Year: 1861




Louisville, the United States Headquarters
Is situated on the northern boundary of the
State, Is connected by river and rail with the
whole Of the Northern States, and also BY rail
with the country Of active operations, "a indi.
Gated. The plain on which it Is situated ex.
tends, with but few interruptions, and none OF
serious character, for IS miles south of Roll.
ing Fork river, where raii communication
with the country beyond has been interrupted
by the destruction of the bridge Crossing
this stream, which is about 200 feet in Width
and three feet deep at the bed, near the bridge
lately burned, a good road leads through q
level country for two miles to the foot of the
series of hills known as Muldraugh's Hills
Their ASCENT Is Of the most rugged character
The railroad follows little stream called Clear
Creek, crossing it about half way up the ascent
by trestle work, ninety feet high; further on
Il again crosses a small tributary to Clear
Creek; and passing through q similarly rugged
country, enters, near its base, Muldrsugh's
(more properly TunnsD Hill and merges on q
smooth and level plain, which extends uninter-
ruptedly for many miles south to Green river,
thus forming the tableland of the State.


Tunnel Hill is the last of . series forming the
ascent from the lowland to the table land of
kentucky and its virtue as q stronghold de-
pends upon the direction of an approach.
Against an attack from the north il presents
many advantages; but these become useless
agsinst an advance from the south Tunnel Hill
commands those immediately south Of it, and
they In turn command their northern neigh
oors. The United States force, to fight to ad-
vantage, must fight bey ond Muldraugh's Hill,
and for this purpose require a strong fsrce Te
admit the foe to advance as far as the hill
would be to allow them to possess themselves
OF what would be stronghold to them, and
which possession would result in the destruc-
tion OF the most important and costly part of
the whole railroad line. Four miles from Tun-
mel Hill, Elizabethtown, the advance of the u
;. forces, is reached. This is an old and rather
dilaPidated town, with about l 800 inhabitants,
and presenting no features Of Importance. 1t
was the center Of strong disunion community
composed of a class cotrOlled by ex-Goy John
L. Helm, who is q resident of that town. The
Rebels looked forward to it for winter quar-
tiers, should their attempts on Louisville fail


Nolin Creek is the first stream of any i'm
portance south of Elizabethtown on the line of
the railroad. 1t is at all times fordable, the
rail and turnpike roads crossing it near its
head waters. Thence % Green river the coun-
try is plain, level sward-rich, we'll watered,
and producing plenty. The country immedi-
ately on the banks of Green river is rough and
poor. The banks of the river at the point
crossed by the railroad are very steep. The
turnpike road, crossing the river at Munfords-
vile, winds down a steep declivity, and all ye-
nicles cross the river BY boat. The stream here
is seldom foraable, is exceedingly swift and
dangerous. Beyond Green river and extend
ing to Barren river are the barrens of Ken
tucky, as beautiful prairie land as is to be seen
In the West, but not very extensive.


Bowling Green, the present basis of South
ern operations in Kentucky, Is 3 point of great
strategic Importance. Located at the junction
OF the two Kentucky railroads which enter
Tennessee, it affords transportation to an al
most unlimited extent, and an army in force
there could draw reinforcements and supplies
to the full capacity Of the Confederate States to
spare them. The approaches to the town by
railroad can be commanded by a small force, as
the track crosses a bridge over Barren river