BRAGG AND KIRBY SMITH INVADE KENTUCKY. 4 218 tities of plunder were thus obtained, | advance into Maryland, the increaswhile property of much greater value ing scarcity of food was the more was destroyed; and enough recruits immediate, while fond expectations were doubtless gathered to offset the of a general rising in support of the waste of war. Still, military opera- Confederate cause, afforded the retions, without a base and without moter incitement to this step. Louisregular supplies, seldom produce sub- ville, with its immense resources, stantial, enduring results; and the was the immediate object of this Confederate guerrillas either soon gigantic raid, though Cincinnati was abandoned Kentucky or concealed thought to be also within its purthemselves and lay quiet therein. view. Crossing the Tennessee at The leaders, with most of their fol- Harrison, a few miles above Chattalowers, retired into Tennessee, where nooga, with 36 regiments of infanthey captured Clarksville' and pos- try, 5 of cavalry, and 40 guns, Bragg sessed themselves of ample military traversed the rugged mountain ridges stores; and a sharp cavalry fight at which hem in the Sequatchie ValGallatin resulted in a Union defeat, ley, passing through Dunlap,' Pikewith a loss of 30 killed, 50 wounded, ville, Crossville,' masking his moveand 75 prisoners. ment by a feint with cavalry on McMinnville, but rapidly withdrawing this when its purpose was accom Gen. Buell had left Corinth in June, moving eastward, as if intent on Chattanooga; but Gen. Bragg-plished, and pressing hurriedly northwho had succeeded to the chief com- ward, to Kentucky; which he enmand of the Rebels confronting him tered on the 5th. -had thereupon moved more rapidly, on parallel roads, from Tupelo, Miss., through northern Alabama and Georgia, to Chattanooga, which he reached ahead of Buell's vanBragg's army had been swelled by conscription to 45,000 men, organized in three corps, under Hardee, Bishop Polk, and Kirby Smith respectively, whereof the last was sent to Knoxville, while the two former sufficed to hold Chattanooga against any effort which Buell was likely to make. guard. some McClellan's Richmond campaign having proved abortive, while conscription had largely replenished the Rebel ranks, Bragg was impelled to try a bold stroke for the recovery of Tennessee and the 'liberation of Kentucky. As with Lee's kindred Kirby Smith, with his division, from Knoxville, advanced by Jacksonborough across the Cumberland range, through Big Creek Gap, moving as rapidly as possible, with a very light train; his men subsisting mainly on green corn-which is scarce enough in that poor, thinly-peopled region— his hungry, foot-sore, dusty followers buoyed up with the assurance of plenty and comfort ahead. His cavalry advance, 900 strong, under Col. J. S. Scott, moving from Kingston, Tenn., passed through Montgomery and Jamestown, Tenn., and Monticello and Somerset, Ky., to London, where it surprised" and routed a battalion of Union cavalry, inflicting a loss of 30 killed and wounded and 111 prisoners; thence pushing on, making additional captures by the Aug. 22. Aug. 13. 10Aug. 17. 7 Sept. 1. 9 way, to Richmond, Ky.; thence fall- | successfully turned by the Rebel left, ing back to rejoin Smith, who had not yet come up. The Cumberland Mountains are a broad range of table-land, some 2,000 feet in average height, descending sharply to the upper waters of the Tennessee and Cumberland on either hand, and pierced by a single considerable pass-the Cumberland Gap-which had been for some time quietly held by a Union force under Gen. Geo. W. Morgan; who, on learning that he had thus been flanked, blew up his works and commenced" a precipitate race for the Ohio, which he in due time reached, having been constantly harassed; for most of the way, by John Morgan with 700 Rebel cavalry. Moving rapidly northward, Smith found himself confronted" at RICHMOND, Ky., by a green Union force, nearly equal in numbers to his own, under command of Brig.-Gen. M. D. Manson, who immediately pushed forward to engage him, taking position on a range of hills, a mile or two south of the town, which was otherwise indefensible. Here he had a smart skirmish with the Rebel advance, and drove it back; which prompted him to quit his strong position for one still farther advanced, at Rogersville, where his men slept on their arms that night. Next morning, he advanced half a mile farther, and here engaged Smith's entire command, with no chance of success. His force was quite equal in numbers and in guns to Smith's, but in nothing else. He attempted to flank the Rebel right, but was defeated with loss by Col. Preston Smith's brigade; when his right was "Aug. 17. Gen. T. J. Churchill, and routed in a daring charge; whereupon our whole line gave way and retreated. The Rebel Gen. Pat. Cleburne, afterward so distinguished, was here badly wounded in the face, and succeeded in his command by Col. Smith. Gen. Cruft, with the 95th Ohio, had reached the field just before, and shared in this defeat; but he had three more regiments coming up as our line gave way. Using two of these as a rear-guard, Manson attempted to halt and reform just beyond Rogersville; but soon saw that this would not answer, and again retired to the position wherefrom he had commenced the fight the evening before, and which he ought not to have left. Here, at 123 P. M., he received, just as the battle was recommencing, an order from Gen. Nelson, who was coming up, to retreat on Lancaster, if menaced by the enemy in forcean order which came entirely too late: the exultant Rebels being close upon him, and opening fire along their whole line within five minutes afterward. The fight beyond Rogersville had been maintained through three hours; here an hour sufficed to end it. Again our right was charged and routed, compelling a general retreat; and again-having been driven back to his camp-Manson was trying to rëform and make head, when, Gen. Nelson having reached the ground, the command was turned over to him, and another stand made near the town and cemetery, which was converted into a total rout in less than half an hour; Gen. Nelson being here wounded, as Cols. Link, Aug. 29. 12 KIRBY SMITH ROUTS MANSON AT RICHMOND, KY. 215 " 12th Indiana, McMillan, 95th Ohio, | fantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 15 guns? and other valuable officers, had al--which they don't. He estimates ready been. Lt.-Col. Topping and his loss at 200 killed, 700 wounded, Maj. Conkling, 71st Indiana, had been killed. The rout was now total and complete; and, to make the most of it, Smith had, hours before, sent Scott, with his cavalry, around to our rear, with instructions to prepare for and intercept the expected fugitives. Manson, who had resumed command when Nelson fell, had formed a new rear-guard, which was keeping the Rebel pursuit within bounds; when, four miles from Richmond, the fleeing rabble were halted by a body of Rebel horse. Manson, hurrying up, attempted to form a vanguard; but only 100 responded to his call, who were speedily cut up by a fire from a force of Rebels hidden in a cornfield on the left of the road, whereby Lt. Col. Wolfe and 41 others were killed or wounded. The road was here choked with wounded horses and other débris of a shattered army; it was and 2,000 prisoners. Kirby Smith, on the contrary, makes our force fully 10,000-his own but 5,000; and states his total loss at 400, and ours at 1,000 killed and wounded, 5,000 prisoners, 9 guns, 10,000 small arms, and large spoil of munitions and provisions. It is quite probable that his story, though exaggerated, is nearer the truth than Manson's. growing dusk (7 P. M.), and the remains of our thoroughly beaten force scattered through the fields; every one attempting to save himself as he could. Gen. Manson, with other officers, attempting escape by flight, was fired on by a squadron of Scott's cavalry; his horse, mortally wounded, fell on him, injuring him severely, and he was taken prisoner; as were many if not most of his compatriots in dis aster. Smith set forward directly" for Lexington, which he entered in triumph three days afterward, amid the frantic acclamations of the numerous Rebel sympathizers of that intensely pro-Slavery region. He moved on through Paris to Cynthiana, within striking distance of either Cincinnati or Louisville, which seemed for a few days to lie at his mercy; though considerable numbers, mainly of militia and very green volunteers, had been hastily gathered for the defense of the former, and were busily employed in erecting defenses covering the Kentucky approaches to that city, at some distance back from the Ohio. Gen. Bragg had now completely flanked Buell's left, and passed behind him, without a struggle and without loss, keeping well eastward of Nashville, and advancing by Carthage, Tenn., and Glasgow, Ky.; first striking the Louisville and Nashville Railroad-which was our main line of supply and rëenforcement—after he entered Kentucky." His advance, under Gen. J. R. Chalmers, first encountered" a considerable force at MUNFORDSVILLE, where the railroad crosses Green river, and where Col. Sept. 5. Sept. 13. Manson's report says that his entire force this day "did not exceed 6,500," of whom not over 2,500 were engaged at once-a sad commentary on his generalship-and he adds: "The enemy say they had 12,000 in13 Sept. 1. J. T. Wilder, with about 2,100 men, had assumed command five days before, by order of Gen. J. T. Boyle, commanding in Kentucky, and had hastily thrown up fortifications, with intent to dispute the passage of the river. Chalmers had already sent a mounted force to the north of Munfordsville, by which a first demand for surrender was made at 8 The demand being repelled, an assault was made at daylight next morning, but speedily repulsed with loss. At 9 A. M., Wilder was rëenforced by six companies of the 50th Indiana, Col. C. L. Dunham, who, being his senior, after hesitating, assumed command; but was superseded soon afterward by an order from Boyle, and Wilder restored. P. M. up The Rebels, after their first repulse, kept mainly out of sight, knowing that their ultimate success was inevitable, and allowed two more regiments and six guns to make their way into the town; assured that all who were there would soon fall into their hands. At length, at 94 A. M. on Tuesday," Bragg, having brought his main body and surrounded the place with not less than 25,000 men, renewed the attack. Advancing cautiously, keeping his men well covered, but crowding up on the weak and exposed points of our defenses in such numbers as absolutely to compel the gradual contraction of our lines, he, about sunset, sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender. As Buell was not at hand, nor likely to be, and as there was no hope of relief from any quarter, and no adequate reason for sacrificing the lives of his men, Wilder, at 2 A. M. next day," after the fullest consultation Sept. 16. with his officers, surrendered; being allowed to march out with drums beating and colors flying, take four days' rations, and set forth immediately, under parole, for Louisville. He says in his report that his entire loss was 37 killed and wounded, "while the enemy admit a loss of 714 on Sunday alone." Bragg, on the contrary, says, "Our [Rebel] loss was about 50 killed and wounded;" and claims 4,000 prisoners and as many muskets, beside guns and munitions. Bragg now issued the following address to the people of Kentucky, which, read backward, will indicate the objects and motives of his invasion: GLASGOW, KY., Sept. 18, 1862. "KENTUCKIANS: I have entered your State with the Confederate Army of the West, and offer you an opportunity to free yourselves from the tyranny of a despotic ruler. We come, not as conquerors or despoilers, but to restore to you the liberties of which you have been deprived by a cruel and relentless foe. We come to guarantee to all the sanctity of their homes and altars; to punish with a rod of iron the despoilers of your peace, and to avenge the cowardly insults to your women. With all non-combatants, the past shall be forgotten. Needful supplies must be had for my army; but they shall be paid for at fair and remunerating prices. แ Believing that the heart of Kentucky is with us in our great struggle for Constitutional Freedom, we have transferred from our own soil to yours, not a band of marauders, but a powerful and well-disciplined army. Your gallant Buckner leads the van. Marshall is on the right; while Breckinridge, dear to us as to you, is advancing with Kentucky's valiant sons, to receive the honor and applause due to their heroism. The strong hands which in part have sent Shiloh down to history, and the nerved arms which have kept at bay from our own homes the boastful army of the enemy, are here to assist, to sustain, to liberate you. Will you remain indifferent to our call? or will you not rather vindicate the fair fame of your once free and envied State? We believe that you will; and that the memory Sept. 17. 17 BUELL ADVANCES AGAINST BRAGG. 217 ly installed Governor had to flee from their approach.' of your gallant dead who fell at Shiloh, choose rather to come within the folds of ing hands to secure you in your heritage of liberty. "Women of Kentucky! your persecutions and heroic bearing have reached our ear. Banish henceforth, forever, from your minds the fear of loathsome prisons or insulting visitations. Let your enthusiasm have free rein. Buckle on the armor of your kindred, your husbands, sons, and brothers, and scoff with shame him who would prove recreant in his duty to you, his country, and his God. แ BRAXTON BRAGG, Gen. Buell, after leaving Nashstrongly garrisoned, had marched directly for Louisville, 170 miles; where his army arrived between the 25th and 29th. It had by this time been swelled by rëenforcements, mainly raw, to nearly 100,000 men; but it was not, in his judgment, yet in condition to fight Bragg's far inferior numbers. Hence, time was taken to reorganize and supply it; while the Rebel cavalry galloped at will over the plenteous central districts of the State, collecting large quantities of cattle and hogs not only, but of serviceable fabrics and other manufactures as well. Buell's delays, synchronizing with McClellan's lost, were so distasteful at Washington, that an order relieving him from command was issued; but its execution was suspended on the emphatic remonstrance of his subordinate commanders. The hint being a pretty strong one, Buell set his face toward the enemy;" moving in five columns: his left on Frankfort, his right on Shepardsville, intending to concentrate on Bardstown, where Bragg, with his main body, was supposed to be; skirmishing by the way with small parties of Rebel cavalry and artillery. Thus advancing steadily, though not rapidly, he passed through Bardstown, and thence to Springfield," 62 miles from Louisville; Bragg slowly retreating before him, harassing rather than resisting "his advance, so as to gain time for the escape of his now immense trains, consisting mainly of captured Federal army wagons, heavily laden with the spoils of Kentucky. Here Buell 20 Oct. 4. 21 Sept. 15. 22 Oct. 1. 23 Oct. 6. "Gen. Commanding." It was not the fault of the General commanding that his army must necessarily have subsisted on the region of Kentucky it traversed; but, when it is considered that he swept off in his retreat all the abundant horses and cattle that came within his reach, with whatever else he could carry, and that he did not and could not pay for any thing, it seems that the mockery of his promise of payment might wisely have been forborne. 18 From Munfordsville, Bragg continued his unresisted march northward, through Bardstown, to Frankfort, the State capital, where Smith had preceded him, and where Richard Hawes," a weak old man, was inaugurated" "Provisional Governor of Kentucky." "This ceremony, says Pollard, "was scarcely more than a pretentious farce: hardly was it completed when the Yankees threatened Frankfort; and the new 18 Oct 1. 19 Formerly a member of Congress. |