New-York daily tribune., 1862-11-12

dence that they either ey peotei ,nel 10 &c, on the
defensive. OF believe. It would take him much lon
ger TO get ready fcc tho offensive than II actually
did. But whl.o 1t is undoubtedly true, on Tie one
hand, that th.e early Union advance WINS unexpected
TO them, is equally certain, on the other, that II
did not prove a surprise great enough to entail d'-
astrOus Consequences upon their commands. lhey
must haze made such preparations by previous OF.
derH nJId otherwlse 1e would enable them 70 hct
promptly upon the occurrence OF Ike contingency
by Commemorative movements OF their scattered
forces Else il woud be difficult 20 account Tor Tie
safe retreat Of their troops with tner immense spo
10th from Frankfort and Bardetown IN no more
than twenty.fOur hours before the Union forces
occupied thcse plaoes Kirby Smith evacuted Frank
fort duriDg the afternoon and evening oil the iLD,
and morning Of the 5lh. The retreat from Bards.
town was accomplished in the course OF the "a and
the morning Of the ih Gen. Sill entered the i0r-
place on the morning Of the 9th Gen. Cri''eh'
den's corps the latter on the evening Of the an.
The prospect Of meeting thes enemy IN battle Gt
Bardstown. having vanished, all that could be nm
dertaken was OF Course, pursuit The Rebel retreat
having been made through Springfield, IN the di-
rection of Perryvillo, Gen. Gilberts corps was
ordered 10 take the lead in tho pursuit over the
turnpike TO those places. II moved on the morning
Of the 5th and wal followed by Criitendcn's. Oar
cavalry advance sbon came up with the rear oi the
enemy and constaatly skrmsbed with II 10 TIE iii-
mediate vicinity Of PerTyyllle.
| On Monday when near Springfield information
reached Gen. Buell. that the enemy was occupying
liarrodsburg, the point of rendezvous desiSnaie1
| for the two bodies Of Gen. McCooks corps, in
strong force. Accordingly he sent an order to Gen.
McCoOk directing him 10 change his rou.e by con-
tnuing in southern direction from Maeksville, IT,
I stead OF turning 20 the east toward Harrodsburg
and to form junction with the other corps IN tho
neiglboIhood Of Perryyilo. An order was also
sent to Gen. Sill instruCting him TO march from
| Frankfort to Chaplin instead OF Harrodsonrg, an
thence follow the route OF Gen. McCok'
The corps Of Gen. Gilbert continued pushing alter
the enemy from Springfield over the Perry vile ioad
the cayally advance keeping ss already stated ciySt
upon the heels Of ard skrnlshing win lhe h'Dei
rear Gen. Mitchelrs Division had to lead or lhe
9TH Tuesday aud reached abou; p. M oil that ohY
n point on the road some five miles IRON Perf yNiiie
Gcn Buell. was with the DIVISION and under hls per-
sonal direction 1t was formed gt the mentioned Time
and place in line of battle Oh the night and e't oi
the road as support Of our cavalry which, WIN .
section OF artillery had become engaged Ia seriou'
skirmish with the enemy. little before sunset
two infantry regiments of the division were ordered
to the front Of artillery, and engaged The oneiny
az skirmishers at long rnnge NJ dark thc diVihon
went into bivouac SheIidan's Division had aisC
come up in the course Of the afternoon, and formsc
on the right Of Mitchells, when At encamped ounns
the night. SchOepnTs byouacked In the rear uh'
close 10 both. 80,
Gen. Crttenden's corps had followed Gilbert'
until the evening of Tuesday, when II maze IA 1e
lecon over a by.road leading oil from the turnpike
a few miles east Of Springfield to HnysviIe
Whether this movement aimed at the ilanking o.
the enemys right, or was made simply 10 oolail
water there being none within reach along the PIKE
except at places already occupied by Giberts corps
Las not been definitely asccrtained. III ls certain
however, that this detour delayed the timely ap
of the corps upon the scene VI the nemora
bio events Of the following day.