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Sketches of "captured rebel Generals."

The New York Herald gives the following biographical sketches of the ‘"Rebel Generals captured at Fort Donelson;"’


Gen Albert Sidney Johnston.

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


Holds General Old Son Jefferson

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.


Brig.- Gen. Simon B Buckner.

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.


Skelton of Clarksville.

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.


Patch of the Cumberland river.

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.

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