Today in History:

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

Page 452 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

newly established base in Kentucky. As to the adherence to the rules of war by the Army of the Ohio, it was certainly the only thing that saved it. If General Buell had pursued directly after Bragg he would have found himself in a short time many miles from any supplies, following in the wake of an army that had devastated and stripped the whole country in front of him. He would have lost Bowling Green for certain, perhaps Nashville, and perhaps his army. There is no doubt, although Bragg made a successful raid into Kentucky, that he certainly lost ten times more than he accomplished. He lost his reputation for one thing, and was removed from his command for a time; and I suppose the round trip cost him not less than 20,000 men, besides the wear and tear and destruction of his material of war. It is true, at the same time, it put us to a great deal of inconvenience and set us back in our operations, but I do not see how it advanced him. I think he would have done better to have remained in front of General Buell, kept in position there, and worried his communications, with a fair prospect of success in starving him out before the railroad could have been opened and kept open or before there was enough water in the Cumberland for transportation.

By General TYLER:

Question. When did Bragg's army leave Tupelo?

To the best of my knowledge and recollection it commenced the movement on July 8.

Question. By what route did it move and to what point?

The infantry, artillery, carriages, pieces, &c., moved down via Mobile by rail to Chattanooga; the cavalry, artillery, horses, and trains moved off across the country, passing through Tuscaloosa for one point; it then went direct to Rome, thence to Chattanooga.

Question. What time did the advance of Bragg's army arrive at Chattanooga?

His first advance met with a detention of some kind on the railroad. my best recollection is that it was about July 18. The two engineers on the road told me when they left and the number of cars; this was one of the most reliable sources of information.

Question. What was the amount of force that left Tupelo in July?

From information that I received from these men and the spy I had there, who was a railroad man, my estimate was 58,000 to 60,000. Everything was ordered to go away except the little force of Price and Van Dorn. I presume they did. Most of the cavalry force was left behind about that time. I think they sent over about 4,000 cavalry during the month of June. About this time they were very busy getting in conscripts to take the place of those troops, and for which they were holding meetings all over the country there. A small division of this force, under Breckinridge, was diverted subsequently; I think it went to Baton rouge and Vicksburg; but that I understood was only some 7,000 or 8,000.

Question. Did I understand you to say that all the rebel forces that were at Corinth, with the exception of Van Dorn's and Price's divisions and this division of Breckinridge's, were sent to Chattanooga?

So I understood.

Question. Were the divisions of Van Dorn and Price in Mississippi the same they had at the siege of Corinth?

I understood all the Missourians remained behind, with a portion of the Texans and a portion of the Arkansians. The divisions were not the same; they took from them some Texas and Arkansas troops, but how many I am unable to say. The force at leaving (of which I had good opportunities of learning, for they were very careless about the camp) that Price and Van Dorn had was only from 16,000 to 18,000 men.

Question. I understand, general, from your testimony that all the troops that were at Corinth, the conscripts that were drawn in between the abandonment of Corinth and the time this army moved, with the exception of 23,000 men, were sent to Chattanooga?

Yes; that was my information.


Page 452 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.