The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-30

GERS left many papers which were cap
tured by tho Federals. The following
correspondence, which was seized BY
Capt. Robert Vaughn, Of ths Seventeenth
Kentucky Infantry, possesses consider
abte interest as il contains an official
reference TO matters that have been much
discussed, and in regard to which there
has been diversity Ofopinion;
Inq''tr is respecting The slsTe,derof Bo,oliaq
Green tort Henry, Fort DOaelsn and
HoUgE op RrFzrsssrArius.0
Committee Roou or rHE -. Cox &C, &C..
RicHvosB, March 10. 1852,
Ma. M'rnf6HS. aid 20 On. 4. Sidney John
son
SIR AS Chairman Of 4 Special Com
mittee Of the House Of Representatives TO
investigate the recent military disasters
at Fort Henry and Fort DoneIson, and
the surrender Of Nashville into the hands
OF the enemy, have the honor to pro-
pound 70 you the following questions.
snd to solicit an early response thereto:
]. Do you recollect the precise date at
hAAAAA Ni1Aa q NAuoAOA AhaAIlCu command
of our forces at Bowling Green? II so
state it.
2. What WAS the number Of our forces
at Bowling Green at that time, and how
much did this force increase, from week
TO week, for the space Of month.
3. What was the force Of the enemy
between Bowling Green and the Ohio az
the time Of our troops first occupying
that town?
4. lfyou know the reason why Gen.
Johnston did not march towards Louis
! vile, at least as far as Muldrow's Hill,
| please state Il.
6. What force had Gen. Johnston un-
der his command at Bowling Green on
the day when the fight at Fort Donelson
commenced?
o. What means Of transporting troops
as q reinforcement TO our forces at Fort
DOnelson was he in possession Of?
z. When did he commence falling
back from Bowling Green towards Nash
villo?
s. What amount of army supplies
were left in tho city Of Nashville 10 fall
into the hands Of the enemy?
8. Did not Gen. Floyd, during the
conflicts at Fort Donelson, despatch APP
! plicatioDs TO Gen. Johnston for reinforce
ments, alleging that if this reinforcement
were not received he would be compelled
to surrender?
10. If SO, at what precise time were
these applications, severally, received,
and what was Gen. Johnston's action
thereupon
| have the honor 10 be- &c, sc, your
Obedient servant II. II. F00TE.
Anslosr Of Major Mpyord to G5a FOOTE'S
IilteyyogatOrieS.
AaaCcr /. General JohstOn arrived AZ
Bowling Green October IA, 1861, Briga.
der General Bucknor being then in COM
mand at that place. On the 25th of DC.
tober General Johnston assumed com
mand in person.
-AHsi0er 2. When GenJohnston arrived at
Bowling Green, tho force under Buobner
was fraction under si5 thousand, and
were being reinforced by Major Hardee's
| division Of about fire thousand, and Colo
mel Terry's regiment Texas Rangers.
about one thousand, making the force be
fore General Johnston assumed command
within fraction of tl0elvs G,ousaa4. /
have not the means of answering as 10
he tgsekEy increase Of the force. Disease
fell upon our army, particularly measles,
and weakened the force for all military
purposes quite 90 rapidly as reinforce
ments arrived, 90 that at the last Of No
vember the whole available force was
estimated at twelve thousand five hun
bred. The scourge not only wasted our
men at Bowling Green, but at the differ.
ent rendezvous for fresh volunteers, who
were In process Of organization by State
authority, TO be handed over when or
ganized to the Confederacy.
A,1siO-' 3. / do not know. / hear
and believe il, that Rousseau moved In on
one side with his brigade on the same dav
that Buckner entered the other side Of
! Kentucky. The number Of Rousse aus
brigade, or of the Home Guards" who
were regarded as equally hostile 20 us
on that day 9th September, 1861 / do
not know. On the 4th Of October. how.
ever General Buckner despatched 90
General Johnston. az Columbus, q mes
sage stating that the enemy, thirteen o.
fourteen thousand strD7g," were advancing
upon him, and asked for reinforcements
He stated in that despatch that his own
force was lcss than sir thousand. The rapid
advance OF the enemy had been checked
| by burning the Rolling Fork Bridge"
and Hardee's division and Texas cavalry
were ordered forward as endorsements.
Some other troops, Staunton's regiment,
from Overton county, and another were
also ordered forward 10 Bowling Green.
but depredations Of Home Guards" Ia
Overton made IL necessary 10 order Staun-
toms regiment back TO ropress them, and
the other regiment was unarmed as now
remembered. General Buckner had ia
ken possession Of Bowling Green on the
| 18th September 1861, with about f5ay
thousand tro0ps.
AfislceT A. / have heard Gen. Johnston
assign many reasons for not ordering
Buckner, in the first instance, 20 march
to MuldrOw's Hill. Muldrow's Hill he
regarded as unsuited for the base of mill
tary operations, and as possessing but
tritiing, II any strategic importance. Ii
was beyond the Green River. the nayipa-
bility Of which had 20 be destroyed be-
torehand, else tho enemy could move by
water from Cairo, Paducah, &C., in Buck
ner's rear-oould transport 10 that point
the heaviest ordnance and oiiectually cut
his line Of communication with Tonnes
see and the South, and bis source Of sup
plies both Of men and munitions. Buck
ners force was small his troops fresh
most Of thom badly armed and many lily
disciplined. Their general appointments
for camPs!a deficient; and, having M
transportation whatever, they would b,
tied down 70 the railroad The line o
the Barren river, on which Bowling Greer
ia- WA q nnnh has of alinna-lh.