New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-07
PROM KENTUCKY.


fro,. EP.,irg Fsebels-CoI. Mason Makes
. n~,uysioa &c Monticello -Esow IRE
p,;, e.r his Diuscr-A Flag Of Truce
g;o,emenis ana Distribution OF Gen.
Thou,..'s Division Since .he Bastie-
The Union Loss AgIin-COi NcCOoii-
Newspaper Enterprise.
From Our Special Correspondent
From the very outbreak Of the civil war, disro-
ston las been manifest on the Union side TO over
estimate the strength Of tie rebellion. Whenever
the enemy gathered an army, his original thousand
was doubled aud tripled by Northern alarmsis'
Whenever he erected defensive works, they were
represented 10 be extemporized Scyasopos' Inc
rebel intrenchments opposite and at Mills Springs
figured for many weeks in the Kentucky prefs as
for,iGcations of the most formidable character. Hoi'
Icoer had az these terrified authorities PRETENDED
% lnovv aud tried TO make Others believe, constr
with almost magic rapidity and completeness series
of manageable forts the assault ana carrying OF
which would inevitably involve fearful sacrifice Of
human lie. But now, when the bubble is burst ana
The reputed stronghold in our possession, what has
the resut Of the terrifying efforts Of the enemy &C
tua!ly been found TO amount to! Even 10
the upprofessioniai observer it will appear al
oialy strong. The Hills upon which the forii-
fcatons extended were high-flom three to four
hundred ieet-abrupt and difficult Of ascent, but
Mouldens Hill, at the foot o. which our troops IL
on their arms tie night after the battle, and The bi1s
si the mouth OF White Oah Creek, fully commanded
the works or this side of the river, while the bluffs
surrounding Mill Springs afforded many points for
shellpg those on the left bank. Tie works item
selves consisted Of line OF bIeastworhs along the
edge of long ridge, running almost from one end OF
the remarkable bend of the river in that vicinity
10 the other and forming sort of irregular parallel
ocram with it, In front of the breasworks, sbatlia
had been made, and TiAe-pits dug 10 obstruct the
progress of stormng parties but no bitches were dis
soverabe anywhere on the right bank. The suiiace
of the ground from the breastwolks to the buDs IN
the immediate proximity Of the river Is alternately
broken by ravines and mounds, four OF the Latter
We're half finished redoubs with embrasures for guns
but none such in position. The works on the oppo-
site side consisted Of breastwOrks supported by
ditcbes Inside Of the breastworhs The hosis OF The
Rebels were promiseuoNsly scattered over tue
pround, unprotected by anything nom hostile artii-
lerv fire. Altogether the idea Of being able to resist
protracted siege can have never been entertained
by the Rebel Generals. An assault by Infantry
might have been repulsed under the most favorable
circumstances but with a single battery IN cannon
aiding position, their whole army on this side would
have been at mercy.
The rebels themselves saw the unienabiity OF
their posiiion-ai least so am assured by Hc cap
tured officers They were entirely too far north Of
The Tennessee line and east Of the center of their
army about Bowling Green, with which they had no
connection whatever, for their ssiety. conviction
10 this effect Together with the belief that their only
eans of retreat into Tennessee the road through
Moa;icello was being cut of Ivy sn advance of
Union force to the same place from Janestown, in
duced them 10 make the desperate attempt Of avoid
ing the capture Of their whole army by an attack
upon
During the first two days after the battle force
Occupying the intrenchmens consisted OF the l.; and
% Tennessee, TIE 4th 10th, and l2ih Kentucky; 9Th
and l4th Ohio, ID Minnesota, 10Th Indiana, and three
batteries. Since then al have been Withdrawn to
tie neiehborhood Of this town, with the exception Of
Acting Bneader Mansons command, formed by the
din aud 10Th kentucky, l4,h Ohio and 10Th Indiana.
The three Aforementioned regiments stationed on
the poith and the 10th Indiana On the south bank OF
lie river.
doubt whether any Bcarclwarrani was ever ex
pIoyed BY our men in THEN search foi and appropra
ton OF the spoils left TO them By the flying rebels
Among the seven THOUSAND men that entered The in
frenchmenrs there "a hardly that has not shsr
OF the pundor II was mostly personal property, .
little value, tiat fell into their hands; but all il
highly priced memenioes Of the memorable l9l
inst. Some very interesting discoveries have beer
Inade. Quite a lot Of baby clothes found in tic
trunks of MANY of the rebels. This fact car
only be explained by the suppositiOn that they Oh
tanned them in their indscIiminate robbcies o
Inionsts in Southern Kentucky, and intended "a
1reserye them fof their own offspring. Some four
teen thoussnd dollars worth Of Confederate Treasury
Notes were captured by members of the 18th Ohio
Regiment, which they viii take good care Of foI
future usc after tie invasion 0. Tennessee.
Since the 10Th Indiana has been stationed at Mills
Spring, from 60 to 20 boxes fun Of rebel uniforms
tave been added to the spoils. TIE clothing is
however, mostly made of cotton fabrics, and hence
of little value to u.s. Companies Of the 10th are stl!
daily out On scouting expeditions in the direction Of
Monticello. They always come home loaded with
additional trophies III the shape OF arms, blankets
etc. thrown away by the rebel s;ampeders On the
day before yesterday Col. Manson accompanied one
OF these scouting expeditions to Monticello Having
Leari Of the strong Secession procycs Of tie keeper
Of the only tavern in the towD, he repaired to the
hotel and ordered dinner for himself and for ollie,
Officers. The dinner WAS prepared, and heartily en-
loyed by the participants. After ak had been salts
Jied Col. Manson called up The landlord and rendered
ldm g. Confederate Treasury EOe in Iaymeni.