The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-09
The Probability Of the Overthrow of
Bragg's Army

| tions perfected for the overthrow of
| Bfagg's forces and driving them from
Kentucky. The skill and generalship
displayed by Bucll in escaping tho COM
1 binati0ns Of the enemy against him; his
successive defeats Of schemes Of the rebel
leader and the complete success which
attended his march from North Alabama
to Louisville, without loss of men, trans
poristion, arms OF camp equipage, and the
fine condition Of HE army, places him
foremost among the Generals Of our army.
Buell. is now in condition 20 move upon
the enemy, and we believe he will do IL
successfully. What he accomplished in
his march from North Alabama, IS de-
scribed below, not only entities him 10
Che confidence Of the country, but is a
guarantee that he will accomplish more
brilliant deeds in the future, and that.
too, at no distant day.
II is scarcely q month since General
Buell. was hemmed in by the rebels in
Northern Alabama lie was entirely
surrounded by them. They boasted that
they had him completely in their power.
and could crush him at any moment they
chose. They had his communications
all cut off He was isolated in the heart
of the enemy's country, beyond the reach
of reinforcements, dependent upon his
own ingenuity for supplies, and beset by
an enemy nearly double the number and
strength of his own army, What was 10
be done? He might fight battle, pos
sibly win it; probably lose it, Losing
it, Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky
were thrown open TO invasion. Nothing
could hinder the march of the rebels
northward. And the territory that they
would thus indisputably regain they
choose 10 fight his way ont, he must cer-
tainly defeat an army superior to his
own. The temptation was o glittering
one. A defeat, under the circumstances
in which he was placed, would be ex-
cusable; a victory would crown him
with burden of lAurels. The impetuous
officer, the dashing officer, the oyer-am-
bilious officer, the superficial officer
would have fought. Buell. did no such
thing. lie took no chances. He know
that the safety of two States, and per-
haps the final success of the Union cause,
depended on his movements. Il was
these Weighty considerations added 20
his own consummste genius and skill as
n General, that determined him 10 adopt
the prudent cOurse--the safe and sure
road 20 victory.
Bragg, supposing that Buell. could at
any time be crushed by the rebel armies
then operating below and 20 the west of
him, clipped away, unnoticed, as he sup
posed, and commenced his march Of in
vasiOn northward. He warily made a
wide sweep away up into the mountains
of East Tennessee, and then crossed into
Kentucky. Supposing that by this time
he had batiled all attempts at detection
Of his plans, he turned his course towards
Nashville, determined on possessing the
capital of Tennessee. But scarcely had
ho set his face in this direction when
the Gagged bird Buell. appeared in front Of
him and in actual possession Of the prize.
Here was the first rebel defeat
Bragg, baffied in this movement, sought
the fortincstions Of Bowling Green,
hoping TO make il base for his future
operations But scarcely had he wheel
ed his column in that direction VIXEN
Buell. appeared in possession of that point,
and securely posted against attack.
This was the second rebel defeat.
The rebel chief then summoned all his
scattered forces to Join him in grand
movement against Louisville. And here
the skill of the Federal General was put
to the scverest test. IIo saw the move
ment, and knew full well the defenceless
condition Of the threatened city lie
might slip away from the rebel army and
head them or al Louisville, as no had
done in the two former instances, but
that WOuld be surrendering the adyan-
tages he had gained in his two former
successes. Should he pass them, they
would turn back Immediately and take
Nashville in spite Of everything. Nash
vile must still be protected, and Louis
Vile must be defended His arm must
accomplish both of these objects at the
same time. This was his time to fight
He knew it. A blow now might be made
decisive. His army was quickly put in
motion, and was speedily on the rebels
rear. But tho rebels were not then ready
10 fight They knew that this was not
their time. They could not risk battle,
80 far removed from their basis Of sup
plies and reinfOrcements, with a surety
Of success. They were now in no con-
ditiOn 10 take any chances, a. Buell. had
been when they left him in Northern AL
ALBANIA, Their only hope was in uniting
their forces before accepting the Cbal-
lenge 10 Gght, and hence they declined
Buell's offer Of battle. But he pressed il
rpon them; followed them up; hsrraased
their rear; cut Off their trains; picked up
their straggiers as prisoners, and gave
them no rest until they turned OF in
confusion and dismay TO meet their 9th
cr column under Kirby Smith. Thus
they abandoned their schemes against
Lovisvllle; left The road open for Buell.
to come here and reorganize and recruit
his army aud yielding 10 a force Of cir-
cumstances--the brilliancy Of Buell's
strategy exclusvely-sought a door of
escape from tho State. This was their
third defeat, az il was BuClps third Vio-
tory,
But this running sketch Of that great
marCh--this march which have no hesi-
fancy In predicting will be recorded upon
| the most conspicuous page and among
| the grandest achievements In the history
Of the war--this sketch gives no ade-
quate idea Of BuelPs generalship. In
the midst Of al the ombarrassments in
which he has been placed-and no Cen
eral was ever placed in more critical or
trying circumstances-he has managed
to keep up communication in all direc.
tionsi has directed military movements
in all parts Of his widely-extended de-
partment, and has effected combinations
! i9r the further annoyance Of Bragg that