The National tribune., 1892-09-29
BRAGG IN KENTUCKY.
Battle of Iunfordville, and Surrender OF
Wilder's Command.


of eventful scenes in Kentucky, wish to give
a brief outline of my experience in those days
of stirring activity on the Dark and bloody
grouud" where Daniel Boone blazed his course
through the trackless primeval forest.
1t is 80 years ago since three members OF my
family circle responded to President Lincoln's
second call for 300 900 men. By strange coinci
dence we enlisted in three different States, with
out word of correspondence on that or any
other subject, and OIL the occasion of the Great
! Review of our victorious armies at Washington
we all met to rejoice together. All are still
living, but We have not met since our scpara
tion in June, 1865, our residences embracing
the width of continent, from New York to
California where pen these "reminiscences o
| my first military services as q member of the
S9th Ind
The companies recruited in our Congress-
ional district were hastily gathered and or
ganized into regiment during the month OF
| August, 1862. The organization of all regi-
ments raised in that district was effected al
Wabash, where we arrived on the 18th of that
month, being assigned to the position of Co. B.
| Within the brief period of two weeks we were
| fully organized, clothed, equipped, and sent
| from Camp Morton, indianapolis, to Louisville
thence to the 'front.' and set to guard the bridge
at Munfordville on tho railroad leading to
Nashville. That point was then threatened by
Bragg's army, while Buell. was slowly retreat
cover Louisville. Kirby Smith was at the
same time advancing upon Cincinnati through
| the Blue Grass region of Kentucky.
| On the day of our arrival at Louisville, Aug
ust 80 Gen. Nelson met Smiths veterans at
Richmond with an inferior force of men,
largely composed of fresh troops, by whom he
| was utterly routed, with q large loss i'll killed
and wounded. aad tho surrender of all who
could not escape capture.
| The success of Smith in that sanguinaTy en-
gagement inspired Bragg's army with strong
| confidence in their ability TO reach and occupy
Louisville. Buell. was justly censured for his
| failure to intercept Bragg, who succeeded in a
bold and vigorous flank movement. During the
| interval of two weeks between our assignment
to duty at Green River bridge and the advance
of Chalmers with q portion of Braggs force
| Sept. IA Buell. fell behind in his race for Louis
| vile, being cut off from his base of supply at
that place by Bragg's intervention between
Bowling Green and Munfordville.
Our force consisted only of the 6sth and Goth
| Ind, one Ohio regiment, whose number l do
| not now recall, and An Indiana battery, or
| about $500 men. Reinforcements we're expected
previous to Chalmers's attack on our position.
| Sunday morning, Sept. Ia, Co. B was detailed
| for picket duty Saturday evening. and held the
| line south of the stockade, which had previously
been constructed, during the advance of our
army, stretching from the railroad to q point
|
| line, their right resting on the cliff overlooking
| the river on the north. The other two regi-
ments occupied positions east of the railroad,
| connecting with our left and covering the small
| town of Woodsonville, which is ON an eminence
directly south of Munfordvile which is on
the north bank of Green River
Our pickct-lines were driven in by the enc.
my's advance at au early hour on the morning
| of Sunday, and our troops for the first time
were exposed to a furious charge along our
| entire line. The reception which we gave the
enemy as they came from the roads which had
sheltered their skirmish-lins in their advance
was worthy of veterans. In vain they at
| tempted to reach our works. and their lines
broke in confusion under the hot fire poured
upon them along the whole line Of battle.
Our loss was very light, while Chalmers suffered
heavy losses. In the S9th Ind. only one man
was killed, and his death was the result of rash
| ness in boldly exposing his entire body to the
enemy's fire from cover In the fallen timber after
| the assault upon our ranks had failed. One man
was slightly wounded. But other portions Of
our line suffered heavier loss. The engagement
could scarcely be termed battle when COM
pared with what our troops subsequently OK
perienced in their campaigns under Grant and
| Sherman, but it tested the courage of raw
| troops who had within a few weeks exchanged
| the garb of citizens for that of their country's
| loyal defenders.
Chalmers did not renew the assault upon our
| lines, but withdrew into the position occupied
the previous evening. desultory firing con-
| tinued for some time at long range, with few
casualties on either side. During the engage
ment the 50th and Goth Ind and two COM
| panies of the 18th, with Col. Wilder in COM
nand, arrived on the scene, and occupied POSI-
| tions in reserve ready to support our small
force in case of renewed attack. Col. Dun
ham, of the 50th Ind, assumed command, but
becoming intoxicated and unfit for duty, he
| was superseded by Col. Wilder. Additional
reinforcements from Lebanon Junction, where
Dumont was in command, were awaited with
| anxiety during the night of the 18th, and help
| from Buell. was still possible. But aid was
given US, and Bragg's cavalry were enabled to
| cut off our retreat by movement to our left
and rear. On Monday they severed our COM
munications with Louisville, and captured a
train of cars loaded with supplies, which they
| destroyed. Tuesday passed. during which
time Bragg brought his entire army into posi-
| tion on our 'front.' encircling our own position,
| while his cavalry still held our line of retreat.
Thus hemmed in by force ten times our num-
| Der, with so pieces of artillery in position to
! open upon US, we had no alternative but to ac-
cept the terms of surrender offered by the en-
| emy. On Wednesday morning, In accordance
with the conditions agreed upon by Bragg and
Wilder, the entire command, consisting of 4, 900
men, marched out of their ranks and laid down
| their arms.
As soon as paroles could be prepared we were
conducted through Bragg's lines, route to
| Bowling Green, where Buell. still lay encamped.
| His army was subsisting on short rations, out
Of which lie ordered quarter rati0ns TO be issued
to US. In order to reach the Ohio River it became
necessary for US to march through the region
| known as " Kentucky Barrens," where the few
| inhabitants were themselves scantily supplied
with subsistence, and foraging was possible only
on limited SCALE and even then it was an act
| that savored of theft and robbery. The expert
| ences of our march through such region in
the burning heat of dry season, with hunger,
thirst, weariness and hurried stages of progress,
can never be forgotten by those who shared in
all the hardships of battle, surrender. and ex-
posure in the brief space Of 10 days. Reaching
the Ohio, and crossing the river into Indiana,
we were welcomed by the citizens, who wed
| with one another in ministering to our wants,
while the close of month which was so full
OF yicissitudes found us again at Camp Morton,
| whence we were permitted to visit our homes
on furlough Of 80 days before going into
| parole camp to await our exchange.
One incident which occurred on our march
from Mauckport Ind. where we crossed tho
| Ohio TO New Albany, deserves special mention,
as ii has probably never been published. 1t
| was my lot to be one of the many who gave
way under the varied and severe forms of trial
to which we were exposed. In company with
others similarly situated, was permitted to
take shorter route than that pursued by the
troops who were still able to march. While
they passed through Corydon, the COuntyseat
OF Harrison County, where the citizens gave