Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-10
HOW BRscRINR1DGEs KENTUCK.
LANS CAME TO GO TO MISSISSIPPI
THEIR HEROIC DECISION.
JACKSON, Miss, June %, 1868.


eracy
JACKSON, Miss, June %, 1863.
Some FIVE weeks ago the lst Kentucky brig
adc of Breckinridgc's division received orders
late ct night to be ready to march ut daylight
the following morning. The afternoon OF the
next day found the command at Wartrace,
each regiment in double column at hall dis
lance, the whole forming Il hollow square in
which stood Gen. Breckenridge, ut whose re-
quest the troops had assembled. The General
referred in eloquent and touching language to
his connection with the brigade, and then ad'
ded that he had received orders on the proceed
Ing day to move his division erc'PtMe lennesSe<
troops, to Wartrace within twcnty-tour hours
for emlarkatiou on the cars. His destination
he knew not, but, like all present, he had ms
opinion, which he thought highly probable
| would prove correct. Cen. Harden lau al
dressed communication to Gen. bragg re.
uuesting permission to substitute MIsslsslppl
for Kentucky troops. Gen. Bragg reply was
that an equal number Of ChurchillS men
might be sent in lieu Of the kcntucklaDs, pro
| yied it met Gen. Breckinridges APPROVAL
'lIc thus threw upon me, said the General
':the odium of taking you from the vicinity
of YOUR homes and dcpriving you OF the OPP
| rortunity Of entering kentucky, or substitute
| Ing comparatively raw recruits Tor the best
| troops in the Confederate army. AS my supc-
rior officer has seen fit to leave matter OF
this kind 10 my option now extend the same
! favor to you 1t lies with you to decide rs 4
! brigade whether you accompany me to Missis-
sippi and renew the hurdships Of last sum-
merr's campaign or remain i'll Tennessee near
your homes" The vote was then put Ivy the
commanding officers of regiments 10 their re-
spectiye commands. The rntc to accompany
their General was given without dissenting
voice. The decision was received with deaf
eninr shouts. One would have supposed that
they had been ordered to Kentucky, Or to their
beloved Buckncr, instead of to Mississippi,
where thew went last summer, while General
Bragg's army was enjoying the plentiful sup
plies and delightful climate OF their Kentucky
homes. The regiments gave Gen. Breckenridge
three hearty cheers, and. we're dismissed. Gen.
Johnston = army now contains seven Kentucky
regiments of infantry and two batteries. The
lst brigade, Gen. Helms contains the ID, 4th
9th and 9th regiments; the 2nd brigade, Gen.
Buford, the Sd. 7th and 9Th. These troops
have not seen Kentucky soil since our forces
evacuated Bowling Green, but strange to say
they were chcerful--can cheer louder, fight as
we'll and march further than any troops in
this army They have no friends to send
them brown jeans clothes and cotton sluuch
hats and the result is they dress more uniform
y than any other troops. have. seen Gen.
Helms brigade on review when it was difficult
to point out man who did not have his grey
pants and Jacket huttonud TO the throat and
his neat grey cap. They are young, healthy,
cheerful, soldicry looking men. and can he
told wherever seen. The lst brigade has sut-
fered a great loss in the resignation Of COL
Thos H. Hunt of the 9th Kentucky regiment,
Il popular, Skilltul and brave officer HIS
successor, Col John W. Cardwell, is q young
officer of tried skill and galantry,
AMATEUR