Today in History:

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

Page 669 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. What is the distance from General Buell's camp to the point where you met General Thomas?

I suppose it was about 3 1/2 miles, as near as I can judge.

Question. Did you consume all the time from a quarter past 4 to half past 6 in accomplishing that 3 1/2 miles?

I stated that I left our camp at about half past 4.

Question. Did you require all the time from half past 4 to half past 6 to accomplished 3 1/2 miles?

I was all that time hunting up the general, and discovered him accidentally. He was not at his own headquarters; he was out in front, and I lighted on him accidentally about the time I stated, which was about two hours after I left our own camp. He was off the road then in the field, and no one the road knew anything of his whereabouts at all.

Question. How was he engaged at the time you met him?

He had his aide-de-camp and was riding to his own headquarters; at least I suppose so, as he went straight there as I joined him.

Question. Did you receive this verbal order directly from General Buell or from his chief of staff?

I have answered that already, that I received it from General Buell.

Question. Repeat as near as possible the exact phraseology you used in communicating General Buell's order to General Thomas.

I repeat the words of the order exactly, which are:"To press the attack on the right, as General McCook had been driven back on the left, and to send a brigade on the Springfield road at once." I found at the time that I reached there that a brigade was on its way to the Springfield road.

Question. Had any attack been made on the right at that time?

They had skirmishing on the right; that was all I knew of it.

Question. Did that skirmishing amount to an attack?

I heard it called heavy skirmishing, and that is the name I give it.

Question. How long did you remain at General Thomas' headquarters and what time did you leave there?

I must have staid there three-quarters of an hour, I think. I ate my supper, gave my horse a feed, and then started for home about 8 o'clock perhaps.

Question. Did you suppose the nature of the order you carried to General Thomas was to attack the enemy after dark?

I suppose when he received the order that he would advance at once; that was my own idea. There was a bright moon and it was almost as light as day.

Question. Would you infer from General Thomas' character as a soldier that if he received a positive order and understood the order to be positive to attack the enemy, he would not do it, night or day?

He received the order in the words I stated before. It could be judged whether the order was positive or not. The advance was not made.

Question. Did you conversation take place between you and General Thomas, after he received the order, by which you would infer that he understood the order to attack the enemy to be positive? Repeat any conversation as literally as possible.

I gave him the order at once when I reached him, and told him how long I had been gone from General Buell at his own headquarters; and he asked if the attack was to be made at night. I repeated the order to him at once, and left him to judge whether the advance was to be made at night. I carried him the words of the order right off in a great hurry.


Page 669 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.