New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-13
now the only business proper is of martial charac,
ter, aud to it everything else must give way.

ter, aud to 1t everything else must give way
Notwithstanding the amount of genuine patriotism
and devotion OF most of the citizens here, IL not
difficult to find many who cannot yet dismiss from
their minds the idea Of gain, and who seem to pre-
fer the capture Of the town to the Lore of one day
profits Stll they forced to yield to the potency
of martial law, however i'll the grace of their con-
cession.
Last evening, the enemy or at least two Of his
brigades, were reported within nine miles Of the
city, and many persons believed the city would te
attacked during the night, and went to bed 10 tba.
belief AS if to convince them Of the correctness of
their opinion, at o'clock this morning the aarm--
the tolliug of the city bells giving information Of
tine approach Of the Rebes-was sounded and the
long roll beaten by the different military companies
remaining in the city.
| Great excite Dent pervaded the town, az you NAV
imagine, and Thousands of people started from their
touches, believing the Rebels were at their doors.
Men hurried forth, and, shoudering their musle.s
and rifles. moved, almost bresthess to the diaeren,
quarters and marched to Kentucky to repsl the ia.
solent invader from the free soil Of Ohio
Wives, mothers, daughters, stood fearful and
trembling in their scanty attire at thousand door.
ways, gazing into the dark STILL cool atmosphere Of
the night after rstreating forms they feared they
should never see again.
The city was alive with excitement for while
though the town looked as pacific as one could wish,
barring the tramp and cheering Of our men as they
moved by. Ears were strained TO no purpose To
catch the distant sound of cannon even musketry;
but the breezes came from the South, silent and
sweet, unmarried by the faint Of altpeter, or IN.
broken by the war Of hostile arms.
Before daylight it was believed, if the Secession.
ists were approaching they must be at great dis.
lance, and 10 the many whose sleep had been dis.
turbed returned to their slumbers and their dresms,
concluding TO wait until the foe little nearer
before they began to feel really uncomfortable.
At AN early hour alter the world was up, the
alarm was found TO have arisen from some Of our
pickers having mistaken our own for the Rebel
cavalry. They were 40 sure of this that they fred
upon the mysterious horsemen, but fortunately did
no harm.
That the enemyi is very near our works there 10
very Ii tie reason TO doubt, though in what force
with what intention is unknown. train Of anbu-
ances which started for Richmond, KY, at a very
early hour this morning under flag Of truce TO
convey our wounded to this city, halted by the
enemys pickets at point only twelve miles distant
from Coyngton, aud was only permitted to proceed
after special application TO Gen. Kirby Smith.
! One can meet hundreds Of intelligent men in the
streets who will Assure you tina, We ore to be a.
tackled tonight or early tomorrow morning; and
the general belief is that we must have fight be.
fore the end of the week. The Rebels, it is said
u Il H.
only feeling the Yankees a little preparatory, as
thew declare to driving them all into the Ohio River.
Let the attack come when il will, there is this
consolation it cannot unex pected. Our troops,
composed Of our citizens from every grade and pro-
fesson i'll llfe their posts-ardent, patriotic,
devoted, without any oyer-eoniidence, but deter
mined TO DO their utmost TO defend their homes and
fresides from the traitors Of the South. The men
who have been aboring and drilling at the forthca-
tons for the past week have service as yet
They are all and mex perienced; but they have
stout ands and brave hearts, and engaged in
the defence Of all they hold most dear. They have
a common interest, common cause, and if they do
not prove themselves equal to the occasion, il will
DO far different from what the sous of the North
have done heretofore when put TO the test.
men on the outskirts Of Covngton and Newport,
ready to dispute the advance of the enemy any fur.
Their north; and there is to believe they will
not yield to the better disciplined and more expe-
renced soldiers of the bastard Con.ederscy, even
though they come in superior numbers.
| The Rebel army under Gen. Kirby Smith is vari.
ously estimated at fifteen TO thirty thousand men,
and is probably about twenty thousand, according
TO the latest information received through scouts and
Others. They are poorly clad, but generally we'll
armed, and seem TO be toerably well-dsciplined.
They are hardy snd strong and generally very good
specimens of the physical man, though many Of them
are ignorant, fierce, and ruianly in character. The
officers are usually Of culture, and formerly Of
position and MEANS who have suffered severely from
the war aud having now grown desperate, have be-
come something like soldiers of fortune. They are
al violent aud bitter against Cincinnati and believe
they untold wrongs TO be revenged against the
North
Many of the officers have been deprived of their
homes and separated from their families and declare
they never will lay down their arms until the South
is recognized and full restoration made Of their rights
They far more in earnest, far more menacins
than the men whom they rule machines, and who
OILY know they hate the Yankees, and that tho
Yankees have tried TO make the negroes the equal
Of the whites.
Gen. Kirby Smith 10 said to be an officer of great
sagacity and discretion, and to be very popular with
bis men. lie is very secretive, and tells his plans TO
no not fully entitled to know them. Brave,
COOL and penetrating, he is reported to be devoid 81
all rashness, and to be very wary where he moves.
From what have heard of him. have no doubt
Gen. Smith designed, few days ago, to attack Gin
cinnai; but whether he designs to do so now not