the conscription act was enforced, and men were forced into the ranks of the Confederate army by the point of the bayonet. The stores of the towns were ordered to be opened, and the goods taken and paid for in Confederate scrip. On the 1st of October Gen. Buell, who had been previously removed from command and reinstated again, moved from Louisville, where he had lost thousands by desertion, to meet the Confederate force, and on the 4th his army arrived at Bardstown. On the previous day a force of Gen. Bragg had evacuated that place. This force consisted of about sixty-five regiments, averaging about three hundred men each, and amounting in total to twenty thousand. It moved from Bardstown in the direction of Springfield. The force of Gen. Buell was stated by the general-in-chief to number about one hundred thousand men. From the first approach of the Confederate forces, every effort had been made to collect new troops at Cincinnati and Louisville, and to fortify these places against a coup de main. To give confidence to the new levies, a portion of Gen. Grant's army was withdrawn from Mississippi and sent to Kentucky and Cincinnati. The army of the Ohio, as Gen. Buell's force was designated, was now divided into three corps, commanded by Gens. Gilbert, Crittenden, and McCook. The new regiments sent to Louisville were placed in brigades with the old ones, which had seen nearly a year's service. On the march from Louisville the corps of Gen. McCook, forming the left wing, took the road to Taylorsville, Gen. Gilbert the road to Shepherdsville, and Gen. Crittenden, forming the right wing, the road to Bardstown. With the latter corps Gen. Buell moved. On the 4th, Richard Hawes was inaugurated at Frankfort as Confederate Provisional Governor, and on the same day the city was evacuated, and he retired with the troops. On the 6th the army of Gen. Buell arrived at Springfield, sixty-two miles from Louisville. Its slow progress had been owing to its numbers, the difficulty of the route and the conflicts with the Confederate rear guard. The main body of the Confederate army was twenty-four hours in advance when Gen. Buell left Louisville, and thus far had been constantly gaining. The order of Gen. Bragg to his rear guard was to prevent the arrival of Gen. Buell at Bardstown before the 4th, if possible, in order to give time to the Confederate wagon train to gain an advance of some twenty miles. Gen. Örittenden's corps only entered the place, and those of Gens. McCook and Gilbert kept on toward Springfield, retaining their position on the left and centre. Gen. Crittenden followed on the 5th. On the 7th it was reported to Gen. Buell that a considerable Confederate force was at Perryville, forty-two miles south of Frankfort. The three army corps were then marching on that place by different roads. Gen. Buell determined to surround the enemy, if possible, and ordered all the divisions to march without delay, leaving behind their transportation. Gens. McCook and Gilbert continued their march, but Gen. Crittenden lost half a day on a circuitous route to obtain water. Gen. Bragg, learning of the united approach of the Union forces, immediately began to retreat. It was the design of Gen. Buell that the three corps should participate in the battle, but Gen. Bragg hearing of the delay of Gen. Crittenden, immediately determined to fight the corps of Gens. McCook and Gilbert, and defeat them if possible, and then to fall upon Gen. Crittenden or to retreat before his arrival. The Confederate general Hardee's corps, which had retreated six miles, was accordingly ordered back in haste to Perryville. Suddenly, on the 8th, Gen. McCook found himself in front of the Confederate line of battle, with his men marching in columns, and without skirmishers in advance, nothing in front but a small advance guard which attempted to attack the enemy's outpost. The Confederate infantry rushed forward and a division of raw troops had to be formed in line of battle under a heavy fire. The raw troops fled in confusion, but the old troops stood their ground. Gen. McCook had approached Perryville by the Knoxville road. Gen. Gilbert had marched direct from Springfield, and had arrived within two miles of Perryville on the preceding evening, the 7th. To Gen. McCook's request for reënforcements, they were ordered from Gen. Gilbert's corps. At the same time Gen. Crittenden was ordered to push forward on the Lebanon road to attack the Confederate left. The advance of Gen. Gilbert's reënforcements arrived at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon to support Gen. McCook on the left. His forces were found badly cut up and hotly pressed by the Confederate force, having retreated nearly a mile. The contest continued violent until dark, the Federal force retiring from the field. During the evening Gen. Crittenden's corps came up, but no movement was made till noon of the next day, when it was ascertained that the Confederate force had retired. The Federal loss was about four hundred and sixtysix killed, among whom were Brig.-Gens. Jackson and Tyrrell, fourteen hundred and sixtythree wounded, and one hundred and sixty missing. The Confederate loss was nearly the same. The forces of Gen. Bragg, which he had been able to draw from all quarters, were now about sixty thousand. The arrival of Gen. Crittenden's corps undoubtedly induced Gen. Bragg to continue his retreat. On that evening the Federal troops returned to Perryville. It was now expected that Gen. Bragg would make a stand at Camp Dick Robinson. The position of this place is such that it can easily be defended against an approach in front by a few batteries on the cliffs which line Dick river. It, however, can be easily flanked. It was the plan of Gen. Buell, therefore, to make a feint in front and a strong attack on the flank of the Confederate position. Accordingly, Gen. Crit tenden was ordered to march to Dick river, giving the semblance of a contemplated attack in front. Gens. McCook and Gilbert were to approach by different roads, so as to cut off the escape of Gen. Bragg and leave to him no alternative but to fight or surrender. By the night of the 12th the entire army of the Ohio was within a mile of Danville, which is forty-two miles south of Frankfort, in one of the most fertile and highly improved parts of the State. But Gen. Bragg penetrated the designs of his antagonist in consequence of a retrograde movement by the advance of Gen.Crittenden's corps, under Gen. Wood, and determined to frustrate them. His spoils loaded heavily nearly four thousand wagons, a majority of which were branded with the letters U. S., having been captured during the year; in addition there were several thousand head of cattle, a thousand mules, and as many sheep. The following statement from a highly creditable source at Lexington, Ky., has been made of property taken by Gen. Bragg's forces: We were here in Lexington and saw something of the removal of Government stores, and witnessed the plunderings of the Confederate armies of our dry goods stores, groceries, &c. Upon the resumption of the publication of our paper ("Observer") we stated that an immense amount of Government stores, amounting perhaps to $1,000,000, besides arms suffi cient to arm eighteen or twenty thousand men, were taken off, and we stated precisely the truth, and there are hundreds here who will bear us out in the state 46 ment. We are not inclined to think the "Richmond Examiner" far wrong when it published that the wagon train of supplies brought out of Kentucky by Gen. Kirby Smith was forty miles long, and brought a million yards of jeans, with a large amount of clothing, boots, and shoes, and 200 wagon loads of bacon, 6,000 barrels pork, 1,500 mules and horses, 8,000 beeves, and a large lot of swine." On the night of the 11th the evacuation of Camp Dick Robinson commenced. The destination of Gen. Bragg was Cumberland Gap. Two routes for retreat were open to him, both leading to that point; one by the way of Richmond and Big Hill, through Madison county, and the other, called the Crab Orchard road, by the way of Mt. Vernon and Barboursville. These two roads converge at Pitman's Junetion, twenty-two miles from Mt. Vernon, and fifty-eight miles from Cumberland Gap. At midnight, on the night of the 12th, orders were received from the headquarters of Gen. Buell at Perryville, by the army encamped near Danville, for an immediate advance. Transpor tation of all kinds was ordered to remain behind. Only ambulances were to accompany the troops. Gen. Buell had been informed of the retreat of the Confederate army. At one o'clock the army was in motion toward Stanford, nice miles from Danville, a town through which it was supposed the Confederate force was then retreating. The march was rapid, and the advance arrived in time to see the rear of the Confederate rear guard pass unmolested. Two or three regiments of cavalry, one of which was the Texan Rangers, and two howitzers, was the force of this rear guard. Familiar with the topography of the country, and taking advantage of it whenever favorable to themselves. these troops were able to conceal their staÏÌ numbers and to check the Union advance untî late in the afternoon. Having thus accomplished their object, which was to gain time for the main body, they then retired toward Crab Orchard. From a few prisoners, taken by the Union troops, they learned that the main body of Gen. Bragg's army and half his wagon train had passed through Stanford on the previous day, and the other half of the wagon train had gone safely through Lancaster, and were retreating on the Richmond and Big Hill road. That night the Union army encamped at Stanford. Early the next morning, the 14th, it was on the march, and soon reached Crab Orchard, a distance of ten miles. As it apthe names to show from whom the goods were taken. proached the town, the Confederate rear guard From one house seven boxes of new Springfield rides made its appearance drawn up in battle array. and nine boxes of muskets, with all the tents belong. It had taken possession of two hills, and was ing to Metcalf's cavalry, forty kegs of horse shoes, and in a good position to make a formidable resistone hundred and twenty boxes belonging to four regiance for a short time. This caused the Federal ments, containing clothing and subsistence. The articles taken from this house were valued by the Confed. erates themselves at more than $10,000, and they so declared at the time. The Adams Express office was robbed of everything it contained. All the goods that had been sent and deposited in the establishment from all parts of the country were seized and appropriated. For four weeks, during the stay of the enemy here, a train of cars were running daily to Nicholasville, bearing away mess pork and other articles necessary to the subsistence of armies, while trains of wagons-huge in number-were moving out on the Richmond, Versailles, and Nicholasville roads, day and night, loaded with valuable commodities. We were here and saw and know what occurred, and can prove what we assert. Lexington afforded the Confederates, when they entered it, the richest harvest they have reaped during the war, and nothing is to be made by disguis ing the fact. From the city of Frankfort it is stated that 74,900 yards of jeans were taken from the establishment of Mr. Watson. From one concern in this city (Lexington) they took $106,000 worth of jeans and linseys, from another $10,000 worth, another$9,000, another $10,000, another $5,000. These different amounts in woollen goods we know to have been removed from this city, as we have the names before us from whom they were taken. Aside from this, in boots, shoes, &c., we know of $30,000 worth that they carried off, and also have column to halt. The artillery was then brought up into position, a line of battle was formed, a reconnoissance made, an advance of skirmishers thrown out, and other details performed which caused a delay of several hours. During al this time the army of Gen. Bragg was unmolested and in full retreat. When all the Federal preparations were complete, the Confederate rear guard hastily retired. The Union advance, on the next day, reached Mt. Vernon. On the next day, the 16th, the division of Gens. Van Cleave and Smith were ordered forward; the rest of the advance halted. At this time Gen. McCook's corps and a part of Gen. Gilbert's were at Crab Orchard, and all the cavalry had been ordered to the rear in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining forage in the mountainous region. On the hills and in the defiles between Mt. Vernon and the State line, ten thousand men would be as effective as forty thousand in resisting an army. The pursuit of the Confederate forces now lost all of its importance. The result of the invasion of Kentucky was undoubtedly regarded by the Confederate leaders as successful in obtaining supplies, but they were greatly chagrined at the tardiness of the Kentuckians to rally around the Confederate standard. The desertions from their force exceeded the number of recruits obtained. The Confederate forces now retired into east Tennessee, and Gen. Buell fell back to the line between Louisville and Nashville, where he was superseded in the command by Major-Gen. Rosecrans, under the orders of President Lincoln. Col. Morgan, with a small guerilla force, still remained in the State. The invasion of eastern Kentucky, by the Confederate forces, cut off the line of communication between the Federal forces at Cumberland Gap in east Tennessee and the north. It was followed by the evacuation of that strong position by the Union General, G. W. Morgan. Cumberland Gap is south and a little east of Lexington, Ky., and about one hundred and fifty miles distant. It is a natural gap in a mountain nearly eighty miles in length. There are other places in this long mountain which are called gaps, but this name is given more from the fact that the summit at those places is of more easy access than because of any natural depression of the mountain. At the place called Roger's Gap, next to Cumberland, and eighteen miles west, there is actually no gap; but the road, taking advantage of a succession of ridges on the northern side and running diagonally on the southern side, is rendered passable by man and beast, and may, by great exertions, be passed over by wagons and cannon. The distance from the beginning of the ascent on the one side to the ending of the descent on the other is a little more than five miles. Sixteen miles further west is Big Creek Gap, the crossing at which is a little more difficult. The mountain on each side of Cumberland Gap is about twelve hundred feet high. In the gap it is only four hundred feet. The road through the notch is a good one. On the southern side the mountain is abrupt in some places and almost perpendicular, and the summit is inaccessible without the greatest danger, except by entering the gap and ascending on either the right or left. The northern side is more irregular, breaking off in a succession of smaller mountains and hills, to the valley lying between the gap and Cumberland Ford. But the main mountain towers far above its neighbors. Two roads from Lexington, Ky., lead to the gap. One passes through Nicholasville, Crab Orchard, and Mt. Vernon, by the way of Wild Cat. The other passes through Rich mond, by way of Big Hill. From London, Ky., there is but one road. It is flanked on each side by a succession of hills and mountains, and passes through Barboursville, and crosses the Cumberland Ford. Wagons or cannon could scarcely pass by any other route. This position was important to the Confederate Government, as by its occupation in force they could hold possession of east Tennessee, and prevent any approach from the north to cut their northern railroad line of connec'tion between Richmond and northern Alabama, Mississippi, Nashville, Memphis, and other towns on the Mississippi. Its occupation was also necessary to sustain their advance into eastern Kentucky. A small Confederate force, therefore, took possession of the gap soon after the commencement of hostilities. On the other hand, its possession was important to the Federal Government, as thereby it prevented the invasion of Kentucky from the southeast. It was also the stronghold of east Tennessee, a section in which there existed among the people a stronger and more invincible attachment to the Union than in any other portion of the seceded States. After the defeat of the Confederate forces in southeastern Kentucky, under Gen. Zollicoffer, a body of Federal troops advanced in the direction of Cumberland Gap. On the 15th of February, they were encamped near Cumberland Ford, about ten miles from the gap, which was then occupied by about two thousand Confederate soldiers. Scouting parties were sent out from the camp near the ford, one of which penetrated the gap and captured a few prisoners. On the 13th of March, another expedition consisting of about 12 companies of infantry and 86 cavalry, started from camp near Barboursville, Ky., and crossing the mountain near Big Creek Gap, after four days reached Powell's Valley, five miles from Jacksborough, where a body of about four hundred Confederate cavalry was surprised and routed, and their camp taken possession of. Another body at Jacksborough, about two hundred in number, was next driven out. After remaining four days, the Federal force retired. On the 21st, a strong expedition moved upon the gap and made an attack, and cannonading ensued without any important result except developing the Confederate strength. The Confederate occupation of the gap continued without any serious interference until Chattanooga was occupied by the forces of Gen. Mitchell, as has been stated. This led to its evacuation about the 10th of June. Previous to that date, Gen. Geo. W. Morgan, with a division of Union troops, advanced from Cumberland Ford, and crossing at Roger's Gap, prepared to cut off the supplies for the small force then at Cumberland Gap. Their stock at the time was small; the Confederate forces under Gen. E. K. Smith had moved south from east Tennessee, and the Union forces at hand being large, and threatening in front and rear, no alternative remained to the garrison but to surrender or evacuate the position. On the 14th of July, an expedition was sent against a body of Confederate cavalry at Wallace Cross Roads, and after a brief skirmish the latter retired. Again, on the 9th of August, Col. De Courcy was on a foraging expedition with the 16th and 42d Ohio, 14th and 22d Kentucky, when the 14th Kentucky, being advanced a short distance beyond Tazewell, was attacked by the 11th and 42d Tennessee, 30th Alabama, and 21st Georgia, under Col. Rains. A severe conflict ensued, in which the Confederate forces were compelled to retire before the artillery that was brought to the aid of the Federal forces. force brought safely through to the borders of Ohio. This body of troops under Gen. Morgan numbered more than ten thousand men. It brought twenty-eight pieces of artillery, six of which were 20-pounder siege guns, and four hundred wagons. Four heavy siege guns were destroyed before evacuating the gap, and a large number of sick men were left behind. The march was through a mountainous and unproductive country. A court of inquiry was subsequently ordered to investigate the causes of this evacuation. The position has been subsequently occupied by a small Confederate force. On the 17th of August, a small Confederate It has been stated, that on the advance of force approached in front of the position, and the Confederate army from Richmond to atattacked a body of Union cavalry some two tack the forces of Gen. Pope, troops were summiles out in the valley, who were compelled to moned by the general-in-chief from points adretire with a loss of two or three killed and jacent to come to his support. Among others a wounded. Their camp, however, was pro- portion of the troops of Gen. Cox in western tected from the approach of the Confederate Virginia were brought on to unite with the force by the guns on the mountain. On the army of Virginia. The effect of thus reducing same day information was received by Gen. the force in western Virginia was an invasion Morgan that a large Confederate force had ap- by a Confederate force under Gen. Loring. He peared at Barboursville and London, Ky., and advanced up the Kanawha Valley as far as captured his supply trains nearly as far back as Charleston, which he occupied for some time. Crab Orchard. Its object was to hold the His troops were finally required to reenforce Blue Grass region of Kentucky, and ultimately Gen. Lee's army, when he retired. The chief to force the entire division of Gen. Morgan to advantage derived from this invasion by the surrender or hastily evacuate the position. Confederate people was the seizure of the salt The comparative success of Gen. Bragg in his works in the Kanawha Valley. Perhaps there movements in Kentucky, cut off all the com- was no article of which they were so destitute munications of Gen. Morgan, and by Sept. in comparison to its importance as salt. It was 11, his corn was all gone and nothing re- exchanged by the Confederate colonel Echols, mained for his troops but a scanty supply of who had charge, for forage for his troops. beans and rice. The force, however, had not Affairs remained in this situation until the remained inactive during this period; about return of Gen. Cox's forces early in November, three hundred prisoners and two hundred when the Confederate forces retired. horses had been captured. The destitute condition of the force for clothes and food, caused the evacuation of the gap by Gen. Morgan on the 17th of September. On that day the 23d Indiana and the 9th Ohio battery left with all the ammunition. During the succeeding night all the troops left except a squad that remained to finish the work of destruction. The magazine was blown up, and the commissary building burned. Nothing but ammunition and a few of the most useful cooking utensils were brought away. Tents, wagons, gun carriages, arms, and accoutrements were changed to a mass of fragments and ashes. The line of retreat was two hundred and fifty miles with a large Confederate force intervening. But the position was one of the strongest in the country, and Gen. Morgan had represented that his supplies were abundant. By the 4th of October the division reached the Ohio river. It had foraged on the country, but suffered at times for water. During the entire march, a Confederate cavalry force harassed the retreat. During nineteen nights the troops bivouacked without a tent. New roads were made, trees cut out, provisions gathered, a hovering enemy kept at check, and a large It has also been stated that, on the invasion of Kentucky by Gen. Bragg, a portion of Gen. Grant's troops were withdrawn from Mississippi and sent to Kentucky and Cincinnati to give confidence to the new levies, and to reenforce Gen. Buell. The consequence of the withdrawal of these troops was to induce the Confederate officers to renew their operations in north Mississippi and western Tennessee. On the departure of Gen. Halleck to take the position of general-in-chief, Gen. Grant was put in command of the department of west Tennessee, including the districts of Cairo and Mississippi, that part of the State of Mississippi occupied by Federal troops, and that part of Alabama which might be occupied by the troops of his particular command, including the forces heretofore known as the army of the Mississippi. In the department of Gen. Grant it became apparent in August that the Confederate forces south of his position had assumed a threatening attitude upon his line between Corinth in Mississippi, and Tuscumbia in Alabama. On the 10th of September the 2d brigade of Gen Stanley's division, commanded by Col. Murphy, evacuated Tuscumbia, and fell back thirty |