Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-23
IMPORTANT OPERATIONS At THE
! - WEST.

The campaign of Gen. Bragg in Tennessee
and Kentucky approaches its conclusion. and
the military riddles with which ne and ten.
Buesl have puzzled the world, and, perhaps,
ms,st Shortly receive Sme sort of sSiation As
Van Dom has had his say at Corinth, and as
Brsrg and Buell. have now fought the decisive
action 81 Perry Vile, there is no longer a reason
for Silence en- the past facts of their operations.
These who have been near the scene Of action
all concur in the statement that Bragg might
have crushed Buell. in n general action, at any
time since he left Tupelo. BY concentrating
the forces under Kirby Smith, Marshall. Van
the superior of Buell. IN numbers. Rnt he pre-
ferred the plan Of maneuyering by detachnents
to take possession of borh Kentucky and Tell
neesec- without general action; apparently
aiming to cut Buell. of from his base of opera
tons. This mode OF warfare actually did give
him poessssion of the larger part of both States,
and resulted in race between Buell. and him.
self for the occupation of Louisville. Buell.
beat him in the race, and got there twenty. -four
hours ahead OF our troops.
The event seems to have given the Federal
commander the vantage ground, by placing
him in short communication with his reserves
and reinforcements. That part of the campaign
which depended upon extensive maneuyers,
appears to have ended with Buell's Occupation
OF Louisville, and the only thing remaining are
triale Of strength in the field. We have seen
the first of these issues at Corinth. The wing
Of the army under Van Dorm was no longer
superior, or even equal, TO the consolidated
Federal force under Rosecrans, and though the
battle seems to have been fought with as much
valor rs any other, Van Dorm was badly beaten
The readers Of yesterdays Examiner know
that q far more important trial OF strength has
been made by the two chief commanders at
Perryyille. Il takes five days to reach the
telegraph at Knoxville from that place, and
therefore Ii should occasion no surprise that the
first intimation OF so great an event should
coEne 70 as through the press Of New York and
We published on yesterday all the informa.
ton on the subject afforded by those sources of
intelligenee, and it may be some days before
anything more OF the matter will be known
But from those statements 1t appears quite Ger.
tain that the whole advantage OF the frst DAVIS
fight was with the Confederate army. So il
Let rs trust that Perryyilie will not be repe-
tition Of those delusive victories. The same
journals which bell Of our advantages on the
hrst day OF the fight also state that Buell. had
received large renforcements at the end of IL:
and we had sunieient experience Of that mans
pertinacious character to be quite sure that he
did not, under the circumstances, abandon the
contest. On the other hand, we are informed.
with some authority, that Kirby Smith would
certainly reach the scene Of action in time to
support bus Chief But here the little light at
win painful anxiety the slow approach Of
couriers from our own side. =
~ Gen , Bragg is suiiieisntly fortunate and
the result will be magnificent Possession of
Louisville would be probable consequence
Eut an undistnrbed occupation of two.thirds
OF Kentucky, during several months to come,
would be certain; and with that occupation
access TO unlimited stores Of provisions, both
In grain and meat. Nor is there any reason
why the next further step in advance should
not be taken, 10 wit:-the capture OF Onciu.
nati-an event which would place the remain
ing third Of kentucky at our mercy, and infiict
blow upon the enemy quite equal to what the
loss OF New Orleans was to us.
But these speculations, however agreeable.
may not with prudence be INDUCED too far
The events OF the campaign in the West up to
this point, give us more reason for anxiety than
confidence. 1t appears very probable that
Bragg was foiled by Buell. in his general ma
NEWER, while 1t Is quite certain that Van Dorm
despite his glorious dispatch Of TIE first day
was worsted by Roseerans I'm the encounter at
Corinth- These are reasonable grounds for
anxiety. 1t is however, somewhat alleyiated
by the circumstance that the favorable news
which we published yesterday comes 10 ms
through those who should naturally take every
pains to disguise il. The date of the battle also
gives Us great hopes. IT is clearly impossible
for Rosecrans to have been at that time near
enough TO Buell. 10 afford him the least assist.
ance.l -
The enormous rise Of gold in New York.
from q hundred and twenty three TO hundred
and twenty-six, leads many to suppose that
the news OF Buells complete defeat was then
already known though not published. But
this opinion Will be found on examination
destitute OF support. This battle has nothing
to do with the rise Of gold None of these
battles have produced any serious effect upon
the price Of gold in New York. Its Continued
Use Is circumstance, perhaps, of greater i'm
portance than all the battles put together, when
considered IN relation to the probable termina
ton~of the war. Ii is the result of decreasing
credit and increasing imitation Of the federal
currency. The tendency of gold TO rise has
been opposed by the federal government
with all The cunning and energy at its com.
mand, but this sudden Jump of three per cent
IN day is an indication that the power of
finance Is very nearly nj an end, and that
artificial agencies can no longer control tho
law OF nature. Its relations with the haiti
OF Perryyille, however, are of the most general
character.