The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-02
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NASHVILLE, Dec. q, 1861.
The activity displayed by the enemy a few
days ago near Green river, threatening an.
parentiy Bowling Green, hss resulted in
nothing but to cause rs to strengthen our
position more, and TO make greater prepara
ttons to m eet them. When the re port came
first Of the immense force of the Federals.
estimated as high a. sixty to seventy thou
sand men, prepared to march on Bowling
Green. and as u large column Of IL having
crossed to this side Of Green river. some mn.
easiness was felt. We believed that Gen.
Johnston. with inferior numbers. could
whip the eaemy, but felt that axainst such
odds the accidents and CHANCES Of war m txha
place our brave army in a trying or critical
situation. No one doubted that a ba tile,
uade: such circumstances, wo uld be most
desperate and bloody. We might have lost
thousands OF the best and brayest men with.
ont producing any other rssu 1t than that 81
successfully defending ourselves. But the
enemy have not had courage to advance bs.
yond Green river. A large por tion of the
force that crossed 10 this side has recrossed
Gen. Buell. is making himself AS famous by
his marches and counter marches as the
ancient King who marched mp the hill and
then marched down again.
All the excitement that existed a few days
SINCE, In anticipation Of battle, has died
away. II was my opinion, as expressed in
the Dispafch, that there wouId not be any
great battle On that field, notwiths tandins
the demonstrations made by the enemy and
bluster by the Northern press. / need not
repeat the argument made. Facts show nv
reasons were we'll 70 unded. General Buell.
would have accepted battle, had General
Johnston been foolish enough to have offered
1t, with haif the force Of the enemy and be-
fore their entrenchmsnts. 1t is not there we
should attempt to force our way to Lexing-
ton, Frankfort, and the Ohio. The time has
passed fJr such q movement, unless we can
draw off the immens Sc Federal army there to
some other point. Alth ough have no idea
the Federals will presume to march On Bowl
ing Green, still we are much better prepared
to receive them now, and there is less cause
for uneasiness, than there was when they
threatened to do so few days ago.
General Floyd's brigade is expected in
Nashville to-day, en- route for Ken tucky.-
The people are prepared to give a hearty
welcome to this noble corps. No troops
have done better or suffered more in the war
than General Floyd's. The number of the
brigade and its destination is not made pub.
Tic. wherever 1t goes it will do good service.
1t might be rendered most efficient in CO..
operation with Zollicoffer and Marsall in a
movement towards Lexington and Frank
fort. The line of communication to Nash
Vile by way OF Bowling Green is well d..
Tended. The active camEaign should hs In
the Blue Grass region and most populo
part Of Kentucky.
Reports continue to come in, which appear
Well founded, that General Crittenden with
twelve thousand .Eederals, are threatening
HopKinsviIle. 1t is stated that this foroo 10
divided into three columns, to march from
Clinton, dreenville. and Madisonville, at
the same time. Col. Jackson's command is
united with that Of Crittenien. Gen. CLARK
is near Eopkinsville wi tn 900 to 200 troops.
There is great excitement In that section of
the State. Great numbers of Kentuckians
were focking to the Confederate flag with
whatever arms they had or could find, while
others were moving their stock and other
property farther So ath. Weshall hear soon.
probably, of desperate fighting in the neigh
borhood of Hopkinsville.
The recent fire here in the ordnance stores
| of the Confederate Government is less dis.
astrous than 1t was supposed to be al rst
| 1t will not be Of so much Inconvenience tc
the service. No doubt is en- tertained now O,
it being the work of an incendiary. A tho
| rough, though secret, investigation is goins
| on as TO the cause. The city authorities are
placing the city under an efficient guard.
VERIrAs.