The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-23
Alrtflnnn 4ispatrt.
THURSDAY MORNINC IN % 1s-s
SPECIAL cossssrosDrsc. or THE prsrArcH. j
BowLlsa a.ssx, Jan. Is, 1862.


The idea which from boyhood had enter
tanned Of Bowling Green pictured 1t a. a
most lovely vlllage Of shade and refrsshinE &
verdure. The very name was suggestive OF
moonlight, meditation, music, and flowers.
The time Of year which finds me here and
the warlike aspect the town now bears unite
to disappoint the realization Of my carly
fancies. It Is is true, the place is pleasantly
situated in beautiful and bountiful portion
OF Kentucky, and the grass on the broad,
surrounding fields even now sufffcient for
grazing; but who thinks OF Bowling Green
except as the mill tary key Of the Missis-
sippi Valley? Before that key is turned and
that gorgeous valley stained by the foot of
the vandals the tall grass and the rosy fow-
erets Of spring will be woven in luxuriant
wrsaths for Southern heroes.
: hnd military men In some perplexity to
appreciate the remarkable mxn2uvres of
General Buell.. He has just completed. at
great cost to his Government, the bridge
across Green river. From four TO eight regi-
ments are thrown over each day and made to
re-cross at night. What the Federal General
means by this marching and counter march
ing seems doubtful. The most rational inter-
pretation appears to be to accustom bis
atfrighted sold cry to the presence Of our for
ces and TO gradually bring them up to the
" sticking point" in other words, to inspire
them with courage by degrees. Buell. doubt
less anticipates defeat with as much certain.
ty as ourselves; hence every strategy is re.
sorted to in order to keep up appearances
and the spirits of his troops-hence hts long
delay in making the attack, and his silly i'm.
itation of the King of France with forty
thousand men. When his advance will oc.
cur nobody here can pretend to predict. All
that can be said Is that whenever he chooses
to practice the motto son to Nashville" he
will be met by competent force and over.
whelmed with disaster.
Wherever one goes about Bowling Green,
ne meets with the soldiers of the Con feder.
acy. As came int the town at night, the
camp-fires could be seen for miles in every
direction. For thirty miles eas;, west and
north the inevitable tents Of the brave volun-
tsers are pitched. The army under General
Johnston is so disposed as to be most con.
venient to fire WOOD and army supplies, and
most readily mobilized in case of emergency.
1t may well be supposed that great zeal Of
skiil ana military genius was necessary to
the periectlon OF these varied arranEements.
When visit the Qualifications and the out.
posts shall be able to present some facts.
which, while do not intend they shall be
general wish on the part Of Virginians for
accurate information touching military oper-
ations before Bowling Green.
Having just gotten here, / shall content
mysslf with reference to the Virginia troops
under General Floyd. His brigade is en-
camped about three miles West of Bowling
Green, and seems ready to measure swords
with the foe. Although this gallant comma nd
has performed much arduous service, its san
itary condition is good, and the General de-
serves the thanks Of the count for his daring
campaign In Western Virginia. The theatre
OF his operations there was so beset with diff
culties, both moral and physical, that he
was denied q fair field against the enemy and
Government to send him to an arena where
those ncumbrances would not be encounter
ed. The Fifty-Sixth Virginia Regiment h II
been assigned for the present to his comm and,
| will be permanent. Its sancampmentis is situa-
ted three hundred yards from the Generals
headquarters, and presents a military and
comfortable appearance.
The Virginia troops at Bowling Green
fully realize the responsibility OF their pres.
ent position. They feel that the honor OF
their good old mother is entrusted to them,
and while lifting her "bonny blue flag on
strike right manfully for the inalien able
rights Of both. When they are ordered to
/ occupy the advance, a. soon they probably
will be, they will meet the enemy with ths
L sPAilSo NHEiuians, ana 1lluStrato 0y deeds
| of proud daring "the noblest motto that ever
| hiazed on warriors shield'-Sic Sezper
| Tyrannts. OCCASIONAL
| P.S I have inst learned that forty of the
| snemy's pickets have been captured by Hind
! mans advance guard and they have arrived
| at Bowling Green. Information has reached
me also that DIR. r. b. Patterson, quarter.
master Of the 56th, has been offered the com :
mand OF an artillery company. The regi.
| ment will protest against his acceptance.
his services are Indispensable, and the Nom
bers Of the regiment, individually and col
lectively, like him as brother. hazard
nothing in saying that more efficient officer
and more courteous and excellent gentle
man cannot be found in the service. Pro.
bably he may decline the post to which he
has been invited in Difference to the wishes OF
the 56th. It is to be hoped that such may be
his determination, since the resigna tion OF
his present position would deprive US of one
Of our brightest lights. Oo.