Today in History:

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

Page 552 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

march, the entire army might have been concentrated there. This opinion is, of course, a mere guess as to the time it would have required. I do not know where the different portions of the army were precisely, nor the distance from McMinnville to these various points, nor the roads by which the different portions of the army would have been compelled to march; but in six or eight days, if everything had been ready, I suppose they might have been concentrated.

Question. Can you state what the Army of the Ohio was doing between the 12th day of July, when you arrived at Battle Creek, and the 20th of August, when Bragg crossed the Tennessee River at Chattanooga?

I do not think I arrived at Battle Creek till the 13th. My impression is I arrived at Stevenson on the 12th and at Battle Creek on the 13th. I can only state what that portion of the army I was with was actually doing, and that I have already stated. I know that a portion of the army was at Murfreesborough, where a battle had been fought. General Nelson was sent there. The roads were broken, and I know General Smith was sent-I think to Tullahoma; I do not know with what forces. Most of that time General Mitchell's division was at Huntsville, and I believe General Buell's headquarters were there until near that time, or from the 12th of July until about the 20th of August. It was somewhere about that time he changed his headquarters. A portion of the army was during that period of time at McMinnville. General Thomas and General Wood were there I think; that is my best recollection; but what they were all doing I cannot state, sir. They had to march some distance to get to these different points.

Question. Do you know that the Therman road was practicable for baggage wagons and artillery trains for a large army?

I have no personal knowledge of the Therman road. I only know from the fact that was brought out during my examination here that an army did pass over that road.

The Commission adjourned to meet March 4, 1863, at 10 o'clock a. m.

CINCINNATI, Wednesday, March 4, 1863.

The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present; also the judge-advocate and General Buell.

Cross-examination of General CRITTENDEN continued.

By the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. You say in your examination-in-chief that if the Army of the Ohio had been massed at Sparta it would have been practicable for Bragg's army to have marched on McMinnville without its movements being known; please explain how and by what routes this movement could have been made in the face of the Army of the Ohio.

My idea of the manner in which it would have been possible for Bragg's army to have reached McMinnville with the Army of the Ohio concentrated at Sparta, and before the army could have known certainly what direction Bragg's army was taking, would be in a movement somewhere about Spencer, where I understand there was a road running to Sparta and a road running to McMinnville. I do not see such a road upon that map, but my recollection is that there is a road from Spencer to McMinnville and a road from Spencer to Sparta; so that it would have been possible even for Bragg's army starting from Pikeville to have deceived the army at Sparta as to its destination until it substantially reached McMinnville. I think that armies of any considerable force, while lying near together, by feints and demonstrations may almost always deceive the opposing general as to their movements or at least leave him in a state of great uncertainty.

Question. Are you acquainted, general, with the stream Caney Fork? If so, please state to the Commission the character of that stream.

I have no personal knowledge of the stream at all. I have never seen it.

Question. Have you ever seen any reports in reference to it and the character of the country about it that would justify you in stating to the Commission what it amounts to?

I do not think I have, sir. I have heard only general opinions with reference to the stream itself; I have heard that it was a difficult stream to cross.


Page 552 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.