Today in History:

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

Page 834 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

ten buildings, including the warehouse, filled with forage and commissary stores, burned.

Their force at that point and Law's and Matthews' Landings was variously estimated at from 600 to 1,200, all mounted, with no artillery, and is said to consist of a battalion of Forrest's cavalry or battalion of Adams' cavalry and two or three companies of guerrillas and bushwhackers raised in that vicinity.

During that night (Monday, 28th) the boat from Matthews' Ferry was moved up to Law's Landing and an attempt was made to cross under cover of night and get in our rear, but by the vigilance of Captain Spaulding, of the Fifteenth Kentucky, and his company, who were on picket guard at that place, they were prevented from crossing, and compelled to leave their boat, with a loss of 2 killed and several wounded.

The next morning I took a part of my forces, consisting of one company of cavalry and one of infantry and one gun, and went to that point and destroyed their boat, also giving them a farewell salute of a few shell in their camp, about a mile distant, but with what effect we could not ascertain. Having previously sent out scouting parties and thoroughly canvassed the shore for boats and ascertained that there were none, at least that could be found between that point and Guntersville, we returned to camp and collected our forces and proceeded down the river toward Whitesburg and encamped at Cottonville, near the Old Deposit Ferry. Then I sent a small force, consisting of one company of cavalry and one gun, under command of Major Seidel, down to the ferry to destroy the boat at that point. On their approach the rebel pickets cut the boat loose and it floated down the stream over a mile before it was discovered, when the first shot from the artillery struck and sunk it. Having accomplished their object they returned to camp.

The next morning I sent Major Seidel with a detachment of cavalry on a scout to Ferrin's Landing, about 4 miles below Deposit, to ascertain if there were any boats at that place, and report if necessary to destroy them. I then left one piece of artillery and one company of cavalry and one of infantry at the road leading to this point to assist in destroying the boats, if necessary, and proceeded with the balance of the command to Vienna, and there awaited their arrival. When they came up Major Seidel reported that he found one large boat on this side of the river at that point and another on the opposite side. He dismounted a part of his cavalry and crossed in the boat lying on this side, and procured the other and brought them both to this shore, and totally destroyed and sunk them without the aid of the other forces. They then pushed on and joined us at Vienna, where our command separated, Major Campbell, with the infantry and artillery, proceeding toward Whitesburg, and I returned with the cavalry the same evening (Wednesday, 30th) to our camp at Woodville.

I regret to record that while proceeding with the command near Vienna one of my men-James Weldon, of Company K, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry-was shot and instantly killed by a villain concealed in the thick woods near the road. I immediately sent out scouting parties in all directions, with instructions to shoot down all persons found in arms and arrest all male citizens found in the vicinity. Only one was found and arrested-McDonald, living in sight of where the man was shot. He denies all connection with or knowledge of the murder, but I think it almost impossible that he could not know something about it, if he was not actually engaged in it. I therefore send him to your headquarters for such punishment as you may think proper, fully satisfied that to put down bushwhacking vigorous and severe


Page 834 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.