Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-18

noOga, and most generously placed his
whole command at my disposal 1t was
soon determined, upon his suggestion,
that all his forces should be used to OPP
crate upon the enemy's left at Cumber-
land Gap, and he was requested to con-
fer with Humphrey Marshall, command
ing in southwestern Virginia, with whom
he was already in correspondence, to Sc
cure his cooperation in the movement.
After returning to Knoxville, Gen. Smith
asked for further assistance, and two fine
brigades, under Brig. Gen. ]. r. Chal-
mers and Col. Preston Smith, were sent to
him, in addition to the division which had
gone from TupelO. The balance of my
Immediate command, the Army of the
Mississippi, divided between Maj. Gems.
Polk and Hardee, made every prepare
ton, and awaited only its baggage train
and artillery to cross the Tennessee river
and enter upon its perilOus and arduous
campaign over the mountains dividing
East and Middle Tennessee. The move
ment of the artillery and wagons across
the mountain region of North Alabama
having been successfully accomplished
late in August, we commenced crossing
the river at Chattanooga with very lin
tied means. The enemy, with a largely
superior force, occupied the line of the
railroad from Decatur to Bridge
port, Ala, from Decatur to Nash
vile and from Nashville to Steven
son, with large detached commands
at McMinnville and Cumberland Gap.
Having crossed the river at Chattanooga,
the column took up its line of march on
the 2Sth of August, over Waldron's ridge
and the Cumberland mountains, for Mid
die Tennessee. Maj. Gen. Smith had
already successfully passed through
Northeastern Tennessee, and gained the
rear of Cumberland Gap, held by the
enemy in strong force, well fortified.
Leaving q sufficient force to hold the
enemy in observation, his dislOdgTnent
being considered impracticable, he moved,
as authorized, with the balance of his
command on Lexington. This rich coun-
try so full of supplies so necessary to us,
was represented to be occupied by force
which could but make feeble resistance.
How well and successfully that duty was
performed has already been reported by
Gen. Smith. His complete victory over
the enemy at Richmond, Ky, and his Oc
cupatiOn of Lexington, rendered it neces-
sary for me to intercept Gen. Buell., now
rapidly moving toward Nashville, or to
move toward the right, so as to secure a
junction with Gen. Smith, when necessary.
On reaching Middle Tennessee, it was
found that the enemy's main force had
concentrated in Nashville, and was
strongly fortified. Ny force was thrown
rapidly to Glasgow, KY, and, to my great
satisfaction, reached that point the 18th
of September, before any portion of the
enemy passed Bowling Green. As soon
as my object was discovered, the enemy
moved in haste, but reached Bowling
| Green only in time to find that we had
seized and now held both roads near Cave
| City.
| Prepared to assail Buell's force should
he attempt to pass north, determined t
rest my faded troops at Glasgow, whert
some subsistence was to be had While
thus engaged, learned that the command
of my outpost brigade at Cave City haC
advanced upon and assailed the enemy
fortified position at Mumfordsville, ant
after a gallant fight against largely supe
rior numbers, had been repulsed with con
siderable loss. Unwilling to allow tn
impression of a disaster to rest on tn
minds of my men, the force was rapidi
prepared and our march renewed on tn
evening of the 18th, with a very scant
supply of provisions.
''Hardee's wing moved by Cave Cit
direct upon MumfOrdsville, and Polk b
the Bear Wallow road, crossed the rive
some miles to the right, and gained th
enemy's rear in the afternoon of the It'll
An immediate demand of the surrender g
the garrison was made, and after a fe'
hours negotiation, an unconditional SUI
render was obtained. We secured A, &c
prisoners, 10 pieces of artillery, 500
small arms, and a proportional quantit
of ammunition and stores. This surrel
der having been secured, dispositions we
made for an attack from Gen. Buell.
main force, supposed 10 be advancing {
our rear from Bowling Green. Effor
were made to draw him to an attack
manGuvering division on his front, VIII
our man force held position south of Il
entertainments on Green river. failt
to accomplish this object. With n
effective force reduced by sickness, e
haustion, and the recent affair befO
MumfOrdsville, to half that of the enem
l could not prudently afford to attack hi
5 in his selected position. Should purs'
. him further toward Bowling Green,
might fall back to that place and behiI
his Notifications.
'Reduced at the end of four days
three days ratiOns, and in a hostile cou
6 try, utterly destitute of supplies, a seriO
engagement, brought on anywhere in tn
direction, could not fail to material
(whatever its resulD cripple me. II
loss of a battle would be eminently diss
trous. We were therefore compelled
, give up the object and seek for subsii
ence. Orders were sent for a supp
train from depot at Lexington, to me
us at Bardstown, and the march was col
menced to the latter place. InstruOtio
had been given Gen. Smith for STINT
taneOus movement of the column at lie
ington to Shelbyville, that combined Op'
atoms might be Immediately undertake
against Louisville. Orders had also be
= given for a close observation of the en-
: nv at the Cumberland Gap, and that
. should be intercepted in any attem
= to escape. On my arrival at Bart
u town, learned from Maj. Gen. Smit
; then in Lexington, that the enemy "
moving from Cumberland Gap, advance
to escape to the valley of Sandy river
eastern Kentucky, and that he had 81
the whole available force in pursuit.
sufficient force TO prevent his escape a
, to hold the enemy in check there, and
compel his surrender, had been order
and was confidently expected from anOtl
q quarter, to have followed Gen. Smit
movement in time for this purpose. {
cumstances unknown to me in our isola
/. position, and of which | could exerc
q no control, had prevented this consu
nation so confidently relied on, and