GENERAL BRAGG’S KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN IN 1862.
BY BAXTER SMITH.
In June, 1862, after the retreat of the Confederate army from Corinth
to Tupelo, Miss., in view of important movements to the northward
had in mind by the Confederate authorities, it was deemed wise by
General Bragg, who had succeeded to the chief command of the Army of
Mississippi, to transfer Col. N. B. Forrest to Gen. E. Kirby Smith’s
Department of East Tennessee, in order that he might operate on
Buell’s line of communication with Nashville and Louisville, as
well as Cincinnati.
At Tupelo the army was thoroughly reorganized by that master hand,
Gen. Braxton Bragg, for an aggressive campaign into and through
the State of Kentucky--one column under Gen. E. Kirby Smith, whose
objective was Cincinnati, and one column under General Bragg himself,
his objective being Louisville, Ky. While the Army of Mississippi lay
at Tupelo, Miss., it was reorganized, drilled, and placed in a high
degree of efficiency preparatory to its northward movement, which,
when made, would necessarily draw General Buell from his base, then
in North Alabama.
Pursuant to General Bragg’s order, Colonel Forrest proceeded to
Chattanooga, and from thence to the vicinity of McMinnville, where he
organized his first brigade, consisting of about 1,300 men. Leaving
Colonel Forrest at Chattanooga, I reported at Knoxville to Gen.
E. Kirby Smith, who, when my credentials were presented, remarked
that I was the man he was looking for. He at once commissioned me
as major of cavalry and ordered me to repair to Loudon and take
command of a battalion stationed there and join Colonel Forrest
near McMinnville, which I did at once. After organizing the brigade
and putting it in the best state of efficiency that could be done
with raw troops, many of whom were badly mounted and armed and many
of whom had never been under fire, the commanding officer called a
council of war to determine what movement should be first made by the
new brigade. Before this time efficient and trustworthy scouts had
been dispatched to the vicinity of various important points along
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, it being deemed important to
inflict as much damage as possible to that road, which was the main
line of communication of Buell in his expected retreat to Nashville
and thence to Louisville. There were many important points along
that road that were garrisoned, Murfreesboro, a city of from three
to five thousand inhabitants, being regarded as the most formidable.
A detailed account of the engagement there was made by me many years
ago, and is as follows:
Colonel Forrest left Tupelo early in June, 1862, with a small staff,
for the scenes of his new operations. Proceeding across the country
to Knoxville, he reported to General Smith, who assigned him to the
command of a brigade of cavalry, the various commands of which were
ordered to report at a place known as Rock Martins, about seven miles
east of McMinnville. There Forrest’s first brigade was formed, and
consisted of the Eighth Texas (Terry’s Rangers) Regiment, commanded
by Col. John A. Wharton; the Second Georgia Regiment, commanded
by Col. J. K. Lawton; the First Georgia Battalion, commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel Morrison; and a battalion consisting of four
companies of Tennessee cavalry and a squadron of Kentuckians formerly
of Helm’s Regiment, all placed under the command of Maj. (afterwards
Colonel) Baxter Smith. The entire effective force, armed, numbered
about 1,300 men, all cavalry, many of whom had seen but little
service, and what they would accomplish under their new leader had
to be determined by testing them.
Reliable scouts were sent out along the railroad as far as and
beyond Murfreesboro, and information of an important character was
obtained, particularly of the situation at Murfreesboro. It was found
that Murfreesboro was garrisoned by a force of about 2,000 men--two
regiments of infantry, a battalion of cavalry, four new field pieces
of artillery, and a company of 125 men.
With this information at hand, Forrest held perhaps his first council
of war, where all the news brought in by scouts was laid before the
council. All the field officers were present, as well as several
citizens of distinction who were volunteer aides on Forrest’s
staff, among the number being Colonel Saunders; Hon. Andrew Ewing,
a distinguished lawyer of Nashville; and F. C. Dunnington, former
editor of the Nashville _Union_. As a result of the conference,
at which it was evident that Forrest was the master spirit, it was
determined to make a descent on Murfreesboro. The command was put in
motion late on Saturday, July 12, with orders to “keep well closed
up” and to make Murfreesboro by daylight the next morning, a distance
of forty miles. After it had been determined to make a descent on
Murfreesboro, Forrest had his brigade drawn up and made a stirring
appeal to the officers and men to sustain him in the effort he was
about to undertake. He told them that the next day (July 13) would be
the anniversary of his birth and that he would like to celebrate it
at Murfreesboro, near his birthplace, in a becoming manner. All of
the commands promised that they would contribute what they could to
the felicitation of the occasion. To Capt. Edwin Arnold, afterwards
sheriff of Rutherford County, Colonel Forrest was indebted for much
information connected with the expedition.
The command moved at a rapid rate, reaching Woodbury about midnight,
where the whole population of the town seemed to be on the streets.
The ladies of the town gathered about Colonel Forrest and related to
him and his command the events of the evening before, when a large
detachment of Federal soldiers had swooped down upon the town and had
carried away almost every man, young and old, in the town, and had
rushed them off to prison in Murfreesboro. These ladies appealed to
Colonel Forrest in the most moving tones to rescue their husbands,
fathers, and brothers and restore them to their homes, which he
promised them he would do before sunset the next day, a promise that
he literally fulfilled. Richard Cœur de Lion never made brighter
resolve to rescue the holy sepulcher from the infidel when he donned
his armor and went forth to battle with the Saracens than did Forrest
on this occasion.
After partaking of a bountiful repast for men and horses, the
movement was rapidly resumed, Murfreesboro being still some eighteen
or twenty miles distant. Reaching the vicinity of the city in the
gray dawn of the morning, the scouts that had been sent forward
reported that the pickets were stationed a short distance ahead. A
small detachment was sent forward by Colonel Wharton, who was in the
advance, and the pickets were captured, leaving an unobstructed road
into the city. About this time other scouts reported that they had
just returned from the city and had passed near all the encampments,
that all was quiet and no notice of the impending danger seemed to
have been given, and that they appeared not to apprehend it. Among
the scouts performing this dangerous and important service were
Capt. Fred James, a gallant soldier of Bragg’s army and a native of
Murfreesboro, who afterwards fell in sight of his home at the battle
of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. Another was Capt. J. W. Nichol,
who is happily spared to us. He afterwards, until the close of the
war, commanded Company G (chiefly Rutherford and Cannon County men)
in Col. Baxter Smith’s Fourth Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. No truer
or better soldier ever went forth to battle. He was wounded so often
that it is doubtful if he knows himself how often, the last wound
having been received at Bentonville, N. C.
Everything being ready, dispositions were made for the attack,
the expectation being to surprise the garrison. It was desired to
attack the enemy at all points simultaneously. The first force to be
encountered was the Ninth Michigan Infantry and a squadron of cavalry
located on the Liberty Pike. The order was to form fours, the Eighth
Texas to charge into the encampment in columns of platoons, which was
executed in handsome style, and very shortly they were in the midst
of the Federal encampment. The soldiers, for the most part, were in
their tents enjoying their Sunday morning sleep; but they were very
soon rallied and put up a sharp fight from behind wagons or any other
protection they could find, many of them being undressed. In the
first onset Colonel Wharton was wounded, as well as Colonel Duffield,
the Federal commander. In the effort to rally his men, Colonel
Wharton was at a disadvantage in that four of his rear companies,
mistaking the orders, followed the lead of Colonel Morrison, who
charged into the public square of the city, in the center of which
stood the courthouse, which was garrisoned. After a sharp contest,
the Eighth Texas withdrew on the McMinnville Road with a large number
of prisoners, there being still a considerable portion of the Ninth
Michigan in their encampment, which afterwards surrendered. Maj.
Baxter Smith was ordered to charge the cavalry encampment, somewhat
detached from the infantry, which was done. They were captured just
as they were preparing to mount their horses.
While these movements were progressing, Colonel Morrison was ordered
to take his battalion and charge upon the courthouse, which he did,
taking by mistake four companies of the Eighth Texas, as already
stated, and surrounding the courthouse, which was garrisoned by one
company of the Ninth Michigan. This garrison was so well protected
that they could not be reached by the Confederates from the outside,
but the latter were picked off in every direction as they surrounded
the courthouse. Among many others who fell here was the accomplished
Colonel Saunders, of the staff, who was shot, the ball passing
entirely through his body and one lung. After lingering long, he
happily recovered.
There was much firing from houses and behind fences in different
parts of the city where Federal soldiers were billeted or concealed
and were practically in ambush. In this exigency Colonel Forrest came
upon the scene, and the men hastily procured axes. The Texans and
Georgians, led by Forrest, sprang forward in front of the courthouse,
while Morrison brought up his men to the rear or west side. The doors
were quickly battered down, and the Confederates swarmed inside and
captured the garrison. It was found that the courthouse and jail were
filled with citizens (about one hundred and fifty) of the town and
surrounding country, including those brought in from Woodbury the
day before. These persons had been arrested and thrown into prison
at the instance, mainly, of informers on various pretexts. Six of the
number, some being men of prominence, were at the time under sentence
of death, or, as expressed by a newspaper correspondent from there
just before this time, were to “expiate their crimes on the gallows.”
Among this number was Judge Richardson, now an honored member of
Congress from the Huntsville (Ala.) district.
By the time the courthouse was opened and there was a general
delivery at the jail, whose doors were also forced open, the city
seemed alive with people, including many of the families and friends
of the captives, and the shouting and rejoicing that went up on that
occasion will probably never be equaled in that community again. The
cavalry and garrison at the courthouse had surrendered, but there was
formidable work yet to be accomplished.
The Third Minnesota Regiment of infantry was stationed northwest of
the city, near Stones River, and at a point near by were four guns
that had been firing most of the day when opportunity offered. It
was now past noon. Forrest made his disposition to attack the Federal
forces in this quarter. Accordingly, he made a rapid detour to the
right at the head of Major Smith’s battalion and the Georgia troops
and also a small company of twenty men under P. F. Anderson. Seeing
the Confederates approaching, the Federals, then about five hundred
yards south of their camp, halted and formed line of battle, there
being some nine companies of infantry and four pieces of artillery.
Directing the Georgians to confront and menace the enemy and engage
with skirmishers, taking Major Smith with his battalion, which
included the Kentuckians and three companies of Morrison’s Georgians
under Major Harper, Forrest pushed rapidly around to the right and
rear of the encampment, which proved to be still occupied by about
one hundred men posted behind a strong barricade of wagons and some
large limestone ledges which afforded excellent protection. He
therefore “ordered a charge, which was promptly and handsomely made,
Majors Smith and Harper leading their men. They were met, however,
with a stubborn, brave defense. Twice, indeed, the Confederates were
repulsed. But Forrest, drawing his men up for a third effort, made
a brief appeal to their manhood; and, putting himself at the head of
the column, the charge was again ordered, this time with success. The
encampment was penetrated, and the greater part of the Federals was
either killed or captured.”
The above in quotation marks is taken from Forrest’s account of this
part of the affair. An incident occurred at this point which has been
grossly misrepresented, to Forrest’s prejudice. While passing through
the encampment he was fired at several times by a negro, who suddenly
emerged from one of the tents. Forrest returned the fire and killed
him, and did exactly what he ought to have done. This came under the
personal observation of the writer.
The Georgians that had been left to confront the main body of the
enemy, hearing the continued struggle in the encampment and mistaking
it for an attack in the rear of the Federal force that they were
confronting, charged in front, broke their line, and swept to the
rear. Finding that the Federals quickly reformed their sundered
line and held their ground firmly on an elevated ridge, from which
position it was manifest that they would be hard to dislodge, Forrest
thereupon promptly changed his plan of operation with that fertility
of resource so characteristic of him. Placing Major Harper with his
three companies so as to cut off retreat toward Nashville, disposing
of Morrison’s other four companies as skirmishers in front to prevent
movement on Murfreesboro, and sending off the prisoners just taken on
the McMinnville road, with munitions captured, Forrest led Lawton’s
regiment and Smith’s battalion rapidly back to Murfreesboro, sending
a staff officer at the same time for the Eighth Texas, which he found
had gone about four miles out on the McMinnville Road.
It was now about one o’clock, and as yet little of a decisive
character had been accomplished, while among many of his officers
there was manifest want of confidence in the final success in
the movement. Some officers, indeed, urged Colonel Forrest to be
contented with what had been accomplished. But, instead of heeding
this advice, Forrest dismounted Major Smith’s battalion and threw
him forward with directions to engage in a skirmish with the Federal
force that was still occupying the encampment of the Ninth Michigan.
Lieutenant Colonel Hood, of the Second Georgia, at the same time was
ordered to lead that regiment to a point to the left of the Federal
position and prepare for a charge dismounted, while Colonel Lawton
was detailed to write a demand for the enemy’s immediate surrender.
All the while, as the report of Forrest shows, “Smith and his men
were maintaining a brisk skirmish.” Just as the Confederate demand
was presented, Wharton’s regiment came opportunely in view. The
effect was most fortunate. Without further parley, and much to the
surprise of many of the Confederate officers, the surrender was at
once made of the Michigan regiment. This accomplished, detachments
were made which collected the large wagon train filled with supplies
most necessary, destroying what could not be carried off.
Colonel Forrest, with no loss of time, sent his adjutant, Major
Strange, to the beleaguered Minnesota regiment, demanding its
surrender. The colonel of the regiment, Lester, asked to be allowed
to interview Colonel Duffield, of the Ninth Michigan, who was wounded
and was a prisoner at the Maney house, near where the Ninth Michigan
was encamped. The interview was accorded; but Colonel Lester asked
an hour’s delay to confer with his officers, and was given thirty
minutes, at the end of which time Forrest ostentatiously displayed
his troops along the path that Colonel Lester was led in going and
returning from his interview with Colonel Duffield, so as to make
him believe that his strength was greater than it was. The object was
accomplished, and just before night of that long summer day the last
of the Federal forces at Murfreesboro capitulated.
This last surrender embraced the artillery. On account of the
proximity of the large Federal forces at other points, Colonel
Forrest had everything destroyed that could not be taken away,
and by six o’clock his brigade was in motion for McMinnville.
The result of this affair was the capture of some 1,765 prisoners,
including Brigadier General Crittenden, commanding the post, 600 head
of horses and mules, forty or fifty wagons, five or six ambulances,
four pieces of artillery, and 1,200 stands of arms. A Federal writer
from Murfreesboro estimated their loss in property and munitions at
one million dollars. In addition to the prisoners captured and taken,
about one hundred stragglers came in the next day, and were paroled
by Colonel Saunders, desperately wounded as he was.
After the troops and prisoners (together with the captured property)
were put in motion on the McMinnville Road, Maj. Baxter Smith was
ordered to proceed along the line of the railroad as far southward
as Christiana and destroy the bridges, then to return to Murfreesboro
and destroy the bridges across Stones River. This order was executed,
resulting in the destruction of the bridges and the capture of
small garrison guarding a bridge some five miles from the city.
The last of these orders was executed about midnight Sunday night,
and Murfreesboro was unoccupied by soldiers of either army, except
the wounded, who could not be carried away.
After Forrest’s brilliant engagement at Murfreesboro (which made him
a brigadier general), he made proper disposition of his prisoners.
After a rest of a day or two, the command, including my battalion, to
which, previous to the battle, were attached two splendid companies
of Kentuckians commanded by Captains Taylor and Waltham, was put
in motion toward Lebanon, some fifty miles distant, at which point
it was reported that a Federal force of some five hundred men were
stationed. Marching day and might, Lebanon was reached about dawn
July 20, to find that the enemy had heard of our approach in time
to escape. No more hospitable treatment could have been accorded
the soldiers than was given by the splendid citizenship of this old,
historic town. The noble women of the town vied with each other in
superb entertainment.
On the next day the command was moved in the direction of Nashville,
thirty miles distant, then strongly fortified and garrisoned by a
large Federal force under command of General Negley, as well as the
redoubtable Military Governor, Andrew Johnson. To lend inspiration
to the troops, a party of irrepressible young women with escorts
appeared on the scene near the Hermitage, twelve miles from
Nashville, to celebrate the anniversary of the battle of Bull Run,
being well supplied with edibles for their picnic, to which the
soldiers were invited, and many spent an enjoyable hour.
At a point on Stones River about seven miles from Nashville a picket
force was captured, as well as a small picket force near the lunatic
asylum, driving the balance into the city. Simultaneously with these
operations a small Confederate force probably under Duvall McNairy,
without any concert of action with Forrest’s command, dashed on the
Federal pickets and drove them in on the Franklin Road, producing
the belief in the city that it was surrounded and threatened with a
serious assault. The long roll was called, and general preparations
were made in the city to resist the assault.
Pushing forward to Mill Creek, four miles from the city, which was
spanned by a bridge, we assaulted the small force which guarded the
bridge, capturing some twenty prisoners and destroying the bridge.
Antioch, about one mile distant, was next attacked. We captured
some thirty-five prisoners, destroyed the depot, stores, and freight
cars, and burned the bridges. Part of the command was here detached
and moved in the direction of Murfreesboro, destroying a bridge,
capturing fifteen more prisoners, and killing and wounding about
as many, without sustaining any loss.
After Forrest’s capture of Murfreesboro, General Nelson was sent
out from Nashville with an infantry force of about 3,500 men, which
vainly tried to come up with Forrest, marching and countermarching,
finally landing at Murfreesboro, giving up the chase in disgust.
General Forrest then moved to McMinnville and halted for rest and
observation of the enemy’s movements till August 10, when the main
army under General Bragg moved, from which point the command, being
threatened with a superior force, fell back to Sparta. Meantime
General Bragg had established his headquarters at Chattanooga, where
he was concentrating the Army of Mississippi for his contemplated
campaign into Kentucky.
General Forrest next moved from Sparta to Woodbury, to the enemy’s
rear, threatening Murfreesboro. From there the command moved up the
railroad, destroying all the bridges and tearing up the railroad
track near McMinnville.
Near Altamont the Federals had almost surrounded Forrest’s small
force; but by superior strategy he escaped, leading his brigade
back to Sparta, which place the advance of General Bragg’s army
had already reached. This was early in September, 1862. After being
reënforced by four companies of cavalry of his old regiment and
a section of artillery, Forrest was assigned the duty of guarding
General Bragg’s left flank and rear, he being now in full movement
for Kentucky.
My command moved along the line of the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad practically all the way from near Nashville to within about
six miles of Louisville, destroying bridges and tearing up the
track. After reaching Louisville, Forrest was ordered to report to
General Polk. Under Polk’s orders we moved to Munfordville in time to
prevent the escape of a large force of infantry (3,000 or 4,000 men)
and artillery in the fort at that point. This movement of General
Forrest compelled them to return to their fortifications, which soon
afterwards were assailed by the Confederate infantry and artillery
and compelled to surrender. I rode into the fort with the officers
who received the capitulation. The whole of Bragg’s army came up in
the meantime, and it was the general opinion that he ought to give
battle to General Buell at that place, it being in his direct line
of march to Louisville, and for many other reasons. But he thought
differently and turned aside toward Bardstown. About the 25th of
September General Forrest was ordered to turn his brigade over to
Col. John A. Wharton, his senior colonel, of the Eighth Texas, and
proceed at once to Murfreesboro to take command of the troops that
might be raised in Middle Tennessee.
A summary of the operations and casualties of the brigade up to that
time showed that its killed and wounded amounted to 200 men. We had
killed and wounded of the enemy fully 350 and captured over 2,000
prisoners of war, including one brigadier general, four or five field
officers, about sixty regimental officers, four pieces of artillery,
two stands of colors, six hundred draft animals, and a large wagon
train.
As the army of invasion under General Bragg entered Kentucky in
the month of September, 1862, it soon became understood that Col.
(afterwards General) Joseph Wheeler had the confidence of the general
commanding in a very eminent degree, and that he would have the chief
direction of the movements of the cavalry arm of General Bragg’s army
in Kentucky, the arm of service with which I was connected. This was
particularly so after General (then Colonel) Forrest returned from
Bardstown, Ky., to Murfreesboro, Tenn., he having taken leave of his
brigade at Bardstown, turning it over to Col. John A. Wharton, who
was afterwards justly promoted to the offices of brigadier and major
general.
No army ever marched forward with higher hopes of success and more
eager for the fray than did the Army of Mississippi move into
Kentucky. The forward movement from the swamps of Mississippi,
to which General Beauregard had retreated from Corinth, seemed to
inspire the troops with new life and to have imparted vigor and
health to many a wasting form. Many a pale-faced and emaciated boy
who had been reared in the lap of wealth in the blue-grass regions of
Kentucky and Tennessee took heart when he turned his face homeward,
and resolved that he would not die with the diseases that were so
prevalent in the army at Tupelo at that time. It is too familiar to
all to render it necessary to mention that the movement into Kentucky
was accomplished by flanking General Buell, making a detour by way
of Chattanooga and Knoxville, the right wing of the army, under Gen.
E. K. Smith, moving by way of the latter place, and the remainder
of the army, under the immediate command of General Bragg, by way of
Sparta, Tenn., with a view of striking General Buell’s communications
a short distance north of Nashville and of pushing as far as possible
on that line toward Louisville. General Smith moved first. He made
a most brilliant fight at Richmond, Ky., completely routing the
Federals under General Nelson and capturing 5,000 prisoners. He moved
on to Lexington and pushed on to Covington, opposite Cincinnati.
The first that I saw of Colonel Wheeler on that campaign was near
Franklin, Ky., when he was throwing every obstacle to be conceived in
the way of the enemy’s march to check or hinder his progress. Every
bridge on the road, however small or insignificant, was destroyed,
and the railroad track was torn up all along the way.
The main army of General Bragg moved up the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad as far as Elizabethtown, and there turned off to Bardstown,
to the right. Here the infantry and artillery rested and recruited
some two weeks, while the cavalry, under Colonels Wheeler and
Wharton, pushed on as far as possible on all roads toward Louisville.
I went within six miles of the city, and was there when, in view
of an expected attack on the city, so great a panic prevailed as to
cause a majority of the women and children to be sent across the Ohio
River. When the main army left Bardstown, it moved in the direction
of Perryville, and there it formed a junction with a portion of the
forces of General Smith.
While the army rested at Bardstown the cavalry pushed as far forward
as possible toward the enemy on all roads from that point, and
skirmishes with the Federal cavalry were almost daily occurrences.
General Bragg beat no hasty retreat from Bardstown, but left
leisurely to join General Smith, and intended then to give battle or
retire from Kentucky into Tennessee with the rich spoils accumulated
in this “land of milk and honey.” As the Federal army advanced the
cavalry gradually fell back until we were within a few miles of
Bardstown. As a matter of strategy and as an illustration that some
of our adversaries relied upon tricks and unfair advantages in their
military operations, I will add that, while skirmishing with the
enemy on the Louisville Pike, a flag of truce party appeared in my
front, and I immediately ordered all firing to cease. As I understood
it, the rule was that when either side sent a flag of truce and it
was received it operated as an injunction upon all further movements
of the army, pending the flag of truce. I received the officer with
courtesy, and he presented an official communication addressed to
General Bragg, sent for no other purpose, in my judgment, than to
ascertain the movements of the army and General Bragg’s whereabouts.
I forwarded the document to Colonel Wharton, commanding my brigade,
who forwarded it to General Bragg. The captain in command of the flag
of truce party said that he would wait for an answer, and did wait
probably two hours.
During the time, however, I discovered, what I at first suspected,
that his object and that of the Federal commanding general was not
only to learn the whereabouts of General Bragg, but likewise to
advance their whole army under cover of this flag. I had some men
posted at some haystacks on the left, and there were some houses
near by. The first we discovered of their treachery was that
their skirmishers suddenly dashed forward to these houses, and I
immediately opened fire upon them to prevent their reaching the
houses. At the same time I placed the captain and his cavalry escort
under arrest and informed the officer that I considered the truce
violated, and that they were my prisoners until further orders. They
readily yielded and affected great mortification that there should
have been a change in the position of their army pending the flag
of truce.
After some explanations from a General Smith, who commanded the
Federal brigade in my immediate front, and who came down in person,
the flag of truce party was released, and each side agreed to retire
a certain distance. My orders were to retire to a certain point which
would be the outpost for the present, and I was not to skirmish any
in retiring. Notwithstanding this agreement, I was to witness the
crowning act of perfidy on the part of the enemy, whose cavalry made
a sudden dash in superior force on my left and captured Lieutenant
Scruggs and ten men. I felt the loss of this brave officer and his
trusty men keenly. It was now night and very dark, and nothing
further could be done.
On the next morning Colonel Wharton wrote a very strong note in
reference to this perfidious act, addressed to Major General Thomas,
commanding the division in our front. Maj. Tom Harrison and I were
sent with an escort under a flag of truce to a stone house, probably
five miles from Bardstown, and there delivered the communication. We
were detained there at least two hours, at the expiration of which
time we received the reply of General Thomas that he would consider
the case when he got into camp, and this was the last of the captured
party for some months.
We kept our obligation on this day, as on the day before. The
Federals violated theirs, as on the day before, and, pending this
flag of truce, moved their whole army forward; and while we were
waiting for a reply a cavalry brigade, by making a wide detour, threw
themselves between Colonel Wharton’s brigade and Bardstown, and their
infantry support was only a short distance behind. We had orders from
Colonel Wheeler to encamp in Bardstown that night, and were taking
it leisurely in marching there when a Texas Ranger who had been on
a “bread detail” stumbled upon the Federals between us and Bardstown
and gave the alarm. We were completely “cut off” from the remainder
of the army.
No time was to be lost, and but one course seemed to be left open
to pursue, and that was to make a determined dash at them and sweep
every obstacle from our way. Colonel Wharton did not hesitate to
take this course; and, putting himself at the head of his brigade,
he ordered: “Form fours, and charge!” Soon we were sweeping down
the pike like an avalanche, and presently we came in sight of the
bluecoats forming in a long line covering every approach to the
town. The impetuosity of that charge, however, stimulated by that
wild yell peculiar to the Southerner, was not to be resisted; and
after delivering one or two volleys, which did not check our boys,
their whole line gave way, and they fled from the field in utter
confusion, and their officers were never able to get them to stand
again, although the infantry was almost in supporting distance.
Nothing could have been more handsomely done, and it was accomplished
with slight loss. The number the enemy lost in killed, wounded, and
prisoners was considerable. I cannot state the number. Each of our
boys seemed to have felt it to be a duty to bring away a prisoner
or a horse, and I saw many a hatless cavalryman riding behind the
Southern boys on horses that they had lately claimed as their own.
Capt. Mark Evans, of the Eighth Texas Regiment, was as brave a spirit
as I ever knew. I shall never forget his exploit of unhorsing two
of the enemy in almost an instant and the pleasure that he seemed
to derive from recounting the circumstance to me that night. Poor
fellow! he was destined to fall in the next conflict we had, which
was only a few days later, at Perryville.
From Bardstown we moved on toward Perryville, checking the enemy’s
advance as much as possible. At Perryville it was apparent to General
Bragg that the enemy must be checked in order to give him time to
move off his baggage train and stores, as well as those of General
Smith. I will not attempt a description of that bloody encounter,
lasting from about 2 P.M. until 8 P.M. General Bragg had only about
12,000 or 14,000 men engaged, while the enemy had two large corps,
Gilbert’s and McCook’s. The country is beautifully undulating, and
chain after chain of hills meet the eye, reminding one of the waves
of the ocean. As the Southern forces advanced the Federal troops
receded. The enemy was forced back at least two miles. It was deemed
by General Bragg that the enemy’s advance had been sufficiently
checked, and he commenced his famous retreat from Kentucky.
It was in this retreat that Colonel Wheeler, who had chief command
of the cavalry, particularly distinguished himself. So untiring and
sleepless was Wheeler’s vigilance that General Bragg moved leisurely
out of the State with his trains intact and without the infantry
being called upon. The battle of Perryville was fought on the 8th
of October, 1862; and the pursuit was kept up as far as London,
in Eastern Kentucky, which our rear reached about the last day of
October. It was on this retreat that I became well acquainted with
Colonel Wheeler and found him to be a thorough soldier. As gentle
as a woman and as chivalrous as a cavalier of the olden time, he
possessed the finest courage, and could generally be found with the
rear guard as the enemy advanced, personally seeing that nothing
was omitted necessary to check the enemy’s advance. His habits were
strictly temperate, and he usually lay down to sleep at night with
his men in bivouac.
At London Colonel Wheeler ordered me to take the troops that I was
then in command of as major and proceed on the road which passed
through the Cumberland Mountains at Big Creek Gap, to cover the
right flank of the army and protect it from assault as the main body
passed through Cumberland Gap. I was further ordered to take command
of all stragglers whom I found on the road. After proceeding some
distance, I was informed by scouts that had been thrown forward that
a company of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty bushwhackers
had assembled in Williamsburg, a village of a few hundred inhabitants
situated on the Cumberland River near its source, to resist our
passing and to pick up stragglers. The column was immediately put
in motion, and we went at a trot until we came to the opposite side
of the river. Firing was commenced both on our front and flank; but
it was soon over, for we charged them, and they broke and ran. About
five of the bushwhackers (or home guards, as they styled themselves)
were killed and many wounded.
I shall never forget an incident that occurred there. As we charged
into the town the bushwhackers ran in every direction. Tom Gann, of
Company C of my Regiment (which was formed afterwards), had pursued
one of them beyond the town, when the fellow turned and fired upon
him, killing his horse. Gann fired at the same time, but missed his
aim. Neither of them having another load in reserve, the alternative
was presented of “fighting it out on some other line.” Gann at once
seized a round stone and hurled it against the head of his adversary
with such force as to break his skull, and he was left for dead.
On this route we were attacked as often as four or five times by
bushwhackers. One day we were marching along quietly in column, not
expecting an attack. The advance guard had passed, when suddenly a
volley poured forth from the summit of a hill or mountain into the
head of the column, wounding the man on my right and the horse on
my left. We soon dispersed them, but it was a very annoying sort of
warfare--that of the assassin shooting you in the back and running
off.
After passing through the Gap, I reported to Colonel Wheeler, and
I received from him an order to proceed to Knoxville. Reaching
Knoxville about the 27th of October, it was understood that the army
was moving to Murfreesboro, Tenn., as fast as the transportation
permitted, and that the cavalry would move on leisurely to that
point. At Murfreesboro Colonels Wheeler and Wharton each received
their commissions as brigadier generals. These promotions were very
well deserved, for each had won his spurs in that campaign.
In the early days of November, 1862, after the army had returned
to Middle Tennessee, General Wharton moved out to the front and
established his headquarters at Nolensville, a village in Williamson
County, situated about sixteen miles from Nashville on one of the
main roads leading out of the city. The Federal army then occupied
Nashville with a large force under the command of Major General
Rosecrans, who had superseded General Buell in Kentucky after the
latter had given up the pursuit of General Bragg toward Cumberland
Gap. General Rosecrans had turned and pressed his forces forward
as rapidly as possible to Nashville. He was already in strong force
there when General Bragg reached Murfreesboro. Upon the arrival of
General Bragg at Murfreesboro, he at once set about reorganizing
and recruiting his army. In November, 1862, I was notified through
General Wharton of the organization of my Regiment and that I had
been commissioned colonel of it by the War Department at Richmond.