Today in History:

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

Page 509 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. Did you expect to find the enemy on the same ground or to have to go in pursuit of them?

I expected to find them where they were the day before and had arranged our communications with that expectation.

Question. Was it considered by anybody that you saw and conversed with, or whose opinion you heard expressed, that the battle of that day had been of such severity and importance as to decide the contest which had been expected between the armies all the time?

Not that I know of. All the officers with whom I conversed-they were mostly, though, officers of my own corps, with two or three exceptions-thought the contest undecided.

Question. Was it supposed the enemy had suffered by comparison very severely in the engagement-more so or as much so as ourselves?

I have no recollection so far as regards that. I myself supposed that they had, but I do not remember that I had any conversation with any one on that subject.

Question. Did you know that General McCook's corps had been driven from its position and that it did not regain that position during the day?

Some time during the afternoon-I am unable to say at what hour-I saw General Rousseau's line of battle retire and saw Loomis' battery (at least it was represented as Loomis' and I have no doubt it was) taken from the front, where it was stationed, and run back through a corn field, and soon after a rebel cavalry regiment went past the line which had been occupied by General Rousseau, and this rebel cavalry regiment was opened upon and I think driven back-at least they retired by the battery on the hill, near General Sheridan's batteries, where out station was. That was the first intimation I had of our lines having been withdrawn from the position where they originally stood. I have no knowledge of what was going on farther to the left until later in the evening.

Question. Was the question considered by General Sheridan, in your hearing and your knowledge, whether it was considered to send intelligence to headquarters of what was going on in front at any time during the day? State anything you know on the subject.

Lieutenant Sheridan, one of the officers working that station, informed me officially perhaps the same day, that General Sheridan had prepared a message to send, but of the contents of that message my memory does not serve me, but I think it had reference to the contest; but just as Lieutenant Sheridan was about to send it General Sheridan recalled it and told him it was not necessary to send it.

Question. Was this information from General Sheridan to you in the nature of an official report or conversation between you; was it information which it would have been proper to give to you as his superior officer?

It was not, sir. It was simply a conversation of our doing and working during the day.

Question. Do you know at what time this message was supposed to have been prepared?

I do not, sir.

Question. Did you on the night of the 8th transmit orders to the right corps with reference to attacking the enemy next morning?

I did.

Question. Have you a copy of those orders, captain? Please present it if you have.

Here is the copy of the order given me by General Thomas:


Page 509 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.