The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-24
The Defeat in kcntucky--Lcti 1t Rouse
tho south from It's LethArKy.

The defeat which We have sustained IN
Kentucky is a misfortune 10 be deplored; bnt
which may be repaired, aud, indeed, improved
10 our advantage. The particulars OF the
battle are as yet too meagre TO Warrant d sA'e
conclusion an to its Causes Ii seems that our
army, uanr command of Maj General Ctit-
,enden. attended by Brigadier- General Aohi-
Golfer. marched forth from iis entertainments
and attacked the enemy fortified IN STRONG
poa;tien on the other eide of a stream OF w"
ter. The fight seems to have been sever .o'
some time, the enemy ACKNOWLEDGING Sef0n's
Eve killed in a single one OK MS resinou'''
Bat At an evil moment Generai Hoii'oone,
,yss sho, down, and then our forces iost AL
,..,csa.,ce fell into dsordAr, and fed. II is
on;te n,aiu that they relied upon General Zoi-
hooyer IN the fight, and that when he fell,
sh.v wonld pu. H. trust in his superior in com
x.and General Crittesaien. and gave up the
contest.
The report is, that Gen. Crittenden was II
fnii retreat on the road leading to Knoxville,
Tennessee, distant hundr cd miles by road
from Somerset; and the Inference cannot oe
avoided that MS army was much disorg.iniZeo
and ia capable Of bold stand against the
enemy. The Government hels Will doubtless
take prompt steps TO reinforce ths ssJs'.'ihl
army with regiments to form Il nucleus for :.
rally, and with a few batteries to make good
stand in the passes that occur SO frequently
along the road TO Knoxville. i few artillery,
one or two competent engineer officers, and
another Brigadier General IN whom the troops
have confidence, will at once put our affairs
III that quarter again on their legs
The only serious danger resulting from this
defeat is the possibility that tie enemy may
be able TO reach the railroad at Some point
near Knoxville, and cut OF our communiea-
tions with The mississippi Valley. The im.ui-
neuee OF this danger is July appreciated by
the Confederate authorities, ana the eXigenoy
VIII be promptly net by the proper inca
sures.
There is little danger OF any immediate adj
vance OF the enemy Ia the direction of Cum
bertrand Gap, which ID hundred miles from
Somerset. and if Le should undertake such al
advance, we have force there strong enough,
with the aid Of the formidable Notifications
guarding its passes, to keep an army at bay.
The real danger is OF his advance along the
route of our own discounted army, and OF
his reaching the railroad in the usighbor-
hood Of Knoxville; but this danger may be
very easily guarded against.
Unfortunate rs this defeat is at this unc-
ture, it may result in great advantage to our
cause. An alarming spirit OF apathy had ia
Ken possession OF our people, AID 10 some
extent had begun To Characterize the action
OF the Government. We were not devotlng
ourselves 10 the great business of this war
Ike men III earnest. The only thing tha.
could have occurred to rouse Us all 10 oar
duty was just such disaster as this In Ken
tucAy. Fortunately, it has occurred at dis
lance from any vital pojut, aifordug time to
prepare against evil results that may come
from it, and if it but arouse all to their whole
duty, it viii really prove godsend to Us at a
most critical period of this struggle.