New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-06
THE VANDALISM OF THE RLBELS AT
ROWLING, GREEN
s-s.,hsa Scott h., to Alton previous 10 ,h
date

citizen OF Newport, Ky, has hlDdiy 'urnisheu the
following letter, written BY old friend III Bowling
Green, Ky., for publication. II 10 the clesre't and
best account Of the Rebel occupation and evacuation
of that place tbat We have seer:
BowiIss Gyays. Ky. FEB. H. lac!
AM free again once more the Stars and stripes
float over me. Five long, weary month. have SUI
fered imprisonment, not daring To give uternce 70
the f. elings nearcs; my beaft-but ril! they never
could eXtnguish the flame that burned there ans to-
day 1t burns stronger, vcicr, aid more holy Than II
did twelve months ago.
| Five months ago to-day Buokner, with his band OF
robbers seized this place and with bonbartic threats
Of all kinds was 10 b. III Louisville IN less than u
week. Cincinnati was to he Winter quarters. How
far they advanced how i.r they performed their
thrcats, YOU are "a Judge.
They performed Que or two things which were not
down on his programme or fsrcclr proclamation. IN
il be declared he FOR tho protection of the Ieo-
pie and The frrt siep or net toward keeping that
pledge wa % rot ami plHHder the cui-cRs. Next,
to iupriron every man that had ,thlDg TO be
stripped Of who was patriotic enough 90 vote the
Union ticket. Then followed Nil the lesser and iIger
tlieving and rascally villainy which Bucsner any
other ou1lawed rObber or brigand could perform by
stealth in the dark. But enough Of the worthless
tri'oT.
II i. an old saying, and true, tina. the daksst
hour comes before the brightest day; and the day
has dHwped at last. Tie news o. /oliicoier =
defeat and the death OF the traitor, brought Joy 10
The Union mems hearts. Next came the news Of
the taking Of Fort Henry; aud beet Of ALL Bowling
Green that Gibraltar or Sevhstopol they talked so
much OF, il taken by Loopisr Battery Of Parrot
guns after eight rounds from four guns-yes taken
without loring a man, or one getting II scratch or
wound. The way the Rebels put out Of here u
caution. Cavalry, infantry, part Of battery,
baggage wagons, and some OK teams that they
pressed Into tie runaway service, all jurDbled
together, each striving Ia get first, and the devil
take the hindmost. They caused no small alarm to
the women and children, who though, the end Of the
world was come, instead Of the live Yankees; for
bess some OF their innocent minds they believed the
! so-called "cowardy Yankees" we.e never coming
but when few shells were let after the scsmprrnp
Rebels, they Weakened w to the conviction that
Uncle Sam had come to look after the children.
Wnen Fort Henry was taken, the rebel chief
Johnston aud liaidee begun u feel Iitils weak
about the knees, and they thought, and wisely too,
that there might be such thing rs getting iiank,
and perhaps cut of from supplies and retreat Then
the notion took them that they had better forify
between here and Nashville and Chrksvile For
that purpose they sent Major Gluer tie traitor who
lett his post at California. aud chief engineer Of the
central dyon OF rebel quarters to srIenncnd some
more money and lbo- expenditures ms they did here
and for nothing Floyd AID Buckncr al-o went will,
their brigades TO work with the spade and pick awhile
agaIn Then came the news Of the Union guuboats
up the Cumberland and Tennessee and their apptnr.
ance at Florence. Then il wa deemed advisable ia
yet ont OF Bowling Green as soon possible. Hind
man and BrnckinIdge were ordered 10 fall back ard
they got 10 Bowling Green Just two days before the
Unionls,s. "But thereby hangs tale"
The night the Rebel bngndes reached here the
work Of devastation and ruin commenced They
70, fire - "A Union mans large business house and
drug iore; from there the flames spread until they
swallowed seven OF the principal houtcs on that side
Of the square; also, some Offices. and large livery
stable They then INDUCED III rome OF their moot
accomplished ways OF theving horses and everything
clre they could lay honds Tho large pork houss
belonging to Ne. Qui2ley Of Louisville WAS ALSO de
ttroyed, the Hon. Warer Underwoods house aud
entire ou.houses, Mr.. Ogdcns barn, aud other
smaller dwellings. Petty fair for one hight, con