Today in History:

273 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 273 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. How near do you suppose you were to Camp Dick Robinson on the 11th?

Six or seven miles. Danville was the nearest place.

Question. Were you nearer Camp Dick Robinson on the 12th than you were on the 11th?

We were. I supposed at the time we were about 2 miles from there.

Question. When you supposed you were within 2 miles of Camp Dick Robinson what enemy's force did you find in your front?

I would state that between us and what we supposed was Camp Dick Robinson was Dick's River. We saw no enemy except the pickets that I have previously spoken of. We did not cross the river. There was no force of the enemy on the side of the river we were except the pickets I have mentioned.

Question. Did you at that time drive the enemy's pickets across Dick's River?

We did not attempt to; we paid no attention to their pickets.

Question. By driving in those pickets and advancing to the banks of Dick's River would you not probably have obtained valuable information as to the position of the enemy on the other side?

I do not think we could have obtained any more than we did. The banks of the river were precipitous and covered with woods.

Question. What military information as to the force and position of the enemy did you obtain that day?

I obtained none at all. My position was a subordinate one, and I knew nothing of the object of the reconnaissance nor obtained any information that that I have given.

Question. Who commanded the reconnaissance on that day?

I do not know that it was a reconnaissance nor the object of the movement. I would say that General Smith commanded the troops that I was with. There were other movements of the troops. I think the entire corps moved there.

Redirect examination by General BUELL:

Question. Do you recognize, colonel, that the movement of a fraction of a large army in the presence of an enemy does not indicate the movement of the army itself or the character of the movement or the extent of it?

I do.

Question. Is the position of an army of 60,000 men to be indicated by a point?

It is not. It usually extends over a line of from 3 to 10 or 12 miles.

Question. How much ground would an army of 60,000 men occupy in order of battle?

I would say, without making a calculation, that it would extend over from 4 to 5 miles.

Question. Do you know anything of the character of Dick's River and the ground between you and the position which the enemy were supposed to occupy opposite to you?

I never saw Dick's River, but from the character of the ravines leading into it and from the representations of the inhabitants I should believe it to be impracticable for troops to cross.

Question. Do you know under whose supervision the movements of

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Page 273 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.