Today in History:

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

Page 398 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

Question. Was this the position of these different forces when it was your opinion that General Buell could not concentrate his forces at Altamont in time to meet Bragg?

It was.

Question. What force or corps occupied Altamont and how long did they remain there?

That I cannot answer.

Question. Was Altamont ever occupied by any considerable force even for twenty-four hours?

I understood that we had a force there of one or two divisions, but whether the town itself or whether any positions in that vicinity was held for any long time I do not know. I know that the forces were moved from point to point with a good deal of activity about that time in accordance with the information that was received.

Question. But you do not know positively that any particular force occupied Altamont even for twenty-four hours?

No, sir; I do not know.

Question. You say in your testimony that it was in Bragg's power to advance by way of Altamont or one of several other lines leading through the mountains; please name those several other lines.

He could proceed up the Sequatchie Valley to Dunlap and from that point through to McMinnville; that is one of the lines to which I refer. There is another road that I understood was practicable farther north still, leading from the Sequatchie Valley over to Sparta and so on up toward Gainesborough. I know of no other practicable routes.

Question. You say that the only information you possess in regard to the geography of the country about Altamont is derived from conversations with the inhabitants and consulting the maps; would not an officer stationed at McMinnville and in that vicinity and who had passed over the country in and about Altamont have far better opportunities to judge of the geography of the country than yourself?

As far as his personal observation extended he would.

Question. Did not the line into Middle Tennessee by way of Pikeville and Sparta present itself to you as one that Bragg would or might adopt?

It appeared to me that Bragg might use that for road at least a portion of his forces.

Question. Will you give the date at which such progress was made by Bragg when it was doubtful that General Buell could concentrate his forces at Altamont in time to meet him?

I cannot give the exact date; it was while I was at Decherd, as already stated.

Question. Cannot you give the date at which Bragg passed out of the Sequatchie Valley at Pikeville?

I have not treasured any of these dates, and cannot therefore give them.

Question. What reason did General Buell give you that he could not concentrate sufficient force at Altamont to meet Bragg?

He said that there were not troops within reach of that point to exceed the number of 25,000 within the time at which Bragg was excepted to arrive at that point, positive information having reached us the enemy's arrival in force at Dunlap.

Question. Where were you or General Buell when this information reached you that Bragg's army had arrived at Dunlap?

At Decherd.


Page 398 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.