Today in History:

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

Page 164 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

of the delay on that march and the manner in which your command was employed?

On Monday, the 1st of June, 1862, my division left Corinth, left under an order to proceed to Iuka, Tuscumbia, and Decatur, the object of the movement being to aid in repairing and to protect the working parties engaged in the repair of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. A regiment of mechanics and engineers was sent along to aid in the work. The engineering department was committed to me. My orders were to put the road in working order from Corinth to Decatur, to repair all the burnt bridges, and to make good any other destructions that had been committed on the road. Several important bridges were entirely rebuilt, tracks repaired and newly laid down - a great deal of such work, as would naturally occur to me as necessary to be performed. The most of the labor was performed by the troops of my division. The work was found to be much heavier than was originally expected, and much delay occurred in the completion of it for the want of locomotives and cars, which could have been usefully employed in transporting material used in repairing to road. The greatest diligence was exercised on my part and the troops under my command to get through this work. It was not an agreeable duty, and the great separation of my forces necessary to carry on different parts of the work at the same time made it a very dangerous one, as it exposed us to be attacked by the enemy when we were very much scattered. For these reasons it was my desire to prosecute the work as rapidly as possible and t complete it at the earliest day. It was not, however, entirely completed till about the close of June, when I marched with the last of my [command] from Tuscumbia to Decatur, the bulk of the division having preceded me to Decatur, and repaired the road between Tuscumbia and Decatur and put it in working order.

Question. When did you division cross the river at Decatur?

I crossed with the rear of it on Sunday, July 6, 1862. the facilities for crossing the Tennessee were the poorest and of the most inconvenient character.

Question. Will you give the subsequent movements of your division up to about the time when the army was being concentrated around Altamont?

About midday, Sunday, July 13, I received an order to move with two brigades of my division to Stevenson, Ala. I marched that afternoon in obedience to that order. On reaching Huntsville, early Monday morning, the 14th, I received information of the raid on and of the taking of Murfreesborough. I went immediately to General Buell, in advance of my two brigades, to report their approach; was instructed by him to move as rapidly as possible to Shelbyville by the way of Fayetteville, Middle Tenn. I moved on with my command in the afternoon in the afternoon of the same day, continued the march the same day to Fayetteville and the day following to Shelbyville, making the entire distance of 87 miles in a small fraction over three days.

I remained two days at Shelbyville, when I received an order from General Buell to-proceed immediately to Winchester, and take position in that vicinity in such a way as most effectually to protect and cover the railroad in that region, as well as generally to prevent the irruption of rebel troops into Middle Tennessee and Northern alabama. I remained three weeks in the vicinity of Decherd. While stationed there the troops of my command were employed in guarding the railroad of Middle Tennessee from Wartrace to Decherd. Of course a great deal of time was occupied in scouting and exploring the country, getting information as to the position and designs of the enemy, as well as all information in regard to roads. Also while there, after the arrival of General Thomas, I aided in commencing and carrying out to a certain extent the fortifications designed to protect Decherd, the intention being at that time to make it a depot for the supplies of the troops in that part of the country.

About the 14th of August I left Decherd under orders to aide in putting the railroad from Tullahoma to McMinnville in working order. I marched from Decherd on August 14, from there to Manchester, from Manchester to Morrison Station, on the railroad, and remained there till the road was open entirely to McMinnville. This brought us up to about the 22nd of August. About this time came in the reports of the crossing of the rebels at Chattanooga, and then commenced the movements which subsequently followed with a view of concentrating the troops at Altamont.

Question. Will you state what you know of the character and extent of the cavalry operations of the enemy about this time?

Their operations were very active, and accordingly to all the information I obtained extended from Central Kentucky to Middle Tennessee. The rebel cavalry seemed to be on the alert during the whole of this time and ready to fall on any exposed place.


Page 164 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.