The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-14


tsrscIAk coaR.srosDsscs o, rHs rtsrArcH
RrssSLLvrLLs, KY, Feb. 2, 1ss2.
Inat The right wing OF the Army of Ken
tncky has been damaged b. the late ilI.ad-
vised battle, 10 not to be denied. Crittenden,
through mil calculation of the strer 9Th of
the enemy, and, Is is bsii. vsd, contrary to
express Instructions from Gen. Johnston,
made An untimely advance aud suffered Sc
riously by reason OF the superior foros
brought against him. Enough II known, how
ever, to placs tho lossss Of the enemy payt pnsss
with ours. But II this slight rev erss, as II
has turned out TO be, cast q momsn tary
gloom over the cause In Kentucky, and made
mnny loyal hearts sink with dependency,
the vigor Of the War Department has sig
nailed tho renewal Of hope. Various were
the reasons asaignsd for orr defeat. Many Of
them were not com plimentary 70 Gen. Ortt-
tsnden. Butvhsn the facts ca n,e 10 ba .if,ed,
his conduct continued to appear In bsttsr
light. until now there is no whisper against
bic character. The whole curse OF ri.icism
10 terssly summed up In four " ords -Cri ten.
oen erred In Judgment.
The loss OF General Zolucofer Is q public
calamity. To a love Of the South, which
psrmsatsd every hbrs Of his nature, he added
the chivalric spirit OF an undaun ted leader !;
and the mon who followed his nag, and
fought by his side, loved him with more th an
eastern DEVOTION When the bullet pi creed
his heart. 1t 10 no wonder that Tennessesans
felt themselves without 8 leader, and the
shock which his death produced ON their
minds m ust acc ou Mt for tho prscipitate flight
OF which they are reported to have been
- sed and possessed. The character Of Ten q 90.
sse troops for tntrepidity 10 too we'll and wide.
ly known TO need mention by me, and the ref
ersnce TO their running on the present oecasio on
Is m ade as being part OF history, and as
showing that scarcely any rule 10 so univsr-
sal in tts application a. hot TO have sxcsp-
tions.
Tne centre OF tho army 10 at Bowling
Green. With the On est troops In the world
around him with fortiflcatlons that " would
laugh a siege to scorn," and with able and
brave counsellors at his side, General John
ston awaits the approach Of the grand army
with perfect composure. have carefully
examined the fortifications on the hill over
looking Bowling Green, and can only say In
general terms that 1t surpasseu any thinr /
have ever seen In the military line. In my
judgment, t,itistmpregnable; and II will stand
TO toll TO distant ages the genius OF sydney
Johnston. Tho LETT wing rests on Russell.
Vile Here Floyd and Buckner are posted
with certain number Of men, and are anx.
tous to meaAure swords with Tom Crittsn.
don. II was little am usinE { TO see tho an los
which this "briaht son OF an aged parent"
cut before our troops came 70 Russellyille.
Tom had audaciously crossed Green river and
stationed some Of his n otley followers at S nth
Carrol.on, about " miles from kusseilviile
FrCm all accounts not pig, nor an
egg nor bit Of poultry, was safe in the
neigh borhood OF these pro tectors., They
slew. killed, and ate with relish unknown
since the sheet was let down TO Peter. But
Tom got wind that Floyd and, Bueknef had
como TO town, and forthwith he tucked tail
and led his ragged rsSim sn - In don BILE q uic
across Green river. Whether our 0enerals
will winter at Russell vile, depends on the
movements OF the enemy. I can sec NO
chance for fghtnow. Indeed, upon a care.
ful view OF the Geld In Kentucky our right
wing seems the only portion Of our army
seriously exposed, an d that 10 now put in q
condition to defend itself against assa ult. l
Judge that the enemy, who achieves victories
so seldom, will indulge in a Great deal OF
palaver before trying another b title.
A letter from Russellviile would ce tncom-
plete without some special msntion Of Geo.
buckner. The position he has held for some
years At the head of the Ken tucky forces, an
his moro recent Acts Of devotion to The South
b ad attrac ed the Intention OF all TO him al a
man OF moro than ordinary parts. l shall
describe his person, only remarking that a. a
military man he ED Joys the largest popularity
with his mon. In hsight Gen. buckner il
about six feet. His eye 10 a keen, Ngh,
blus. he wears his moustachs cut short,
and goatee OF light brown In military style
ho. q 80 IN nnlr nf y,
General seems to be abo Mt forty years Of age
and looks as If he had been we'll cared for
His son, Ayoung man OF fne ADDRESS, Is mem
Der OF his staff. TIE ladies are quite fond OF
treats every one with politsness. He has II
custom OF going on review with his b q tin &
shirt instead Of his regimen tals. which de.
tracta from his appearance A stranger is
fnyorably impressed on meeting him. and
thinks at once he has met with q person OF
great nerve and ability.
For several days the life Of the soldier as
been hard indeed. Without chimneys to their
tents, they have suffered The peltings OF thG
ytliiess storm. The rain has flowed undeI
their rude beds, and the most in tense cold hal
been end ursd. They are now 0e, ter situ nted
and little comfort 10 At hand. The Govern
msnt ought without any delay, to devise
some plan, Just and fair to all concerned
recruiting new ones. II - childteh sup
pose that all the present volunteers will 70.
enlist, or that any great proportion of III sn
will, unless an equitable sy stem Of conscrip
ton be resorted -. i esteem this matter o.
snch vital impor tance 20 the COnfedsracy
that would ASK the most prompt attention
OF tho RuIhcritte. In reference thereto. rht
military bill just paesed by Congress may
cure many defects in tho former bill, bur 4
rema!ns 10 be seen whether the great objec
In view, VIE: the raising cr n larxe and efh
cient army sor service afte, the expiration o
the volunteers present term. ran be accom-
plished by II. Fly own cpinion Is, that tn,
Richmond Esz-frr has taken the true
ground, when IL advocates the raising Of q
scrtptlon.
How gladly back to old Virginia turns tn,
step Of AN absent son. Sickness hut ttncreaset
the desire TO eee again the familiar home
L stead. While lying here n he house O.
Mr.. HULL whose lady ha. sboVa extraordt
nary Kindness TO me, am rrrr,nde,t Il of hous
by seeing hanging on the wall q fraIned pic
ture, which looks Just lFe k&sy" die
twelve months ngo. The hyigh. eye snc
the opposite wall there IS T. a Mothers Trea
sure - and would not "Snuis Pat" Laugh
10 be told II is the image OF her. Sweet chill
drsn, / hope to see the or'ginals in n few
weeks ard yop, Ike man 10 III ers rohabIy
will bs glad to know that this letter closes
my correspondence with the D'spc,ch from
Kentucky. OCcAsIorAL.
AppRsss FRos A SorrH CAaoLIIA ~ LAD,
At ALBANY IN DsxrscIArIoH or rBs SourH.-
From the Albany correspondent OF tn,
New York Hrcid we take the folio wing par
agraPh:
Mrs. Munson, native Of South Car olina