acts of violence
have been committed by the rebels in this
vicinity the property of Union men wan
tonly destroyed, their horses and cattle
taken without pretence'of payment, and in
many instances their houses burned and
they forced to endure the rilor of Ken.
lucky winter unsheltered Alany of them
are now in our army, AUG ike hlazeppa, are
determined to pay back outrage and blood
to those who have injured them. ! am
happy to soy, however, that no acts of out
rage have been committed by any of our
forces the most strict orders were given
forbidding depredations upon the private
property of citizens, and they are rigor,
Ously enforced. Whatever was taken for
the use of the army, whether from Union
lists OR rebels was promptly paid for in gold.
We do not anticipate battle in this Di.
vision very soon, but no one knows what a
day may bring forth, and few days may
materially change the aspect of affairs.
LETTER FROM A DISGUISED SHARP
SHOOTER.