The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-04-13
SEURETS OF THE WAR.
MOFgaR's HalrhFaIned and Disastrous
Ohio Raid Made IN Defiance
OF orders.

or orders.
Volume XXIII, Of the Rebellion
Records is just out. A considerable
portion of it is devoted to the Morgan
raid into Indiana and Ohio. The most
interesting document is the report of
Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, e. 5. A., in
reference to the instructions given Gen.
Morgan before he started North. This
report was found among the Confed-
crate archives. Gen. Wheeler was
Morgan's superior; he is now a mem-
Der of Congress from Alabama. The
report is as follows;
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPs,
CLEVELAND, Tenn, November z, 1868.
-COLoNEL | have the honor, in
obedience to your instructions, to state
that, about June Is last | received a
dispatch from Brig. Gen. Morgan,
stating that the enemy at Louisville,
Ky, were but 800 strong, and asking
permission to march upon said place.
and take and destroy the public works,
etc. | Immediately presented the mat
ter to the General commanding this
army, who had also learned from other
sources of the small garrison at Louis
vile, and he directed me TO send the
following order to Gen. Morgan:
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CoRPs,
SHELByvILLE, Tenn, June IA, 1868
GENERAL: Your dispatch was re-
eeived last night, and the facts COM
municated to Gen. Bragg, and | visited
him to-day on the subject. lie directs
that you proceed to Kentucky with q
sufficient number of regiments to make
up 1900 men, and that you use your
own discretion regarding the amount
of artillery you take. lie directs that
you take Kentucky troops, and those
which will be most likely TO gel
recruits. The remainder of your com
mand will be left under command Of
the senior officer Should you hear
that the enemy is advancing for a gen
eral engagement, Gen. Bragg wishes
you to turn rapidly and fall upon his
rear.
| regret exceedingly the circum
stances which render it impossible fol
Gen. Bragg to detach your entire di
vision, but the probability of an ad
vance upon the part of the enemy
makes it necessary for him to rctail
enough force to hold his position
should general engagement taxi
place, and he hopes, since the enemy
forces in Kentucky are so reduced
you may be able to accomplish mucl
good with the proposed detachment
Gen. Bragg wishes the movement L
take place as soon as possible. Will
great respect, your obedient servant,
Jos. WHEELER,
Major General.
Gen. John III. Morgan, Commanding
Cavalry Division.
This was sent and its receipt aC
knowledged by Gen. Morgan, wit
the request that he might take 200
men, stating that with these he coul
accomplish everything which he pre-
posed, viz: the capture of Louisville
Ky. Gen. Bragg accedcd to this re
quest, and sent the following order t
Gen. Morgan:
| HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CoRPs
NEAR SnELByvILLE, June lS, 1863
Special Orders, No-i4-1. Gen. Nor
gan will proceed to Kentucky with
force of 2000 officers and men, includ
ing such artillery as he may deem mos
expedient In addition to accomplish
ing the work he has proposed, he will
as far as as possible, break up and de
stroy the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad. lie will, if practicable, de
stroy dcpots of supplies IN the State o
Kentucky, after which he return tt
his present position. by order o
MAJ. ten. wheeler.
L. 5. BURFoRD,
Assistant Adjutant General
Prior to Gen. Morgan's departure,
wrote him one or two letters, in which
| urged his rapid movement, stating
that | hoped his movements would be
so rapid that he could be on his return
to our army before Gen. Rosecran
could be certain he had left for Ken
lucky. The retained copies of thcs'
letters were unfortunately mislaid.
In these letters to Gen. Morgan ant
in Gen. Morgans letters to me. no
one word was said about his crossing
the Ohio River; but, on the contrary
he was urged by me TO observe th'
importance of his returning to on
army as rapidly as possible. | MAXI
this point apparent, as 1t was one tt
which my attention was particular,
called. am, Colonel, very respectful
ly your obedient servant,
JOSEPH WHEELER,
Major General.
Col. George William Brent, Assistan
Adjutant General, Army of Tennessee
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The Trans-Nlss., Railroad.