Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-28
aT~ayEE

ROWLING GREEN TEaE BATTLE
GR0CaH.
The vigorous effort that is being made to expel
the Confederate army from Central Kentucky,
does not attract that degree of attention from our
people which its vast importance deserves. They
have been thrown into psnics so frequently by
sensation ~dispstches from impetuous military
commanders, and have had the nocturnal repose
Of their fami.ies disturbed to such an extent by
startling addresses emsnating from well-inten-
toned but acknowledgement old gentlemen,
that the cry OF wolf makes but little impress
sion at the present time upon their impervieus
sensibiiities. Nevertheless the movements that
are raRidly transporting in kentucky, certainly
indicate a speedy advance Of the Felerals upon
Gen. JoHNsToN'S army at Bowling Green. \
column Of over sixty-thousand men has crossed
the Ohio river at Louisville, and is pressing
steadily onward towards the South. The army
of Gsa. BUELL., now in the department of Ken
lucky, according to tLe testimony Of the St.
Louis Democrat, numbers one hundred and ten
fA0asand strong, and our latest advices represent
inst it is receiving daily sccessioRs.
The late proceedings of the Federal Congress
foreshsdow the policy OF the Lincoln admins
tration regarding the war in Kentucky. The
bill appropriadnz thirty millions of dollars to
raise twenty thousand twelve months volun-
teeTs, as az additional force for BUELL's divis-
ion, passed the House of Representatives sew
eral days since, and was sent up TO the Senate
with a tsir prospect OF becoming a law. This
movement, if successful, viii increase the Fed
eTal forces in Kentucky to 10000, which can
be strengthened still more by another reinforce
msnt Of 10000 from the camps OF Illinois, Indi-
ana and Ohio. at any moment they are needed.
The temper of the Congressional debate on this
bill, shows that the evident purpose OF the enc
my Is to mae the West the great theater Of the
impending Conflict. aud that the 100000 men
which Adjutsut-G General THOMAS deemed neces-
sary for tho reclamation o. kentucky, viii be
raised, if necessary, at the expense of a draft on
MCCLELLAN o. R~OsEyCRANz.
The original discrimination OF the enemy to
advance simultaneously upon Columbus and
Bowling G~reen-which was probably entertained
= month sgo-seems from all We can learn 20 be
now abandoned. A very startling rumor has
reached them, and been published in their pa
psrs with much nervous apprehension, that the
rebels have bsen planting their torpedoes, snb-
marine batteries, ana various other Internal ma
chimes, below Cairo IN the bed Of the Mississippi
river, and SO powerful has been the moral effect
Of the intelligence that forthwith the gun and
steamboat pilots deserted By scores, and the re-
msining few refused TO serve in the Down river
expedition. Hence the probable cause Of this
change Of programme from the invasion down
the Mississippi to an expedition up the Ten
nsssee and Cumberland rivers, in coniunc-
ton with the land attack on Gen. JOHNSTON.
We believe, accordingly, that the aotilla which
was EeiGg constructed with the view of making
New Orleans its destination, viii now have an
eye OF Clarksyile OF Nashville. No stone should
be left unturnei to confront its advance by
preparations so formidabls as to insure It's dis
comfture.
We may be mistaken in our opinion, but the
probability of an early movement ON Bowling
Green seems to receive couo5oradon from the
spiht OF the northern press, which clamors
loudly for increased energy and vigor in army
Operations since the reception OF the late bellig-
erent intelligence from Europe. The tone Of the
most influential journals exhibits = morbid de-
s.Te to see the Washington government put
forth its full strength against the South before
sls approach Of winter, with the hope Of achieT-
iag some brilliant victory, which is to be held
out to the European powers, aud parti ularly
Great Britain, as an IN tsrrOTem argument against
any Interference in the American war. They
f-mly believe that the present success OF the
Federal srms il a pitched battle, with $1,000 or
10000 men on each side, would prevent the
impending recognition Of the Confederate States,
Tighten England and France from their dispo-
sidon to disturb the blockade, and, in fine, cut
the GordiaH knot Of the San Jacinto-Trent COM
plication in q shorter period Of time than Seward
iau diplomacy can unite it.
These considerations have produced much i'm
patience throughout. the North at the inactivity
OF Gen. MCCLELLAN, who is now urged to ad-
vance ia the face Of certain defeat. To prevent
another Bull Run affair, the f" Grand Arm" OF
the Potomac must Temsin in is Entertainments.
But then the popular cismor must be apPeased,
and how Is this to be accomplished Evidently
by the vigorous prosecution Of the war in Ken
tucky-in fact this expected movement on Bowl
ing Green.
Whether our surnise be true or nos viii be APP
parent in a few days, and speculation, therefore,
s4n be Of but little avail. When the battle
comes on, we have confidence that the victory
vii be ours.