the army of the cumberland-第9章
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ed for them。 From here the command marched all night； and at eleven o'clock next morning was within a short distance of Lebanon。 Morgan； prepatory to an attack； despatched one of his companies to destroy the railroad north of the town to prevent the arrival of reinforcements。 The company struck the railroad at New Hope Church； and had just commenced their work of destruction when a train came up with a number of Federal troops on it； who drove the rebels off in confusion； but for some unknown cause the train then returned to Louisville； leaving Morgan unmolested at Lebanon； who advanced to the attack and drove in the pickets。 After a slight skirmish the place was surrendered by Lieutenant…Colonel Johnson of the Twenty…eighth Kentucky； with a small detachment of that command。 Morgan destroyed some fifty thousand dollars' worth of Government stores。 He left Lebanon at two o'clock in the afternoon； passed through Springfield without halting the command； and pushed on for Harrodsburg； reaching there at nine o'clock on Sunday morning。 Here he sent Gano with his squadron around Lexington to burn the railroad bridges on the Kentucky Central Railroad； in order to prevent troops being sent there from Cincinnati。 Another detachment was sent to destroy the bridge on the Louisville and Lexington Railroad； cutting off reinforcements from Louisville。 Morgan's design was to make it appear that he intended to attack Frankfort； then turn suddenly to the right and attempt the capture of Lexington。 He had given out everywhere in Kentucky that he was marching on the State Capital with a force five thousand strong； and had succeeded in spreading the utmost alarm。 On the 15th Morgan reached Midway； captured the telegraph operator and installed his own operator at the same instrument； sent despatches in the name of Federal Generals； and changed the orders for the movement of troops。 He telegraphed in all directions； without the slightest regard for truth； and succeeded in creating the utmost confusion and alarm at Cincinnati； Louisville； Lexington； and Frankfort。 The command left Midway late in the afternoon and started for Georgetown； which place they reached at sundown； where they met a small force of Home Guards； who were driven out of town。 From here Morgan sent a force to burn the bridges on the Kentucky Railroad between Lexington and Paris。 Then learning how strongly Lexington was garrisoned； he gave up all thought of attacking it； and finding that the Federal forces were closing in on him commenced his return south。 On the 18th； Morgan attacked Cynthiana； which was garrisoned by some five hundred men； under the command of Lieutenant…Colonel John J。 Landrum； of the Eighteenth Kentucky。 The fighting continued for two hours； when the Federal force was driven from the town and nearly all captured。 Landrum and a few of his command escaped。 The Federals lost 16 killed and 40 wounded； and 14 of the enemy were killed and 42 wounded。 The rebels claimed to have captured 420 prisoners； who were at once paroled。 The depot； with a large amount of Government stores； was burned。 Morgan then left for Paris； where he arrived late in the evening and rested there that night。 About eight o'clock in the morning his command was driven out of this place by the troops under General Green Clay Smith； numbering some twelve hundred men； who killed 2； wounded six； and captured several prisoners。 Morgan pushed through Winchester； reaching that point about twelve o'clock； crossed the Kentucky River just at dark； and arrived at Richmond at four o'clock in the morning。 Here he rested his command twelve hours； then marched toward Crab Orchard； arriving about daybreak the next morning。 It had been his intention to make a stand at Richmond； but there were too many troops marching to attack him。 Besides General Smith's command； which was following him closely； Colonel Wolford was collecting forces in the southern part of Kentucky to intercept him； and troops were EN ROUTE from Louisville to aid in the pursuit。 Morgan left Crab Orchard at eleven o'clock the same morning； and reached Somerset about sunset。 At these two places he captured 130 wagons； with large quantities of Government stores； of which he loaded as much into wagons for the use of his command as he wanted； and burned the rest。 From Somerset he marched to Stagall's Ferry on the Cumberland River； and there crossed； reaching Monticello； twenty…one miles from the river； that night； when all pursuit ended。
Morgan's object in making this raid was to obtain recruits and horses； to equip and arm his men； and to prepare for his fall raiding trip。 In his official report he says： 〃I left Knoxville on the 4th day of this month with about nine hundred men； and returned to Livingston on the 28th inst。 with nearly twelve hundred； having been absent just twenty…four days； during which time I have traveled over a thousand miles； captured seventeen towns； destroyed all the Government supplies and arms in them； dispersed about fifteen hundred Home Guards； and paroled nearly twelve hundred regular troops。 I lost in killed； wounded； and missing of the number that I carried into Kentucky； about ninety。〃
When Buell received his orders to open the campaign in East Tennessee； the key to that part of the State was Chattanooga； and this was the objective point of his campaign。 With the concentration of the Southern forces in Mississippi； both Halleck and Buell thought that a favorable time had arrived for this movement； anticipating that no advance of the enemy's forces would be made to dispute the occupancy of those portions of Kentucky and Tennessee already held by the Federal forces。 The great problem with Buell was to furnish supplies to his army； now some three hundred miles away from its base at Louisville； dependent during the greater part of the year on one line of road； which was subject to being raided at any time； bridges burned； the roadbed destroyed； and the entire road rendered useless for months。 To continue this line the many miles through the enemy's country； subject to increased risks before Chattanooga could be reached； was a matter that required a great amount of careful thought and deliberation。 Buell had tried infantry in stockades at bridges； and was satisfied that this was not the proper solution to the problem。 He then made earnest and repeated application for more cavalry； to protect his communications and to meet and repulse the enemy's raiding parties before they could reach his line of communication。 If he was to move with his command into East Tennessee； he regarded the line from Nashville to Chattanooga as the proper road on which he should depend for his supplies； and to which he should give his care and attention for this purpose。
Halleck considered the line from Memphis to Chattanooga the one over which the supplies for Buell's army should pass。 The latter objected to this； by reason of that road crossing the Tennessee River twice； thus giving two long bridges to rebuild and protect； instead of one； and for the additional reason that this road ran for a considerable distance parallel with the front of the enemy； and thus invited raiding parties。 While the risks attending the other road were great enough； Buell regarded the Memphis and Charleston road far the more objectionable。 Besides； he wished to move through Middle Tennessee to McMinnville； and thence to Chattanooga； with Nashville as his depot of supplies。 In this Halleck overruled him and directed that he march his command on the line of the Memphis road； repairing the track as he advanced。
While this matter was under consideration by the Federal commanders； Bragg； who had been appointed to the position of General made vacant by the death of General Johnston； and who had succeeded Beauregard in the command in the West； put his columns in motion eastward to occupy Chattanooga。 Johnston； on the retreat from Nashville； sent all surplus army stores to Chattanooga； and Bragg now regarded that point as the proper place to refit his command； and from which to assume the offensive； and open the campaign he had planned to free； for a time at least； Tennessee from the control of the Federal forces。
With the start
