Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-27
The Situation in Kentucky.

We copy the following from the Cincinnati
GSzttte of yesterday Thursday morning,
March 26ih:
Toe intention of the rebels to invade Ken
tucky is being carried out, upon the plan here
toiore reported, and the situation In that State
is now quite interesting; though by no means
go alarming as it would have been had the In.
vason occurred q week or two earlier. The
enemy was, we may be sure, well advised as to
the weakness of the Union army in that State:
and upon this basis they laid their plans, and ex.
pected to be able, with fifteen or twenty thous
and men, to overPun the country and capture
supplies, and, possibly, obtain possession Of
Louisville aud Cincinnati. At the time
the plans we're formed, they seemed
quite feasible; but it is exceedingly
doubtful whether the enemy will now
undertake to carry them out The Ia.
test news with reference to rebel movements
is furnished by our Lexington correspondent
The enemy, it appears, crossed the Cumberland
river in Clinton county, Ky, and moved via
Stanford Woolford's cavalcy, stationed at
this place, skrmished with the advance of the
rebels, three days, falling back toward Danyille
and Frankfort, and at last accounts they had
reached Dicks river.
The whole rebel force north of the Cumber-
land river in that section of the country. Ia "a.
timated OF $500 to 1000. These are the most
reliable figures; but rumors place the number
much higher. Reinforcements, however, NAV
be on the way, and this is probable, for il ia not
likely that the invasion would be undertaken
with less than ten or fifteen thousand. The
rebels have possession of Dsnvile. It is up-
derstood that our supplies were removed from
that place. s0I
The 44h and 45!h Ohio, stationed a. Rich.
mond, have fallen back. That portion of the
State, therefore, lying South of the Kentucky
river, is at present open to the rebels, but they
had not, up to yesterday morning, taken DOS.
session Of Richmond. Yesterday forenoon.
firing was heard at Lexington, in the direction
of Hickman's Ferry, and It was supposed the
rebels we're trying to cross the Kentucky river
at that place. 1t is not believed, however.
that they will try very hard to get across, and
if they should, it is believed they will not be
able to succeed. II the river should be cross :.
ed it will be with view to taking Lexington,
This can not be accomplished without hard
fighting.
In regard to Eastern Kentucky, th facts are
that Cluke captured Mount Sterling on Sunday
morning He had eight hundred men. The
garrison numbered two hundred and ffty,-
The latter occupied the Court House and fought
for several hours. Cluke, in the mean time.
burned several houses, and threatened TO de.
atroy the town unless our force surrendered
This demand was finally complied with
The Union officer in command ct Mount
Sterling sent to Winchester, fifteen miles
distant, for reinforcements, and had
these been furnished promptly, as they
might have been, 80 we are informed, the
rebels could not have escaped. Asit was, Cluke,
after the surrender, hurried out OF town and
moved to OWingsville, while other forces were
for him on other roads. The latter
returned to Mount Sterling, and on Tuesday
fell back 10 Lexington. Cluke received rein
forcemenis at Owingsville, probably from
Humphrey Marshall, and letter from that
place, received at Paris yesterday, reported him
three thousand strong. Mount Sterling is now
open 10 the rebels, If it is not occupied by them
Humphrey Marshall must be hungry by this
time, and his army 10 expected to come down
from the mountains The intention was IN,
doubtedly to form a junction in Central Ken.
lucky with the forces coming in from the South.
vest.
Thus far, it is seen, the rebels have had but
little trouble In carrying out their plans. 1t is
easy to say, and il is very freely said, that Gen.
Wright should have prevented this invasion;
but the fact is that the force in Kentucky could
not prevent it; and for the inadequacy of the
means, Gen. Wright is in no degree responsible