New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-13
ITS ACCOMPLISHING Nj
Strength and Organization of Gen. Butl'sFOree'
THE IMPENDING CAMPAIGN
rrom Our Special Correspondent.

have rested with anxious expectation upon the vast
body Of Union roops-nferior in number among al
the armies of the Union only TO Gen. McClei'ans
Immediate command on the Potomac-that has aecu-
INFLATED during the last three months upon the soil
of Kentucky. Weared with vaiuly waiting for ag
ee,sive action in the vicinity of the national capital
the imps,ien public turned in this direction. hoping
10 have its sick heart relieved by the exhibition Of
moving energy on the par; of the defenders Of the
Union. Alas as yet news of cheering victories
have reached il no from Green River than from
The Potomac. Here as there, the massive columns
Of Union sodiery lie still, and battles and triumphs
are yet prospective
But the military inactivity in this latitude IL, in
reality, no Just cause for complaint. While on the
Potomac nearly six months have already been devoted
TO the organization of an army, little over hall OF that
period has been given for preparation IN tins State
While at Washington there at least the material
for an army, and concentration OF all the military
skil in the land TO shape il into proper form, there
were neither soldiers nor generals here when the
necessity OF bringing any into existence first arose
While tie WORK on the Potomac has steadily been
going on under the superintendent, no less than
three generals successfully controlled 1t this depart
boldness of the Secession sympahizers, rather than
the divided loyalty OF the so-caed Unonlsts brought
about crisis in this State II not until the lst
par Of September that the Federal Government
more humble than polite in It's Difference to the luke
warm Union leaders, was permitted and asked TO ex-
tend it's power of protection over Kentucky. Gen
Anderson had scarcely assumed command when
Buckuer made his unsuccessful attempt TO capture
Louisville by a coup-de. main, and aiterward settled
with his rebel hordes at Bowling Green. The Union
General had nothing TO oppose to the enemy but few
ysw and half-aImed regiments and few hundred
equally Ineffective home-guards. The prolific North
West was then called upon TO come 10 the rescue.
Regiments were hurried across from Indiana and
Ohio. But they moved into Kentucky, some half
full others without uniforms and even destitute OF
Rsps About twenty thousand men Of this descrip-
ton were in the State when Gen. Anderson retired
from the command Of the department. Gen. Sher-
man succeeded him. His administration extended
over about seven weeks. Ii hss been severely crti.
cised and rather Justly 20. Sins Of omission and
commission bsve both been charged 10 him. Among
the latter the most disastrous the precptate and
groundless withdrawal Of the column that had
advanced in the direction Of the Cumberland Gap,
resulting almost in the annihilation Of two entire
regiments by disease contracted from fatigue and
exposure. 1t is certain, that when the second Com
mander Of the Department Of the Cumberland was
relieved at his own request, tie army in Kentucky,
although nearly tnpled in number by additional
regiments from Indiana, Ohio Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin, and Pennsy lvania, and recruiting in the
State, was, with the exception Of perhaps dozen
Northern regiments, still little better than an armed
mob.
Up to late in October the central authorities nj
Washington did not seem 10 realize the vital import
sDce Of the speedy creation of large and effective
army in Kentucky. The flying visit Of Secretary
Cameron and Adjutaut-General Thomas appeared TO
have effected but little toward their enlightenment
spon this consequential subject. 1t required pro-
found military lore, but simple knowledge Of the
character and resources Of that part Of the South
washed by the Mississippi and ts eastern Tributaries
TO understand that the overthrow If the rebel rule
in Southern Kentucky and Tennessee would not only
Ut once destroy the geographical unity Of the rebel
kous Confederacy, but also render the conquest Of
al the seeded States wet Of the southern extern
mons Of the Aleghsnies a comparatively easy task.
While victory on the Potomac would at best only
open the road to Richmond, the rout Of the
insurgents about Bowling Green would open
sne TO the Cult. The activity of Price in Mis-
sour evidently involved the necessity Of an
Indefinite postponement Of the proposed ex-
peditiOn directly down the Mississippi. But
the job the Western Union army was unable to
execute readily might have been transferred. as it
ultimately was, 10 the central one and probably be
half done before this had the proper steps been
Ear taken 81 IL was only raw leyies were orde red
into Kentucky, with which offensive operations
could not possibly be commenced without months Of
training.
1t was not until toward the close of Gen Sherman
fruitess career that the War Department appeared to
awaken to the exigences of the situation in this
State. Then dozen infantry regiments, well sea.
soned by most arduOus Summer campaign IN West.
ern Virginia, together with some effective regular
and volunteer artillery and cavalry companies, were
ordered TO this theater Of war. The Department
was reorganized and more competent General as
signed 70 its command Instructions also issued
10 the Governors of Wisconsin, Minnesota Michigan
Indiana, and Ohio to send all available forces To
Kentucky, and it was owing to these several meas
that during November and the first half of De-
cember not day passed without the arrival Of one
or more regiments at Louisville.
This very abundance Of material OF course rem
dered the work imposed upon Gen. Buell. much more
complicated and difficult than that Of his predeces-
Sors. The tack OF Gen. Mcclellan was really much
easier. The latter had gathered under bis command
nearly the whole Of the regular in'aDtry, cavalry,
and artillery. lie was assisted by nine ont Of ten OF
the regular army officers that remained true to the
rtars and sfripes He had the nriviIege of ,;,L;,