New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-29
~sF. 1cENgUCKx LESSON.

set Nv, winch completes oui "0V"""'S vi 'i'''
brili ant and most decisive combat. We be-
bc,s all the details have now been spread be-
fare CIR readers. We have published every
rebel as We'll as Unionist account, Geographic
or otherwise, that has reached US, not asking
whether it favored or opposed our own view
Of the matter, but anxious to throw all posi-
DIE light on tle subject. Those who have read
all these accounts win boar witness 10 the
legitimacy Of the following deductions:
/ There is no need of rushing our raw
volunteers against strong rebel intrenchments
and masked batteries, as was done at Great
Belhel and Manassas. We DO not say that it
is never advisable or proper to DO so; but tins
affair proves that it can rarely be necessary.
C,i,tenden and ZoIlicofer had, Oh the north
bunk Of tie Cumberland, o strongly intfenched
camp, defending the passes into East Tennessee.
They had there about 10000 men, with caI-
LOT. horses, wagons, small arms IN excess oi
their needs, provisions, munitions, &C., with
Il s.snDboat and SCI eral barges preserving tier
communications with The south bank OF the
er, where 40 Unionist dare proclaim HIM
sell. If any position could be trusted to battle
any but direct assault, this ought TO 90 ii.
But. the moment Gen. Thomas began his
movements intended to turn it, the rebels were
constrained to advance and light or abandon
their stronghold and fan back. Had they been
content to keep within their fortified lines.
they would have been cut of from their re-
resources AID compelled to surrender.
Ii. The rebeis though they are etcrualy
Wanting their superiority, man for man. to
the lnionists, are very careful not 10 act upon
taat assumption. In this ease they bad been
assured that Gen. Thomas had so weakened him
self By tie detachment Of Gen. Schoepl, aud
other subordnates, that he had only two rogi-
mcuts cf infantry and battery Of artll1r!
left ~ biz camp. and they fastened by night
march 10 surprise and cut him mp while thus
vastly inferior in force. But it happened chat
I mon regiment, were marching that night as
well as rebels, So that, when ZOlicoher, at
dqyl ght on sunday morning, the 10Th. drove IN
tas pcbcts Of the 10th Indians, which he'd the
right Of our portion, there we're more UaI0nists
within reach thsn he had barganed for.
H. The light .os made on open ground,
oarny wooded, indeed, but nowise covered BY
ge,d.works. There was no ditch. no inticuch-
mcat. not even n rie-pit 10 cover our ras
t-,ors, net ON fourth Of whom had ever before
been under fire. OF course, the 10Th Indiana.
hasin- gathered Wy is pickett, gave some
round fec0J,ag on tie three or four Ttei-
ments in It, rear. But there was 10 further
ret-ea, on tie part o. oug n,n, and the rebels
aere sent e. ,he right about by fair ilfoody
Aght.ng mu1zic to muzZlc. part Of il ct such
close quarters that the mems faces on either
de yese blackened b. the discharges Of hos.
lie guns. Finally, q bayonet charge at the
.r,icsl point put TIE rebels IL motion south
rlr6, ana iney were so eagerly chased To
their camp, nine miles oil, that they threw
.Hay lots oi knapsacke, blankets, asd some
mustet.. leaving tw0 cannon stuck m the mud
0y tie Way.
~. Hal Cen SLoopG been able 10 cooper
it, either by attacking the rebels camp or
across tie river INTO their rear, or even GEL
ting between them ana their camp, during the
blfle. their whole force would have been de-
s.fo,eJ. Horribly miry roads, and streams
swollen So as % be impossible, uuluelJly pre-
vented tiie.
s.. The rebels count their Own force engaged
IN tina light 5000, which is surely no exagger-
alton. TIE fighting on our aide was done by
lorr infantry regiments and ono battery oi
ar..lely. the aggregate Of which certainly can.
NOT have exceeded 1900 men. Admit that we
bad two or three more regiments within reach,
aAd il IL stI ,.icsr taat there was 10 disparitg
Cd lpmJers--lt least. DO preponderance Oh or
..Jc.
-. rle rebel accounts make their los
arealrr than we do, dcaotiess because or men
co.nt oils THOSE whom they buried as dczd aud
tlo.e whom they captured as prisoners, when
100 rs,t they lost many moro who wers carried
oa on r9aceaied m the earlier part Of tie con-
test. They say they spiked Their cannon which
iary lct IN their camp; bat We know they did
uoh They did not venture even 10 burn tleir
tens ard munitions, as iAat would hn'e gwen
notice to 0Gr troop, thaI they were desodlng
iiei, stronghold under cover Of the nisht.
Probably NOS, Of them took tbeir SMALL arms,
Laapsacks and Misunderstanding else. liad
onr weary troops, biy9uacAed on the "c;
ground before them, known OF suspected That
tlcy were skuihug of, they would no. bne
goi away with even tLc3e.
WI. Vn,v Urohaby ,erried over the riger all