The National tribune., 1902-08-07

Morgan was at Abingdon, Va, where he
had been stationed for some time to CO.
operate in the defense of the salt works
at Saltville. Va. Hearing that Gen. Bur
bridge was Ell route to attack Saltville
with largely superior force, Gen. Nor
gan conceived the idea of making raid
into Kentucky to counteract Gen. Bur
bridges movement and force him to aban-
don his undertaking of capturing the salt
works.
Gen. Morgan had no orders from his
superior officers for this expedition. Gen.
Buckner, while in command of the De
partment, had instructed Gen. Morgan to
strike Il blow at the enemy i'll Kentucky,
but this expedition had been postponed
because of Il movement of Union forces
from the Kanawha Valley against the
Tennessee Railroad. But Gen. Morgan
was deeply impressed with the idea that
the best way to defend the salt works
was to make raid into Kentucky. He
obtained the consent of his immediate
commander, Gen. W. E. Jones, to his
movement. Gen. Morgan wrote to Gen.
Humphrey Marshall, at Redmond, Va,
outlining his plan, expecting, no doubt,
that his letter would be laid before the
Confederate War Office, which was ac-
tually done.
On May so Gen Morgan drew out from
Abingdon with 300 infantry and LOO
cavalry.
GEN. MORGAN'S PLANS.
On May 81 he was at Russell Old
Court House, from winch place he also
wrote to Gen. s. Cooper, AdJutant aud
InspectOr-General of the Confederate
Army, at Richmond, giving his plans. He
stated:
Il have just received reliable informa-
tion from my scouts in Kentucky that
Gen. Hobson left Mount Sterling on the
23d inst. with six regiments OF cavalry
(about 5000 strong) Tor Louisa, Oh the
Sandy. This force he has collected from
all the different garrisons i'll middle and
southeastern Kentucky. At Louisa there
is another force of about 900 cavalry,
under the Colonel of Michigan regiment,
recently sent to that vicinity.
lit is the reported design of Gen. Hob
son to unite with and cooperate with
Gems. Averell and Greek in another move
ment upon the salt works and lead mines
of southwestern Virginia, Gems. Ayerell
and Crook have established themselves in
Mercer County, Va, and are awaiting,
/ understand, the arrival of this force
for a combined movement upon the works
indicated by three different lines of APP
proach. This information has determined
me to move at once into the State of
the enemy by initiating a movement with
in his own lines. My force will be about
2.2UU men.
Il will move through Pound Gap, de-
tach 4 portion of my command to demon
strate toward the enemy at Louisa, with
instructions to join me in the interior,
while | will with my main force strike
Tor Lexington and Frankfort. 1 will de-
strOy as much of the CovingtOn d Lex
iuUfau Railroa1 will NOT raplI
movement, and Immediately push toward
fhe Louisville and Frankfort and Nash
vile roads. Both these roads l will dam
age as far as the inactivity Of the enemy
will permit.
''There will be nothing in the State to
retard my progress except a few scattered
proyost-guards. expect to be pursued by
with this and make my way back into
the department south Of the Kentucky
River, and through some of the passes in
the Cumberland Mountains between
Pound and Cumberland Gaps. If pur-
sued too strongly to admit this, will turn
scuthward toward some of the passes be-
tween Tennessee and Kentucky and make
my way back through East Tennessee.
BY the latest information there is only a
small garrison of the enemy in East Ten
nessee. If find this to be true, and the
movement practicable, l will endeavOr to
destroy the road between Knoxville and
Chattanooga. l make known these plans
to you in order that the Government may
at this critical juncture be advised of
every movement Of troops, both within
our own and the enemys lines"
The line of march Of Gen. Morgan's
force into Kentucky was through Pound
Gap, as stated in his letter. The infor-
nation upon which Gen. Morgan acted
was substantially correct Gen. Burbridge
began the assembling of troops for a
movement into southwest Virginia on
May q. Gen. Hobson was directed to
move with his force from Mount Sterling
to the mouth of Beaver and await the ar
rival of the balance of the troops.
On May 26 Gen. Burbridge arrived Mt
Louisa, and made an inspection of the
command of Col. d. A. Minis. which con-
sisted of his own regiment the 39th Ky.
Mtd Inf. the 11th Mich. Cav. and two
12-pound mountain hOwitzers. With this
force Gen. Burbrdge arrived at the mouth
of Beaver on the afternoon of May %.
Gen. Hobson had already arrived and had
gone into camp. To Gen. Burbridge's
great surprise he found that his orders
for the accumulation of 10 days sup
ply of rations mad not been attended to;
bis force had barely two days rations.
So on May 80 Gen. Burbridge sent Col
Minis with his entire mounted force back
U Louisd Will oTuefS TO procure ana
bring forward a 10 days supply Of food
and forage. Col. Minis executed the .e--
der promptly and returned to the mouth
of Beaver with an abundance Of supplies
Oh the night of June 4.
In the meantime Cen Burb.itlge dis
patched Col. John Mason Brown with his
45th Ky. to Pound Gap TO watch the
movements of the enemy. Col Browns
reconnaissance secured him the informa-
ton that the Confederate force beyond the
Gap was largely superior to his own, so,
leaving scouting party to watch the
enemy. he returned to the mouth of Bea-
yer and reported the situation to Gen.
Burbridge.
The next morning. June 5, Gen. Bur-
bridge started for Pound Gap with his
command which now consisted of the
troops Of Col. Minis and the 9th. SD
and the 10th Ky. The march had not
covered many miles before Il courier from
Col. Browns scouts brought information
that Gen. Morgan was marching through
Pound Gap with 5000 men.
BURBRIDGE MOVES AGAINST MORGAN.
Gen. Burbridge was then 20 miles from
the Gap. He soon decided upon a plan
of action. He sent Col. Brown with his
own regiment and part of the Both Ky.
10 watch the enemy and impede his move
ments as much as possible. He sent Gen.
Hobson back TO collect additional troops
TO be concentrated against Gen. Morgan,
while he, with the main force. made a
demonstration toward Pound Gap.
On the morning of June 6 Gen. Bur
from the sd and 37th Ky. with instruc-
tn raf in he. nf