the army of the cumberland-第8章

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ow　one　o'clock；　and　beyond　the　skirmishes　between　the　commands　but　little　had　been　accomplished。

Forrest's　officers　urged　him　to　withdraw　with　the　results　obtained　up　to　that　time。　　This　he　refused　to　do；　and　made　disposition　of　his　command　for　further　attack　on　the　Federal　forces　occupying　the　camp　of　the　Ninth　Michigan；　which　consisted　of　this　regiment　and　a　company　of　the　Second　Kentucky　cavalry。　　He　dismounted　two　of　his　regiments　and　threw　forward　skirmishers；　directed　them　to　open　brisk　firing；　and　sent　the　Second　Georgia　dismounted　to　attack　on　the　left。　　After　this　he　brought　up　the　Eighth　Texas　and　placed　them　in　position　to　charge　on　the　left。

Having　made　this　disposition　of　his　forces；　he　sent　forward；　under　a　flag　of　truce；　a　written　demand　for　the　surrender　of　Duffield's　command；　which　was　complied　with　at　once。　　After　this；　Forrest　demanded　the　surrender　of　the　Third　Minnesota；　which　Lester；　after　an　interview　with　Duffield　and　a　consultation　with　his　own　officers；　made；　surrendering　some　five　hundred　infantry　of　his　regiment　and　two　sections　of　Hewitt's　battery　of　artillery。　　The　entire　forces　surrendered　were　seventeen　hundred　troops　with　four　pieces　of　artillery。　　Forrest　captured　about　six　hundred　horses　and　mules；　and　a　very　large　quantity　of　stores　and　Government　supplies；　part　of　which　he　carried　away　and　the　rest　he　destroyed；　to　the　value　of　nearly　a　million　of　dollars。

This　loss　occurred　the　day　after　the　opening　of　the　road　from　Nashville　south；　and　very　seriously　interfered　with　the　movements　at　the　front。　　Nelson　endeavored　to　intercept　Forest；　but　could　not　successfully　〃chase　cavalry　with　infantry。〃　　Forrest　on　Nelson's　approach　withdrew　to　McMinnville；　and　from　there　made　a　dash　on　Lebanon；　some　fifty　miles　distant；　where　he　expected　to　find　a　force　of　five　hundred　Federal　cavalry。　　This　force　escaped　him；　and　he　then　swept　around　to　the　south　of　Nashville；　captured　150　bridge　guards　and　burned　four　bridges。　　Learning　that　Nelson　was　again　in　pursuit　of　him；　Forrest　returned　to　McMinnville。

From　this　point　he　made　repeated　raids　on　the　line　of　road　south　of　Nashville；　leaving　Morgan　to　operate　against　the　Louisville　and　Nashville　Railroad。　　These　raiders　were　able　to　move　almost　without　opposition；　as　Buell　was　without　sufficient　cavalry　to　cope　with　them。　　The　latter　had　been　compelled　to　divide　his　cavalry　into　small　bands　to　run　down　the　guerillas　that　had　been　operating　on　his　line　of　railroad。　　Now　that　Forrest's　and　Morgan's　commands　had　become　so　formidable；　he　was　compelled　to　organize　his　cavalry　into　united　bodies　for　better　defensive　movements　against　these　raiders。　　The　Second　Indiana；　Fourth　and　Fifth　Kentucky；　and　Seventh　Pennsylvania　cavalry　regiments　he　formed　into　one　brigade；　and　on　August　11th；　he　sent　it　under　General　R。　W。　Johnson　against　Morgan；　who　had　been　ordered　by　Bragg　to　break　the　railroad　between　Louisville　and　Nashville；　in　order　to　retard　Buell's　movement　north　to　Louisville　as　much　as　possible；　and　who　was　operating　about　Gallatin；　Tennessee；　which　he　had　captured　with　200　prisoners。　Colonel　Boone　was　in　command　of　the　Federal　forces　at　this　point。　Morgan　hearing　that　Boone　slept　in　the　town　away　from　the　camp；　sent　a　small　force　to　capture　him；　which　was　done；　just　as　he　had　dressed　and　was　starting　to　camp。　　Morgan　then　destroyed　a　railroad　bridge　south　of　Gallatin；　and　the　tunnel　six　miles　north；　the　roof　of　which　was　supported　with　large　beams　on　upright　timbers。　　Running　some　freight　cars　into　the　tunnel；　they　were　set　on　fire　and　some　eight　hundred　feet　of　it　destroyed；　the　roof　caving　in。

Johnson　sought　to　attack　Morgan　before　he　could　unite　with　Forrest；　who　was　on　his　Lebanon　raid　at　that　time；　but　Morgan　hearing　that　Johnson　had　infantry　and　artillery　supports；　endeavored　to　avoid　an　engagement。　　Johnson　forced　the　fight；　engaged　Morgan　with　spirit；　and　although　repulsed　three　times；　after　the　first　and　second　repulse　formed　promptly　and　renewed　the　attack。　　After　the　third　repulse　the　Federal　forces　commenced　retreating；　when　Morgan　followed；　attacked　Johnson's　retreating　forces　and　drove　the　Federals　some　three　miles。　　Johnson　reformed　his　lines　twice；　but　the　enemy　broke；　and　drove　them　each　time。　　He　then　reformed　the　remnant　of　his　command　and　fought　the　enemy　dismounted；　when　the　latter　charged　again；　and　Johnson；　seeing　that　the　greater　part　of　his　command　had　scattered；　surrendered。　　The　force　that　was　with　him　at　this　time　was　only　a　small　band　of　some　twenty…five　soldiers　and　a　few　officers。　　His　loss　was　20　killed　and　42　wounded。　　Duke　in　his　〃History　of　Morgan's　Cavalry；〃　says：　　〃A　great　deal　of　censure　was　at　the　time　cast　upon　these　men〃Johnson's　command〃and　they　were　accused　of　arrant　cowardice　by　the　Northern　press。　　Nothing　could　have　been　more　unjust。　　They　attacked　with　spirit　and　without　hesitation；　and　were　unable　to　close　with　us　on　account　of　their　heavy　loss　in　men　and　horses。　　I　have　seen　troops　much　more　highly　boasted　than　these　were　before　their　defeat；　behave　not　nearly　so　well。〃　　And　of　Johnson；　Duke　says：　　〃His　attack　was　made　promptly　and　in　splendid　style；　his　dispositions　throughout　the　first　fight　were　good；　and　he　exhibited　fine　personal　courage　and　energy。〃





Chapter　V。




Bragg's　Advance　into　Kentucky。


After　Nelson's　pursuit　of　Forrest　on　his　raid　around　Nashville；　he　was　ordered　by　General　Buell　to　McMinnville。　　Crittenden　and　McCook　with　their　divisions　were　at　Battle　Creek；　Thomas　and　Wood　were　on　the　line　of　the　Nashville　and　Chattanooga　Railroad；　and　Mitchel's　division；　under　the　command　of　Rousseau；　on　the　line　of　railroad　from　Decatur　to　Columbia。　　Bragg　had　so　well　concealed　his　intention　as　to　his　advance；　that　Buell　was　compelled　to　be　in　readiness　to　meet　him　in　the　event　of　one　of　three　movements；　which　it　was　supposed　he　would　make　if　he　moved　before　Buell　was　ready　to　advance　upon　him。

The　latter　thought　Bragg　would　either　move　by　the　left；　pass　around　into　Northern　Alabama；　cross　at　Decatur；　and　press　north　for　Nashville。　　This　he　regarded　as　the　most　likely　movement。　　Or；　second；　more　direct；　crossing　the　mountains；　pass　through　McMinnville；　and　so　on　to　Nashville。　　Or；　third；　to　move　by　way　of　Knoxville　into　Eastern　Kentucky。　　The　latter；　up　to　the　first　of　September；　Buell　regarded　as　hardly　a　possibility；　supposing　Bragg's　movements　all　indicated　an　advance　on　Nashville。　　Thomas　was　ordered　to　assume　command　of　the　troops　at　McMinnville；　to　repair　the　railroad　from　Tullahoma　to　that　point　as　he　went；　and　to　establish　posts　of　observation　with　signal　stations　on　the　mountains　to　watch　Bragg's　movements。　　Thomas　assumed　command　at　McMinnville　on　the　19th　of　August；　on　the　same　day　that　Bragg　sent　a　column　of　three　or　four　thousand　troops　across　the　river　at　Chattanooga。　　Buell；　in　anticipation　of　this　being　the　advance　of　Bragg's　entire　army　en　route　for　Nashville；　despatched　Wood　to　the　vicinity　of　McMinnville；　to　aid　in　resisting　his　advance。　　He　then　ordered　McCook　to　move　from　Battle　Creek　to　the　Therman　road；　where　he　was　to　hold　the　enemy　in　check　until　re…enforced　by　Thomas。　　Crittenden's　division　was　sent　up　the　valley　through　Tracy　City；　by　the　Altamont　road；　to　be　within　supporting　distance　of　McCook；　and　to　watch　the　road　from　there　to　Chattanooga。　　Thomas　was　directed　to　hold　his　command　in　readiness　to　move　at　a　moment's　notice；　either　on　the　Therman　or　Dunlap　road。　　On　the　22d；　Buell　learned　that　Bragg's　whole　army　was　north　of　the　Tennessee；　and　he　then；　further　to　concentrate　his　command；　moved　his　supplies　from　the　depot　at　Stenvson　to　Dechard。　Thomas　on　the　same　day　telegraphed　from　McMinnville　to　Buell　that　he　believed　Bragg's　movements　meant　an　advance　of　his　entire　army　into　Kentucky。　　Thomas　reconnoitered　thoroughly　the　front　of　his　position；　and　ascertained　that　the　enemy　was　not　there　and　not　as　yet　even　in　Sequatchie　Valley。　　This　he　reported　to　Buell；　and　suggested　that　Wood's　division　be　posted　at　Sparta；　to　intercept　Bragg's　advance；　if　made　through　that　place；　that　another　division　be　left　at　Dechard；　to　watch　any　movement　in　that　direction；　and　that　the　remaining　portions　of　the　command　be　concentrated　at　McMinnville；　ready　to　offer　battle　to　Bragg's　army　if　it　should　advance　on　that　front。　　Thomas　regarded　Bragg's　advance　either　on　Nashville　or　Louisville　as　possible　only　through　McMinnville　or　Sparta；　and　he　proposed　to　attack　before　Bragg　could　reach　either。　　On　the　next　day　Buell；　under　advices　that　he　regarded　as　reliable；　ordered　the　First；　Second；　Fourth；　Fifth；　and　Sixth　Divisions　to　concentrate　at　Altamont；　intending　there　to　offer　battle。　　He　sent　detailed　instructions　to　Thomas；　in　charge　of　the　movement；　as　to　the　disposition　of　his　command；　with　orders　in　the　event　of　defeat　to　fall　back；　keeping　his　force　between　the　enemy　and　Nashville。　　On　the　25th；　Thomas　reached　Altamont；　and　finding　no　enemy　nearer　than　the　Sequatchie　Valley；　and　regarding　Bragg's　advance　by　way　of　Altamont　improbable；　owing　to　the　bad　condition　of　the　roads；　and　lack　of　forage　and　water；　returned　to　McMinnville　with　the　Fourth　and　Sixth　Divisions。　　On　the　30th；　Buell　gave　orders　concentrating　his　entire　command　at　Murfreesboro；　still　under　the　impression　that　Bragg　expected　to　strike　for　Nashville。　　The　latter's　movements　were　so　well　guarded；　and　Buell　had　as　yet　so　little　reliable　information　in　regard　to　them；　that　he　hesitated　even　after　the　order　was　issued；　and　the　next　day　asked　Thomas's　advice　in　regard　to　it；　in　the　light　of　any　further　information　as　to　the　movements　of　the　enemy。　　Thomas　advised　that　the　movement　proceed；　having　been　commenced；　and　gave　a　plan　of　battle　in　the　movement　from　Murfreesboro。　　Thomas；　on　the　30th；　captured　a　despatch　that　Bragg；　on　the　27th；　had　sent　to　Van　Dorn；　in　command　in　Mississippi；　conveying　to　him　in　full　his　plans　in　regard　to　his　advance　into　Kentucky；　and　informed　him　that　Kirby　Smith；　re…enforced　with　two　divisions　from　this　army；　had　turned　Cumberland　Gap；　and　was　marching　on　Lexington；　Ky。

Buell's　army　at　Murfreesboro　consisted　of　five　divisions　under　his　immediate　command；　the　troops　being　then　on　the　line　of　the　railroad。　　In　addition　he　had　two　divisions　sent　to　him　from　the　Army　of　the　TennesseeGeneral　J。　C。　Davis'　division；　under　General　R。　B。　Mitchell；　which　arrived　at　Murfreesboro　on　the　2d　of　September；　and　General　E。　A。　Paine's　division；　under　the　command　of　General　J。　M。　Palmer；　which　reached　Nashville　on　the　10th。　　This　concentration　of　the　army　at　Murfreesboro　of　course　withdrew　all　troops　from　the　mountains；　leaving　Bragg　unhampered　in　the　selection　of　his　route；　either　west　to　Nashville；　or　north　to　Louisville。　　He　made　choice　of　the　latter；　and　pushed　down　the　valley　of　the　Cumberland　to　Carthage；　where　he　crossed；　moving　through　Scottsboro　and　Glasgow；　to　strike　the　Louisville　and　Nashville　Railroad。　　Bragg　entered　Kentucky　with　five　divisions；　making　an　army　of　some　thirty…five　thousand　men；　divided　between　Generals　Polk　and　Hardee。　　While　at　Murfreesboro　Buell　first　learned　definitely　of　Bragg's　movements；　and　of　his　intended　advance　into　Kentucky。　　The　news　of　the　movements　of　Kirby　Smith　and　of　Nelson's　defeat　also　reached　him　here。

On　August　16th；　Buell　had　ordered　Nelson　to　assume　comma