Today in History:

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

Page 588 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

General BUELL wishing to introduce a witness whose name was not included in the list furnished the judge-advocate by General Buell and who was therefore excluded by the resolution of General Tyler-

General ORD moved that the witness be considered as within the rule.

The PRESIDENT. I wish, general, you would state what you expect to prove by this witness.

General BUELL. I wish to show by this witness that the forces of Kirby Smith moved through to Harrodsburg toward Perryville on the morning of the 10th. The evidence of this witness I expect will confirm the evidence given by Major Cotter on Saturday, and I may as well say that I shall have other witnesses to call upon the same matter until the Commission shall consider themselves satisfied on that point and that the rebel army occupied a position south of Perryville on the 10th, as is presumed, for the purpose of battle.

Mr. H. W. HIERONYMUS (a witness for the defense), being duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:

By General BUELL:

Question. State your name and place of residence.

H. W. Hieronymus; Harrodsburg, Ky.

Question. Were you in Harrodsburg between the 8th and 12th of October last?

Yes, sir.

Question. State whether or not you witnessed the movements of the rebel troops about that place between those dates, and what you know of those movements from the 7th to the 12th inclusive.

On the 7th, in the afternoon, after dinner, all the forces that were at Harrodsburg went in the direction of Perryville. I made the inquiry where they were going, and they said they were going to re-enforce Bragg at Perryville. They returned that evening; they came in between 8 and 10 o'clock, and the next morning they all went in the direction of Perryville-that is, the 8th, the day of the battle. On the next morning some of them came into Harrodsburg, I suppose between 11 and 12 o'clock. I believe that was the first I saw, and I asked a young man I knew from Tennessee what was the matter, and he said, "I suppose we are retreating;" but what was the force that came into Harrodsburg I do not recollect. Bragg's army came up the Perryville and Harrodsburg turnpike road and they went on the Cave Run road in part; but there are three roads to Camp Dick Robinson from Harrodsburg; their names are the Danville, Bellus' Mill, and Cave Run roads; and then there is a ferry 8 miles from Harrodsburg called Baker's Ferry, but I never crossed it and do not know what facilities there are for crossing.

Question. Do you know whether the whole of Bragg's force passed through Harrodsburg the day after the battle?

No, sir; I do not.

Question. How far on the road to Camp Dick Robinson did these troops that you saw go?

I do not know. I do not know whether they encamped at the Big Spring or went farther. I cannot tell.

Question. On what road is the Big Spring and how far from Harrodsburg?

It is near the Lexington pike, where the Cave Run road leaves the Lexington road-just at the fork of the Lexington and Cave Run roads and some 150 to 300 yards from the forks of those roads.

Question. Is it on the left of the Lexington road or on the right and how far from the town?

On the left of the road. It is in the town limits, I think; it is three-quarters of a mile from the court-house.


Page 588 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.