Today in History:

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

Page 629 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

The supplies could not be brought forward as rapidly as required. as an example, I remember one requisition that I sent in amounting to 5,000,000 pounds of grain. I received only 500,000 pounds.

Question. Do you know what means were used to forward supplies from Louisville and the cause of the failure to send them as rapidly as were required?

The supplies were forwarded over the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and by boats of light draught to Clarksville, on the Cumberland River. I sent all the boats of light draught I could obtain at Nashville to Clarksville to bring forward supplies from that point. Boats that I could use to advantage over the Harpeth Shoals ranged in draught from 11 to 16-inches. The low stage of water in the Cumberland River was one cause of the delay in forwarding supplies from Louisville; and, as near as I could ascertain, the cause of the delay on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad was owing to the company not rendering available their total rolling stock on the road as far as possible for Government purposes.

Question. Do you know of any omission of the proper instructions from the commander of the Army of the Ohio or want of proper energy on the part of the staff officers in urging forward supplies into Nashville during the last summer or in collecting them from the country?

I received instructions frequently during the summer to bring forward and collect supplies for the quartermaster's department. I saw instructions to the same effect to the depot commissary at Nashville from the Headquarters of the Army of the Ohio. To my own personal knowledge, as far it extends, every exertion was made by the officers of the staff to accumilate supplies at the Nashville depot.

Question. Up to what time did you continue to use the Cumberland River for the transportation of supplies?

Up to about the 18th of August, the day Clarksville was captured by the enemy.

Question. What was the amount of freight you could receive in that way up to that time?

When I commenced using boats in June they could bring up eighty tons each from Clarksville. The river fell daily, and the quantity was reduced to such an extent that some boats could only bring eight or ten tons at a load. At the time Clarksville was captured I was sending horses down to the Shoals to tow the freight across in flat-boats.

Question. At what time do you consider the navigation of the river closed for all practical purposes in consequence of low water?

I think about the middle of July. The quantity of freight received by the river at that time scarcely justified the attempt to bring it up.

Question. Do you know at what date the railroad communication with Louisville was permanently broken?

I do not remember exactly the date, but I think between the 21st and the 31st of August.

Question. Do you know anything about the resources of the country about Nashville in regard to subsistence for the troops?

I heard of subsistence stores in Robertson County, consisting of bacon and flour, and I think I heard of some flour at Gallatin. those were the only localities in which I heard subsistence stores could be obtained. Flour was also obtained from Gallatin during the summer; I think also from Robertson County. The bacon was principally obtained by the foraging parties that were sent out.

Question. How does the army in Tennessee obtain its supplies now?

Principally by the Cumberland River. Some Government supplies are received over the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

Question. Is the forage for the army procured in that way?

At present I believe almost all the forage is procured by the way of the river. I believe during the month of January and part of February the forage for the army was obtained in the vicinity of Murfreesborough from the country; at least so I was informed, and we forwarded very little during that time from Nashville.


Page 629 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.