Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-24
VGEW or AFFAIRs IN
KENTUCKY.
.iEa,,enrers Of General. Hncu qrf Br4gg.

AAoHtuCfAJ are dbClQb1ly OF a sensation nature
/ They are most emphatically mixed Nobody
knows anything for a certainty, and everybody
assumes to know everything exactly Bat
where Kirby Smith is where John Morgan Is
where Bragg is where Buell. is where any oil
the military geniuses figuring in this quarter oi
, the globe are, may possibly be known 70 a few
to-day, but tomorrow the entire situation is
changed.
AN EXCITING FOOT RACE.
Buell. aud Bragg have been running race
rom Northern Alabama into Kentucky, aud lust
now they are preparing to contest the priz3 for
which they ran-the control Of the State
Buell. left the Tennessee river, near Chatta-
nooga, at the same time that Bragg left Chatta-
noOga The former marched directly to Nash
vile, while the latter made detour to the famous
Cumberland Gap. Thence pushing along BY
rapid marches, he crossed the Cumberland near
Burksville, thus escaping the barren regions of
Eastern Kentucky, and was again in the center
OF the State so much coveted by the Southern
ConfedeTacy. But his aim does not seem to have
been merely to get into Kentucky, but to form
a junction with Kirby Smith, and between them
get a lodgment on the Ohio. By pushing d.
rectly north from Burksve, Bragg would have
found himself Ia the midst of country utterly
devoid OF sustenanee either for man or beast.
He therefore still bore to the westward and
north, evidently aiming for the rich and pro due
tive regions about Bowling Green
But General Buell. had MS eyes ON the rebel
Chief and watched every movement he made
with the aeuteness that cat watches a mouse.
He saw Bfagg's designs, and at once broke up
camp at Nashvi.ls and pushed out to Bowling
| Green himself, arriving there ia timeet0s frIs-
trste the intentions Of the rebels.
THE REBELS OCCUPY GLASGOW.
Finding himself foiled in getting possession
of Bowling Green, the defsnses of which we're
SO familiar to him, Bragg turned of and made
for Glasgow. Buell. also saw this movemsnt
and started a division Of his army to take pos
session of Glasgow. The rebels were moving
up by forced marches, the right reverend Brig
! adier-General Polk having the advance. The
race at this time became exciting; bat the rebels
rather got the start of u.s. owing to our desire to
avoid bringing on a general engagement, and
reached Glasgow, causing the division Of Bnells
army that had started for that place to turn
/ back. Bragg reached Glasgow on Thursday
last, and, by the next day, had his entire army
encsmped on Beaver creek and about the town
WHAT KIRBY SMITH WAS AFTER
Thus began the second chapter Of this exci.-
/ ing campaign Ii will be observed that at
about the time Bragg reached Glasgow, Kirby
| Smith began his retreat from Cincinnati No
/ one IN kentucky to-day is 80 simple So to be-
/ lieve that Kirby Smith ever intended attacking
| Cincinnati. lie msde a strong demonstration
there it is true, but it was merely fent to keep
reinfOreements from Buell., and thus aid Bragg
| That object having been accomplished, he now
/ falls back to join Bragg.
BRAGG TRIES To PEN BUELL. UP
In the meantime, Bragg labOrs to keep Buell.
! isolated from the rest of the Federal army. So
/ long as the Louisville and Nashville railroad re-
manned in our possession and in running order,
so long was there a chance for General Buell. to
| be reinforced from this plaee.
! DESTRUCTION or TIRE CAVE TUNNEL.
Seeing this, Bragg, on his arrival at Glasgow.
! Immediately started out an expedition to destroy
! the railroad tunnel near the Mommoth Cave
This place wss defended by 8 portion of Cen
eTal R0usseau's division. An engagement oc
Cured at this point resulting in the rspulse Of
! ROusseau's men. The rebels then burned the
wood Wolk in the tunnel aud Immediately To
tired This left the railroad Temporarily ihipas-
sable, but The damage could be speedily re-
| paired.
ANOTHER MISCHIEyoUS ATTEMPT.
B;agg then fitted out a strong expedition to
get possession of and destroy the railroad bridge
| across Green river at Munsfordville This is
splendid iron structure on the truss plan, fifteen
hundred feet in length It is an importsat
structure, the value of which at the present
time is fully appreciated A garrison of two or
three thousand raw Indiana troops were sta
toned there, with some earth work defenses on
the south side of the river. The garrison con
sisted of the 18th Indiana Colonel Wilder the
9th, Colonel Emerson the 531, and squad
rem OF Blo0ds cavalry, besides four pieces of
artillery, ths whole under the command of Col
Wilder. Ga Saturday night, The 50th Indiana,
Colonel Dunham, started from here with orders
10 report to Colonel Wilder. Unfortunately the
train upon which they proceeded ran off the
track six miles north Of Munfordsville. This
occurred on Sunday morning at early hour
Hearing heavy firing in the direction Of Mum
fOrdsville, Colonel Danhsm ordered the tram to
be abandoned, and started his regiment al q
quick step for the scene of action.
THE BATTLE OF MuNFoRDsYILLE.
The enemy appeared in front of Bfunfordsville
during the hight of Saturday, and, after some
desultOry skirInishing with our piekets, who were
finally driven in, sent in a flag Of truce demand
ing surrender. 1t was then ascertained that
the rebels were commanded by Bngadier. Gener- /
81 Duncan, and subsequent observation showed |
them to be from seven to ten thousand strong, |
with eight pieces Of artillery To the demand |
for surrender, which was made at O'Clock |
yesterday morning. Colonel Wilder sent back |
brief message which will stand as a good copy |
for timid and doubling officers, when they find |
themselves in a similar predicament:
"BHgadier General Duncan;
SIR was sent here to defend this place, not
to surrender it. IF you want It. you must fight /
for it. JOHN I. WILDER, Col Cong"
If such an answer, under such circumstances.
and the subsequent gallant conduct of Colonel |
Wilder in defending the place, are not worth /
brigader generals commission, then heroism is |
no longer appreciated in this country and reBub- |
lies are traly ungTsteful.
Almost Immediately upon the reception of this /
note, the rebels began pouring shell into the Fed
ersl encampment, and, as daylight crept on the
scene, it was discovered that the rebels were in
position on all sides and on both sides of the
river They were fighting with the determine
ton Of demons, and, though the Eve guns at
Colonel Wilders disposal were admirably and /
efficiently worked, making hOrrId gaps in the
enemy 5 ranks, the gaps were quickly closed up,
and the killing proceeded.
At this juneture Col Dunham came up on the
north side of the river, and, fighting his way
through the rebel lines, formed junction with
the Federal forces occupying the nights on that
side of the river. In this bold and gallant move
ment, Col. DUnham captured two Of the enemy's
guns, which had been doing some serious work
upon our men, and they were quickly turned !
upon the assailants The battle was now in
tensely severe. Our forces being protected some
what by their earthworks on the south s.de of
the river, and by their elevated position on the
north side, suffered comparatively lightly, but
the enemy were literally moved down like grass.
Yet, with eonsummate perseverance,, they kept
up the fight asssulting and being repulsed
meeting sorties Of the Federal troops scattering
and again rallying and renewing the strife, until
to fight longer WAS to have their whole force
slaughtered. But still they made one more
ehaTge,-were quickly repulsed our men sailed
out and gave chase, and the whole rebel force
was put to an ignOble erout
THE VICTORY.
uyaq r-ai7 that THAR of .ars /
rally them again the men were beaten and thew
knew it; FIVE hundred Of their comrades were
lying cold and ghastly on the battlefield, inn
peding the route over which they must charge
if they would renew the assault-an a0atis of
human eorpses, rightful in itself to bshold, sdl