The Portland daily press., 1862-10-27
The Campaign i'm the North West.

see aud the appointment of Gea. B)zencrans
in his place We do not hesitate to say this one
act of the Government will give an increased
activity to the public pulse, and raise the hopes
and encourage the hearts ofall really loyal men.
Buell. may be good general in his place, but it
Is very doubtful if he has been in his proper
place Tor some time past. With splendid ar
my at his command, he has allowed the rebels
to get the advantage Of him, to overrun the
best portion of Kentucky, and in all his efforts
to cut them off or to bag them, he has been
like man behind time at a railroad station,-
a little too late. 1t is reflection upon the
spirit and activity of our people to say the re-
bels are necessarily too quick for them. 1t is
a shame that with twice the numbers to raise
an army from, the loyal government should be
always acting OIL the defensive, waiting for an
attack, and exulting over the news that GER
tain places are safe that should never have been
in danger, and merely holding on, when the
war can never be ended with honor without
striking heavy blows, and those so rapidly that
the enemy shall have no time to recover from
the effect of one before another shall fall with
stunning force upon him. Our policy has been
so il seems to unmilitary minds, who know
nothing of red tape-ater striking blow to
wait for the wound to heal before dealing an
other. Like prze-fig ghters in the ring, we have
waited for the enemy to be sponged and groo-
med, and for cordials to be administered, and
his strength to be revived, instead of raining
upon him such succession Of blows that no
breathing spell, no rest, no time for recupera-
ton could be found by which to recover from
his confusion, and to systematic his opera
tions. We have acted deiensively instead of
Extensively; been the attacked instead Of the
attacking party, and thus We have been oblig-
ed to exhaust Il large amount of strength in
warding OFF and parrying blows that should
have been expended in dealing blows for 9th
ers to parry ur to feel the effects Of The re-
moval of Buell. and the substitution of a live.
active, energetic. vigorous man. will infuse new
Lille into the army, aud inspire the people with
fresh hopes and increased confidence. The
following from Carleton," the intelligent war
correspondent of the Boston journal, is doubt
less truthful exhibit of the campaign in Ken
lucky, aud we dare say our readers will all
agree with us that such policy as has been
pursued-the " mastery inactivity policy
has not been changed too soon:
On the first day of Oct. Gen. Buell. began
his advance upon the rebels then within flf-
teen miles Of Louisville. Yesterday he gave
up the pursuit, and his grand army of an hun
dred and iorty thousand men is returning to-
wards Louisville. Such is strategy. He gives
as L understand. as a reason for not ordering
up reiniorcemeuts to Gen. Cook, at Perry
vile, that that battle ineriered with his plans
There il none so poor as to do him reverence.
His former supporters now denounce him in
unineasured terms. Ii is CALLING TO proud spir
tied Kentuckians 10 see their State ravaged
with impunity and the pillagers escape with
all their spoil. 1t is estimated that Bragg has
impressed from four to five thousand wag-
Gus and teams to draw them, and this immense
train has gone off loaded with provisions and
supplies. You had, doubt not, a telegraphic
dispatch last week, stating that Buell. had cap
tured all, or nearly all, OF the supplies which
Bragg had secured; il turns out that we cap
tured about forty wagons.
The rebel partisan Morgan has performed
deeds which rival Stuarts raid iuto Pennsyl-
yania. He has trotted round Buell. as Stuart
did around Mcclellan. He made dash into
Lexington, drove out our forces, into Mar
settles, then round the Kentucky river to
Lawrenceburg, and swept on to Bardstown.-
AT Cox Creek he came upon wagon train and
burned eighty-one wagons, taking the team
sters and guards prisoners Thirty OF the wa
gons were empty, the Others laden with sup
plies ior Woods division. Pushing on tow
ard Birdstown he captured another large train
and burned it, aud when last heard from was
pushing southwest, evidently TO destroy the
Labanon Branch railroad and then to push on
toward Munordsville and destroy the Nash
Tia <,f h.A, cd
ly accomplish.
The train due last night from Muniordsville
is not in. Probably it is destroyed. He has
force of twelve hundred cavalry. Gen. Du-
mont is following, but Morgan changes horses
continually, while Dumont's are worn down.
There Is no force n front of Morgan. He can
have things all his own way. 1t is supposed
he Is aiming for Nashville, and that Bragg is
moving with the main part of his army in the
same direction. Gen. Negley is there with
about five thousand men. Bragg can take it
without interference from Buell.. A glance at
the map will show this. Bragg has retreated
Into Tennessee by way of Somerset. He has
crossed the Cumberland ere this. and his ad-
vance must be at Monticello. He is about one
hundred and twenty miles from Nashville,
while Buell. is one hundred and sixty, and is
returning from his unsuccessful chase. When
last heard from he manifested no intention Of
undertaking the rescue of Negley. In few
days you may expect to learn that Negley and
his five thousand, the enormous stores accu-
mllated there, and the city, is once more in
the possession of the rebels. With Morgan in
his rear, and Bragg with forty thousand in
front, IL is not probable that Negley can es-
cape. He will know nothing OF his danger
till il is too late to fee. 1t is disheartening to
see a noble cause go by default, through igno-
rance, or imbecility or treason OF those in COM
mand Last spring Gen. Mitchell was at Chat
tanooga, within twenty-five miles of the great
Eastern railroad connecting the Gulf States
with Richmond, He was desirous of pounc-
ing upon it, but was restrained by Buell.. All
through the summer Buell. has been within
striking distance of that railroad with pow
erful army, but he has done nothing. The reb-
el supplies, the rabel troops, have passed East
and West, the main rebel artery has circulated
its lite-blood, and he has made no effort to put
In the lancet He remained asleep, while
Bragg jumped into the ring, captured Mum
fordsville, and began his ravages OF Kentucky.
Instead of moving boldly to attack Bragg
with superior force, he avoided him, and
moved on the arc of Il circie4 while Bragg
moved along the cord. in race northward.
Having headed Bragg off as boy heads OF Il
fock of sheep browsing by the way, and hav-
Ing had his army increased TO twice the size of
Bragg's. he commences TO drive him out. He
permits McCook to be overpowered at Perry
vile, when Schoepff is close at hand waiting
orders to join in the fight. He moves upon
the retreating Bragg with no hope OF overtak-
ing him. He leaves Nashville exposed. He
gives up the pursuit, and is now returning
north with disappointed, disprited army
Guch il rho r.scard + l. naintiu IN ,Vritn IL