Today in History:

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

Page 456 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

prisonment or otherwise those who sought to depreciate it. They claimed also the right to punish persons who discouraged enlistments.

Question. Did they clam the right to enforce the conscript on act and was that act enforced in any case?

I do not think it was, in the neighborhood of Lexington. General Bragg issued an order, the purport of which I do not distinctly remember, threatening to enforce it at some early day in the future. That is my recollection of it, but I cannot now give the substance of the order.

Question. Were the people of Kentucky generally so provided with arms and munitions of war as to be able to increase very materially the efficiency of the invading army if they took part with it?

A great many men in my part of the State had rifles, shot-guns, and pistols; there were few farmers but had one or the other.

Question. What was your information in regard to the supply of these articles brought unto the State by the rebel forces during their occupation of it?

I saw what appeared to me to be immense numbers of guns at their depot in Lexington; in fact at several depots they had large numbers. Where they obtained them I do not know, but they certainly had a large supply at Lexington during their occupation of it.

Question. Have you any means of making an accurate estimate?

I have not.

Question. Had they also supplies of provisions and other necessaries for an army at these depots?

They had at these or other depots. They kept their guns in one and their supplies in others.

Question. Were the guns you speak of in the depot in boxes or were they loose?

Mostly loose when I saw them. I saw some in boxes with the tops off, but not a great many.

Question. State, if you please, about the size of the rooms in which these arms were stored and in what manner they were stored; that is, as to the space that they occupied. I want to arrive at an approximate estimate of the numbers, if I can.

Their principal depot was what had been a livery stable, on Short street; the guns were laid in the stalls. One side of the stable was filled with guns lying flat and piled from 5 to 7 feet high; six or eight of these stalls being so filled when I saw them. Large numbers were standing about the door and the central portions of the stable, and were being divided out at times to different companies of volunteers who were being organized to take part. I saw also at the different depots where companies and regimental organizations were attempted to be perfected guns cleaned up and put in order, ready to be delivered to the men.

Question. About what time was it that you saw these arms stored in this way?

First shortly after their arrival, in the early part of September, 1862, and I saw them occasionally till within a week or two before their departure.

Question. Had quantity seemed to increase or diminish when you saw them last?

I did not observe with sufficiently accuracy to answer.

Cross-examination by the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. What time were you in partnership with Mr. Breckinridge and when did that partnership terminate?

It commenced the first part of 1855 and terminated about the time he was a candidate for the Presidency; I think in 1860.


Page 456 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.