Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-16

GENERAL O. N. mitchell, I. s. A, COM
MANDER OF THE FIRST FEDERAL ExPE-
DITIOS AGAINST CHATTANOOGA.
ton with Louisville. on which he was
dependent for supplies, was thus for
the time effectually severed.
Work was Immediately commenced
TO repair the damage, but the constant
ly recurring presence of MOrgan's cav
airy interfered so etfeCtually as to re-
duire a large increase of force from
the front or the rear for the defense.
Buell. had already strengthened the
guards at Bowling Green and Mum
fOrdville. On the 10th he gave General
William Nelson a couple Of field hat
tcries and some experienced cavalry
and infantry officers to re-establish
communications and operate against
John Morgan's incursions.
On the 18th guard Of a regiment
belonging To Grants command was
captured without a show Of resistance
at Clarksville, Tenn, where a consider
able quantity Of supplies had been de-
posted for transshipment in conse-
quence of the suspension of navigation
by low water in the Cumberland.
Invasion of Kentucky.
The original plan was for a combined
movement into middle Tennessee for
the recovery Of Nashville. The inva-
sion of Kentucky was at first probably
not thought of at all or AT least only
as a later possibility. But as Bragg
D I.., It- IN tho Tonnes
see river from Chattanooga until about
the middle Of August it was arranged
that in the meantime Kirby Smith. with
his troops already in east Tennessee,
should attack and capture Morgan at
/ Cumberland Gap. The strength OF
Morgans fortified position, however,
with 5000 good troops TO defend IT.
was upon consideration deemed to pre-
clude the attempt. The alternative
was TO invest him on the south side
with 1900 men under Stevenson, while
/ Smith with 1900 should seize and
! hold his communication on the north.
by which means. not being strong
enough to break his way out on either
side. Morgan. upon the exhaustion OF
his supplies, would be compelled to
surrender. This plan being adopted
Smith commenced his movement
through Rogers and Big Greek gaps
On the 14th Of August and reached
MOrgan's rear at BarbOurville on the
18th.
He now perceived that ii would bt
impossible for him to gather supplies
for his command from that poor anC
exhausted region, and later his embar
rassment was increased by Morgan:
occupation Of Rogers and Big Creel
gaps Nothing therefore remained fol
I him but to withdraw or advance boldly
into the rich portion of Kentucky
Bragg was not at first in favor of thu
latter course until he should be pre-
pared TO follow up the precipitat'
movement which II was not doubted
Buell. would make from middle Ten
nessee for the protection Of Kentucky
However. his concurrence was readil.
yielded, for the proposition was sllur
ing
The idea of invasion. which had nov
taken firm root, was coupled with tn
chimera OF an uprising OF the peopi
and transfer OF the state to the Con
federacy. Buell. never had the slight
est apprehension Of such a result
Boys might join John Morgan's rovinl
cavaliers and some mature men nigh
commit themselves with less romano
TO the cause Of the Confederacy, an
these phenomena would Of course b
mglIinl...; ~ the backing OF an army.