MURFREESBORO AND KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN
To meet emergencies at different points, this Grand Army of the
Southwest was divided into a number of organizations. General Price,
with one part, was sent west of the Mississippi River; one part was sent
to Vicksburg; while the largest portion was given to General Bragg to
begin his invasion of Kentucky. Forrest, with his troops, marched to
Chattanooga, from which point, with his own command, Wharton’s Texas
Regiment, and a small number from the command of Gen. Joe Wheeler, he
made a rapid advance on Murfreesboro, Tenn., where General Crittenden
was guarding large stores of military supplies.
Reaching the outskirts of the town about daylight, we chased the pickets
into the camp of a Michigan regiment. Pressing rapidly at every point,
we soon had everything before us on the run, as our attack was a
complete surprise. Our success was absolute, and this capture of a Union
division with its commander and the military supplies being guarded was
one of the most spectacular strokes of the Civil War.
This attack and capture staged an occurrence which illustrates the
tragedy of war. Judge Richardson, for many years after the war a member
of Congress from the Huntsville (Ala.) district, some time before our
capture of Murfreesboro had been captured near that place; and although
he had succeeded in escaping from his captors, he was still inside the
Union lines. In wandering around, trying to find a gap through which he
could reach safety, he came upon a soldier who told him that he, too,
was trying to get through the Union lines; and so the two traveled
together for a day or so until they were recaptured by troops from the
garrison and placed in prison at Murfreesboro. It developed after their
capture that the companion of Richardson was a spy, or at least the
enemy found suspicious papers in his possession; and after a trial, both
were sentenced to be shot. This sentence was due to be executed on the
morning that our troops rode into Murfreesboro, preventing the death of
Richardson and his fellow prisoner. After we had gained possession of
the town, the following facts came to light: Richardson and his
companion were in a wooden cell, with the death watch over them, when
our troops attacked; and when it became evident that we would succeed in
capturing the garrison, the Union guard set fire to the house to “see
the rebels burn,” and the fire was making headway when our advanced
troops reached the place and released the prisoners.
After the matter was explained to General Forrest, and Mr. Richardson
verified the truth of the story, the General asked Richardson and his
companion to identify the guard. The Union prisoners were lined up; and
when the two searchers came to the guilty man, he was marched out and
shot to death in the presence of both commands after General Forrest had
explained the offense to General Crittenden.
After our return to Chattanooga from Murfreesboro, we took the advance
of Bragg’s army, and on September 14, 1862, appeared in front of the
Union fort at Munfordsville, Ky. Then followed a rather ill-timed attack
on this strong position, in which our men lost heavily and accomplished
very little.
Our cavalry played practically no part in this battle, and I was an
onlooker.
After our ineffective attack, the main body of our army came up and
captured the garrison.
Then, after feinting in a threatening attitude toward Louisville, we
withdrew; and in our southward movement our army encountered General
Buell’s army, resulting in the battle of Perryville, one of the fiercest
struggles of the war. The result of this battle is generally considered
a draw, but the immediate advantage was with the Confederates, as our
purpose was not stayed, and we continued our retreat to Murfreesboro,
Tenn.
During our advance into Kentucky the cavalry was commanded by Col. John
H. Morgan. We had a number of fights, captured many soldiers, and
destroyed large quantities of military stores.
By the brilliant work of John H. Morgan and N. B. Forrest, cavalry
leaders, General Buell was prevented from gaining any hurtful advantage
over our retreating and smaller army.
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