The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-11
AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY.
NEWS FROM THE WILDCAT BRIGADE.
OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

NEWS FROM THE WILDCAT BRIGADE.
OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
Carr CALvxRr,l
Loupos, laurel County, Ky, Nov. 8, 1891
ZoLiccGers Arp,y after the Wildcat AJarLis General
ship-Repmt Of His Superssson---7ne Rebels all al
cambrland Gap-7hey are building NeU Nrtifco-
tons-Taey are R1nforced-Our Winter Quarts's--
From East Tn,sesses- Colonel John C6nssetps Rsconsoi
trtng Expedition, Gc., dc.
Profound despondence broods over this gallant little
army. An impression prevails that our commanding
generals afraid will urther exaspcrate our South
ern brethren" II we move further South When we left
Wildcat nothing would have boen easier had we been rc
mforced with goo men, than march through Cumber
'and Gap to Knoxville. There is abundant testimony
that zollicoGer's army terrified and demorai-
lied after its repulse and that would not have made
stand against vigorous demonstration Notwithstand
ing his superior numbers his army had neither consistency
nor strength 1t partially disorganized consolida
ton Of thirteen old regiments ones, and
thousand cavalry. Its officers inexperienced and
ignorant Of duties appertanng 10 the profession ofarms
while the rebel attempt upon Wildcat demonstrated Zo
cofier's utter unAtness for command. His feeble
generaiship indeed conspicuous that we
are informed that his officers subsequently re-
preached him for his incapacity
The moral effect Of that rcpulsc, however, s all lost.
We know, from excellent testimony, that caused great
enthusiasm in Fast Tennessee and that tho people
eager TO welcome and furnish material aid They pre-
sumed, Of course, that would be pushed onward Wig
orously and victoriously Meantime Zolconer fed in
disorder through Barbourvc the ford and from the
ford to the Gap Meantime, discovering foebeness
in tho head by datory movements he sent back his
cavalry to forage through Cumberland Valley and squads
Of them learning through their spies that Con. ScoeG
had not been provided with cavalry boldly approached
day after day within four nvo miles Of During the
ten days which elapsed after their retreat from Wildcat
they foaged and ravagcd the country from point within
dozen miles of us, and up the Cumberland Valley
muatBg large herds Of cattle droves of Shecp and hogs
and The best horses In the country besides carrying
away all the corn and small grains their wagons could
move. And here lay supinely backs per-
Eting these under orders which positively
prohibited any advance
And now wo have leloro us a certain prospect Of trc
mondous obstacles TO before we touch tho
soil Of East Tennessee through the Gap. The heavy
rains OF the first days Of this month swelcd the
beand and the last remaining squad Of rebels, admo
nshcd OF DANGER passe the ford and escaped beg par
don there then danger OF attempt intercept
hem though fortunate for them that they retired
because (when was too ae) Geaeral schoe took the
responsibility Of sending rcconnoiteriGg detachment
ator them Meantime the rebels had obstruced all
roaas but the main thorougare which leads TO the ford,
and bad fortified two miles beyond But when they fell
back to the Gap-oae day last wcck-thcy destroyed
their works, and, upon arriving the Gap they were
heavily reinforced. They number %, eco men, and
informed that General Leo is command Our
information the latter point is positive but it is
reliable In other respects. The report however that
general 10 in command, seems TO be confirmed by
tho TACT that the old fortidcations al the Gap
becn demolished recently, and that new and moro
| formidable works being nnde. Thus You will pcr
ceive that expedition which would have been com
made almost II not qaiic Impossible, by our wc,ched
policy Of waiting for the rebels 70 prepafe FOR US.
is not probable that the rebels viii make another
tack upon The Wildcat affair them too denrly
While rctreating, hor officers openly proclaimed that
they would undertake to whip the Lnconites again
chosen position that follow them If We desired
fgE.. Before they left the ford they got tired waiting
for US and that II did before winter
set in we would find noboiy t. fight II is also stated
that Jel Davis ordered them fail back the ford
and 60 into winter quarters Their operations at the Gap
| indicate that they viii winter there.
Nobody knows what II Is intended we shall do. Certain
mysterious inquiries sent I, this camp from General
Thomaswho has never been here bu, vibraes contor
tabiy fom Crab Orchard TO Camp Dick Rohnson-indi-
cate an intention TO withdraw this column from tho
mountains 80 into winter quarters at Crab Orchard aud
Richmond. need not expatate upon the evil influences
OF rerogradc movement. 1t win not only dcrnoraize
army, but will exasperate tha Union people Of Ken
lucky in this section, and will OIL the hearts Of the loyal
TennessceaDs with despair. Tire, the Cumberland
Valley is not the most agreeable place the world to
winter, and the difficulty OF moving supply trains
over muddy and frosty mountain roads is Formidable
but the advantage maintaining the ground have
recovered and Of inspiring the Union people OF Kentucky
and Tennessee with confidence is complete vindcation
OF such policy The troops themselves prefer it, We arc
informed there is age enough in two three
10 support the stock necessary for army Of ,ho,
sand men, and the produce of the country will materially
OF tho ccionels o the column that, IT TO 20
winter quarters, should inynedEtciy
BlrhouTvi,c. The distance would be iDelter 70
transport .uppies IS meiyiye miles, ~ which thisty-
fur is an excellent macadariised rke-!eavag rough
road of siXiy-onc miles. #E4 3fuo st 4t 8Hf
4 But while is Al, Important that TIC Curhera,i read
should be hcd Wy nj know that co!.nn can b5
pushed over the mountains into ferncssee by other
routss Two days ago loyal enlo arrived Mt
this ca,ap rem the mde OF East Teiingssce BY roate
totally ,aobsructcd by the rebels They give cnthnsias
tic accounts, OF the loyalty cf the people OF that section
and that the country will easily subsist army
OF ten thousand men. These gentlemen are anxious %
| Al. North.
Georgia, guaranteeing that tho people will aid u.s.
Their representations are endorsed by letters from well
known Union Of Tennessee, who earnestly iavoke
the assistance Of our arms they arc now helpless, be-
cause they have ne her arms or ammunition, but they
rroca that they viii acE 70 us if we will equip Them
ihor appfals are mtst folchlg and ser arguments ara
soundy sustained. True it is necessary TO keep sharp
looko for eucncr but by this time he has quite ous
| ness enough il hand to occupy his attention. l4 .
since we have been here nohng has occurred 10 re
| lcve the drcary stagnation OF the camp until within
hit hours General Schoc 1slt sted AZ inacor
yielded The persasions Of Colonel Council Of tie ey
enc.ntb Ohio and sent him forward Sunday night With
thousand picked men 10 make reconnaissance in front
far rs he, IN his discretion, may choose to co. ColneI
Cobneil reached Rlrbourvie yesterday Bat this eXpe-
diticn WIS not authorized by General Thomas and it
presumed he will censurc It, should not b. surprised
fCoCnel c. shoud be orcere; to return from Barbour
vide soon MS General Thomas beAs Of his excursion.
viii lead to general advance perhaps TO Cumberland
Ford. OF course, We will not bc permitted TO go further
Colonel CcnneI, after having marched eighteen miles,
, was recalled, and has returned.
THE SITUATION In KENTUCKY.
Tho louisville journal OF the 9th inst. has the follow
ing interesting account Of the position OF the Union
! troops &.@ j '.feb 4
Puckner has left the south Of the river and
/ retired his towards Bowling Green and Stanton
has lcft Burlsye, in Cumberland county, and returned
INTO Tennessee with his maranding gang These move
may be regarded as our strategic Victories defeat
ng rebels without battle Tie dspe sition Of the
three divisions OF Union troops may be briefly stated
General Crtcndcn commands the Western DIVISION Gen.
Mccook the centre and General schGpa the Eastern,
while General Sherman supervisos the whole We have
already shown that in the West Colonel Enrbridge has ad
vanced far as Woodbury., which ut the confluence Of
the Big Barren with Groeu river, about fccn miles on
tile left flank Of 3tckner's position at Bowling Green In
the centre troops have gone fifteen miles beyond
Non and taken position at Bacon creek. which ID not