Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the warStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
History
Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the war
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
At about this time the rebel Generals Bragg, Smith, Kirby and Van Dorn,
had combined to invade Kentucky, their object being to capture
Louisville, and then push forward and take possession of Cincinnati. It
was the prosecution of this movement that led to the battles of
Richmond, Tazewell, Mumfordsville, Perryville, Iuka, and Corinth. In
name, as we have seen, the State of Kentucky was still attached to the
Union. She had contributed her full quota to the national army, and her
whole territory was unoccupied by Confederate forces; but the State was
full of guerrilla bands, which, under cover of serving the rebels,
plundered in all directions, on their own account. The chief of these
guerrilla marauders, John Morgan, with his gang, took possession of the
town of Lebanon, on the 12th of July, 1862. His troops continually
increased till at last with a large force he advanced upon Cynthiana,
which he attacked on the 18th. There a home guard of three hundred and
forty men, entirely undisciplined, made a desperate resistance, and were
not overpowered till they had slaughtered many of the rebel invaders.
This little band of patriots was commanded by Colonel J. J. Landrum,
whose coolness and bravery deserves every commendation.
A series of guerrilla attacks now succeeded each other, giving
indications of hostile movements of a more serious character.
About the middle of August, it was reported that Frankfort, the State
capital, was in danger from the approach of Morgan, and that the rebel
General E. Kirby Smith was advancing with a well organized force, into
Kentucky, from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Morgan’s force was subsequently overtaken near Paris, by General Green
C. Smith, and defeated. About the same time Henderson was occupied by
citizens from Kentucky and other States, acting the part of guerrillas,
and the hospital and other stores carried off. Farther to the north,
Newburg, in Indiana, on the Ohio river, was occupied by a band from
Kentucky. They soon, however, left. The activity of the bands under
Colonel Morgan produced a great excitement in the interior of the State.
Many towns were visited and much plunder obtained. It had been his
conviction that large numbers of the citizens would flock to his
standard. In this he was greatly mistaken, and the indifference and
hostility of the people, together with the preparations to resist him,
checked his movements. Active operations continued in Tennessee, whither
Colonel Morgan retired. Clarksville was captured with large military
stores, and about the 22nd of August a considerable body of Confederate
cavalry attacked the Federal force at Gallatin, and after a severe
contest repulsed the latter.
At the same time, Governor James F. Robinson, who had succeeded
Magoffin, appealed to the people in a stirring proclamation, dated
August 31st, to rally in defence of the State, against the rebel
invaders. His language is that of a whole-souled patriot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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