Today in History:

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

Page 397 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. What amount of General Buell's army was concentrated at Bowling Green on the 15th of September?

I cannot say how many troops were concentrated on that particular day. I understood that the whole force finally concentrated there amounted to 35,000 or 40,000 men.

Question. At what date?

I do not know the exact date; it was immediately previous to the advance of the army.

Question. Between what dates were you at Bowling Green?

From about the 10th and the 16th.

Question. What amount of General Buell's army was concentrated at Bowling Green between the 10th and 16th?

They did not to me, General Buell himself being present, and the precise number concentrated before I relinquished command of the post I cannot state.

Question. On what day did you relinquish command of Bowling Green?

I think about the 16th. I cannot say that that was the exact day.

Question. Can you make an approximate estimate of the number of troops that arrived and reported between the 10th and the 16th?

I cannot; they did not report to me.

Question. And still you were in command?

Yes, sir; in command of the post.

General BUELL. I would suggest it was not the duty of the Army of the Ohio to report to Brigadier-General Smith, in command of the post. Brigadier-General Smith commanded a brigade, and was not the superior officer of the Army of the Ohio. The Army of the Ohio did not arrive immediately at Bowling Green as a military post; it came to Bowling Green and encamped in the vicinity, and the commander of the post had no more to do with it than the commander of any brigade in the army had to do with its management and position.

General TYLER. Do you object to the question?

General BUELL. No, sir. I thought I could save the trouble of putting questions that lead to nothing.

By General TYLER:

Question. Can you give the position of General Buell's army on the 16th, when Bragg's army crossed the Tennessee at or near Chattanooga?

No, sir; I cannot.

Question. What was the position of General Buell's army about the 23rd of August, when you were at General Buell's headquarters at Decherd?

There was a portion of his troops, I think one brigade, at Huntsville, Ala.; there was perhaps one regiment between that and Stevenson; and I think one brigade-perhaps not so large a force-at Battle Creek. There was perhaps a brigade stationed between Stevenson and Decherd, a considerable portion of it being at Cowan. There was my force at Decherd of about 4,000 men. There was a force of one or two divisions I think at Altamont, one at Hillsborough, a small force at McMinnville, and some small forces at Manchester. Those are the only positions of troops at that time with which I am familiar.

Question. What was probably the aggregate number of men included in these forces that you have recapitulated?

I should think about 30,000 men.


Page 397 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.