OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

affair of yesterday between a Federal force and my command in the immediate vicinity of Woodbury: My command had been, as usual, diligently employed in scouting the country adjacent to Morgantown, the ferries, and the Bend of Green River, near Woodbury, with a view of observing the movements of the enemy.

Yesterday morning (29th) two scouting parties were dispatched from my command. One, under the command of Lieutenant Bondurant, proceeded in the direction of Morgantown, and after passing that point at the distance of about 1 mile and on reaching the crest of a steep and rocky hill they unexpectedly found themselves in the immediate presence of superior force of infantry under cover on both sides of the road. After a brisk exchange of shots Lieutenant Bondurant withdrew his party in good order and returned to make his report.

The casualties in this affair were as follows: Of Lieutenant Bondurant's party, 3 wounded, 1 severely and 2 slightly; on the part of the enemy, 1 killed, several wounded.

Immediately upon the return of Lieutenant Bondurant, I proceeded to the point indicated with Lieutenants Doniphan and Brown and 60 troopers. Before reaching Morgantown, and while moving in that direction, my advance guard came upon the enemy in increased numbers, posted on the crest of a rugged hill, accessible only by the road. The enemy in this instance were under the command of a man named Netter. They had been joined by the Union men of Morgantown and vicinity and by members of an organization styling themselves Home Guards.

The enemy opened fire upon the advance guard, which withdrew without injury and joined the command, then halted at the base of the hill. I then divided my command, sending one-half to the right, with a view of engaging the enemy's attention in that direction while I could charge him by the road in front.

I soon ascertained that we were unable to effect anything against the enemy posted as they were. We were fully in range of their Minie muskets, without being able to reach them with our guns and repeaters, while at the same time we found the ground of such a character as to prevent our ascending the hill except at a walk, and completely exposed to the fire of their entire force. One man and several horses having been wounded, I deemed it proper to withdraw and return to my camp.

Upon my return, I learned from reliable authority that a combined force of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, from a Lincoln camp near Caneywille, was approaching with a view of attacking me about sunset. This information was corroborated by the fact that the women and children of the Union men were being removed from Woodbury.

In about an hour the enemy opened fire with several pieces of artillery from the opposite side of the river on a portion of my command guarding the ferry, and commenced crossing under the fire of his guns.

The wounded having been sent forward to Bowling Green, and knowing my position to be untenable, the enemy having obtained the range of my camp with his artillery, I withdrew my command, and proceeded in the direction of Bowling Green. Ten miles from my camp I met Major Hagan with re-enforcements. My command returned with him, except some few troopers whose horses were broken down.

I cannot state with any degree of accuracy the enemy's force, but from the most reliable information that could be obtained and from the close