The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-18
NUMBER s..
THE CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST.

THE CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST.
When | left the Department of the
Mississippi in July last, the main body
OF the army under Major General Buell
was between Huntsville and Stevenson,
moving toward Chattanooga, for which
place they had left Corinth about the
10Th OF June. Major General Curtis
forces were at Helena, Arkansas, and
those under Brigadier General Scho-
field in Southwestern Missouri. The
central army, under Major General
Grant, occupying the line of West
Tennessee and Northern Mississippi,
extended from Memphis to Iuka, and
protected the railroads from Columbus
south, which were then our only chan
nels of supply. These several armies
spread along line of some six hum
dred miles from the western borders of
Arkansas to Cumberland Gap, occupy
ing strip of country more than one
hundred and fifty miles in width, from
which the enemy's forces had recently
been expelled, were rapidly decreased
In strength from the large numbers of
soldiers sent home on account of real
or pretended disability.
On the other hand, the enemy's arm
les were greatly increased by an arbi-
trary and rigidly enforced conscription. .
With their superiority in numbers and
discipline they boldly determined to
re-occupy Arkansas, Missouri, Tennes-
see and Kentucky, and, if possible, to
invade the States of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, while our attention was dis.
tracted by the invasion of Maryland
and Pennsylvania and an extended In
dian insurrection on the western from
tiers. This plan had very many
chances of success but the timely or
der of the President Of August 4, call
ing for additional forces, and the pat
riotic response of the people of the
North west, thwarted the enemy's we'll
formed calculations.
GENERAL BUELL's MOVEMENTS.
General Bragg suddenly transferred
large part of his army from Tupelo,
Mississippi, through the States of Ala
bama and Georgia, reached Chattanoo-
ga in advance of General Buell., turned
his left, and, rapidly crossing the State
of Tennessee, entered Kentucky by
Munfordsville and Lebanon.
General Buell. fell back upon Nash-
vile without giving the enemy battle
then followed, or rather moved par.
allel with Bragg, who, after capturing
our garrison at Munfordsville, turned
off from the main road to Louisville,
along which General Buell. passed
the latter reached Louisville without
any engagement. Another column of
the enemy had moved from East Ten
nessee, after blockading Cumberland
Gap, upon Lexington, and threatening
Cincinnati. A small force of our raw
troops, which had been pushed forward
to Richmond, KY, under Major Gene
raj Nelson, were met by the enemy
and completely routed. In the mean
time every effort had been made to col
lect new troops at Cincinnati and Lou
isville, and to fortify these places against
a coup-de-main.
To give confidence to the new levies,
a portion of General Grants army was
Withdrawn from Mississippi and sent
to Kentucky and Cincinnati No at
tack was attempted by the enemy.
+ Major General Buell. left Louisville
on the lst of October, with an army of
about one hundred thousand men, in
pursuit of Gen. Bragg. The latter en-
gagged part of Gen. Buelrs army at
Perryville about 10 o'clock of the Sth
of October. A general battle ensued,
and was continued till dark; it was
mainly fought by Maj. Gen. McCook's
corps the enemy retreated during the
night; the losses were heavy on both
sides, but no official reports of the num-
bers engaged or the losses on either
side have been received. After this
battle the main army of the rebels re-
treated to East Tennessee; Gen. Buell.
pursued it as far as Mount Vernon or
London, then fell back to the line from
Louisville to Nashville. Here Major
Gen. Rosecrans superseded him in the
command by the orders of the Presi-
dent. As the Secretary of War has
ordered military commission to inves.
tigate the operations of.Gen. Buell. in
this campaign, it would be obviously
improper for me to express any opinion
unless specially directed to do so.
The command of Brig. Gen. Morgan
at Cumberland Gap abandoned that
place, and retreated to the Ohio River.
The alleged cause Of this retreat was
the want of supplies. The command
ing officer, however, had just before
reported that he had several weeks
provisions, and under no circumstances
would he surrender that important post.
An investigation of this matter has
been ordered. e1a
GEN. GRANTS ACTION.
The withdrawal of a considerable
portion of General Grants army TO re.
infore Gen. Buell. and to occupy Zanes.
vile and Cincinnati has induced the
enemy to renew the operations in
Northern Mississippi and Western
Tennessee. eiel-o 1s ~
A force of some 1000 or 900 men
was sent to attack Bolivar and Jackson
Tenn, and by destroying the railroad
to cut off all connection between Mem
phis and Corinth. The head of In,
enemy's column was met about fon
miles south of Bolivar on the 3oth .
August, and a brisk skirmish eusued
On the 3lst portion of the enemy
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