The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-30

Be q
we nave various reports, from persons VIII o
recently came through under a flag OF truce,
OF the strength of the enemy's army at and
approaching Green River, threatening Gen,
n Kentucky and Ohio estimate the urn Der
1t seventy TO ninety Thousand some OF our
Southern liends who have come thrOus n
place tbs number at q hundred thousand or
more; while the more intelligent Of these
friends say this force does not excsad 80 to 10
thonsand. From the best lights before az
am OF opinion there Is not over sixty thou
sand effective men on thar line that could be
brought In to one battle now or within tn
time 81! engagement is expected TO take place.
The sickness IN the enemys camp IL repre-
ssateG as very greas. Some OF the regim ents
we're sid to be but little more than skeletons
OF Whist they were. Still, the force aggreEa-
ted ia The ne.gbborbcod OF Green River
and within call 10 large, not to be dsspised,
composed OF good 1ghurg men from Ken
tncSy and the Northwestern Ntates, and well
ia nished with materials OF war. sixteen 70
twenty thousand have crossst ihs river, and
seem TO be preparing TO advance. II baltic
were fought to day, do not think the emmy
could bring into the field over thirty or
thirty ave thousand man. To meet these
we have twenty to twenty. Ave thousand Of
tbs best and bravsst troops In the world
quite sufficient to whip the enemy, though
they be more in number.
They have boaeted they would eat their
Christmas dinner at Bowling Green, and
soon after be in h asbville. This piece Of
g aracteristic gasconade has as little terror
for cur brave Mor a. si h the 4n 70
fami lies leaving Bowling Green, or packing
up their things in Nashville for departure
from fear Of the Esscons.. And should Sh Q
enemy increase his force greatly, we csn do
the same. Under any and all circumstances,
we can defend the line TO Bowling Green and
Nashville against any number that can be
brought against us More than that. We have
nodOubt CT defeating them SO thoroughly
that we shall be able TO advance into the
country now held by them. A battle il sx-
pPcted any day or hour, not only by the peo-
pie, who In their excitement usually Rnticl-
pate such an event, but also by the army
officers. Such Is the state Of military affairs
Just now in that Part Of Kentucky. am 1,
however, skeptieal about having any great.
decisive battle there, AZ have stated before
in my mmunications to the pssp0tch.
From the recent news of the movements OF
Federal forces on the Potomac. In the neigh
borhood of Norfolk, in kentucky, and else.
where, 1t Is not impro babie that the much.
talhed-of grand demonstration ST all these
points sim ultaneously 10 about to be made.
The enemy has again assumed 9 highly
threatening tone towards General PtiioW's
command. They speak confidently OF over
whelnaing him at Columbus, by an irresisti-
Bile attack by land and by the river at the
same time. The General feels no apprshen.
sicn about tbs result. should he be attacked.
We have received no reliable Information,
for ecme days past, Of the movements OF
Generals Massh,il end ZollicoAer. 1t was
known they were marching wiA increased
forces as they advanced, the former in the
direction CT West Libersy, and the latter BY
Somerset. Hope il INDUCED that they may
meet 1T Lexington.
The news from Europe created a thrill Of
Joy here, Is everywhere else throughout the
Oonfederacy. Queen Tictoria's message,
the prompt and decisive stand Of her Gov
ernment, the tone of the British press, and
the popular voice show that the Lincoln des-
potisIn will ei ther have to fght the old Lion
or be Inundated. We hope the Yankees will
have as much back bone, as they have ego
tism and fanaticism, for then there 10 sure TO
be war. This news has produced q consider
able eject, already, upon the specu iators 10
money. Goldhsd gone up to forty per cent.
and ia some cases az high IS fifty, now 1t ia
not over thirty. should there be war be-
tween England and the United States, II
would probably 20 down to par or to srnail
premium The navy OF Great Britain would
soon sweep away The blockade, and we should
BIS supplied abundantiy with money in ex-
change for our produce, and with tho mats
rails Of war. We wait with intense interest
me ne VS. from the North and from The other
sids Of the Atlantic, to know how providen.
TALLY the Mason and Siid-ll adrtr 10 work.
ing. vssIfAs.