Today in History:

258 Series I Volume IV- Serial 4 - Operations in the South and West

Page 258(Official Records Volume 4)  


OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

FRANKFORT, KY., September 14, 1861.

General THOMAS:

SIR: A committee from the Union caucus, composed of the members of the legislature, go to louisville to-night; they return Monday morning. We advised that you do nothing as to the occupation of Mr. Bowlers's road until the committee see and confer freely with General Anderson. It would be well if you could come down and see the committed. We suppose it would be best that both the main roads be simultaneously occupied, unless you should learn something making it necessary to act. Doubtless you and General Anderson are fully posted and may have matured a plan as to these roads; if you have not, you can know General Anderson's plans here on Monday morning.

Respectfully, yours,

JOHN F. FISK, Speaker of the Senate.

RICH'D A. BUCKNER, Speaker of the House.

BERRY, KY., September 14, 1861.

General THOMAS:

You will see plan of operation submitted for you consideration.

First, perhaps a reconnaissance of the principal points should be had by yourself, &c.

The movement on railroad must be a profound secret or the bridges will be burned. Then, say, a simultaneous movement [from] Camp Robinson and Covington, starting so as to be through before daylight. (Trust not the wires.) At the long tunnel, 11 miles south of Covington, leave 100 men; at Grassy Creek, 26 miles south of Covington, leave 300 men; at Falmouth, 39 miles south of Covington, leave 400 men; [at] a small bridge or two near morgan Station, and up to Boyd's, 14 miles, (Stowers, secesh, part owner of railroad), 100 men; from Boyd's to Cynthiana unsafe - secesh armed companies. At Berry's Station and Boyd's troops would be with friends; and although the bridge [is only] 2 miles from Berry's, I think it would be safer to encamp near that place, as all the land or station from Berry's to Cynthiana are secesh. Say at Berry's place 500 men, to scour, &c.; at Cynthiana two cannon and 1,000; from Cynthiana to Paris, except Kiser's (I considered unsafe at Kiser's place), 100; at Paris two cannon and 1,200; thence to Lexington (not much danger at Lexington), 80; total, 3,780.

What I mean by unsafe is that a small number of men as marked [sic] could not withstand the secesh force in those localities, and my opinion is that they will fight if they can get the advantage. This all done up in order, and the legislature order out 20,000 troops for sixty days, and [the] rebellion will be flat in kentucky.

And last and not least, a bill of pains and penalties will be passed by our legislature, and the 20,000 troops will insure the enforcement of draft bill. Respectfully,

G. W. BERRY.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, Ky., September 15, 1861.

His Excellency Governor MORTON, Indianapolis:

MY DEAR GOVERNOR: I must thank you for the kindness and great courtesy with which you received my friend and colaborer General