The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-03-08
KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.

about these splendid results:
When Gen Buell. was assigned to the
command of the Department of the Ohio,
last fall he possessed, as he now possesses
the fullest confidence of Gen. Mcclellan in
his military genius and calm bravery
Gen. Buell. was ordered to go to Kentucky
then invaded by the rebels and fortified
for their battle line in the Wcst-make
himself acquainted with his field of ope-
rations, devise such plans of campaign
against the enemy as he should find ne
cessary, and report to Gen. Mcclellan, who
promised to support him to the full extent
of his demands. Up to this time the
public mind had been directing the cam
paign in Kentucky solely to an advance
through Cumberland Gap into East Ten
nesSee, to seize the Virginia ana Tennes
see Railroad
This plan was strongly urged by Sec.
Cameron, and Gen. Mitchell was eager to
take the lead in the enterprise, and, be-
cause he was not PERMITTED by Gen. Sher-
hitl ~ uo So; nc telldefeu Ills IeSiS udtIOu
to the President.
Gen. Buell. had conceived another plan.
His first aad most careful inquiries were
directed TO the Cumberland Gap topograph,
and the feasibility of the scheme recon-
mended by Secretary Cameron, and urged
vehemently by the press everywhere,
through the lively sympathy then felt for
East Tennessee patriots. The mountainous
character of the country through which
the Gap had to be reached, the roughness
of the roads to that place and beyond,
rendering the conveyance of artillery SO
difficult and slow, and subjecting an army,
at every mile, to formidable resistance,
were dwelt upon, and that direction of
advance discouraged. On the other hand,
the movement of troops from Cairo up the
Cumberland river, by transports and gun
boats, against Nashville, so as to get in the
rear of Buckners army, was urged as the
only mode of successfully breaking the
rebel line and compelling their evacuation
of Kentucky. The success of this move
ment might, moreover, insure the loss of
their army at Bowling Green. a gentle
man of General McClellans staff Col T.
+. Grant, was present at this interview,
and give ready Endorsement to the merit
of the suggestions. The only doubt raised
at the time was whether or not Gen. Hal
leck, /. Major General, would be willing to
detail SO large part of his army 10000
was the number indicated as necessary 10
help execute leading part in the cam.
paign of Gen. Btiell, who was only a
Brigadier
Gen. Mcclellan, fully concurred in Gen.
Buell's plans, and to avoid any difficulty
between him and Gen. Hallecl1, issued an
order to the latter to CO operate with Gen
Buell. to the full extent the emergency
might require, and enjoiring utter secresy
in reference to all the plans of the joint
campaign. The brilliant realization of all
that Gen. Buell. hoped for from the CO.
operation he was trying to effect" and
did effect, is before the world. The plan
was simple-irresistable 1t was hurting
the entire force of two Of the entire
force of two of the most powerful military
departments in the country upon the weak
point of the enemys lines. The plan ,cas
BaeHSi the hearty cooperation was Hal
leck $, AID the imperishable blood bought
glory of the battle is Grants There is
honor and fame enough in this great
achievement to satisfy the utmost amb-
ton Of all engaged in it, and the many
brave officers and men under him.
The battle at Mill Springs, opened the
first chapter i'll the programme 1t direct
ed the attention of the enemy to Bowling
Green; and thus from the real point of
attack Then came the surrender of Fort
Henry-then Fort Donelson. the evacua-
ton of Bowling Green, and finally, the
abandonment and destruction of Columbus
the bnasted Gibralter Of the West The
blow struck at Donelson has achieved a
control OF the East Tennessee and Virginia
Railroads-we have gain, d possession OF
GAINESVILLE, Nashville, and cleared the
way through Tennessee to Alabama and
Mississippi
The secrecy which charaeterizes all the
movements of our forces now precludes all
possibility of knowing what will next be
done Suffice it to say. if the future plans
of Gen. Buell. are carried out with as much
skill as the past ones were, we will soon
hear OF another brilliant victory
Judging from what appears on the sur
face. we should say the next point of attack
east of the Mississippi will be Chattanooga,
on the line between Tennessee and Georgia.
At latest accounts the enemy was making
a rally at that point, which is iii easy rail
road communication not only with Nir-
guia, but also with Charleston, Mobile
and New Orleans, thus making it strate-
GIG point of obvious Importance; while
Buell. is pushing his column, now swelled
to over 100000 men, in that direction, his
At the same time, Gen. Grant has com
menced moving his forces from Donelson
via For; Henry up the Tennessee, intending
obviously to go to Decatur, where he will
break important railroad communications
between Virginia and the South, and be
within easy supporting distance Of Buell.
at Chattanooga.
While these gigantic movements are
going forward in that direction, the Mis-.
sissippiis not neglected. Columbus having
fallen, Foote, with his monster fleet is
already on the road to Memphis, backed