Today in History:

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

Page 204 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

Question. How long was the principal part of Kentucky in possession of the rebel forces before Bragg's arrival there?

I do not remember; I except a couple of months or so.

Question. Did the mass of the people make any active resistance to that occupation to you suppose?

They did not seem to make any active opposition.

Question. Was it very well known during that time that Kirby Smith was collecting supplies of various sorts necessary for the army; that he was making shot and shell and preparing other necessary supplies?

I heard after my arrival in Louisville that he had been very actively engaged in collecting supplies, and also had been preparing ammunition at Lexington, and one man also told me he had seen a train of twenty-five or thirty wagons going from Lexington to Camp Dick Robinson loaded with ammunition.

Question. As a source of supplies for an army, what comparison is there between Middle Tennessee in July and August last and the bluegrass region of Kentucky in September and October?

The resources of the blue-grass region of Kentucky were far greater than those of Middle Tennessee; there was an abundant supply in Kentucky. The supply in Middle Tennessee was not so great by half at least.

Question. Was it by seven-eights?

The supply of some things in Tennessee was quite abundant-green corn, and there is some cattle; not a great deal of wheat, as far as I could learn; but a very abundant supply of all these in Kentucky.

Question. Have you any reason to suppose that in retreating from Kentucky Bragg took with his army any greater train than was necessary to carry the subsistence for it on the march; if so, how do you know it?

I could not learn positively of any train larger than was seen to carry supplies for his army. We heard from citizens that he had sent before his army large quantities of dry goods and things of that sort.

Question. Has it ever, that you know of, been stated that the rebel army plundered Lexington?

I think I heard some reports of that sort from citizens, but I do not think it has ever been known that they plundered Lexington; that is, that they stripped if of everything. They may have taken some things from Lexington.

Commission adjourned to meet December 20, at 10 o'clock a.m.

NASHVILLE, Saturday Morning, December 20, 1862.

Commission met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present; also the judge-advocate, testified as follows:

By the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. State you name and position in the service and all you know about the surrender of Munfordville and the failure on our part to relieve it.

John T. Wilder; colonel Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers. I was ordered to Munfordville from Louisville by General Wright, on, I think, the 6th of September, to take command of the post. Shortly after I got there-I think it was the 7th of September-a party of guerrillas burned the bridge on the Salt River, 18 miles from Louisville, cutting off communication with Louisville. We had no rations, and telegraphed to Colonel Bruce at Bowling Green to send me some. He telegraphed back to me to


Page 204 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.