The National tribune., 1902-10-23
CAMPAIGNING
WITH BUELL..
"reminiscences of Operations
Against Bragg in Kentucky.
BY W. W. JACOBS.

| HAS uTTINeu ut WHat udS Deeu Ciiiltu iuS
| ''anecdotage' age. That most of them
live to a great extent in the past, and that
the wonderful four years from 1861 to
| 1860 forms the greatest epoch III their
lives is easily seen by perusal of The
National Tribune, where. from week TO
week, for these many year, thousands of
them have fought their battles over again.
or have told moving stories of flood and
| field;' of victory and disaster, fun, sentl-
ment and tragedy. To many of us as we
look back those days seem nearer and
memory clearer than the days and events
of more recent date. And so. having
the leisure, l have jotted down the recol-
lections of a private who from his posi-
ton could of necessity know but very lit
tie of the -mOmentOuS events that were
happening all around him. aud whose
knowledge of campaigns and battles was
limited to the very subordinate place oc-
cupled by his own regiment or brigade
therein.
No claim is made for historial accu-
racy, but nothing has been set down here
of which the writer did not have personal
knowledge.
At the outbreak Of the rebellion I was
living in COvingtOn, Ky, and although
only the Ohio River separated it from the
loyal city of Cincinnati, very strong
secession sentiment prevailed there, as
the other towns and villages along the
Ohio, though there were many ardent
Union men to be found. In this respect
the district resembled the State, which
in 1861 seemed to be about evenly divided
on the question of secession.
The Legislature had passed the imprac
ticable armed neutrality law" designed
to keep both armies out of Kentucky. But
when it called upon Gen. Anderson to as
sumo command on behalf of the United
States, and the Confederate Gen. Ruckner
invaded the State from Tennessee and
occupied Bowling Green. no more was
heard of neutrality, and Kentucky became
the theater of war which it remained until
the close of hostilities.
The enemy at once became very active
in eastern Kentucky. and to meet them
an urgent call was made for volunteers
Many new regiments were organized,
and having been hastily armed and equip
ped, as well as the means at hand would
permit, were sent forward to meet the
enemy.
Among the regiments thus organized
was my own, the Sd KY, which was mus
tered into the United States service in
who was never with the regiment after
1t left the State, circumstance which
caused much discomfort among officers
and men. His place, however was ably
filed By the Lieutenant-Colonel, ]. p.
Jackson, young and energetic man, who
saw himself cut off from all hope of ad-
vancement while his chief rested COM
fortably in the easy and doubtless lucra-
tive office of PrOvOst-Marshal of Louis
vile.
In November, 1861, the Department Of
the Ohio was organized, with Gen. Don
Carlos Buell. in command. Early in 1862
my regiment, after marching through al
most the entire State Of Kentucky, was
ordered to Nashville, Tenn, it being then
a part of the Fifth Division Of the Army
of the Ohio, commanded by Gen. Thomas
l.. Crittenden. The greater part of this
division went forward to aid in the opera
tions against Corinth, but our regiment
remained at Lebanon, Tenn, as part
Of the force required to keep open the
communications between Halleck's Army
and Nashville. Here, in July, we were
comfortably situated, when Nelson's Divi-
sion came through on forced march en-
route to Murfreesboro, which place, with
it's garrison Of about 1000 men, had been
captured by Forrest, who got possession
Of great amount of stores, horses, ETC.
At this period Of the war, and for long
afterward, 1t was the custom to chase the
feet-footed rebel cavalry with our infan-
try, and many weary and futile march
we made after Forrest, Morgan and other
raiders, who not infrequently harassed our
rear when We were looking for them in
our front. Our army was woefully def
cient in cavalry, the few mounted men
we had being mostly engaged in protecting
the slender slip Of railroad upon which
our supplies depended.
Our sinister old foe, Bragg, was silently
planning to rid Tennessee of our presence
and kept us all guessing as to his inten-
tions. We followed him into the noun
faI nf ocf hn%
his trail all the way. At McMnnvile il
was confidently expected he would give
us battle. The utter absence Of knowl-
edge as to his movements and intentions
kept us constantly on the alert. Indeed,
as it now appears, neither Buell. nor
Bragg had fully made up his mind as to
the next step to be taken. Buelrs move
ments, of course: being entirely dependent
upon those Of Bragg. The general i'm
preston was that the Confederate Cen
eral would make an effort to recapture
Nashville, apparently not a difficult un-
dertaking at that time, for the place was
but poorly defended, and he could reach
it without much opposition from Buell..
Our division, under Crittenden, march
ed to Altamont over steep and rough
road, but through a magnificent mountain
country, where the people seemed to be
loyal and patriotic, though for the most
part very poor. Having arrived at the
top Of the hill, like the King of Frances
men, we marched down again, it having
been learned that Bragg's whole army was
north Of the Tennessee River, and was
probably heading for Kentucky, though it
was still possible he might alter his course
and make descent upon Nashville. Act
ing, as l think, upon the latter supposi-
ton, our army was ordered to concentrate
at MurfreesbOrO, and sorry looking
spectacle we presented upon our arrival
there after our mountain campaign. Rag
ged, dirty, shoeless and hatless, more
dilapidated army was never seen since
the days Of Falstaff. However, on arriv-
ing at Murfreesboro we were supplied
with the necessary clothing and rations,
and given few days rest on the banks
Of that river, where not long afterwards
was fought one of the bloodiest battles of
the war.
Here the news reached US that Kirby
Smith had slipped by our fortified posi-
ton at Cumberland Gap and had entered
Kentucky with the avowed object of carry
ing the war into the enemy's country, and
Of possessing himself not only of that
State, but Of the wealthy city of Cincin-
natl. AS matter of fact he did appear
only few miles from the latter city, and
his camp-fres could be seen on the hills
back Of the Ohio River
Then began for us that memorable
march in pursuit Of Bragg, whose pur-
noSa was nnw CLEARLY daf;nad to bo tho