Today in History:

123 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 123 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. Were there any Union forces except General Buell's which could by any possibility have relieved Munfordville?

I do not see why it should not have been relieved from Louisville.

Question. Do you know whether the army was massed at Bowling Green on Sunday morning when you arrived the?

Rousseau's and Wood's divisions were there; Colonel McCook in command of cavalry. My own division arrived at 6. Crittenden's division was there, encamped in the same place. On Monday the Fourth Division was there. Mitchell was 15 miles in the rear, got up on Monday; and Thomas' division, I understood General Buell to say, had been ordered from Nashville up to Bowling Green. General Thomas was a man I had great confidence in, and in battle I wanted to have him on the same line with me, and I was anxious for him to come up.

Question. How far is Bowling Green from Munfordville?

Forty miles.

Question. Had you forces enough massed at Bowling Green Sunday morning to have relieved Munfordville Wednesday morning?

On the flank of the enemy we had forces enough, but I do not think in the presence of the enemy we could have got there. It would have made 20 miles a day, which is rapid marching even for small detachments; but I do not think we could have gut our army there in time.

By General ORD:

Question. Could troops have come from Louisville quicker than you could have sent them from Bowling Green?

They could have come from Louisville in five hours. It is about 70 miles from Munfordville to Louisville. Had they come 10 miles an hour, it would take them about seven hours. They had the telegraph, too, when we had to send through the enemy's country by courier.

Question. Did you have any information that Munfordville was beleaguered by an overwhelming force?

I knew on Monday morning and heard it was taken, and got on my horse and rode to General Buell's headquarters, and there heard that the attack on Munfordville had been repulsed, and there I learned that Colonel Wilder was in command. Previously I do not know who was there.

Question. You did not know then it required relief?

I knew Bragg was at Glasgow, 20 miles and 40 miles from there. It was therefore supposed that if Bragg could not take it with one brigade he would send more.

Question. Any applications from Munfordville for relief?

None that I ever heard of. I was present at General Buell's headquarters at Dripping Springs when a man named Miller said Munfordville had surrendered.

By the PRESIDENT:

Question. Do you know if there was any communication between the officer in command at Louisville, or General Wright, commanding the department, and General Buell?

I knew nothing of it at all if there was. It was beyond my sphere of knowledge, and it was something which I don't think General Buell's division commanders knew anything about. They had their lines marked out for them, and they generally marched on them and asked no questions.

Question. Do you know whether communication of that kind was possible at that time?

I think communication was possible. It could have been sent by telegraph to Munfordville and from thence worked around through the bushes. It is therefore possible.

Question. Have you information which will enable you to answer whether there was any co-operation between General Wright and General Buell?


Page 123 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.