The New York herald., 1862-10-10

Overthrow OF the Rebel Army I'm KEN
tucky.
The army news which we publish this morn
Ing from Kentucky is good and cheering.
Across the entire length Of the State the
different columns and detaohments of the re-
treating rebels, wherever brought into collision
with the Union forces, it appears, are not only
defeated, but routed and dispersed. We have
thus no misgivings Of the great battle reported
In progress yesterday between the main army
Of General Buell. and the rebel army of General
Bragg, near Bardstown. We expect during the
day the tidings Of asUnion victory as decisive
as was that of Fort Donelson.
The army Of General Buell. is an army Of
Western veterans, who have gone through
. practical training Of marches, sieges,
battles and victories, which, to the future
historian, will appear more like the
inventions of fotion than the sober details
of actual experience Soldiers like those Of
Buell. may be relied upon to give . good
report Of their training in any encounter with
the enemy. But when, in addition to their In
dividual superiority, we are assured that they
are at least equal, if nos superior, in numbers
to the hastily collected conscripts Of Bragg, the
issue of an engagement between these two
armies cannot be doubtful. General Buell., too,
has been the pursuing party, while Bragg has
been vainly endeavoring to make good his re-
treat without fight. Overhsuled at length
and compelled to try the fortunes Of general
battle, we can entertain no misgivings OF the
W> Ak.k Il.
bellion, root and branch, in the West.
The advance of Bragg and Kirby Smith into
Kentucky was part OF the same grand but
delu.ive rebel programme under which
the great rebel army Of Virginia was
pushed over the Potomac into Maryland.
The principal object Of Bragg-like that OF
Lee--was bread and meat and shoes and cloth
ing, for his hungry and ragged soldiers. In
the distance Bragg saw that Cincinnati was
defenceiess, and that by rapid marching he
could gel Kirby Smiths column there before
Buell-aTsy down then in Western Tennessee
could possibly come up to the rescue. 1t was
a neat calculation; but Bragg and Smith, nm
fortunately FOR themselves, omitted very i'm
portant opposing element in counting up their
chances of success. Smith discovered this onais-
sion however, when, within short day s march
of Cincinnati, no was informed that the citizens
OF that patriotic city and of noble Ohio had,
within ten dsys, improvised The formidable
defensive army Of nearly hundred thou
sand men.
This was toe much for Kirby Smith. and so
lie discreetIy sheered of but then, in pur-
suance Of orders, he moved inland. on the Ken
lucky side OF the Ohio, to q junction with Bragg,
the latter suppostng that he might still capture
The defenceless city Of Louisville in advance Of
the arrival of Baell. But the patriotic citizens
of Louisville and of Indiana actively co-operat-
ing with some detacbments OF Union troops on
the ground, were, at short notice, prepared to
give Bragg a very warm reception even in the
absence of Buell.. To cap the climax, however,
while Bragg wos hesitating whether to push
forward or to fall back, Buell., by one of the
most remarkable marches, in dirtsnce and ra-
pidity, IN the annals OF modern war, came Up TO
take hand in the game; and the game. we
dare say, is now ended with the total defeat Of
Bragg and his calculations.
This Is the news which We anticipate to-day;
and, If our expectations are fully confirmed
(and everything indicates they will be), then
we may set down the rebellion In the West as
substantially crushed out, and safely assume
that anothsa victory Of General Mcclellan will
end |, in ths East, snd thatthis Growing victory
is close at hand.