Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-12-04

general officers, it determined, with dissenting
voice e eyacuate the State Generals Buckner and Pres
Of fortune and ieesinT in the u we're decdeSv in favor
of the homeEard movement Had there been doubt or
hesta before the just then arrived of the reverse
TO arms at CoEnth removed them, and showed how
clear the duty and necessity of saving the Kentucky
srmy tor Southern defence.
TIE conducted in order and with wonderful
The route chosen was to Cumberland Gap by
tie Lancaster road The enemy was Danville.
miles distant to the right of and the distance from
Lancaster. If he had occupied Lancaster the immense
train of which had be sent in advance could not
have sed 1t necessary to deceive Buell. into the
belief that Lexington real point of destination.
ent that point made Buell. fell into the trap and
IN ed away from Danville towards Lexington
When the gallant Wheeler who watching he enemy
Danville, reports this fact General Polk exclaimed
COO has opened the door for Us " The imme
datey commenced the trains properly guarded in 'front.'
tire column without firing gun After mad gone
clear, the eGemys cavalry and got good dress
ig from Morgan and Wheeler, who brought up the rear
the of Kirby SMITH VIII marche by the Big Hill road
ana he Other OF Bragg who marched by the Grab Orchard
road. The enemy followed, but at respectable dsance
for some fifty m leg, Wheeler with his cavalry and artillery
ming every few miles and forcing him to form
line aud fight him several times each day. At Wild Cats
ragged 1Dtain the of of General Zocof
te's fght, he gave them battle for the last time. The
pursu ceased, and the immense trains of the two armies
reached the Gap, mountains aud rivers without the
capture o. ii g q wagon by the enemr.
Upsn the failure cf Kentucky play her part the pro-
gramme of the campaign do not see how man Who
look ed beyond the limits of that field and reflected how
iaI ,he preservation OF Gen Bragg's army in view of
military operations in the outh this winter could hesitate
approve The Ju gment of the council of war that 1t
ssary to retire from Kentucky: OF ali men in that
army Gen. Bragg was>th6 whom such conclusion
most difficult His the resp0ns u itp. his the
pride hi the shout ers bear the of the
exgeat and unrefactng Tor baied plan and defeated
campaign. must confess that Gen. Bragg seemed
morally il than when he announced to
his de'e mnaon wrote you from BaTdstown that the
keniucsians were not coming up to the mark, and
pressed my apprehension that they would not. The
ment became convinced OF this felt that every hours
delay was a9ght with danger to the army apprehend
that Gen Braggs pride and hopes would keep him in
the country until II was TOO late.
These matters the topics of free conversation
h officers st their nesses and over their camp fires ard
and men weeping with veXltion because Kentucky was
abandohed say with truth hat pending the suspense
and danger OF the position never met one otcer or sol
der who did not fully with that the army in
perons position, and that the Gen Bragg march
Kentucky the batter for it the general
At the time did not meet who did not
with that Buell. could rave been thrsshed at time
when he would have given Us battle This he studiousy
avoided during the whole campaign. Battle forced
upon him at Perryvlle We were literally in enemy g
country, two hundred miles from base We could
get inf rmation much less active help, from the peo
pie An ecedented drought had stopped nearly all the
-four mills. To subsst the army In bread it necessary
scatter it and occupy wide extent of country. Yet
of 20 600 enemies required
tTao2 We had lost hope OF from the Ken
tuckians and except Gen. Breckinridge divson had
from home. If We fought and conquered, would
be weakened for the next fight The enemy could reinforce
without limit and the end would be the dissolution of
noble and the loss of its splendid armament its stores
and munitions.
Having determined to retire. battle TO be avoided
for battle would risk the safety of the supplies involve
abandonment of cur wounded and the embarrassment
of march. The prime object had become the
army to fight for the South and was accomplished
most skillful and sodiery style.
But while the campaign failed in its main object the
dempOn of Kentucky, it be said to have been without
rEis What is the testimony of the enemy? He regards
the the campaign ours and he does hesitate
to praise the bOdness OF the condition. the ortitude and
courage with which troops made most wonderful
march mountains aud rivers and got back from hos
tile country, and in the face OF enemy double
strength with ali gains in arms, munitions provisions
and clothing. The Abolition Government testes its opin
len by dep0siEg Buell. aRd Southern newspapers and
|
Cincinnati and end the performance by marching round tC
Baltimore and Washington and all this with not hal
he force they suppose that he had.
But was nothing gained
lst Buell. who had been threatening Chattanoog and
even anta, forced to eVacuae East Tennessee il
" double quick
I'd North Alabama was thereby relieved from Federal
occupation.
We got possession Of Cumberland Gap, the doorway
through that mountain to Knoxville and the Virginia and
Tennessee Railroad
4h We took from IS to 20 600 prisoners at Richmond
SunfordsVle, and other places.
5b we brough off far greater amount Of arms and
mUntion than we Carried into Kentucky.
9Th Jeans enough to cothe the of the Mississippi
were brought ofbesides what Gen. Smith obtained.
know not what this amounts 80, but understand is
Ough TO be- from mis- longer stay the Stae much larger
h. We beat the in taree considerable battles Al
Richmond MuntordsVlle and Peryvile, and cavalry
| wh pp"d m il TIVE" ty snsller ones.
8h and last, We have paid deb of honor due by the
Confederate states 70 Kentucky We have offered bel
an army help her liberation and her exclusion would be
no obstacle honor pri cple to treaty
II peace with the Une States.
The only real mistakes OF the campaign are in my judg
neDt- t that from the first advance of Gen. SIN tn, il
gUly the ch supp les OF Kentucky not gathei ed
ent back to the SOUTH I'd that prominent Unionis
hostages rot brought away guarantee the goot
treatment Of Oug friends in the etate.
In another eer, propose briefly to notice Of th
unfair critcsms Cen Bragg campaign, and to show
they founded upon the most vie of tn
facts PRESS