The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-12
SITUATION n ARKANSAS hND MIssnlaI
DepytlgsHdcHce cr2s Nes0 Rork Tribune,
Invaaion OF Miaaonrl.

EeryeggsHdcHce or2e Aet0 Pork Tribune,
Invasion OF Missouri.
COLUMBUS. KY, Sept 26 1854 "A personal ex-
'aminanon Of the situation OF military affairs from
here 20 Little Rock (which was made necessary 6y
the met that al military items have Tor the last
month been cOnfabuud, and that al contocturps nud
speeulations were indebted TO accident Tor any ap.
Gent 70 amend ihe iew neage1 doygae6Sl tbar he
las been able TO send YOU lately by thc add tiOn OF
tFpstWoftly particulars. Our enemies bOth sides
OF the river have developed their policy but not feiT
plans; IN uuti, She lormer completely hides the
latter. IL rs Improbable that our military authors
tics we're ever more Pnorant OF the general aspect
of afars than they have been fOr some weeks in
Arkansas and Tennessee. 1his, however, is not the
result OF lack OF vigorous scouting aud unooasing
Watehtu,ness their part, but OF the TACT that wo
are 30 lar outnumbered by the Rebels that we are
.eonpeled to rest IN defensive attitude at every
point. Our adSersares are thus enabled to shape
and tine their own movements ia accordance with
circumstances OF their creation or under their
own control Will operations have been neceg-
sarily governed by the operations, real apparent
OF the eremy. This viii account for the cloud OF
myttery that has 50 long darkened military pro-
ceedings upon and IN the vicinity of tho river limos
Of s1EELk's and WAsHBURNE's districts aud from
which Judging by the Northern pRpersl nothing has
emanated Tor peqrly month but vague, halt In
Shed and contradictory reports.
The policy Of General PRICE In his raid into Vir-
gina IS 10 surround the three columns under his
Command with uebua OF small detachments which
are kept continually busy IN making TENTS on either
hank end thus screen be motives OF the main body.
As lar as hiding has own detailed designs is con-
eerncd, he has thus lar been unsuccessful. For IN
stance, during the carly part OF the month portion
% snELBY's column beleagured Duvali's BuiG on
Rlnn or the Arkansas while still another iofco ho-
yered around the front OF Little Rock In the mean
time, that Is from the 10th TO tho 10th, SHELBY was
moving MS main bodi across tho while The CO.
operating Columns OF MABMADUKE and PRICE also
crossed both the Arkansas and White Rivers further
West, tie points AT which the crossing was effected
being Saline and Dardanelles The entire force thus
thTown into Northern Arkansas was about 1000
which will lie greatly increased By the unsparlng
oopscfiphon that Is being enforced.
Abont the slIno lime that meIourial, and by no
means unimporiont element OF the RCUol army, the
guernlGst disappeared from the banks OF the White
River. his fact was OF itself sufficient to cause our
6eneraIs 70 Wacn tor the concentration Of al OF
PRIcE's forces somewhere Such movement how
ever, was ALREADY prepared Tor, o part Of General
SAITH's army had been sent down from Memphis
10 nrsist in the defense of DuvalPs Blun. STEELE
was able to hold Little Rock against any force that
WAS available TO the enemy, and Pine BluG on the
Arkansas River, was IN less imminent danger, and
nj the came time, of less importance than the others
The next We hear OF the Rebels they threaten
pscecia, situated the Mississippi ab6n' 50 miles
in small iorce at New Madrid ana meanWbijeP the
three main columns move north and approach the
missouri line SHELBY beng on the night and near.
est the Mississippi, with about 5000 men, hARMA.
DUKE In the centre with column OF about the
some strength Intending Rebel reports say TO form
Atunehon with sHELBY at Pilot Knob and PRICE
on the left with about 1000 men.
AT this Junctnre the remainder of General SMITHS
Corps, still at Memphis, placed board trans
pors as last as they came INTO port and up the
nVer 10 St. Louis TO cooperate with General RosR-
CRANE from that point. General STEEL at the same
hne organized column OF pursuit under Brigadier-
GereIm howRR, who started after tho Rebels at
once with strong force Of cavalry in advance,
"
PRIoE's column. Bloomfield Missouri, was the next
Roint the HebelA approached, tho small garrison
there beng compelled to ovacuaie the place. Imme-
oaiey afterwards and in rapid succession, the posts
1t sykestop, EerLam and ChRrieston, all on the
SeEo and fulton Eaih cad, were a1andonedi aGd
Birdie Point topposito Carol noted In tho early
history OF tho OF our chief military posts,
O. our military occupation OF that part OF Southeast
Missouri. Cape GiIardeau next stood in danger, BAT
only slight demonsiration was made in that direc-
hon BY small detaehment, while the three man
sOlumns moved mp in the interior. OF tho precise
routes pursued by these columns Of course but little
known that the whole Rebel force Il in position be-
tween FredericEtOwn and Pilot Knob, and about
thirty-hYe miles from the Mississippi River,
Prices Strength.
From data which ] know to be Trustworthy am
enabled 10 give an estimate OF tho Rebel strength
now in Missouri. The three columns crossed White
River With aggregate force of IA 900 mon. In
northern Arkansas they we've joined by 800 guer.
nilas, and eonscnpted as many moro citizens. In
home or under arms who will fall IN with the Rebe
army as II advances, while at last seeonnta, notwith
1000 citizens had pressed into the COniederat.
serviee In central Missouri II Is safe TO say tn ,ft
ere zoOO who will rally around PRICE's stan
dard NJ long as he il successful. The Rebel iorct
thea, cannot bo less than 20,O0J.
What dispositions Of our troops have been made I.
eapruIe the Rebels n would not be proper TO state
but the country may RELY upon the lrst being prOpe
an plan and the latter ADEQUATE IN numbers, even
letter Is IN PRINT. For sixteen days PJOE has move
through AIkansas and Missouri without Obstructon
and Is now With large force IN the State which Ia
has so often sworn 10 relieve from Federal tyranny
but how he s 10 get out AGAIN IS question which ne
ooubtess, did no. preconsder in connection with tia
circumstance that surround hIm. There VII
BE- desperate fighting at or near llot Knob. the re
suit o. which, il is hoped, VIII be the destruction
In giving thc available details OF the invasion o
Missouri, n must not be forgotten that Genera
STEELE, yet at Little Rock, il not unOccupied
PRioEe movement n beng supported by anothe
movement nom the southern part Of Arkansas bU
IN what force or by whom commlnded, had not be
come known when your correspondent eft that city