National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-11-20

Club in Louisville In May, 1861
mad much to do with finally deter
miuing tho status of the State. The
members were sworn to unconditional loyalty.
The organization of the State Guard, In whose
commander.n.c chief an almost unlimited
power was vested in 1860, was q very import
aut event as indicating tho purpose of the
rulers Of the State. A large army was raised
in this way and placed under the command Of
s. b. Buckner, 1nspector-Goncral. Many loyal
men were included in the organization. Thomas
l.. Critendon was elected Brigalier.Geu
eral. 1t happened, however, that no provision
was made Tor arming this force. After the
fall OF sumter Buckner was sent North, and
DIR. Black burn South for tho purpose of pur-
chasing arms. Buckner failed in his mission.
Blackburn succeeded so far as to secure guam
tity Of worthless arms, and, in speech made
in New Orleans, TO pledge his State to the
rebellion. Tho strong loyal feeling ia Louis
vile resulted IN the organization of another
military force under command OF Mayor
DELPHI, known MS the Home Guard. Lowell
ii. Rousseau was FIRST chosen as Brigadicr- GEN
oral, but after he entered the service of the
United States Government General james
Speed was called to tho command Arms were
procured through Lieutenant Nelson, of
the navy, from the General Government, and
ammunition was furnished by Governor Nor
ton, OF Indiana. Tho State Guard, which had
como to be recognized MS the champions of
secession views were openly opposed to tho
Home Guard. Buckncr called on Gcnerll
Speed and threatened bloodshed but no atten.
tion was paid TO his threats. Armed Union
men were soon 10 the ascendant nnd armed
neutrality wancd The array of welleqnipped
loyal mon ovcrawed Buckner, who surrendered,
at Mayor Delph's command, the keys of the
State magazine. Subsequently the State
Guards wero despoiled Of their arms by Mayor
Oelph's orders, aud the members OF that or
ganizltion drifted into the Southern army.
Bold Union men Immediately began 10 en-
list troops for the Federal service. James f.
Guthrie and w. L, Woodruff offered their ser
vices TO President Liucoln, and received au-
thority to raise two regiments us part
OF the quota OF the State. Camp Clay"
was formed on the north bank Of the Ohio
aud the First and Second regiments
of the Kentucky Volunteer Infantry were
quickly recruited for the three months Ser
vice, subsequently entering for three years
On the 9th of July, 1861, these regiments, a.
part of General j. ID. Cox's brigade, em mbark cd
for Western Virginia, and after rendering cili-
cent service there were transferred in the
following January to tho Army of the Ohio
Shortly after these regiments were formed
Lowell III. RousscRu (having been vested with
authority to raise two rcgiments) and Liouten-
ant Nelson began to recruit. Rousseau's ef-
forts resulted i'll the organization OF the Ken
tuCky Legion, "atterwRfd known us the Fifth
Kentucky cavalry" Stones Battery" and
several companies Of infantry aud cavalry,
which were subsequently merged into tho
Sixth Kentucky Infantry and the Second Ken
tucky cavalry. Camp Dick Robinion was es-
tablished by Nelson, on Kentucky soil be-
tween Danville aud Lexington. The first
four regiments organized at this camp were
the Third, Fourth and Seventh regiments Of
infantry and the first Kentucky cavalry.
commanded respectively by Colonels T. e.
Braiplette, Speed S. Fry, T. r. Garrard, and
Frank Wollord. Governor Magohin officially
demanded of Preaident Lincoln the re-
moval Of the Camp from the State, but Lin
coln refused on the ground that the troops were
Kentuckians and were not menacing their fel.
low citizens. On the 2Sth day of May, 1861
that portion of Kentucky extending 100 miles
south of the Ohio river was constituted mil
itary department, designated Us the Depart
meut of Kentucky" with Rrigadicr- General
Robert Anderson rs commander, and head-
quarters at Cincinnati. On the 18Th of August
General Andcrson's command was extended 80
as to embrace the States of Kentucky and
Tennessee, under the title of the department
of the Cumberland" aud in tho following Sep
tember his headquarters were established in
Louisville. Meanwhile there had been no
open collision in the State, though Lieutenant
Nelson found some trouble in having arms
and ammunition transported through the State
to Camp Dick Robinson. The leading seces-
sionists desparing of the secession of the
State, through the independent action of Ken.
tuckians, invited invasion as the means of
forcing her into the Confederacy. The initial
invasion was made by Leondas Pope, who, on
the 9th of September, occupied Hickman
and Chalk Bluffs, Kentucky. A few
days later Zollicoher threw portion of his
forces into Kentucky. Meanwhile Brigadier-
General U. s. Grant landed Federal troops at
Paducah. The presence Of these forces ter
minated formal neutrality in the State and
committed The State, by action of tho legisla.
ture, despite the efforts of Governor Magoffin
in contrary direction to the positive sun.
port of the National Government.
On the 18th of August, 1861, Brigadier.Ge Gen.
eral George II. Thomas relieved Lieutenant
Nelson as commander Of Camp Dick Robinson
General Thomas hurried the completion of tho
organization and equipment Of the primal
kentucky brigades The general direction of
tho Home Guard in Central Kentucky de-
volvcd upon him. Hc organized the First
Kentucky brigade, which was consequently
the first brigade of tho Army of the Cumber-
land. A second invasion of Kentucky
was conducted by S. G. Buckner, on the 17th
of September, with the avowod purpose of
capturing Louisville. General Anderson sent
Brigadier General w. r.. Sherman with all
available troops to meet tho invaders. Gene
raj Thomas, with his forces at Camp Dick Rob
cuSlOn, WAS luGNHWulIc III suppfeSS-
ing an attempted organization of the rebel
sympathi2ers in Kentucky and resisting the
advance OF Zolliconer, who expected to compel
the evacuation of Camp Dick Robinson. Gene.
raj Anderson was relieved ut his own request,
on account of falling health of the command
of the department., on October Z, and on
the following day General Sherman assumed
command. General Thomas command was
augmented by the addition Of several regi.
ments from Ohio and Indiana aud the forma-
tion of the army org sniaaton was COM
menced. General Thomas being impressed
with the necessity Of preparation to meet Il
heavy force of the enemy in the direction of
East Tennessee, addressed himself to tho ac.
complishment Of this object; but his requests
for troops only secured tardy re.cniorcements,
barely sufficient for the successful defense of
his position. Another advance by Zollicoffer
engaged his attention, and he sent General
SchOepf with such troops as could be spared
Schoepf met Zollicofer at Rock Castle Hills
on the 2lst of October, where, after sharp
engagement, Zollicoffor was forced TO retreat
Thomas then mado preparations for an ad.
vance TO Cumberland Gap, but was subse-
qucntly compelled to withdraw his command
by way of the Kentucky river, by order
of General Sherman, on account Of the
formidable demonstration by Buckner
with lurgn reheI fnroa nUninsi I.nuis-