Today in History:

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

Page 265 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. Which is the most productive region, that about Sparta or that by McMinnville?

That south of McMinnville; the advantage is in favor of McMinnville.

Question. When you say in your testimony that those guerrilla bands were organized subsequent to the marching of the Army of the Ohio, do you mean that they had no effective organization at all or that they were not consolidated?

I mean that they were not consolidated.

Question. Were they effective as an offensive force?

Yes, sir; from the manner in which they operated in interfering with or communications.

Question. Have you been at McMinnville, Dunlap, or Sparta yourself?

No, sir; I know them only by examinations made by my couriers and by persons whom I sent to those points.

General R. W. JOHNSON (a witness for defendent), being duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:

By General BUELL:

Question. Give your name and position in the service, if you please, general?

Richard W. Johnson; brigadier-general of volunteers.

Question. Were you on duty with the Army of the Ohio in Tennessee in the months of July and August last?

I was; up to August 21.

Question. State, if you please, concisely, the operations of the enemy's cavalry in Middle Tennessee prior to that time and the measures adopted to counteract them, as far as you were concerned.

The enemy's cavalry were all the time during the months of July and August attempting to break up our communications by railroad, in which they succeeded in several instances, and it became necessary to transport supplies by wagons, and these were often threatened by cavalry. At one time it was reported that the enemy's cavalry in large force were marching in the direction of Pulaski, Tenn. The commanding officer of the Army of the Ohio telegraphed to me, then in Battle Creek, to report to him at once in Huntsville. On my arrival in Huntsville he showed me several maps, told me what the enemy's cavalry were doing, and asked me if with the cavalry in the department I could stop the depredations of Morgan and his cavalry. I received orders from General Buell to go to a place known as Reynolds' Station, on the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad, and there assume command of all the cavalry in that neighborhood, and to march against any enemy's cavalry found near that and Murfreesborough. I assumed command on my arrival, and within two days marched by Fayetteville and Shelbyville in the direction where the cavalry were said to be. I found that if any had been there in an organized from they had left, but I found that citizens in the absence of the Federal forces would arm themselves and take advantage of any small force left to guard the bridges on the railroad. These parties would dismount on the approach of the Federal troops, secrete their arms, and be considered as citizens and be loyal for the time.

I marched to Murfreesborough and on my arrival I reported to General Nelson, in obedience to General Buell's orders. From this point I was sent to a town called Liberty, and from Liberty to Smithfield, Smithfield to McMinnville, and in fact throughout the entire portion of country there, but was not able to find the enemy in any considerable force. I then marched from McMinnville, with 640 men, to a place known as Cookville; here I intercepted a message from Morgan himself, and found that he had left on the 19th, marching in the direction of Gallatin, Tenn. Marched on Gallatin, and met him in that place and had an engagement with him on the 21st. I would state that all the cavalry in that portion of Tennessee was placed under my command by instructions from General Buell. When I reported to General Nelson he divided up the command, leaving me only 640 men. While at Huntsville


Page 265 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.