Today in History:

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

Page 488 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

Question. With the difficulties that you experienced in supplying 7,000 men, what would you think of the practicable of supplying 20,000 with the same means?

It would be worse in proportion.

Question. At what time did you get this order to prepare lumber for pontoon bridges and from whim did it emanate?

I got it about June 30, 1862. The order emanated from General O. M. Mitchell to me. General Mitchell said to me that he was ordered to get the lumber out.

Question. Did he state by whom?

We supposed it was by General Buell's order, although his name was not on the order.

Question. State whatever you know in regard to the service of your regiment during the summer of my arrival at Huntsville; and if you do not know particularly of the services performed by the whole regiment, state whether any portion of it, to your knowledge,was idle during that time.

No portion of it, to my knowledge,was idle during that time. Two companies with me, under General Mitchell, were hard at work from the time of arrival at Huntsville, and also on the march from Nashville to Murfreesborough and from Murfreesborough to Huntsville.

Question. Does you answer include the time subsequent to my arrival at Huntsville? You will observe the question refers to that time.

It refers to the time we finished the pontoon boats.

Question. How were the companies under your command employed during that time?

In the building of bridges on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, assisting in running the trains from Huntsville to Stevenson and from Huntsville to Elk River, also in building one of the bridges between Stevenson and the Tennessee River, and assisting in building the pontoon bridges.

Question. Have you traveled frequently on the railroad between Huntsville and Bridgeport?

I have.

Question. State what you know from observation of the character of that country and its agricultural resources.

About 16 miles east of Huntsville, on the railroad, the land is very good as far as you can see on each side of the road; from there on to bridgeport it is through a broken, rocky country,and with only small clearing s on each side of the road.

Question. Has this productive tract that you speak of any name by which you can designate it, and what is the extent of it along the road?

I cannot designate it by any name, and I do not know anything of its productions, save that once in a while we would pass what would look like a good farm from the car windows; and these points were between Huntsville and Brownsborough and Brownsborough and Paint Rock Station.

Question. Do you mean that the country for 16 miles is productive and cultivated or do you mean that isolated points for that distance are cultivated?

Occasional farms; not the entire stretch of country.

Question. what is the character of the country between these farms?

The road runs through rock cuts.


Page 488 KY., M. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.