Sketches of "captured rebel Generals."
The New York
Herald gives the following biographical sketches of the ‘"Rebel
Generals captured at
Fort Donelson;"’
The announcement of the capture of
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, the rebel commander of the department of Kentucky and
Missouri, at
Fort Donelson, will be hailed with delight throughout the loyal States, being, as he was, the
senior officer of the rebel army, and the craftiest General in the rebel host.
His capture is, in fact, more significant than would be the capture of half a dozen
Beauregard.
The latter bears no comparison for skill and daring with
Gen. Johnston.
Gen. Albert S. Johnston was born in
Macon county, Ky., in 1803, and is consequently fifty-eight years of age. After the usual school training young
Johnston was adopted by the
U. States, and educated at its expense at the Military Academy at
West Point.
On graduating he entered the Sixth infantry, and was ordered to the
West.
During the
Black Hawk war he acted as
Adjutant General,
President Lincoln being at the time a captain of volunteers.
At the close of the war he resigned his commission, and resided first in
Missouri, next in
Texas.
War breaking out in the latter State, as entered the
Texan army as a private, and rose to high distinction.
He after wards filled the post of
Secretary of War.--On the annexation of
Texas to the
United States,
Johnston raised a partisan troop, which he commanded, and accompanied
General Taylor to
Monterey.
At the close of the
Mexican war he returned to his plantation but, being in embarrassed circumstances, was glad to accept from the United State the post of paymaster, which was generously bestowed upon him by the
Government.
Under
Pierce,
Mr. Jefferson Davis, then
Secretary of War, made
Johnston Colonel of the Second Cavalry, and he subsequently received the command of the
Southwestern Military district.
At the outbreak of the war with Gash he was chosen, over many more skilled officers, to command the condition which crossed the
Plains.
He continued to all that post — bring in fact dictator in the country, which he occupied — on the rebellion took place when he traitorously a boarded his flag.
He is believed to have made energetic attempts to induce
California and
Oregon to join the rebels, but to have been lofted by the commonsense of war Pacific brethren and the sagacious measures adoproff by the
Government.
Last all,
Gen. Johnston was put in command of the rebel soldiers in the Department of Kentucky and
Missouri, and invested with potentially authority to control all the which he hold at the time steamboat on the
Red river,
La., and killed was at the time in the United States Senate from that State, was the second of
Mr. Clay in
the
Gen Wise John Randolph, and was a man of the most unusual abilities
This is divided at both rebel garrison of
Fort Donelson.
We cannot call to mind a men whose the public than this been entitled to consideration.
Some native the
Tennessee.
‘"His"’ mystery effect commenced during the war with
Texas, having been appointed to W Brigadier by Folk.
His first large of
Camargo, where he war ordered L his commend to or but works for the defense of that place the throwing up those works he built his ditch in the interior of the parapet — a fact that created much merriment among the troops of his command.
At the
battle of Cerro Gordo he commanded a brigade of
Pennsylvania troops.
He was ordered to operate on the
Mexican right wing.
He advanced kid command to within gunshot of the enemy to line and then skeltered himself behind a rock, until he was reproved by his officers for his cowardly conduct, when shame obliged him to face the enemy.
By this time
Shield's brigade had turned the enemy's left, and this saved
Pillow's brigade from probable defeat.
As the breaking out of the present rebellion he was appointed
Major-General of the
Tennessee State troops.
He collected a force of several thousand men and proceeded to the
Mississippi river, in the vicinity of
Memphis, where he erected several batteries.
He subsequently went to
Columbus, Kentucky, and there commenced the fortification of that place, but before the mark was completed he was un by
Bishop Polk, who was appointed
Major General in the Provisional army of the rebel States.
Pillow was obliged to assures w ordinate position, which was not very flattering to his vanity.
About one month ago a difference of opinion in regard to army matters across between
Pillow and
Polk, which resulted in the resignation of the former.
The difference however, was adjusted through the mediation of friends.
Pillow withdrew his resignation, and a week or two ago assumed the command of the rebel garrison and troops near
Fort Donelson.
Brigadier-General Simon B. Bucknor, who commands a brigade at
Fort Donelson, in a native of
Kentucky.
It seldom falls to the lot of a journalist to mention the name of a man who is surrounded with more infamy, treachery, and falsehood than
Simon.
B. Buckner, of
Kentucky.
Since the inauguration of civil strife in
Kentucky he has openly commanded the chief force of the rebels in
Southern Kentucky.
A lawyer by profession, he has hitherto been deemed a man of fair ability.
Neither at the bar nor upon the stump has he ever exhibited any particular brightness of power." Ere this civil war broke out he was a prominent member of the Knights, of the
Golden Circle — indeed, the most prominent in
Kentucky.
There seems new to exist but little doubt that, while the object of those Knights was professedly an acquisition of territory upon our South western frontier their real purpose was to consolidate and crystalize an organization for the disruption of the
Union, and the establishment of a great Southern slave empire.
This ultimate purpose was not understood by the
canaille of the Order, only the chosen and
class thereof, the members of the inner circle, who had gone beyond the outer
penetrates of the circle far enough to regard with contempt the blind devotees worshipping in the vestibule.
General Buckner was one of the mystic
sacerdotal ministering at the nigher altars.
With a full view to the and he has attempted to reach, he became
Adjutant General of the
State.
Under an ingeniously devised law, suggested by the subtly perverse quickness of John.
C. Brookinridge, there was a military board established, for the ostensible purpose of organizing and arming the militia of the
State.
None but inside members of the
Golden Circle became members, of it.
General Buckner was
de facto. its head.
A graduate of
West Point, long in the regular service, twice breveted for gallant conduct in
Mexico, his qualifications as an officer and his personal courage are not to be reasonably doubted.
He is a young man, of about 37 years of age, and, we regret to say, a native of
Kentucky.
A little above the medium height, his spareness gives to his figure an appearance of tailness which does not belong to it, and lends to it a commanding appearance.
In his manners he partly affects ascertain suavity and urbanity.
His influence is considerable with the inexperienced, and when he is disposed his style is especially charming to untutored men. His lack of honesty is patent to the country, and he stands before it divested of all the attributes of honor, truth, and integrity, which honest men so tenaciously cling to. In July last he visited
Washington city, represented himself there as loyal, ingratiated himself into
General Scott's confidence, obtained permission to inspect all the fortifications in that vicinity, made
the Hon. Robert Mallory and others believe that he wished to take service in the army of the United States, returned to
Louisville, and remained for a brief period without giving the slightest public indication that he contemplated any disloyal movement; and yet, at the very time, during that very sojourn there, he held secret conferences with the conspirators there, and designated a military commander to head them in the outbreak that had been agreed on.
Kentucky expected much from him, and, like a true mother, pushed and aided her son on to many successes and benefits; but he turned traitor to her soil.
Clarksville is a thriving post village in
Tennessee, and is the capital of
Montgomery county.
It is located on the right or north side of the
Cumberland river, at the point where the
Red river empties itself into the former stream.
It is situated at about fifty miles to the northwest of
Nashville, the capital of the
State.
In its prosperous days it had a population of between three and five thousand persons, and had considerable trade.
There were at one time two good banks established in the place, and four or five newspaper offices.
On the whole, previous to the breaking out of the rebellion, it gave great promise of being a rising place; but at the present time it appears to have greatly retrograded.
Defences, Natural and artificial.
In the neighborhood of
Clarksville, and for some distance farther up the river, are a number of bluffs, some of which are precipitous and difficult of access.
These have been made use of for the purpose of fortification; and extensive and formidable rebel works have been in the course of construction there forward or three months. A large number of heavy guns are reported to have been shipped to this point, for the purpose, so it was said, of protecting the railroad bridge and the communication with the capital of the
State.
It is also reported that 10,000 men left
Bowling Green two or three weeks since to reinforce this point; and further, that
Gen. Hardee was in command of the post.
The railroad from
Louisville via
Bowling Green and
Russellville, passes through the village, and it crosses the
Cumberland at this point by a valuable bridge.
What troops may reformaly have been at there two last named places have doubtless, are this, been sent forward to
Clarksville.
As
Bowling Green is now in the hands of the
Union troops, a read in now open to
Clarksville along the railroad, by which it is not at all unlikely our troops may march from
Gen. Buell's department upon the rebel rear at that place.
Other important Localities.
Eleven miles south of
Bowling Green, along the railroad track, is a small station known by the name of
Woodburn.
At this point the brigades of
Breckinridge and Hind, man was located on Thursday last, but have office been reported as having gone to
Russellville.
They have doubtless before this marched to
Nashville.
It is believed, however, that no rebel forces exist in
Kentucky east of the direct road from
Bowling Green via
Franklin to
Nashville.
This
Franklin to nine miles south of
Woodburn, and twenty miles from
Bowling Green.
It is situated on the railroad as is shown by the may. It is a small post village, and the capital of
Simpson county.
It is located on
Drake's creek, and contains two churches and about four hundred inhabitants.
Nearly due east of
Nashville is the city of
Knoxville, upon which point
Gen. Thomas is advancing, in a southerly direction, by the route from
Somerset,
Monticello, and Cumberland Cap. We mention the duct but do not deem it politic to point out the reads finally, being used as the linen of march.
It is reported that
General Crittenden is trying to organize another army at
Carthage on the bank of the
Cumberland.
This is supposed to be the only rebel force on the line from
General Health's department to
Nashville.
Carthage is a post village of
Smith county, Tennessee, and is located opposite the
South of liquor Fork.
It is fifty miles by
Smith from
Nashville, in an several direction and bad at one time an academy and couples two churches.
As this river will doubtless become one of there like and circuitous in its course.
It rices in the
Cumberland Mountains of
Kentucky, near the southeastern portion of the
State, and flowing westward and southward past.
, and with Springs, the recent command defeat of
Zollicoffer, enter,
Tennessee between
Jackson, and
Overton, counties.
After making an extensive circuit through Middle, Tennessee, praying in its course
Carthage and the city of
Nashville, it turns towards the northwest, and again enters
Kentucky about ten miles to the east of the
Tennessee river.
Between
Nashville and this point it passes
Clarksville and
Dover — the former — the point to which
Commodore Foote has gone with his fleet and the latter the scene of the recent battle and capture of
Fort Donelson.
Its course about entering the
State of Kentucky, is nearly parallel with that of the
Tennessee river until it enters the
Ohio at
Smithland.
The whole length of the river is estimated at about six hundred miles. During high water large steamboats ascend to
Nashville, and small boats about three hundred miles further.
About fourteen miles from
Williamsburg, in Kentucky, near the
Cumberland Mountains, the river has a vertical fall of sixty feet. The area claimed by thin river is estimated at seventeen thousand square miles.
