Cu. XXI.] GUERRILLA ROBBERS AND MURDERERS. sent a portion of his force to Chattanooga, thus outflanking Buell, and, with Eastern Tennessee already in possession, securing an open route in the rear of Nashville to Kentucky. Finding the guerrilla warfare particuarly annoying, in interfering with his communications, in destroying railroad bridges, and in various other ways, Buell felt compelled to abandon his line of defence in Northern Alabama, and withdraw his divisions under Nelson, Wood, McCook, Crittenden and Thomas from their several stations to Murfreesborough and the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad.* On the 19th of August, Clarksville, Tennessee, on the Cumberland River, was surrendered by the officer in command, Col. R. Mason, to an inferior force and without firing a gun. In another direction, to the north-east of Nashville, the famous John Morgan, on the 12th of August, made a dash with his guerrillas upon Gallatin, capturing Col. Boone and four companies of a Kentucky regiment. The place was retaken directly afterwards, and the damage done to the railroad, the bridges, etc., was repaired. On the 22d, Gen. R. W. Johnson, with about 800 men, attacked Morgan and his raiders near Gallatin, the result of which was, that Johnson was taken prisoner and, to * On the 5th of August, Gen. R. L. McCook was Over a murdered by a body of guerrillas near Salem, Ala. He was sick at the time, and travelling in an ambulance, one regiment of his brigade being in advance and the remainder some distance in the rear. hundred guerrillas, lying in ambush, waited the favorable moment of his being at a distance from his men, and rushing upon him, shot him down in cold blood. An able and excellent officer, his death was sincerely lamented by all who knew him, especially the men under his immediate command. 219 their disgrace, more than half his force was killed or captured. Successes like these, in various directions, emboldened the guerrillas, and they became more troublesome thar ever. Travel ceased to be safe, even near the capital; the mails were robbed; Union men were seized and dragged off; and quite frequently small detachments of Union troops were suddenly set upon and killed or made prisoners. The state of things became intolerable, and in the western part of Kentucky, they resolved to hang every guerrilla that was caught. In addition to the men who served under Morgan, Forrest, and such like, there was a class of marauders who followed or accompanied them, a desperate band, who spared neither sex nor age, and who plundered and ravaged all alike. The same process of guerrilla warfare was carried on against boats on the Missis sippi, who were signaled to come near the shore, as if for passengers or freight, and then fired into from ambush, or seized and plundered. At Randolph, on the Mississippi, an outrage of this kind was perpetrated, which led Gen. Sherman to send a force from Memphis and completely destroy the place. The movement of the Army of the Ohio was now in a northerly direction, parallel with the advance of Bragg through Middle Tennessee toward Kentucky.* Bragg leaving Chattanooga on the 21st of August, followed up the * The principal object of the present rebel invasion was to obtain supplies of meat, the deficiency of which the disloyal states were feeling already very keenly. It was hoped also, that by means of a large military force within her borders, Kentucky might be coaxed or compelled to cast in her lot with secession and re bellion. Valley of the Sequatchie to Pikeville, the war, as they had the power, and to thence to Sparta, threatening Buell's army, and pursuing his route by Carthage, entered Kentucky the first week in September, just after Kirby Smith had gained possession of Frankfort. At Glasgow, on the 18th of September, Bragg issued a proclamation, in substance the same as those issued by Morgan and Kirby Smith, making the same pretensions and asking the same returns. refuse to let the East grow rich by tariffs and the like, imposed on them as well as on the South. Very possibly. Bragg and his fellow laborers in a bad cause, may have thought that the inhabitants of the North-west might be persuaded to aid them in their designs by appealing to motives of self-interest and narrow and unworthy prejudices; but, if so, they were grievously disappointed. On the contrary, the loyal supporters of the Union were nerved to fresh and determined efforts to put down the rebellion. During two months from the date of the occupation of the Gap, Gen. Morgan had bravely main 1862. A few days before this, there was a sharp engagement between the advance of Buckner's division of Bragg's army, and the Union troops, 3,000 in number, Gen. Morgan, who held the importstationed at Munfordsville, on Green ant post at Cumberland Gap (see p. 180), River, where the Louisville and Nash- was cut off from his usual sources of ville Railroad crosses. The rebels de- supply The rebels de- supply by the invasion of Kentucky manded the surrender of the place, under Bragg. which was refused by Col. Wilder, the commander of the troops. An attack was made at daylight, which was retained his position; but apprepulsed with considerable slaughter. hension of famine, and of being The fight was renewed two days later, finally compelled to surrender, induced and continued till the close of the day. him, while he had opportunity, to make As Bragg was near with his main force, good his retreat. Accordingly, on the Col. Dunham, then in command, sur- 17th of September, he gave orders for rendered the place, on the 17th of Sep- the evacuation. The military buildings, tember; his force amounting to about and all the stores which could not 4,500 in all, together with 10 guns. readily be carried away, were burnt. The escape of Morgan and his troops along a wild mountain track of 250 miles, through the counties of Eastern Kentucky, by way of Manchester, Hazel Green, West Liberty and Grayson, to the Ohio at Greenupsburg, where they arrived on the 3d of October, was one of the most perilous adventures of the war, beset, as they were, by the enemy, by Marshall's and Smith's divisions, on whose flank they Bragg next advanced to Bardstown, where on the 26th, he issued another proclamation addressed to the people of the North-west. In this document, which was a curious mixture of argument, entreaty and threatening, Bragg gave expression to the sentiments which were largely entertained by the rebel leaders at the time. It was an elaborate effort to stir up sectional strife and division, begging them to put a stop to CH. XXI.] BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE OR CHAPLIN'S HILLS. were moving. Much suffering and privation, from want of water and sup plies of food, were cheerfully undergone, and having saved their cannon, which were dragged the whole of the distance by oxen and mules, 10,000 men, with 28 pieces of artillery and 400 wagons, marched in safety to the Ohio. 221 evacuated by Bragg the day before, and on the 6th, he arrived at Springfield, sixty-two miles from Lexington. There were frequent skirmishing and contests with the rebel army's rear guard, Bragg being twenty-four hours in advance of our troops and steadily gaining. Buell learned, on the 7th of OctoBuell, leaving Nashville in charge of ber, that the enemy were in force at Gen. Negley, had followed Bragg's in- Perryville, forty-two miles south of vading force closely on its route into Frankfort. He determined to surround Kentucky, and re occupied Munfords the enemy, if possible, and accordingly ville. While the rebel general was ordered the three army corps which making his way toward Frankfort, were marching upon Perryville by dif Buell marched by the main road into ferent roads, to advance without any Louisville, where the advance arrived delay. McCook and Gilbert continued on the 25th of September. Here, in their march without interruption, but and around the city, he found a con- Crittenden lost half a day in searching siderable body of raw troops, hastily for water. gathered from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, under the command of Gen. Nelson, who, it may here be mentioned, was shot a few days afterwards in a rencontre with Gen. J. C. Davis. Bragg had already begun his retreat from Perryville, but hearing of Crittenden's delay on the march, he resolved to fight McCook and Gilbert and defeat them, and then fall upon CrittenSome confusion and trouble arose for den. Accordingly, Hardee's corps was a while, out of the bringing together of recalled to Perryville, and McCook, troops, and the apparent conflict of wholly unexpectedly, on the morning authority between officers belonging to of the 8th of October, found the rebels the armies of Ohio and Kentucky. In in front of him, prepared for an assault. due time matters were brought to a Taken by surprise, with raw, inefficient settlement; Kentucky was withdrawn troops, McCook's corps was, in a few from the department of Ohio, and the hours, badly cut up and compelled to army of Gen. Buell was organized in fall back nearly a mile. Reinforcethree corps, under the command res- ments were promptly ordered up; but pectively of Gens. A. McD. McCook, night coming on, the fight ceased. T. L. Crittenden and C. C. Gilbert. Crittenden's corps arrived in the evenGen. Thomas was second in command of the whole. On the 1st of October, Buell left Louisville with an army of about 100,000 men, in pursuit of Bragg and his army of invasion. On the 4th, he reached Rardstown, which had been ing, and early the next day, it was ascertained that Bragg had retreated. The loss in killed and wounded, in the battle of Perryville or Chaplin's Hills, was severe, numbering, according to Buell's report, about 4,000. The rebel as ours. loss, so far as known, was fully as severe up on the direct road as far as Loudon, and on the branch road to Manchester. Further than this it was deemed, by Buell, inexpedient and useless to coutinue the pursuit. Bragg having now some 60,000 men, it was expected that he would make a stand at Camp Dick Robinson, on Dick River. Buell's plan was to make a feint of attacking in front, while the real attack was to be made on the flanks. Crittenden was to advance in front, and McCook and Gilbert to approach by different roads so as to cut off Bragg's escape, and compel him to fight or surrender. Bragg seems to have divined Buell's purpose, and on the night of the 11th of October, evacuated Camp Dick Robinson, having as spoils which he was anxious to secure, 4,000 wagons with the mark "U.S." upon them, and some 5,000 head of cat. tle, 1,000 mules and as many sheep. So soon as Buell learned the fact of Bragg's retreat, he ordered immediate pursuit by the army encamped near Danville. The rebels, however, possess ed such superior knowledge of the country, and were so skilful in availing themselves of every advantage, that the rear guard of Bragg was able to hold in check the advance of our troops and prevent their doing any material injury to the retreating army. Bragg kept the road toward Cumberland Gap, and re. tired in the direction of Crab Orchard. On the 14th of October, our army set out early for this latter place, but were delayed by sagacious manœuvres of the enemy, and their advance hindered for several hours. Crittenden's corps, with W. S. Smith's division, urged on the pursuit as rapidly and as well as the difficult way, often passing through narrow defiles, admitted; it was kept The invasion of Kentucky was cer tainly successful in the matter of ob. taining a large amount of supplies and stores of various kinds; but in other respects it was a failure. The Kentuckians did not rally around the rebel standard, and evidently preferred to remain in their true and proper place in the Union. Pollard, angered at the "abject attitude" of those who “dragged the names of Maryland and Ken tucky in the dust," cannot but admit "that the South was bitterly disap pointed in the manifestations of public sentiment in Kentucky, and that the exhibitions of sympathy in this state were meagre and sentimental, and amounted to but little practical aid of our cause."* He strives to find a rea son for all this, but in vain. Kentucky, as a whole, was loyal; and yet Jeff. Davis had the assurance to claim this state as a member of his so-called "confederacy." CH. XXI.] BATTLE OF IUKA. 223 body of rebel cavalry, under Armstrng the enemy on the flank, and push for. was made August 30th, against Bolivar, ward the balance of his column on the in Tennessee, for the purpose of severing Fulton road, so as to cut off Price's rethe railroad at that point. They were treat, in case he should attempt it. met, when within five miles of Bolivar, With this understanding, on the mornby Col. Legget, with a body of Ohio ing of September 18th, the army began troops numbering about 900. Al- its movement. Stanley's and Hamil though the enemy were estimated to be ton's divisions, under Rosecrans, left at least 4,000 strong, yet our men Clear Creek, amid a drenching rain, and bravely resisted their advance, and after a fatiguing march, bivouacked that compelled them, after a seven hours' night at Jacinto. At dawn the next engagement, to move off in another day, they were again on the march, and direction. Armstrong next attacked a about ten o'clock, the advance of detachment of our troops, on the rail- Hamilton's division came upon the picroad at Medon, August 31st; and again, kets of the enemy at Barnett's Corners. the following day, at Britton's Lane; A sharp skirmish ensued, which resultbut in both cases he was repulsed with ed in driving them six miles toward severe loss, and our men remained in Iuka. possession of the field. The entire column having now ar rived at Barnett's Corners, Rosecrans waited, according to previous understanding, for the sound of Grant's artillery, as the signal for him to move forward; but after the lapse of two hours, he received a dispatch from Grant, then only seven miles from Iuka, that he was waiting for Rosecrans to commence the battle. Immediately the column was moved forward until within two miles of Iuka, where the enemy were discovered posted on a broad ridge commanding the country for some distance. A sharp fire was opened upon the skirmishers as they advanced, under which Hamilton's division came up and Early in September, it became evident that the rebels, under Sterling Price, were preparing to advance and break the line of communication between Grant and Buell, in order that, having crossed the Tennessee, they might operate to advantage on the flank of Buell's army, in concert with the advance of Bragg to Kentucky. Iuka, a small town on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, twenty miles southeast of Corinth, had been seized upon by the rebels, and was now occupied by Price in force. This led to steps at once, on the part of Grant and Rosecrans, who, in dislodging Price from his position, resolved to make a double attack. It was decided that a formed in line. The engagement column of 18,000 men, under Grant speedily became general, and continued and Ord, should move by way of for two hours, when darkness preventBurnsville, and attack Price, while ed a continuance of the fight. It was Rosecrans, moving by way of Jacinto a fierce contest, and brought out the with part of his corps, was to attack | bravery and spirit of the troops, who |