New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-09

10 ief, that not one IN hby o. Tue prctehueh prac
tioners Of the art Of gunnery amos them would bs
prorounced fit for active duty by competent judges
There has been for long while so-called artillery
camp of instruction opposite tits place, on the right
bank of the Cumberland, which afforded me fine
opportunity for observing the mode OF schooling and
the procress of the recruits. They lay for months in
camp without even a single piece wherewith to
learn the manual Lattery they received atew guns
bu have vet TO hear of their practice at the target
aseertained but few days ago from an H'e'hgen'
Keutuckian, who spent nearly the whole OF oc'Ooe'
and November at Bowling Green, that save lew sa
utes in honor of arriving generals and Southern
tories." no exercises whatever were had in all thai
time BIZ the "artilleriss at that point. The marks
rnanship of those at Columbus was strikingy Illus
grated Ly the battle Of Belmont, at which tine only
damage done by them, according to their own OH
cers. wis the bursting of their biggest gun.
2. Because there is no necessi whatever Tor
direct attack by the Union forces upon any OF the
fortified positions OF the rebels. knowledge OF
the topography of Southern and Western henlncSy
aud Of tie vast atitudina extent OF the rebel Inc OF
Defense from Columbus 10 the vicinity Oh sonmer'
set near the Upper Cumberland, will bring any one
to that conclusion. Ii would require an army OF at
least l50, eco men to cover effectively the mont OF
over l25 miles from Columbus to Sommerse', whhe
the relels nave hardly G0,OCO for that purpose
Their armies at Bowling Green and Columbus realy
represent two wings, with nothing for center be-
yond a brigade at Hopkinsvie and the forts on
the Cumberland and Tennessee, to the right and LETT
Of which there are entirely unprotected gaps oil
from 40 TO 60 miles. If, with force al BIRD roin''
Cairo, aud Psducah sufficient TO check any aggres-
sive movement by Gen. Polk, Union corps oi
q, 900 men should advance from Green RIVER upon
Hopkinsve, or be carried up the Tennessee or
Cumberland under the protection OF gunboats, ana
take portion the State line, it would ut once
Isolate the army at Columbus from that at Bowling
Green, while il would threaten the rear and could
be made TO cut of the means of supply and retreat
of either. The right of Columbus at Bowling Green
could easily be nanked, menaeing them with IN at
tack in front, while passing column down lne
turnpike rom Mumfordsville 10 Glasgow, from whlch
point it could also get into their rear ana entirey
prevent all communication with Central Tenuessee
Such a distribution Of the Union forces would new
taby result in an abandonment Of Columbus and
Bowling Green and falling back on the part OF Tue
rebels, in the direction Of Memphis and Nashville
or in encircling them with Gordon of Union columns
that could either separately destroy them by attacks
in front and rear, s.arve them into surrender oy
isoa,ing them from the south.
Should the Bowling Green army fall back into
Tennessee to escape that dilemma, the battle de-
cisiye of the fate Of Tennessee will probably be
fought along the base Of the range OF hls already
alluded to further above II disastrous TO the rebels
Nashville will fall and the job Of freeing the Missile
sippi Valley from rebel rule be more than hall
flushed. Folks army will be readily dispersed, and
sno,t er army for second stand against the Union
sts. the rebels will never be able to collect. Their
Generals know this fully well, and hence they are
nov moving heaven and earth to increase their
means o. defense.
SIT is Just announced that four regiments
under Gen. Fiovd, now in Southwestern Virginia
lave been ordered TO Tennessee. Which division oil
Gen. Johnsons army they will join appears to be US
yet unknown.