Today in History:

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

Page 327 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. Were you at McMinnville during the summer?

I was.

Question. What was the condition of the country there in regard to supplies, both of forage and provisions?

Forage was very scarce this side of McMinnville. When I sent out some of my men to find provisions I got 20 pounds of bacon; that was all I could get; the people there said that was all they could give me.

Question. How far did you have to send to get forage for your animals usually?

From 7 to 13 miles.

Question. What force was there at this time?

General Nelson's division, Second Indiana, Fifth Kentucky, and Second Kentucky Cavalry.

Question. Did this command draw all the supplies it could from the country about there?

My own command depended entirely upon the country for forage and I think the rest of the command did. Our rations we drew from Murfreesborough.

Question. What do you know generally about the operations of the enemy's cavalry during last summer in Middle Tennessee and of the embarrassment which was caused to the service by them?

The enemy's cavalry were very active, and I always believed that all the citizens in that section of the country were engaged in annoying our trains. I know that some of them burned our railroad bridges. We never had a sufficient cavalry force down there to guard all that line; the force was smaller then than it is now.

Question. Was our cavalry force actively employed at that time?

It was employed to such an extent that both men and horses were worn-out.

Question. What was the service upon which it was employed and was that service necessary and judicious?

After the battle of Shiloh-I only speak for my own regiment then-the picket duty was so severe my men were on duty twenty-four hours and twenty-four hours off. Our troops were generally employed in picket duty and escorting trains. I believe that this service was rendered necessary from the fact that all the two or three other cavalry regiments there were entirely new and had done no military duty.

Question. What particular time do you refer to?

Immediately after the battle of Shiloh, between that time and the taking of Corinth; after that also while we were in the vicinity of Corinth. I believe, sir, it was usefully employed.

Question. The question refers more particularly to the time last summer while you were in Middle Tennessee.

There were two regiments of cavalry under my immediate supervision; they were both of them actively employed and certainly usefully employed; they were escorting supplies for the army.

Question. At what time did you discontinue the transmission of supplies from Reynolds' Station to Athens?

I think, sir, the date was the 29th of July.

Question. And for what reason?

General Jackson took command of the cavalry and started after Morgan.

Question. Were supplies still forwarded from Reynolds' Station by wagon when you left there?

I do not know; before I left they were. The first bridge was not completed when I left there; no cars had run any farther than Reynolds' Station at the time I left.


Page 327 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.