New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-13

clothing, the trOOls are al wen huppheu'
But whatever deficiencies there may be in dTill
and discipline among our forces in this State, they
are compensated for 10 great extent by the excel
lent natural qualities Of tue material Of which hey
are composed. | feel warranted Icy virtue OF my
personal acquaintance with most Of the Union
armies in expressing the opinion that the mass Of
the men OF the army Of the Ohio is not equaled by
any other portion of the Union sooiery in inte'll-
pence, physical vgor moral soundness, and noble
impulses. Nine.tenths consist Of the hard-bsted
Ligh.spired, self-reliaut sons of the North-WesI-
the Of its agricultural ard industrial popua-
tiot-the real flower of the land. They are all
wide-awake, energetic, pucky representatives, oil
true Americanisln. They know what they propose
to ich, for. ard viii fight WELL if their leaders Only
understand how to handle them. All it wants IS to
rouse and sustain their native spirit and the General
that can do ii will no, fail Of victory.
Gen. Buell. has far organized five DIVISIONS con.
ssting each Of infantry, with proper complement OF
cavalry and artillery. Prudence forbids the revea-
ton of the details Of their composition. 1hey are
respectively commanded by Generals McCooK'
Mitchell Nelson, Thomas and Crittenien. Brlgadler-
Gen. McCook WIGS n captain in the regulararmy, ana
months men. His regiment was attached to Gen.
Schenk's brigade at the battle Of Bull Run lie Is "a
rather youthful commander. but his friends have
great confidence in him. Brigader-Gen Mitchell
tbe we'kpownI rofessor and lecturer on astronomy.
Breadier-Gen. Nelson is the lieutenant Of the nav!
Lat made 30 successful csmpsign IN october anu
November in Eastern Kentucky. BrigadicI-Ueh'
Thomas was n colonel of regular cavalry. Brshder-
Gen. Thos J.. Crrenden is the son Of ex-senator ..
J. Crittenden md brother of the rebel Mulor-G,nr'al
in command in Eastern Tennessee. ! do ne; thiaL
tina, he had any previous military experience.
Commanders Of brgldes urdcrtnese acting Major
Generals are Generals Wood johnson. and HASKELL
TALL three officers Of the regular amy, NeEley "a
wcll.kuown zen of Pittsburgh, who saw service
IN Mexico, schoeld Hungarian eX-captn Of ariil-
lery III the Austrian service, aud for long time one
of the Examiners in tie Patent-Onice, Dumont dis
tinguished in Western Virginia., and Rousseau,
Bowie and Card prominent keutuckiars, appointed
from civil life, and number of senior Colonies,
among whom IRE Colonel Anmon of the 9th Ohio,
Colonel Tarchn of the 18th Illinois, Colonel Gill Of
tie 33d Ohio and Colonel Manson Of tie 10Th lndi-
ana.
How much Of good eeneralslip We may expect
from Gen. Buell. himself and The division and bngaie
commanders under BIN can only be oouJectn'cd.
None Of all these generals las record whereupon
TO base "a well-iounded opinion TO their probable
success in leading large bodes Of men. The battle
field alone furnishes the truo tet Of strategic ability
Ii is. however, no secret in military circles that ccr-
tain bigadies in this State, are utterly unequal TO
the responsibilities of their position, md will surely
disgrace themselves and their commands. Men that
would be ont OF place al the bead Of companies should
not be entrusted with the Iaf,ty and honor Of thou
sands.
Upioa few days nee Cen NoCooks dyisionheld
the most advanced position "a, this point. Gen.
Mitchell's and Cen Nelson's divisions were and are
siill stationed few miles north of the former. All
these could be thrown across the Green River in
few hours. Hall Of Gen. Thonass command was At
Lebanon until early lasi week, when it was moved
south to Columbia, in Adair County, where it now
forms tho Union outpost nearest to n ishville The
other half Of his division, under Gen sohoopf has
been for some time watching the operations Of Zol-
Golfer from position few miles eas, of Somerset
Gen. Cruendens division is distributed along the
upper Green River, it, main body resting IN the
vicinity Of Calhoun, in Mclean County.
have no knowledge whatever Of the plans Of our
Generals. have not converted with any one Of
them upon this subject, nor would have been made
any wiser in this respect if had But, although en-
tirely destitute Of information from Official sources,
am yet confident that the following theory Of the cam
pagn about opening will not be found deyaiing far
from the mark
While Generals Thomas and Schoeph from their
present positions will take care Of Zolllcoher by
cutting hun off from all connection with the main
rebel army at Bowling Green, or surrounding and
attacking him from the front and rear, division
(rrobably Gen. Nelson's will advance from thir place
in the direction of Glasgow Barnes County and
scosvillc (Allen County the fine turnpike from
Bardstown to the former place that crosses Green
River over bridge about ten miles east of that
town. IL il in excellent condition at all times Of The
year and but few Instructions have been placed upon
il by the rebels who keep only small force at both
Glasgow and Scottsyille. Gen. Ilardee will not be
able to spare troops enough from Bowling Green in
tho face Of the below -mentioned demonstrations in
his front to dispute successfully the advance Of the
Union division 10 Scotsville. IL is only days
march from this place to the direct railroad from
Bowling Green TO Nashville, the pOsse,sion of which
would at deprive the rebels Of their principal
means Of communication with and retreat 10 Northern
Tennessee. While this movement upon the right
flank and to the rear Of Iardees army in being exc
cuted two divisions Gen. McCooks and Gen. Mitch
els presumed NAV advance from the south bank of
Green River over the turnpike from Muuiordsyie
TO Bowling Green, and after clearing it OF tie barl-
cades Of feled trees erected by the enemy, drive
back the rebel advance Of two brigades now holding