Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-09-26

OF DIVISION OF BURNElDE'S ARMY.
the war into the north, was for Gen
eral Kirby Smith to move from Knox
vile north through eastern Kentucky
to Lexington and thence to Cincinnati
and for General Braxton Bragg to push
through central Kentucky to Louis
vile. With these two cities in the pos
session Of their armies it would be
short step to enter upon the rich fields
Of the northern states, and with the
large number of new recruits gained
en- route their armies could resist any
northern troops that would be brought
against them.
This had been General Albert Sid
ney JOhnstOn's plan to be worked out
after he had achieved the victory he
contemplated at Shiloh in April, and
Bragg as his successor endeavored to
carry out J0hnston's original plan of
campaign.
AS early as Aug. Bragg. who was
at Chattanooga, sent two brigades (Cle-
burne's and Preston Smith's) to General
Kirby Smith at Knoxville. General G.
L. Stevenson, with 5000 men. was or
dered to watch the Federal general,
G. w. Morgan. who occupied Cumber.
land Gap, near the Kentucky border
General Smith started from Knoxville
on the 18th en- route to Rogers Gap.
with four brigades, O,OOO strong, to
menace Morgan on the southwest. The
brigades were commanded by General
P. R. Cleburne and General T. ]
Churchill.
General Henry Heth, with a force
nearly 1900 strong, was ordered to
march direct to Barboursville, Ky, in
rear Of Cumberland Gap. on the north.
General Smith had at first contclnplat.
ed only the cutting off of the supplies
Of the Federal garrison at Cumberland
Gap; but, learning that they were well
provisioned and seeing the difficulty Of
supplying his own troops in the poor
and barren region Of southeastern
Kentucky. he determined to march rap
idly on to the rich blue grass country
In the central part Of the state.
Federals Concentrate Against Bragg.
General Buell. gave orders concen-
trating his entire command at Muir
freesboro, Tenn, under the impression
that Bragg's column. marching from
Chattanooga, through central Tennes-
see, expected to strike for Nashville.
The latter's movements were so well
guarded and Buell. had as yet so little
reliable information in regard to them
that he hesitated even after the order
was issued. General George H. Thorn
as advised that the movement proceed.
having been commenced. and gave a
plan of battle in the movement from
MurfreesborO Thomas meanwhile cap
tured a Confederate military dispatch
which Bragg had sent to General Earl
Van Dorm, in command in Mississippi.
conveying to him in full his plans in
regard to his advance into Kentucky.
and informed him that General Kirby
Smith, REINFORCED with two divisions
from his own army. had turned Cum
berland Gap and was marching on
Lexington. KY.
Buell's army numbered about 10000
ana consisted OF HVe ulNISloHs, TIE
troops being then on the line of the
railroad running south from Nashville.
In addition he had two divisions, each
5000 strong, from Grants Army of the
Tennessee-General ]. G. Davis divi-
sion, under General r. B. Mitchell, and
General e. A. Paine's division. under
the command Of General ]. NJ. Palmer,
marching to Join him.
This concentration Of the Federal ar
my, Of course. withdrew all the north
ern troops from the Cumberland noun
tains. leaving Bragg unhampered in
the selection Of his route, either west
to Nashville or north to Louisville. He
made choice Of the latter and pushed
down the valley Of the Cumberland
to Carthage, where he crossed, moving
through Scottsboro and Glasgow, to
strike the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road Bragg entered Kentucky with