New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-17
MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST.

mOvEmENTS IN THE WEST.
Reports of Rebel invasion Of Kentucky are
becoming unploasanty frequent and positive.
1t is very confidently asserted that the Rebels
are massing large bodies of troops at Charles
town, Chattanooga, and other points, and that
they mean to try with ROsecrans a strategy
not unlike that which was disgracefully sue.
cessful with Buell.. This force. while menacng
him in front, is to turn his flank on the left,
aod march directly on Louisville and Cincin-
natl. The report which heralds this plan
makes the Rebel force at least twice that OF
Gen Rosecrans, and proposes that half Of it
shall amuse the Army Of the Cumberland BY o
more or less serious attack while the other half
executes at its leisure the remainder of the
programme. But it 10 not, or ought not, to be
possible that Rosecrans should be thus 0utnum-
bered and if he is not, the whole Of such q
scheme can hardly be considered possible of
execution.
A moro reasonable statement is that Bragg
and Johnston have recently made speeches to
tho Rebel armies at TullahOma and Shelbyville
nobody will doubt this fact at least-and
that they announced their intention to break
the lines of Rosecrans on the Cumberland,
drive back his army to the Ohio, and bring
some practical aid and comfort to the Copper
head peace party of Indiana and Illinois, Ohio
and Kentucky. These two traitors based their
hopes of success on the aid they expected from
the Democratic traitors in the Northwest,
and by help of that alliance expected to carry
the war north of the Ohio and establish them
selves on the soil of it's bordering States.
Still, the reliancs on that sort OF support does
not indicate a very profound conviction Of their
own military strength.
A third campaign projected for the Rebels
contemplates nothing more serious than rep
etition of the Morgan raid to sweep off what
that freebooter left Of the haryests aud herds
of Kentucky. A Louisville paper asserts with.
out qualification, that the Rebels have received
heavy reeniorcements Of men, but are in ex-
IRENE need of supplies, and mean to obtain
them in this way. 1t is urged, accordingly,
that the President call upon Gov. Robinson for
the twenty thousand troops authorized to be
raised in Kentucky. Gigantic preparations are
on foot, says this alarmist; Cavalry by thou
sands are swarming in Tennessee along its
northern border and strong bodies Of infantry
arc daily arriving at points from which the
entrance into Kentucky is convenient and COM
Portable. The authorities at Washington are
very earnestly besOught to be warned in time.
Meanwhile, Gen. Rosecrsns is holding his
ground ON the line adopted after tho victory of
Stones River, and subsequently much extended.
There is constant diminishing, and occasionally
q rather more serious conflict, like the recent
defeat at Franklin. Van Dorm is an enter
prising sort Of guerrilla, and keeps bis men
busy, but force like his accompshes nothing
of serious consequence, though it requires and
receives pretty careful watching. On our side
Gen. Rousseau has been authorized, it 10 under.
stood, to raise force OF 10000 cavalry, to-
keep Kentucky clear of marauders. and protect
the communications OF Gen. Rosecrans's army.
That army, is by oil accounts, in admirable
condition and spirits, and long since impatient
to move. Perhaps it is more Immediately threat
entd from another quarter than either OF those
aforementioned Tho latest report from
Vicksburg ntimates that in case Of the eyacu-
alton OF that stronghold tho whole of the Rebel
forces hitherto concentrated there will be
hurled against the Army of the Cumberland,
and in connection with the forces Of Bragg
and Johnson, and whatever else can be gath
cred, is confidently expected to oyerpower tho
National forces.
1t is evident enough from all these rumors
that some movement on the Rebel side is in
progress, the direction aud purpose of which
are not yet accurately known. The territory
on which these campaigns are pursued is so
immense and of such ineKhaustibe strategic
resources, that it is impossible there should not
be some point open to Rebel incurson. We
may soon expect to hear more definitely what
attempt is to be made, or. as has happened
before, the falling OF tho blow may be the
first signal of its danger.