, 1862-09-19
KIRBY SMITH IN AENTUCKX.


K1RBH SMITH IN KENTUcKX.
mond and the Taking OF Lexington.
From the Frankfort (ky) statesman. 1ath-1
After passing many weafJ months under
lhe oppressions Of the ruthless military des-
potism Of Mr. Lincoln's ADMINISTRATION, the
last been liberated by the con4uering army Of |
heroes under the command OF A1aj. Gan. kit-
by Smith. His advance has been announced |
for several weeks through the federIl papers,
Entering the State through Big Greek Gap
(Cumbtfla1d Mountain,) some twenty miles |
south Of Cumberland Gap, he took position |
III The rear Of the federal h1my stationed Ut |
tie latter place under Gen. Morgan, eff:ctu2lI7 |
cutting of his COMMUNICATIONS, and render |
il e his surrender only question Of time !
Al e1&seyer4l smsu and successful atflifs on |
bis narch FROM the Gap, ten. Smith arrived |
nj Richmond uwenty five miles from L:xing- |
ton.( OF Saturday last, and st that place al |
which had been massed there under Ger.
Nelson to dispute his march
Besides the large federal force OF killed and
wounded, Gen. Smith took aoout 5,000 prison.
err, most Of whom were pa1oled, together
with nine pieces OF artillery aud about 5000
plete victory hiss lot been achieved during the
var. The Confederate veterans done terrible
execution amorg the hordes Of raw le7ies op-
posing THIN; aud though but smau portion
OF Gen. Srnith's. force was engaged, it was
mere child's play for them, and scarcely in
peded their onward march.
Gen, Nelson who WIS himself among tha
wounded, Rucce eded in reaching Lexington On
Sunday, followed By several small squads OF
bis mer, who arrived By diffreent roads. In
&An vrF 1hSr TnJy
regimtnss had reached here to rEiutorce Gen.
Nelson; and these, together with Williams
ard Jacobs Kentucky cavalry, which had also
arrrged FORMED an apparently formidable
army, and on Monday, when Gen Smiths ap.
pIoach Was announced, confident predictions
Of TIE successful defense Of Lexington were
inGu'ged in By federal officers and their gym
pathizers- Towards night, however, rumor,
with her usual truthfalness, announced that
immense bodies Of confederates were ap-
preaching the city By 'Sall the roads," aud
federal pnpic began to develop
Itself. At hight fall . retreat WIS ordered,
AID then commerced the destruction Of i'm
merse stores which had been accumulated at
this point, aud the country around was Lit up
hy the conflagration Of quartermaster's and
coUmtsEaf1es stores, ammunition, WAGONS,
&c, dc. Terrible was the destruction, and
the beholdlng taxpayer inyolHntafily clutch
ed Ills pocker-book at the dtshearteniug pro3-
pect before him. Mich public property, how
ever, including many valuable arms, was left
uufrjured in the various camps around the
city, IS reward Of the vaior Of the patriot
| heroes who, destitute of the comforts pos
sesEed by their vanda1 enemy, had marched
over one hurdrEd niles of mountainous and
I uup1oductiye country, for the purpose Of de-
liverlng their down-frodden fTienda In Ken
| tueky from oppression.
On Monday morning, Gen. Smiths advance
| --Cturchilis diVi~fon- entered and occupied
the city, without the slightest opposition, aud
| we're greeted with the most hearty cheers Of
| the citizens. The people Of this aud alt the
into the city in the early part Of the day, IN
| time to receive Gen. Smith, (who arrived about
| II O'clock, } With such demonstrations of de-
| light and gratitude as astonished the gallant
veteran end lis glorious followers, the whole
constituting one Of the happiest scenes that
| h1tes them-poured out their whole hearts in
| gratitude. How vain art our efforts to convey
TO the reader any thing ike o truthful pictura
Of the meeting Of the people and their p!tri-
| otic deliyerer, SO that 1t beamed with joy,
which seemed TO be reflected back and forth
rs if It were never to end.
purirg the day manJ prisoners were taken
| and paroled.
And now comes the most sublime feature
in this most happy change Of rulers. Il is
under which our people have been suffering
compelled aud horrid oaths-incarceratio In
loarhsome and lousy prisons-seizures of
horses, negroes and other propeHy-inmense
| lefty military commaudere-all contrary to
Inv and in punishment for the uupardonable
crime Of to1ding Southern sentiments! And
all this-wc blush to say it-sanctioned, and
in Eome cases instiga.ed, by many Of our
| Cnicn citizens, including even native Ken.
tuckians. And how have these wrongs been
net in the day OF our triumph and the hutnil;-
ation Of the wrong. doers? HIS retaliation
bten reso1ted to? Far from it-thauks to thai
rere renee Tor free speech, free press and the
constitutional security OF persons and prop
trty, wbieA is he iundamsntal ground .oti
Of the political faith Of our Southern patriots
taught them by Washington, Jefferson, Web
| stet, Clly, and their cnt"mporary defender:
Of sel-goyc,nment, How magnificent ha:
been the exhibition Of magnanimity presented
By the proclamation Of Gen. Smith, (which
we publish In another column, and Responded
to ith 4 hearty good will BY that portion o
OFT community SO lately and 20 ruthlessly op
pressed.
We do not pretend to say that there are no
Offenders in the community who are not full,
forgiven, ard tbat it may not be necessary t
hold some of them TO accountability-notfo 70
their opinions, bu: for certain gross outra.,es
It may be necessary to compel robbers to dis
| gorge, and come whose unlawful conduct Ia.
bCen conspicuous, may be reached rs 4 mean
Of securing the release Of patriots sutIer1n,
J imprisonment and privatlons in federal bas
: tiles. 1t is hoped however, that strict nc
} ctssity will limit such proceedings.
Let all human beings who have souls worth,
/: of salvation, rsjoice AZ the restoration Of fre
speech, q free press and protection to ibert
and property!
KENTUCKY FOR TIE SOUTH.
II there have been any who hive heretofor
doubted that Kentucky, if left to her free choic
would unite her destinies with the Souther
confederacg, the spontaneous uprising OF th
people which accompanies the march Of ffeI
Smith must have removed such doubts. Man
'' government volunteer the admission that th
,. Stote is gone. In Madison county, the pei
pie, released from their thraldom by the gle
rious victory which drove their oppresso1
! from amorg them, are volunteering BY hnE
dreds, and o regiment Is nearly complete
there already; and in this, our glorious ol
A' county Of Fayette, once more free, q pcrfel
rush to the recruiting Office Is going on. Whs
: contrast is presented. On last county coul
day great war meeting was advertised IN
Of the city aud county. Addresses were d
|; liye1ed b. Gar1et Davis and other dfstingnishe
gentlemen; flags were raised; and with sti
ring music from splendid bauds, marchiu
, and counter.marching was resorted to for tt
1' purpose Of exciting men to accept the nber
d. army Int it was no 60, and but one recrn
/; WIS obtained during the day. The people dj
not want to fight on that side But no
that the "stars and bars - float above r
cruitipg Offices, and an opportunity Is q
= tered to volunteer In defense of Our instis
tlons, magnificent blaze Of enthusi ism h
spread oytr the city aud county, andhuudre&
Of The best men in the land are rushing int
}; Tie service No better music is required ths
tie shouts Of our enthusiastic peoples \
thIeatenings Of draft need be resorted
Bounties. though Offered, are not thought c
The hearts Of the people are In the cause
~ nish as many noble confederate soldiers
Y there were votes cast for the federal cani
q dates for Offices at the late August election
g Let this be her proud aim, and in Its scco1
:" = plishment We shall show to our brethren vi
., have marched to our relief, that We deserT'
y their assistance, and that the sutfazsngs
T. their long and rapid march bare not been e
du1ed in vain.