, 1866-01-21

The elcctioueering and cAnvassing for tho
United States Senator<hfp Is proceeding very
slowly. It IL even limited that the majority
are determined to postpone that event until
winter, If they should happen to set, suth-
cient number Of the radicals to Tose In favor
Of extending the session. They have not the
strength required by the law-two-thirds-
But Of thess matters more anon.
REBEL OFFICIAL HISTORY.
GEN. BRACES REPORT OF BIS CAM
=: PAIGN AGAINST BUELL..
New Developments In the War In ken-
tueky.
Richmond, Bowling Green, 7Iunford-
Vile, PerKyvt1le Cumberland Gap.
The Memphis Buuslia prints Gen. Bragg's
official report of his campaign against Gen.
Buell. in Kentucky, which has never before
been published:
HEADQUARTERS Aas1 OF : TsysEssEz e;
SIR: Constant occupation and the absence
Of my records during the active services u this
qun1ter, have prevented until now full mar
ration Of the events incident to the campaign
Of thiz army Inst autumn, In Tennessee aud
Kentucky.
Early IN July, 1862, under instructions. a
division Of troops, uEder Major General Nc
Gown, WIS sent from my headquarters at Tu-
pe1o, Mississippi, to the Department Of East
Tennessee, In the latter part OF that month
1t became evident We were being pressed there
BY . heavy corps Of the enemy, sent from
CotInth, under Major General Buell.. This
m nv r1r Tftrpn thS. gerry heart nf mir
country, and was destined, unless checked
Immediately. to sever our main line of con-
pcc,ion between the East and West At this
time The army in Mississippi had much iu-
gTessed tapidly in discipline, Organization md
Instruction Leaving sufficient force, I deter
mined 10 move to Chattanooga, oppose this
| dangerous operation Of the enemy, and, 1t
practicable, drive him from our Important
provision country in North Alabama, Middle
| Tcnres. ee and Kentucky.
Early in August the Infantry force for this
purpose-four divisfons-was concentrated
ceaT Chattanooga. and awaited the arrival OF
the artillery, cavalry. and baggage train,
which necessarily moTed across the country
by lnnd-
ing the Department. Of East Tennessee, met
me by invitation in Chattanooga, and most
generously placed Lis whole command at my
disposal, 1t was soon determined, upon his
suggestion, that all his force should be used
to orcrate upon the euemy's left at Cumber-
land Gap, and he was requested to confer
with BTlgndicr General Humphrey Marshall,
commanding IN Southwestern Virginia, with
whom he WAS n]rccdy In correspondence, to
secure his cooperation IN the movement
After returning to Knoxville, Gen Smith
asked Tor further assistance; and two tinc
brigudes under Brig Gen. P. R. Cleburue and
Col. Preston Smith were sent to him, In addi-
tfon to the division which had gone from IT,
Eelo. The balance Of my immediate COM
nand, the Army Of the Mississippi, divided
between Major Generals Polk aud Hardec,
made every preparation, and awaited only Its
teggnge train and artillery to cross the Ten
nessee river, and enter upon fts ardaous aud
pe1ilous campaign over the mountains divid-
lng East and Middle Tennessee.
The movement Of the artillery and wagons
across the mountain region of North Alaba-
ma having been successfully accomplished,
river at Chattanooga, with very limited means
The enemy, with hugely superior force, oc-
cupied tie lines OF the railroads from Decatur
TO Bridgeport, Alabama. from Decatur to
Nashville, and from Nashville to Stevenson,
with large detached commands nt McAlInn.
the river at Chattanooga. the column took
up Its line Of march on the 23th Of August,
over Waidron's Ridge and the Cumberland
Mountains, for Middle Tennessee. Major
General Smith had already successfully passed
through Northeastern Teunesss49 Nad gained
the rear Of Cumberland Gap, held by the
enemy in strong force, we'll fortified.
Leaving sufficient force to hold the enemy
in observation, his dis1odc ment being consid-
cred impractlcable, he moved, a3 authorized,
With the balance Of his command on Lex
lpgton, ky. This rich country, full OF sup
plies so necessary to us, WIS represented to
be occupied by force which cb1,u make but
feeble resistance. How we'll aud successfully
that duty YVES performed, has already been
| reported by General Smith. Ills complete
victory over the enemy at Richmond. Ky,
and bis occupation Of Lexington, rendered It
! now rapidly moving toward Nashville, or to
move toward the right so as to secure a juno
tion with General Smith when necessary
Eu reaching Middle Tennessee, 1t was found
that the sne my's main force, BY use of rail-
Touls and good tufnpikes, had concentrated
In Nashville, and Was strongly fortified. With
heavy demonstration az ainst this position
my force vas thrown rapid1y to Glasgow.
~, and, to my great satisfaction, reached
that point on the 18th OF September, before
any portion OF the enemy repehcd Bowling
Green rs soon rs uy object was discovered,
they moved 10 haste, by rnil aud turnpike,
1nt reached Bowling Green only in time to
find that NC had seized ind now held both
reads near Cave City.
Ar assault on The ensm5's superior force,
OF success, while any movement for that pur-
pose would have enabled him to throw his
whole force to LIS rear rapidly, thus rendering
certain tie capture or destruction Of General
Smiths small command at Lexington where-
as, BY the t'ank movement adopteda the enc
my's communications were severely and his
forces separated. while my OWL connections
| were secured. Without firing gun, we had
also compelled the evacuation OF all Northern
A'abama, and Middle Tennessee. south OF the
Cumberland.
Prepared to assall Baelrs forces, should he
| attempt 10 pass north, determined to rest
my jaded troops Mt Glasgow, where some sub
sistepce was to be had While thus engaged,
learned that the commander Of my outpost
brigade, at Cave City, had advanced upon
and assaulted the enemy's fortified position at
Muntordvtlle,. (thc railroad and pike cross
ing Of Green river, and aftcr gallant fight
against Largely superior Numbers, had been
rcpnlsed with considerable loss. Unwilling
to allow the impression Of disaster to rest
upon the minds OF my men, the force was
rapidly prepared, and our march moved on
the evening Of the 18th, with very scarty
supply Of provisions.
Gen. Har1ee's wing moved by Cave City, d.
rect upon Nunfordyille, and Gen. Polk by
Rear Wal1ow Road, crossed the rear some miles
10 the right, and gained the enemy's rear on the
afternoon OF the 10TH An immediate demand
for the surrender Of the garrison was made,
and after few hours negotiation, an uneon-
diltonal surrender Was obtained. We secured
,seC7 prisoners, ten pieces of nrtiilery, 5000
small arms, mud proportional quantity of
ammunition, horses, males and military
stores.
This surrender having been received and
completed on the 17th Of September, dispo-
sitions were rnnde for an nttack from Geveral
Buells main force, supposed to be advancing
on our rear from Bowling Green. Efforts
were made to draw him to IN attack by
$7uf IN fG
main force held a position south Of tho en-
trenchments on Green River failed to ac-
complish this object. With my effective
force, reduced By sickness, exhaustion, md
the recent affair before the entrenchments at
SlEntordrfllc, to half that fythe enemy, I
could not prudently afford to attack lin
there In his selected position Should pur-
sue him further toward Bowling Green, he
might tal' back to that place, and behind his
Reduced at the end of four days, to three
days rations, and ID hostile country, utterly
destitute Of supplies, u serious engagement,
brought on anywhere in that direction,
could not fail (whateyer It's resnltsl to mr.
terta1ly cripple me. The loss Of the battle
would be eminently disastrous / was well
aware, also, that hs had practicable route
Ohio river, and thenca to Louisville We
were therefore compelled to give up the OBJ
tect, and sent for assistance. Orders were
sent for supply truin from our depot at
Georgetown to meet lib In Bardstow1, and
the march was commenced for the inter
place. ..-..-... ..-.
Instructions had been given Gen. Smith for
. simultaneous movement Of the column At
Lexington to shelbyyille. that combined
operations might be Immediately undertaken
against Louisville. Orders had also been
Cumberland Gap, and that he should be inter
ccpted IN any attempt to escape. On my ar
rival at Bartlstown, learned from Nal. Gen:
Smith, then at Lexington, that the enemy was
moving from Cumberland Gap, endeavorfDg
tu escape by the valley Of Sandy river, ID
whole available force In pursuit.
A autflcieut fnrre to ulRYfut this eacaIa and