New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-15
The Situation In kentucky.
From, tho Man, nbiu ppea1 Tbursdavl

from the Memphis Appeal Thursday.l
If the Administration needs any further proof of
the fact that the West is to be the great theater of
active hostilties instead of Virginia, where army
operations are now comparatively in state of
allegiance we believe that it will be found in the
news of the last few days. Indeed, we have reason
to suspect that troops are even now being carried
from the Potomac to Kentucky, with the view of
following up the Fishing Creek and Fort Henry
affairs with increased yigor. Our telegraphic ac-
counts from the North this morning announce
what we predicted three weeks ago--that General
Thomas will soon take up his line of march into
East Tennessee in three columns, his design being
to move on Knoxville, and if successful, then cut
off communication between the Mississippi and
Potomac rivers, and the armies in the valley of
each.
Then we have the formidable movement up the
Tennessee and the Cumberland rivers, which has
already resulted in the fall of Fort Henry and is
now threatening Fort Doneson. We have given
our views as q close and careful observer of
events in regard to the purpose of This expedition
and its probable operations for the future. That
we were right in our surmise, seems to be reason
able from the following comments on the subject
from the st. Louis Republican of the 9th inst,
which were penned before the capture of Fort
Henry:
"The rebels attach great Importance to their
situation at Columbus. The report, at first circu-
lated several days ago, of the removal of General
Beauregard from the Potomac to that quarter,
comes to US reiterated by Southern journals. That
an immediate attack upon Columbus is generally
apprehended by the secession officers, seems quite
evident and that the place is daily being strength.
as little doubt. The New Orleans Delta shows that
safety of the South, and the eectua resistance of
the Confederates to the Federal armies, depend
upon the holding of Columbus and its supporting
military posts while to Southern Kentucky all eyes
are turned as the probable seat of coming fierce
and decisive conflict. The recent defeat of Zolli-
Golfer near Somerset, whereby the rebels were
driven from valued position, was tie first note of
ia prQa Ttanf Ry hat inns aptip on
Thomas has nearly turned the right of Gen. John
ston's forces, and very materially advanced to the
assistance OF the troops on Green river, who are
but waiting some cooperating movements to march
upon Bowling Green and take it. If, meantime,
the communication between Bowling Green and
Columbus can be cut off the Union forces will have
it in their power to achieve such victory as will
make the Confederates tremble from Nashville to
Pensacola '@t 'f'.~, ~ 2Hg .s362s@'4t#
'The rebel armies in South Kentucky represent
two wings--Columbus at the West and Bowling
Green at the East-with totally inadequate cen
ter; Here is q line running nearly one hundred
dred thousand troops to cover, while the Confed-
crates do not muster the half Of that number if so
many. The center is held by a brigade at Hop
kinsyille, and by Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, !,
and Fort Donelson (twelve miles distanO on the
Cumberland. These points occupied by the Fed
eral forces, and a position taken near the State
line, say at Hadensve, and the wings Of the rebel
army would be completely isolated, while both
Wouiu Do threatened IN tne rear anu supplies iof
both measurably cut off. To such result the
finger of events now points. We interpret the
movements going on at Cairo, Paducah and Smith
land to mean an important expedition up the Cum
berland and Tennessee rivers. Ii successful, Gen.
Bnell will have comparatively easy task in dis
lodging the Confederates from Bowling Green, for
with CIarksvile so seriously nenaced, and rail
road eoqnections thereby broken, they must fall
back or fight under almost overwhelming disad-
vantages Nashville, too, is location the rebels
cannot afford to lose without desperate struggle.n
Smiths movement as piercing Of Gen. Sydney
Johnston's center, which it designates as "totally
inadequate to stand the shock Of Buell's hordes
upon it. The same paper goes on to express the
opinion that "the elaborate forticatonsat at Colum.
bus will not soen be assaulted while in another
article It hoastfully asserts that the place "wl be