Today in History:

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

Page 89 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

14 miles of Bowling Green, at a creek which made its appearance there, and next morning my division reached a place, Cave Mills, 4 miles this side of Bowling Green. There we found General Crittenden encamped with his division. We encamped there that night. Next day I marched to a camp 1 1/2 miles below Bowling Green, near Barren River. At Bowling Green the army was reorganized, as far as command was concerned. These divisions were called columns, consisting of two divisions each. We remained at Bowling Green two days. My command consisted of my own division and the division of General Robert [B.] Mitchell, of the Army of the Mississippi. I then received an order to march next morning. The rest of the army, Crittenden and Rousseau. I marched that day to Dripping Sprigs until next day, 1 o'clock. I then moved on and camped at Prewitt's Knob, a distance of 13 miles. Remained at Prewitt's Knob two days; then marched to a point near Munfordville, on Green River, a distance of about 14 miles; made the march at night. Next day I marched from Munfordville and camped at Bacon Creek, having to cross Green River. Next day I was marched from Bacon Creek to Elizabethtown, a distance of 24 miles. Next day's march was from Elizabethtown to mouth of Salt River, 23 miles. Next day's march was within 7 miles of Louisville, at a place called Greenwood, on the Ohio River, at 10 o'clock p.m. On reaching Greenwood, as the rear of my division was marching into camp, I received an order to march upon Louisville. The roads being very dusty and great scarcity of water and hard marching upon pike roads, my men were worn-out. I sent for my brigade commanders and inquired particularly as to the condition of my men. I then postponed marching until 3 o'clock a.m. At 3 o'clock a.m. I received a note from General Buell by hands of Lieutenant Anderson, ordering my division to halt where I was, General Buell supposing I had been on the march. I also received a note from General Crittenden, who had obeyed the order and marched on Louisville, not to hurry my command, as his men were standing in the streets and not assigned to any camp. I left my camp at Greenwood at 8 o'clock and marched on Louisville and camped near the Jeffersonville Ferry, where I remained until an advance was made against Bragg and Kirby Smith, then in Kentucky.

At Louisville the army was organized into corps, consisting of three divisions. I was placed in command of the First Corps, consisting of my own (Second) division, General Rousseau's division (Third), and General Jackson's division (Eleventh), consisting of raw levies. I don't exactly remember the number of days we were at Louisville in reorganizing, but we moved at the earliest possible moment supplies could be obtained, and as it was I marched with a deficiency of canteens and haversacks. We marched without baggage. I think one wagon to a regiment was allowed to carry officers' blankets and few rations. Soldiers had mess-pans made and carried them on their persons. Regiments that were supplied with cooking utensils one wagon was allowed to carry them.

When we marched from Louisville my corps was divided. Sill's division was ordered to march on Shellbyville pike toward Frankfort. My other division marched 6 miles on Bardstown pike, then turned to the left on Taylorsville pike, and camped that night beyond Jeffersontown. I was ordered next day to march to a point, the junction of Shellbyville and Taylorsville and Louisville and Taylorsville pikes. It was absolutely impossible for me to encamp there, as the streams were dry. I marched that night 5 miles farther, to Taylorsville, on Salt River. I remained at Taylorsville next day; the day after marched to Bloomfield. I was kept in communication with General Buell, and he prescribed the day's march for each corps from day to day. The orders were for each corps to have four orderlies at his headquarter, so as to enable him to communicate with the different corps from day to day.

I remained at Bloomfield with my two divisions from Saturday until Monday morning. While at Bloomfield I received instructions from General Buell to be ready to march to the support of Sill in case he should fail at Frankfort or to be ready to march to the support of Sill to operate with the main body in attack on Bragg. I then received an order to march from Bloomfield to Harrodsburg, there to form a junction with Sill at or near Harrodsburg. I sent that order to General Sill and told him to meet me on a certain day. This order was countermanded. Sill was ordered to march by way of Lawrenceburg and Chaplintown, and the follow my route, by way of Chaplintown, Willisburg, and Mackville, to the position assigned me at Perryville. General Buell sent me a guide, Captain Beverly [D.] Williams, who bore an order. The order was an optional one to march by way of Springfield. Captain Williams informed me he could carry me through by way of Willisburg and Mackville. I left Bloomfield Monday and marched to Chaplin River, 1 1/2 miles beyond Chaplintown. On Tuesday I marched to Mackville-on the 7th of October. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 8th I received a letter of instructions relating to my position in line at Perryville, ordering me to march at 3 o'clock a.m. I marched at 5 o'clock a.m., my division being separated about a mile on account of water. I reached a point designated for my line about 9 o'clock a.m. near Perryville. Was ordered to take position about 3 miles from Perryville.


Page 89 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.