Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-09-22
From the Richmond rxamin.r

From the Richmond Examiner
1t is almost impossible to keep up with
the mnveme of our various armies &c
rapid is their progress and SO astounding the
events daily attendant upon their operations.
The spade and the ditch have at last been
discarded. Legs have been substitu ed for
e~mbankments; and the happiest effects are
witnessed both upon the health and spirits
of the soldiers and upon the PROSPECTS OF
the cause entrusted to their keeping. Inter
esting as are the operations of our army in
the East, they are no more SO than those of
our various armies, of smaller dimensions,
engaged in movements west of the Blue
Ridge and Alleghanies. The excursion of
Colonel Morgan into Kentucky. six weeks
ago, was only intended as a reconnaissance
or tseler. As soon as that enterprisine and
wary captain had explored the way. and re
turned in safety and triumph, Gen. Kirby
Smiths whole command, OF which Morpan's
was a constituent part, advanced along the
track he explored. But Gen. Smiths COL
m is, itself, but q part of a great move
ment. 1t is the vanguard of Gen. BRACES
army the main body of which keeps in i'm
minent contact with the retreatinp army of
the North, under the leadership of Buell.
This latter general. though neglected, is prob.
aoly the ablest officer whom the Yankees
have now in command. His qualities are
solid rather than shining, but his abilities
decided and superior. He is worth an ON.
nlous-Ioad of Pores, and is as superior to
Mcclellan as the latter is to Haleck. Bnt
ior the aollltysot Buell., the army under his
command would long ago have been annihi-
lated. AS it il, Buell. retreats slowly before.
bragg, and the latter general cannot afford
10 be a moment Oft his guard. in the pres
ence OF SO strong an adversary. Rosencranz,
another really clever general of the Yankees
commands the extreme right wing of the
Yankee force on this side of the Mississin-
pi; that IS to say, the portion of the arm
nearest the river. 1t is said that Price com.
tnanded the adversary column on our side
out, whoever it may be, Rosencranz is not q
Toe to be tempered with and hence it is,
mat the greatest circumspection character
ICES all eur movements in that quarter.
GENERAL Smith being in the heart of Ken
lucky, IS engaged IN movements which the
telegraph has so fully detailed that thew can.
not De reported here we come farther east
ana IND a large Confederate force WATCHING
a similar force of Federals, fortified in the |
INT gorges OF the Cumberland Gam
It Is the popular belief that this Federal
force is surrounded, and cannot sxtricate it.
Sell. 30 FIRMLY is this condition fixed. that
nave had a dozen reports that this army
the Yankees has been captured. The
TACT, however, is not SO. They NAV be
starved into capltulation, but it is not prob.
aole that they will be taken in any other
Farther East we have still another army
OF twelve thousand under the command Of
Uen. Humphrey Marshall. 1t has been en-
Tor q long time in the comfy of
azsWell, IN extrsne Southwestern Virginia.
IL is now elsewhere and it is at last posi-.
.vely asserted that it is ready to move
ms announcement has been.so often made
turing the last ten months, however. that
me public are indlsposed to credit. a fact up-
On winch so mush has depended and. con-
'erhlng which thee have been so many dis :.
appointments ,una there is positive assurance :
othl 1arther East has recently been re- :
ruited, under many difficulties, another :
rmy, composed Of Virginia troops, under :
reneral Floyd. The small class of men :
on-conscrlpts) from which these troops .
iad TO De taken, has rendered the organiza- c
ION OF thls force a task of some difficulty f
M delay but we are hap Ply to learn that t
n army is now organized and is already
considerably advanced in it's war path" in i.
he direction of the Ohio, under the com =
nand of General Floyd. It's movements b
MI doubtless be made in concert with those :
I the commands of Generals Bragg and !.
between the latter of whom es- 2
eclally and General Floyd, the most cordial J
elatlons exist, and common views Of the Il
roper movements for Kentucy. p