Today in History:

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

Page 979 Chapter XXVIII. SIEGE OF MUNFORDVILLE,KY.

[R. A.] Bell, of the Tenth Mississippi Regiment, with a flag of truce. I at the same time sent by Captain Bell a note to Colonel Dunham, requesting permission to remove such of my wounded from the hospital as might be able to bear it, and also the bodies of such as had died, which he granted at once, and in his reply stated that I could have access to my wounded at Rowlett's Station at any time. Copies of this correspondence are herewith inclosed, numbered

4 and 5.

At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 16th instant, in obedience to orders from Headquarters Right Wing Army of the Mississippi, this brigade moved from its camp at Cave City in advance of the main body toward Munfordville. About 8 a.m., when within 2 1/2 miles of the fort, my cavalry scouts encountered those of the enemy and fired upon them, killing one horse. A detachment from the battalion of sharpshooters was immediately ordered forward as skirmishers, and soon after the whole battalion, under the command of Captain West, was ordered to advance and drive back the enemy's skirmishers, who began to show themselves in considerable numbers in the woods on the crest of Mrs. Lewis' Hill.

At this time Brigadier-General Duncan came up with his brigade and I at once resigned the command to him. A section of my battery (Ketchum's) was ordered forward to shell the woods in which the enemy's skirmishers were concealed, but after a few shots they were compelled to cease firing, as their shells were endeavoring our own men who were driving the enemy before them. The Seventh Mississippi Regiment was then ordered forward to support the sharpshooters, but before it could be brought into action the enemy had fallen back, and did not make another stand until they had reached their works. The sharpshooters continued to annoy the enemy until 6 p.m., when they rejoined the main body of the brigade. The remainder of the brigade was ordered to move to the left of the turnpike and was halted behind a spur of Mrs. Lewis' Hill, and afterwards, by order from General Bragg, it moved farther to the left and took position with its left resting on the river and right extending toward the turnpike, where it was entirely protected from the fire of the fort by a hill. Here we remained until the next morning, the 17th, when we were ordered up to witness the surrender of the garrison of the fort, and afterwards, by order of General Bragg, in compliment, as he stated, to our gallant attack upon the place, we took possession of the works.

The only loss sustained in this movement was by the battalion of sharpshooters, who had 3 men severely wounded engaged with the enemy's skirmishers.

In the attack on the 14th instant I took 2 prisoners, who have since been turned over to the proper officers to be paroled with the others At Cave City we captured 3 boarding cars, 1 box car, 2 hand cars, 1 telegraphic machine and battery, 2 boxes new clothing (uniforms), 6 boxes worn clothing (uniforms), 1 box boots, and 1 barrel salt; and at Woodsville I captured and brought off to Cave City 1 hand car and 3 barrels salt. The cars were left on the track at Cave City when our forces moved out of that place. The telegraphic machine and battery were sent to Major-General Polk. The salt was turned over to the commissary department, and the clothing and boots were turned over to the quartermaster of this brigade and issued to the men, who were greatly in need of them.

I cannot close this report without expressing my admiration of the conduct of the officers and men under my command. The cheerfulness with which they endured the hardship of the march from Chattanooga;


Page 979 Chapter XXVIII. SIEGE OF MUNFORDVILLE,KY.