New-York daily tribune., 1862-11-12
e.WooLWoRrH COTTON M.

tlst. excepting Mai. Gen. Thomas, the second IN
command no general officer mas at any stage OF tbe
been officially informed Of the plans OF
Gen Brel What information the commanders OF
corpa and divisions acquired UPON the eu'Jeet con
.isfed Of jniercuces drawn from the mOvepentb OF
their several conmaads under orders from the Gen
erel-in.Chief. These movements, however, mace
the character Of the latters strategic cOmDinhOhs
plainly apparent. they were undeniably weii con
ceived, but miscGfTicd, as the developments OF INC
campaign proved from want Of readiness and pro-
priateness Of modification necessita'ed by operations
Of tho enemy contrary TO the calculations upon "hieh
the plans were based.
Gen. Buell., knowing that the Rebel force. north
and south Of tho Kentucky River were not in sup
porting distance, but several days march from each
other. and believing, as his published dispatches
show that the main body would dispute bis advance
az Pardstown, proposed 10 throw one corps OF his
army between Kirby Smith, Marshall, and Bragg
for the purpose OF isola,ing and dispoeing oi the
two former while he moved with his two other
corps upon the greater portion Of the army under
the latter With view TO this strategic object
/ Gen. McCook was originally ordered to march with
the divisions Of Jackson and RouSscau via laylors-
vile, Chaplin, and Mscksvllle, to HaTrodsburg'
while Sil's was TO make FOR the same point via
Frankfort and Lawrencebnrg along the left bank OF
the Kentucky. The march OF Sill's directly upon
Frankfort to cover that OF the other two diys-
ions 70 the line Of communication between the two
portions of the hostile army.
IL
only severed the connections Of the various Rebel
bodies with each other, but also thanked on the night
and threatened the rear OF the main force ut Bards-
town. Unfortunately their realization was pre-
vented by unexpected shifts Of the enemy.
The march, according 20 the stated programme, OF
the four Union columns, under Sill, McCook, Crlt'
tenden, and Gilbert was almost unobstructed during
the frs, three days Only the advance oil the center
/ I'D corps and right I'D corps) had several slight
skrmshes with Rebel cavalry On tho second ana
third daya The march was not very rapid. Only
Gen. siils division, which had the longest route 10
travel. moved at quick rate The other columns
averaged but about ten miles day, 30 that on the
afternoon Of the fourth day, while Gen. silns ad
vance was already ciose to the ken'uck RIVER,
Louisville, and Crittenden in sight of Bmdstown
1 l40 milesl with Gilbert still behind him.
Gan. Buell. continued under the impression that
the Rebels would fdye battle az Blrdstown until
Saturday morning. At least the cautious advance OF
Crlttenden's aud Giberts corps, moving under hi-
rersopal superyisi)n indicated this Information o
The retreat of the man force from the place spread
through the ranks as early as Friday morning, but II
seems to have been credited at headquarters, oi
acted upon, only twentyfouI hours aner"9iu' ihe
town could havo certainly been occupied early on
Saturday morning, but ~ IT was, the Union cavalry
did not enter it until late in the afternoon. WINE
taking possession, it became engaged in severe
brush with the mounted Rebel rear, which list ie
suited adyanaPeously to the enemy, but terminated
with their retreat.
IL can be consdered welestabli6hed fact, that the
Rebel Generals were taken unawlros by the advane
Of Gen. Buell. from Louisville. The attendance oi
nearly all oil them ut Frankfort as late the after
noon Of the 4th-iour days after the Union army
got into motion-upon the grim farce Of the inau'
guration Of tho PROVISIONAL Government estab-
sbed under their auspices, furnished ircfutable evil