The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-11-27

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Professor Mitchell just closing work
on military science, which had occupied
him twelvemonth, and in which be had
prepared criticisms Of many of the great
battles of authentic history. He was
about to start to this city to put this
volume in print when the, civil war
broke out Instead ofstopping in New
York, he continued his journey to
Washington, tondered his services to
the Government which had educated
him, and prepared to put in practice
what he had been speculating upon.
We know the rest. The President
made him Brigodier General and sent
him to Cincinnati to command the De
partment Of the Ohio He addressed |
himself to his work with all the enthu-
siasm and tremendous energy Of his
nature. He engineered series of
works around Cincinnati, extending for |
somo miles across on the Kentucky hills, |
and in few weeks at cost of little
over seven thousand dollars, he had con-
structed the defenscs that so lately
checked the audacious march Of Kirby
Smith upon Cincinnati. Tho Rebel
Generals Polk and Buckner, at the time
were preparing to seize Kentucky,
and by the aid of the traitors in the
Legislature and about the seat of Gov
ernment, to annex it to the Southern
Confederacy. There was but one Union
camp in Kentucky at the time, (Dick
Robinson,) and few thousand troops
near Louisville, on the Indiana side.-
The rebel citizens along the line Of
Railroad from Lexington had forcibly
taken Government arms and ammunition
from the cars, destined for Camp Dick
Robinson, and had exacted from the
owners of the road, the pledge that they
! would not attempt to send another
pound South into Kentucky for the U
S. Government. Everything was ready
u for the rebel invasion. Polk and Buck
ncr seized Bowling Green and Colum
bus. Zollicoffer approached the hear
" Of the State from toward Cumberland
II Gap. Kentucky was defenseless, anC
10 the hands of the Unionists tied by
ie the rebel control of the railroads. l
l. was at this perilous moment that Gen
10 Mitchell comprehended, acted, and saveC
the State in a night. He took military
possession of the Cincinnati and Lex
ington Railroad, relieving the owner
Of their bonds to the rebels, dis patched
u by night regiment to Cynthiana, wher
{ the rebel power was established on th
D line of the road, captured the plac
n about daylight, and then in rapid sue
10 cession seized every other point on tn
be railroads reaching to Lexington an
- Frankfort, and controlling the cntir
10 northern and central portion of th
- State In another day, troops, artillery
" and ammunition were free to go to the al
n Of loyal Kentuckians. They did go
nd gathered together with unparallel,
lr- rapidity by the ever-active Gen. Mitch
ng el-and the result was, the rebel gam
was foiled. Zollicoffer turned asid
'r- and was finally lost, and his army rou
he ed from the State. Buckner stoppe
n at Bowling Green, and Polk at Coluu
VS. bus, from which they too, in tur
'st had to give wy and leave KentLck
Is, free.
lst
al We shall not follow Gen. Mitch,
nd in his campaign South, at the head of
Il. division, nor repeat the story of hi
-. brilliant dash into Northern Alabam
=. and his success in beating back the 81
nd perior numbers Of the rebels, and hold
~ ing an extended territory in the hear
~ Of the enemy's country quiet and unrt
:, sisting in his grasp. These achieve
- ments form one Of the brightest ep
bo sodes of the war, and ilumine with rt
nj splendent glory the campaign whio
has SO much of darkness and shame i
its impotent conclusion.
Gen. Mitchell was Withdrawn fro,
ct. the field Of his success. Why it
ow needless to ask After many weeks {
he of weary waiting he was assigned to du
his ty at Beaufort. lie left with weigh
at upon his heart II was the shadow, I
so doubt, of his coming death. He fC
On. that this assignment South was in sou
lde sense putting him aside where he cou
at, bo of no use. Nevertheless he obey
- his Government and went TO Beaufo
cs, He had small means Of work at han
mo but he only redoublcd his energies
ios make the most of what he had, Doul
egc less, he overtasked his fiery spirit; stru
ten Cling against fearful odds, and burni
he within with impatient zoal, and bur
att, without by the fervd heats Of an uni
op- oustomed cline, his gaze grew dim th
the never blinked before in gazing amo
the the stars, and the film Of death settl
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