The National tribune., 1903-11-26


he had just fired one at Peyton, and the
other was loaded. He answered Peyton' S
demand to surrender with shot from the
latter. Throwing himself along his horses's
side, Billy escaped being killed, but was
slightly wounded. His chief regret, how
ever, was that his assailant escaped"
Gen. Geo. w. Morgan displayed cOnsum-
mate skill and grim determination, and his
men laudable courage and fortitude. in
making that difficult and dangerous march
over long miles of barren and desolate
mountains, assailed by famine and sword.
Gen. John ii. Morgan, of course. made the
Federal Generals road the harder to
travel. At this late day it is idle to specu-
late upon what might have been the re-
suit had the leading Confederate Generals
given Gen. John H. Morgan promised sup
port, and displayed better generalship in
intercepting the retreat of the Cumberland
Gap army. The fact remains that Gen.
Geo. w. Morgan, abandoned and isolated.
marched through the lines of an environ
ing enemy, and over mountains, across the
entire length of Eastern Kentucky, his
flags waving defiance all the way, and
reached the Ohio River, somewhat dis
figured but still in the ring"
When Morgan left Lexington, Oct. @,
he had with him the regiments Of Duke.
Gano and Cluke-about 1.5OO men
Breckinridge's Battalion having been de.
tached on the 4th and engaged in skirm-
ishing with the enemy on the road be-
tween Lawrenceburg and Harrodsburg,
and Harrodsburg and Perryville.
Following in the rear of Gen. Smiths
infantry, Morgan was ordered to take
position between Versailles and Frank
fort, and attack the enemy if he made
his appearance, it being thought probable
that the Federals would advance from
Frankfort, and an engagement in the
vicinity of Versailles, where a portion OF
Gen. Smiths infantry were stationed, was
anticipated. Gen. Smith, hearing that
.awrenceburg, and that they had occu-
pied that place with an advance guard,
ordered Buford to drive them ont with his
cavalry, and followed with his whole
force. The establishment of the enemy
at Lawrenceburg and upon the road
thence to Harrodsburg, would have CON-
pletely cut off Gen. Smith from Gen.
Bragg. The force advancing toward
Lawrenceburg was Sills Division, which
the same time that DumoDt had moved
upon Frankfort.
Silrs Division fell back across Salt
River, losing several hundred prisoners.
captured by Smiths advance brigade OF
infantry, the latter continuing to move
closer and closer to Harrodsburg. The
main body of the enemy had in the mean
time concentrated its marching columns
and moved to the vicinity Of Perryvillc,
on the evening OF the 7th
BRAGG MYsTIFIED AND FACILITATING.
Says Duke: "The detachments which
advanced to Frankfort and toward
Lawrenceburg, were not more than II, 600
in all. SO rugged is the country through
which these detachments had to pass, that
"A comparatively small force could have
prevented their junction at Lawrenceburg,
and held both at bay, leaving the greater
part of the Confederate army free to con-
centrate at Perryyille. Even had their
junction been permitted. 5000 such cav
airy as Bragg had at his disposal could have
retarded their parch to Harrodsburg for
several days. They could not have forced
their way along The road in less than two
or three days, and as many would have
been required to make detour and Join
Buell.. In that time the battle of Perry.
vile could have been decided; bu;
| SO completely was Gen. Bragg mysti
fed as to Gen. Buell's movements
that he seems to have supposed that
when the latter moved from Louis
vile, Oct. /, it was movement of the
whole Federal army upon Frankfort, and
| he ordered Gen. Polk to move from
BardstowD, by way OF Bloomfield, toward
Frankfort, to strike the enemy in flank
md rear while Gen. Smith should take
him in front This order was evidently
| ssued under an unaccountable and entire
nisapprehension II the true state of af.
! fairs, but showed nerve and purpose
which promised well.
| After Gen. Polk moved to Perryyille
ten. Bragg, of course, learned of the nd
vance of the enemy in that direction, ant
must ave known that 1t was In strong
.olumn, or he would not have permitted
| 5000 troops to collect there to oppose
t. He was still In error regarding the