The New York herald., 1862-01-18
THE REBEL SITUATION IN KENTUCKY.


encouraging than it was thirty days ago. The whole
force OF the enemy under General Buell. in this depart
ment, as we have before published, thought to be
about one hundred and ten thousand strong Against
this army enabled to state, upon satisfactory
data that the Confederate government can bring force
OF between ninety and hundred thousand men, all OF
whom are now under arms in Kentucky
federal column Of eighty thousand has long been
threatening Bowling Green has led to the very pro-
babe opinion that the great battle of the in the West
will be fought within that vicinity Our latest advices
from this point derived from personal interview
with the Hon John W. Crockett, member Of the Provi
siona Council Of Kentucky whom we had the pleasure Of
seeing in the city yesterday In consequence of the ap-
pretended advance on the part OF the enemy
General Johnston has been active and energetic in bis
preparations Of defence and has had large accessons TO
bis army from various quarters-sufhciently large we
happy learn the general expectation that
he will 20 hunt the enemy the latter delays his At
tack very much longer
1t is generally surmsed by our military officers that
If Buell. does make advance II will be in three col
umns-one movement in front and two on either flank
To prevent hanking the right General Foyds brigade
stationed the GLASGOW and Bardsown turnpike,
which is something twenty miles east of headquar
ters and Brigader General Clarke is stationed at Hop
knsvile with five or six thousand men to oppose the
successful advance Of General Tom Chittenden, who,
when last heard from, at Calhoun, sixty miles
from Hopknsvillo and eighty miles from Bowling Green
General JohnstOns position Is thus well guarded, and s
deemed very nearly impregnabe.
General zoiconer still remains nine miles south Of the
Cumberland river well fortified, and only twenty miles
from General Scboepf, who with small force has made
stand at Columbia the county seat OF wayne county, In
eastern Kentucky.
humphrey
with only three thousand men, has been pressing ssady
northward increasing his gallant little command at every
step. When last heard from he was at Pres
tonsburg, with 900 men, and was moving on
toward the Blue Grass region His advance guard
was at Hazle cen, eighty miles from Lexington
Large reinforcements said to be ocking to him daily
from Bourbon Bath Montgomery, Harrison and Nicholas
co.ntiss and be hopes to organize an army by next
spring large enough 70 capture sxn Gem Pope the
with 900 men, who to have been reinforced by
many more, recently sent from Buel's column.
The provisional government Of the State will be
membered, has voted TO raise thirty regiments Of
twelve months volunteers to be placed under the
mand Of that distinguished Ksntuckian, Gen. VIM. f.
Preston who is constituted Commander In Chief Of the
State forces. Whether this effort be attended with COM
pete only partial success the situation In Kentucky
ustihss In the conviction that Southern will be
attended with series Of that State upon the
opening Of the spring campaign. altogether commensu
rate with the ardent hopes Of our people Az it s fully
understood throughout the South that treaty OF
be accepted in this that does not yield Ken
lucky and the other slave States to confederacy the
with vast results will be watched BY the country with
the deepest socitude.
Especial correspondence of the Memphis Appeal
COLUMBUS, KyS Jan. 8, 1882.
The holidays were passed the usual routne Of camp
duty-working on the Notifications, mounting heavy
guns standing guard suans Tn1er ter Quarters &C. &c
sixteen feet chnked and daubed have sprung up here
within the past month with an aacriy that would pug
ze the genius Of Aladdin wonderful lamp to tell where
many little round logs could have come from. They
here nevertheless and all well provided
Tor against the ptiess storm OF the incoming winter
Let Old Abe persevere in his winter campaign TO his
hearts content, and expose his hreings to the seet
and ice Of northern climate If hechoose to do
our boys will sit by and comfortable fires and be
the more readysto meet them when they come.
Yesterday considerable excitement pervaded the whole
army in consequence of the sudden appearance in the
river above Of three gunboats and two smaller craft
AZ first was supposed the time for the long looked for
descent had arrived and the impending conct was
hand, as appearances would to Indicate the
maindsr Of the great armada coming up tho rear
In instant almost our batteries were manned and
ready for that trial Of strength which must sooner or
rest forever, hope, the apprehensons Of citizens
along the "great river' below. II was soon apparent
however that the object Of me expedition merely to
reconnotre If possible, the position Of our submarine
batteries, Internal mschines &C. preparatory, perhaps
TO descent to be made hereafter. The little Grampus
Immediately despatched up the river keep sharp
lookout upon their movements and ascertain the real
object Of their visit She returned and reported
that demonstrations had been made towards landing
troops on the Missouri side consequently hopes Of
brush with the Yankee rascas considerably diminished
and when, at fcngth they turned their bows towards
Cairo and slowly passed Of sight, gave IL up en-
rey for the present. and dsapponedy returned to
quarters to find In the varied OF the camp
como respite from the e and apathy Of inactive
life.
When they will pay another visit, we OF course
cannot tell but 1t s the opinion Of our commanders that
such interesting event may any time hence
all leaves OF absence and furloughs entirely inter-
dicted oxccpt in the most urgent and then writ
ten petition has to be made TO the Commander int Chef
In person.
Our defences are about completed save casemating
the river batteries which learn Is IN progress-and
wholly considered present array Of strength truly
formidable. Columbus may be taken, but there Is no
Yankee army in the field formidable enough 10 do it,
the good people Of Memphis may rest assured that the
only Yankees they will have opportunity Of seeing In
that fair city will consist the prisoners and
wounded sent down to them by their friends from here
should they come on and give us the chance.