The National tribune., 1884-06-12
SAVING THE NATION.
Var in The WeSt---BEagg in Ken
lucky.
lcoryR1GHTED-ALL RIGHrs EEsEEFED.l
XVIII.
Bu -


TO the Boss and Girls Of the United Staies:
In my last letter we saw General Kirby
Smith marching from Knoxville, in Tennessee,
TO Covington, KY. opposite Cincinnati, clearing
Union troops from his path as a housewife
sweeps shavngs out of her way. We also saw
General Bragg getting ready to flank General
Buell., gain his rear, compel him TO retreat, and
thus transfer the theater Ol war from Southern
Tennessee TO Northern kentucky.
CROSSING TIE TENNESSEE.
1t WAS August 2lst that General Bragg began
70 cross the Tennessee River at CHATTANOOGA
You know that the Allegheny Mountains lie
in ridges and that they run from the north
east to the southwest, and that Chattanooga Is
In the valley of the Tennessee River where II
breaks through the ridges. BY mevlng ms
troops to Chattanooga General Bragg had placed
himself behind a range OF mountains lie was
east of one of the ranges, and the JniGn army
under General Buell. was west of il.
/ think that General Bragg is intending TO
invade Kentucky" was the word sent by Cen
eral Thomas to General Buell..
General Thomas was at McMinnviile, ana
his scouts informed him that Bragg army was
crossing the river.
BRAGG's CAVALRY.
General Bragg determined to mask his move
rnent by sending out his cavalry TO annoy Cen
eral Buell. General Forrest started with MS
brigade and reached Short Mountain Cross
roads where Captain Miller, with portion OF
the 18th Ohio was stationed Captain Miller
had built a st0ckade. His men had just eaten
dinner and were a short distance from the
stocizaae when they heard the gathering of
hoOfs and saw the Confederate cavalry
charging down the road. Captain Miller got
into the stockade with a portion of his men,
while those who were cut Oh by the cavalry
fed to the woods. The men Of the 18th Ohio
l. Fe.- tTosnt4
to retreat with loss Of twelve killed and forty
one wounded.
The next day Forrest came upon the 26th
Ohio under Colonel FyiIe, lime miles west OF
McMinngille. Colonel Fyde formed his regI-
ment IN line Of battle, and STACKED the Con-
federates SO suddenly and vigorously that they
fed IN every direction.
General Morgan was more successful. He
crossed the Cumberland River at Hartsville
aud rode rapidly to Gaiiatin, twenty 1--WE miles
northeast Of Nashville, where he captured POO
Union troops, burned a railroad bridge, cap
tured train OF freight cars, ran il into tunnel
north OF Gallatin set the cars on FIRE, aud zoos
ened the timbers which supported the roof OF
the tunnel The roof came down with crash,
filling the tunnel with great masses of rock.
No trains could pass, and Nashville was cut
of from Louisville.
General BueIl sent General r. ". johnson
with $40 cavalry Of the ID Indiana, 4th and
ments to attack Morgan, but after a hard tight
near Gallatin, Tenn, Johnson was defeated
and captured with portion Of his command,
while the remainder were put to flight.
The women of Gallatin were wild with JOY
over the defeat Of the Union troops. They
waved their handlzerchiefs and provided nice
things for the Confederate soldiers.
BRACES ADVANCE.
Over the mountain range called Waldron:
-saf
men, and thence to the Cumberland River
crossing it at Carthage, forty miles east o
Nashville General Bragg was nearer Louis
vile and Cincinnati than General Buell., who
was south of Nashville. He had definite
plan-to compel Buell. to fall back TO the 0hic
Riyer-and be hoped to thus secure Kentucky
20 the Gonfederacy. Should Buell. advance
towards either Of those cities to save them, he
would be obliged to make haste. for Bragg
could move more rapidly Than Buell. becausE
he had 10 long line Of supply trains 10 hinder
him; be had determined to live upon the
country
MUNFoRDsvMLE-
Norfhward. along the turnpike leading from
Carthage To Munfordsyille, pressed the COnfed
crates the cavalry under Colonel Scott burn
ing the bridges spanning salt River. Tbs
roads were dry and dusty. The summer hea
had dried the streams; the rivers could bs
forded anywhere. The country was so dry
indeed, that the troops suffered for want 0
water The secessi0nists welcomed them with
hurrahs whiIe those who stood up for ID,
Union saw their cornfelds stripped and theil
hay-sfacks disappear
On September - General Braggs advance
under General Chalmers, reached Munfords
vile, where there WAS a fort garrisoned by
Union troops under Colonel Wilder Of the I7fl
Indiana. A Confederate officer approached th
fort with a white fac. and called upon ColOne
Wilder te surrender. ] decline 10 dc SO" wa
the reply.
Chalmers opened fire and his skirmisher
advanced. but we're driven back, and ne waite'
for re-enf0rcenaeats before attacking IN earnest
Re-epforcements meantime arrived IN tn
fort-Col0na Durham, with 1000 men am
K0nkle's battery Colonel Dgnham, being Colo
mel Niideg's senior officer assumed command
Again the white Tag appears with deman
TO surrender, and Colonel Durham declines.
Chalmers has six regiments, twelve cannon
brigade Of cavalry and a battalion OF shary
shooters. he dcpleys his line and opens fir
The cannon thunder and there are volleys
mnsketry, bat Chalmers does not dare to ris
q charge BE waits for General Bragg VIII
arrives with the main body Of the army.
A third time the C0nfederates show a whit
fac. and al officer brings a note from Bragg
who informs Colonel Dunham that the fort
surrounded by an overwhelming force, an
that no Union requirements can reach tn
fort. Again Colonel Durham refuses
surrender. He sends the answer By Coloni
Wilder WHO sees that what Bragg has stated
true-that The whole Confederate army is draw
up around the fort. Colonel Durham calls b
officers together and they decide that il
better 10 surrender than 10 have battle wit
the prospect Of great loss aud almost certain d
feat no at O'Clock on the morning OF Septen
Der II white flag goes out from the fort wit
the offer 70 surrender, providing the Unio
troops are allowed tc do so with the honors
war-the officers 20 retain their swords Il
troops To be paroled and 10 have four day
rations.
General Bragg is glad 10 accept the terms
glad 90 got so many Union troops out Of b
way without fighting a battle for battle wi
cost him dear; he viii not only lose soldie
which he cannot afford 10 lose, bat it will a
lay him IN his march and give Buell. an oppo
tunity to catch UP with him in the race mort
ward.
At daylight on the 17th-the hour whs
Hooker is advancing through the cornfield
front Of the bunker church at Antietam
this force OF 1900 men at Manfordsvlle
the only troops In front of Bragg-is swe
from his path. BY rapid march Bra,
can get to Louisville before Buell. can owe
take him. but he does not attempt it.
the moment when be ought 10 march swii
~ end strike great blow he hestatcs. ]
waits at Prewitts Knob till Buell. is clio
upon him. deploying his troops 10 attack; the
instead vi Sighting a battle. pushes northes
VIII ,.gf