Year: 1862

FAIRS AT BOWLING GREEN.


The Louisville correspondent of the N. Y.
Herald writes February 1lth:


The information which sent you yesterday
in regard to the probable evacuation of Bowl
ing Green is eorroborated in every particular
save one. Gen. Buckner's brigade did not 90
TO East Tennessee, but is at Russellville, where
additional brigades Of sixty day men have
swelled his command to Is 900 men. Gen.
Buell. hss such information as leads him to fear
that the rebels have deserted their stronghold,
having become aware of the dangerous situa-
tion in which they had placed themselves. He
has for some time been fearful that his plans
would too soon reveal themselves and that an
evacuation of Bowling Green would take place
too soon to be Of any advantage to him. Fear
ing to frighten them away, he has refrained
from crossing Green river. 1t is said that any
such movement would have undoubtedly
suited in the fight of the whole army ana the
destruction of Bowling Green. Such fight
would have been no benefit whatever to US. But
to surround and capture the whole force, arms
and ammunition, would have been blow from
which they weuld have been long in recover
ing.


SITUATION OF BOWLING GREEN.


From several sources l am in possession of
interesting information and documents which
reveal sad state of affairs at Bowling Green.
Accurate information Of the situation and char
acter of the defenses is lard to obtain. Those





oath to reveal nothing, while those who have
escaped are, in most instances, entirely igno-
rant. For the absolute correctness Of the in
formation which follows regarding the defenses
/ cannot yourh but l am assured by Mr..
John r Cham, late resident Of Bowling
Green, land driven from the place fer holding
the most uucompromising Union sentiments y
Mr.. Quigley, banker Of this city, and others
intimately acqusinte1 with the country, that
the maps Of 1.-The neighborhood around Bow
ling Green were ss nearly perfect as could be
any typographical map.


The city is situated, as laid down, at dis
tance Of FIVE hundred yards from Barren river,
at a point where il makes a bend not unlike n
horseshoe. The town is about fifty feet above
the level Of the stream, and occupies an area
of about three-fourths Of a miles square. The
southeastern portion is built at College Hill,
many Of the buildings being upon the western
slope Of this and another, known as Grider
Hill. Both these prominent points are en-
closed within the southeastern limits of the
city. The buildings of Bowling Green are in
many instances Of aristocratic proportions and
rich design, but in the main are of a cheap,
neat and pretty style. The city is, or was, re-
markably clean, as if it had been under going
a Hhite-washing process. The streets are wide
and straight. 1t is not lit by gas, nor has it
the benefit Of water works.


ITS TOPOGRAPHY.


The topography of the three miles immedi-
stely surrounding the city would interest the
most Indifferent Of engineers, and send q thrill
of pleasure to Porte Crsyon's heart. The
dozen of prominent and important hills rising
above and hiding the little city in the valley
would attract the keen eye that hunted posi-
tiOns for his guns, and 1t Is not to be wondered
at if We find that the deserted position was in
a fair way to become another Manassas strong
hold Aud may it not be that the vaunted
Virginia position will soon be deserted as this
has been.


The lines OF the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad and the turnpike Of the same name
cross Barren river in lines parallel to each
other and whose courses little east of
north and which are not over one hundred and
fifty feet apart, the turnpike line being to the
east. Immediately on crossing the river both
lines strike prominent point, which is known
fsmiIiarly as Bakers Hill, and in avoiding
which the lines depart from their parallel
course and wind around the different sides of
this hill The railroad runs to the west through
aa eighteen or twenty feet cut in the side Of
the hill, and then, making a sharp curve, runs
due northeast for three miles. The turnpike,
having wound around the eastern base Of the
hill, and running due north, intersects the
railroad at the distance Of three miles from the
town. Here they again separate, the railroad
running east and the turnpike west Of what is
known as Gowaw's Hill, upon which and an
other, without name, are pisnted.


THE REBELS OUTER DEFENsBs.


GoUan's Hill is mile north OF the interseS-
ton Of the railroad and turnpike. Another
knob rises TO the east Of Gowan's, and between
the two the railroad winds. On these two hills
are the outer works Of the rebels, established
oply as a lure TO draw on the Union army. My
informant has heard the men and officers in
charge speaking eff these defenses as being OF
no strength and Of little Importance, as they
can be entirely avoided by an attacking army.
The works and guns made and mounted here
will hardly make a show of resistance, If ever
manned for defense or attack, both Of which
alternatives are improbable


BAKERS HILL.


Bakers Hill is the point around which the
railroad and turnpike wind Immediately after
crossing the river 1t is one Of those isolated
peaks so prevalent in Kentucky, and called
knobs. Bakers Hill is about seventy five or
eighty feet above the level of the country to
the north, anu with broad and level summit,
exactly suited, with little labor, for the works
which have been mounted upon it. A house
stands upon the eastern slope, near the sum
nit On the northern slope the rebels have
erected works which mount three guns, and
behind these a lunette FORT mounting three
others Of a larger caliber.


The lower works on the slope are in the
form of a crescent, and are made il the follow
ing manner:-A foundation was made, and
upon it were placed four strong pens made Of
logs, and bound together by brushwood.
These were placed at regular diStances apart
thus making the embrazures Tor the guns, and
then filled with stones and earth. A ditch was
then dug in front, wide and deep, and the
earth thrown up against the pens, as in the
case Of rife pits. The whole was then sodded
On a level with the top Of these works was
made the foundation Of the inner fort, the
summit of which is a little above that Of the
hill. This fort is made in the same strong
manner, and is undoubtedly work Of impor-
tance. The trees in front aud to the right
and left of these works were felled with their
heads down the hill, and the brush left unlop-
ped, thus forming an abatis Of formidable pro-
portions and character. To the south, in the
rear of the fort, the way is open for retreat
A road winds up the southern slope Of the hill,
and reaches the turnpike at the point Of turn
ing 10 cross the river at right angle.


MOUNT AIRY.


The main line Of northern defenses are those
on Bakers Hill and the four hills east and west
Of IT, To begin with the east. About three
quarters Of a mile, and on the opposite side Of