HARTSVILLE.
WHEN Bragg evacuated Kentucky his weary army found rest at Murfreesboro.
This little city is thirty-two miles southeast of Nashville, situated on
the railroad leading from Nashville to Chattanooga. It had already become
famous by the capture of a Federal brigade there in August, by General N.
B. Forrest, and was destined to become the theatre of one of the greatest
battles of the war.
In the Federal army a great change had taken place. General Buell had been
relieved from command, and General W. Rosecrans, the hero of the battle of
Corinth, appointed in his place. This general assembled his army at
Nashville. Thus the two great armies were only thirty-two miles apart,
with their outposts almost touching.
Bragg, believing that it would be impossible for Rosecrans to advance
before spring, established his army in winter quarters, and the soldiers
looked forward to two or three months of comparative quiet.
Rosecrans’s first duty was to reopen the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad, which had been so thoroughly destroyed by Morgan. An army of men
did the work—a work which took them weeks to accomplish. But it was not in
the nature of Morgan to be quiet. Not only he, but his men, fretted in
camp life. Its daily routine with its drills did not suit them. Their home
was the saddle, and they wanted no other. Therefore Morgan began to look
around in search of a weak point in the Federal lines. For this purpose
Calhoun and his scouts were kept busy. They seemed to be omnipresent, now
here, now there. They would ride in between the Federal posts, learn of
the citizens where the enemy were posted, and whether their camps were
guarded with vigilance or not. Many a prisoner was picked up, and much
valuable information obtained. In this way Morgan soon knew, as well as
the Federal commander himself, how his troops were posted, and the number
at each post.
Taking everything into consideration, Calhoun reported that Hartsville
offered the best opening for an attack. “It is the extreme eastern outpost
of the Federals,” he said. “The nearest troops to them are at Castalian
Springs, nine miles away. The country from here to Hartsville is entirely
free of Federal troops, and we can approach the place unobserved. The
Cumberland River is low and can be forded. But if you wish, I will go and
make a thorough reconnaissance of the place.”
“Go, and be back as soon as possible,” replied Morgan, “but be careful; do
not take too many risks.”
With a dozen of his trusty scouts, Calhoun had no trouble in reaching the
bank of the Cumberland River opposite Hartsville. Here, concealed in the
woods, through his glass he noted the position of every regiment, and drew
a map of the camp. But he was not satisfied with this. Under the cover of
darkness he crossed the river, determined to learn more. Above all, he
wished to learn where the enemy’s pickets were posted at night, their
exact force, as nearly as possible, and the discipline which they were
under. He wanted to do all this without alarming them.
After crossing the river he concluded to call at a commodious farm-house,
situated some three miles from Hartsville. He was almost certain of a
hearty welcome; there were few disloyal to the South in that section. At
first he was taken for a Federal soldier in disguise, and admittance was
refused; but once the inmates were convinced that he was one of Morgan’s
men, the heartiness of his welcome made up for the coldness of his first
reception.
The planter was well posted. There was one brigade at Hartsville. Until a
few days before, the brigade had been commanded by a Colonel Scott, but he
had been relieved by a Colonel Moore. This Moore was the colonel of one of
the regiments at Hartsville, and had been in the service but a short time.
Most of the troops were raw and inexperienced. Calhoun was glad to hear
all this.
In the morning, dressed as a rough country boy, he made a circuit of the
entire place. This he did by going on foot, and keeping to the fields and
woods. The location of every picket post was carefully noted, and the best
way to approach each one. In two or three instances he did not hesitate to
approach soldiers who were foraging outside of the lines, and in a whining
tone, enter into conversation with them, informing them he was looking for
some of his father’s pigs.
“Mighty ’fraid sum ov yo-uns Yanks got ’em,” he said, with a sigh.
“No doubt, sonny, no doubt,” replied a soldier with a hearty laugh. “You
see, if a pig comes up and grunts at the flag, we have a right to kill him
for the insult offered. Probably your pigs were guilty of this heinous
crime, and were sacrificed for the good of the country.”
“Do yo-uns mean the Yanks hev ’em?” asked Calhoun.
“Undoubtedly, sonny. What are you going to do about it?”
“Goin’ to tell dad,” replied Calhoun, as he limped off, for he pretended
to be lame.
Calhoun found that the post was picketed much more strongly to the east
than the west, for Castalian Springs lay to the west, and the Federals had
no idea that an attack would come from that direction. If attacked, the
Confederates would try to force the ford, or they would come from the
east. For this reason Calhoun decided that Morgan should cross the river
in between Hartsville and Castalian Springs, and assault from the west.
There was a ferry two miles below Hartsville where the infantry could
cross the river, but the cavalry would have to go to a ford seven miles or
within two miles of Castalian Springs. To his surprise, but great
gratification, he found neither the ferry nor the ford guarded.
Calhoun recrossed the river in safety, and joining his scouts, whom he had
left on the southern side of the river, he lost no time in making his way
back to Murfreesboro. Morgan heard his report with evident satisfaction.
“Our only danger,” said Calhoun, as he finished his report, “is from the
force at Castalian Springs. From what I could learn there are at least
five thousand Federals there. To be successful we must surprise the camp
at Hartsville, capture the place, and re-cross the river before the force
from the Springs can reach us. A hard thing to do, but I believe it can be
done.”
“So do I,” said Morgan; “with General Bragg’s consent, I will start at
once.”
General Bragg not only gave his consent, but owing to the importance of
the expedition, added to Morgan’s cavalry brigade two regiments of
infantry and a battery.
The force marched to within five miles of Hartsville, and halted until
night. The night proved very dark, and the way was rough. There was but
one small ferry-boat in which to cross the infantry, and it was 5:30 in
the morning before the infantry were all across, and in position two miles
from Hartsville.
The cavalry had had even a rougher time than the infantry, and one large
regiment had not yet reported. But Morgan determined not to wait, for it
would soon be light, and they would be discovered. So with thirteen
hundred men Morgan moved to capture a Federal brigade of over two
thousand, and in a position of their own choosing.
To Calhoun and his scouts was assigned the difficult but important task of
capturing the outposts without alarming the camp. The success of the whole
movement might depend upon this.
So adroitly did Calhoun manage it, that the surprised pickets were
captured without firing a gun. Nor was the Confederate force discovered
until they were within four hundred yards of the Federal camp, and
advancing in line of battle. It was now getting light, and a negro
camp-follower discovered them and gave the alarm.
The Federals having been taken by surprise and most of the officers and
men being raw and inexperienced, consternation reigned in the camp. But
they formed their lines, and for a few moments put up a brave fight. Then
their lines broke. Colonel Moore did not seem to have his brigade well in
hand, and each regiment fought more or less independently. In a short time
only the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois regiment was left on the site of
the camp to continue the battle. Although this regiment had been only
three months in the service and had never been in an engagement before,
under the command of their brave Lieutenant Colonel, Douglass Hapeman,
they did not surrender until they were entirely surrounded and nearly two
hundred of their number had been shot down.
Morgan warmly complimented this regiment on its bravery, saying if all the
regiments had been like it, the result of the contest would have been
doubtful. In one hour and a quarter after the battle opened, all was over.
A whole brigade had laid down their arms to the prowess of Morgan.
But now a new danger arose. Calhoun had been sent toward Castalian Springs
to watch the enemy in that direction. One of his scouts came dashing in
with the intelligence that five thousand Federals were hurrying to the
relief of Hartsville. They must be stopped, and time given to get the
prisoners and munitions of war across the Cumberland.
Morgan hurried two regiments to where Calhoun and his little band of
scouts were resisting the advance of the enemy. The show of strength made
halted the Federals, and a precious hour and a half was gained. In this
time, by almost superhuman efforts, Morgan had succeeded in crossing the
prisoners and his men to the south side of the Cumberland. They were now
safe from pursuit.
It was during the fight with the approaching reinforcements that an
incident happened which caused Calhoun many hours of uneasiness. During
the hottest of the engagement a ball, evidently fired from the rear,
grazed his cheek. He thought little of it, supposing some one had fired in
his rear, not seeing him. But in a moment a ball passed through his hat.
Wheeling suddenly, to his surprise he saw Captain Conway with a smoking
revolver in his hand.
“You are shooting carelessly, Captain!” exclaimed Calhoun, angrily, riding
up to him.
For a moment the Captain cowered, then recovering himself, he said: “You
are mistaken, Lieutenant; it was some one in the rear. The same balls came
close to me.” Just then the order was given to fall back, and Conway rode
hastily away. There was no direct proof, but Calhoun was certain Conway
had tried to kill him. More than one man has been disposed of in time of
battle by a personal enemy. Many an obnoxious officer has bitten the dust
in this manner. Calhoun could only bide his time and watch. But he now
firmly believed his life was in more danger from Conway than it was in
battle with the Federals.
Hartsville, considering everything, was one of the greatest victories
Morgan ever won, as he captured a whole brigade with a vastly inferior
force. The Federals lost in killed, wounded, and captured two thousand one
hundred men. Of these nearly three hundred were killed and wounded.
Morgan’s actual force engaged was only thirteen hundred, and of these he
lost one hundred and forty, a small loss considering he was the assaulting
party.
The capture of Hartsville caused the utmost chagrin in the Federal army,
and not only in the army but throughout the North. Even President Lincoln
telegraphed asking for full particulars. General Halleck ordered the
dishonorable dismissal of Colonel Moore, but the order was never carried
into effect. Of his bravery there was no question.
This victory caused the name of Morgan to be more feared than ever.
“Morgan is coming!” was a cry which caused fear and trembling in many a
Yankee’s heart.
President Davis of the Confederate States, shortly after the capture of
Hartsville, visited Murfreesboro, and as a reward for his services,
presented Morgan with a commission as Brigadier-General in the Confederate
army. General Hardie asked that he be made a Major-General. Hardie knew
Morgan, and appreciated his worth, but for some reason President Davis
refused the request.