Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-11-27

/. Wv EhNOh JUN . OI1NlON vi
Nj GENERAL BUELL'S COURSE.
Q The Nashville correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Press. says.
ri Herewith I transmit to you extracts
. from Governor Andrew Johnson's let
ter to President Lincoln. criticising the
course pursued by General Buell. while
, in command Of the Army Of the Ohio.
Z This letter would have been sent to the
President Immediately after It was
! written. had not the guerrilla Morgan
/. cut of all communication with the
, North. But here It is:
NASHVILLE, TkEs., September 1.
To HIS Ercsilsnev. A6rakdm LiHeogs;
Waskington Cay:
On two occasions have stated to
The President that General Buell. would
never enter and redeem tlfe Eastern por-
tion OF this state. l do not believe he
ever intended to. notwithstanding bis
fair promises to the President and 9TH,
ers. that he would.
A portion Of the rebel troops, it is
stated. under the command Of Bragg;
have crossed the Tennessee River, above
Chattanooga. and are marching In the
direction Of Nashville. His force is
variousfy estimated at from 10000 to
$4,000. Ny own opinion is that it
cannot exceed 10000.
General Buell. and his forces are in
his front, ranging from Decherd, on the
railroad. to McMinnville and Sparta,
and, in my opinion, with srch Generals
as he has under his command, could
meet Bragg and whip him with the
greatest ease, entering lower East Ten
nessee, and turn the rear Of the force
said to be now before General Morgan,
at Cumberland Gap, leaving Morgan To-
march into East Tennessee, and take
possession of the railroad, at once seq
regating and destroying the unity Of
their territory, and that too, in the
midst Of population that is loyal, and
will stand by the Government.
The forces which have passed Cum
berland Gap on Morgan's right, under
com nand Of Kirby Smith, entering,
Kentucky In Morgan's rear. can and
will be met by forces coming in the de
fection Of Lexington and NichOlasville,
and whipped and driven back.
| am now compelled 70 state; though
with deep regret. what know and be-
lieve General Buell's policy to be, In
stead Of meeting and whipping Bragg
where he is, it is his intention to occupy
a defensive position, and is now accOrds
ing to the best evidence l can obtain;
concentrating al his forces upon Nash
vile. giving up all the country which
we have had possession of South and
East of this place, leaving the Union
sentiment and Union men, who took d
stand for the Government, to be crushed
cut and utterly ruined BY the rebels,
who will all be in arms upon the retreat
of our army.
It seems to me that Gen. Buell. fears
his own personal safety, and has con-
cluded to gather the whole army ab
this point as kind Of body guard to
protect and defend him, without refer
ehce to the Union men who have been
induced to speak out, believing the
Government would defend them.
Gen. Buell. is very popular NTH the
rebels, and the impression is that he Is
more partial 10 them than to Union men,
and that he fauors the establishment of6
Southern Confederacy.
l will not assume that Gen. Buell. des
slres the establishment of Southern
Confederacy and a surrender of Tena
nessee to the rebels, but will give il a.
my opinion that, il be had designed b ]
do so, be could not have laid down { u
pursued policy that would have be er
more successful in the accomplishing IN.
Of both these objects.
Notwithstanding the untoward eW ,nts
which have transpired since l came to
Nashville, feel and believe that n Iuch
good has been done in preparing /, the
public mind in being recUnciled : the
Government; but If the policy VI hich L
have indicated is carried out by Gen.
Buell., all will be thrown away, Without
the most distant idea, il ever, ' Vhen we
shall recover our lost groun d. East
Tennessee seems doomed. There Is
scarcely hope left Of her re demptiOu;.
il ever, no one now can tell. Aay God
save pay country from some Q f the Gen.
erals that hate been eoadacti, 10 this tcarI.'