the army of the cumberland-第17节
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under Colonel Basil W。 Duke； in the first brigade； with a battery of four guns。 The second brigade was placed in command of Colonel W。 C。 P。 Breckenridge； and was composed of four regiments； with one three…inch Parrot gun and the two mountain howitzers。 This force； trained as it had been； had no superior for the work it was ordered to doraiding in the rear； destroying bridges； trestleworks； and capturing bridge…guards。 So accustomed had they become to hardships of every nature； that it was almost incredible the amount of rough riding； scant fare； and loss of sleep these men endured。 Proud of their past success； and emboldened by it to the belief that they were able to defeat any force that could overtake them； they at last found the country south of the Ohio too confined for them； and； aiming at grander feats； they passed north of that river； and； entering upon an entirely different kind of warfare； met with complete disaster。
On the morning of the 22d the command of Morgan took the road again for Kentucky。 Bragg ordered the railroad in Rosecrans's rear to be broken； and his communication with Louisville destroyed。 Morgan and his men were in most excellent spirits at the prospect of another raid into that State。 He had with him the pick of the youth of the State of Kentucky。 On the 24th Morgan's command had their first skirmish with a battalion of Michigan troops； which resulted in the loss to Morgan of seventeen of his men and two of his officers。 On the 25th Colonel Hobson had an engagement with Johnson's regiment near Munfordville； in which the rebels suffered a loss of some fifty men killed and wounded。 Morgan then attacked the stockade at Bacon Creek； held by a force of 100 men； who made a most stubborn and determined resistance； inflicting severe loss upon the attacking party； and demonstrating the worth of a stockade properly built and efficiently manned。 These stockades were built with heavy upright timber ten or twelve feet high。 They were surrounded by ditches and pierced for musketry。 Assailants； when right at the base； were still far from taking them。 It was supposed that they would not resist artillery； and； in fact； they were not built with the expectation of doing so。 If the garrison of the stockade succeeded in driving off the guerilla parties that swarmed through the country； it fully accomplished its purpose。 This stockade successfully resisted the heavy artillery firing brought to bear upon it； even when a number of shells exploded within the work。 After making such a brave defiance； it is to be regretted that they did not hold out to the last； and refuse to surrender at all。 The commanding officer had rejected a number of demands made on him to surrender； when Morgan came up in person； and in his own name offering them liberal terms； they surrendered。 Morgan then burnt the bridge across Bacon Creek； and pressed on to Nolin； fourteen miles beyond； where the stockade was surrendered without a fight。 The bridge here also was destroyed。 Morgan's division； on the 27th； captured Elizabethtown； after a severe engagement with the command of Lieutenant…Colonel Smitha detachment of some six hundred infantry。 Smith sent Morgan a demand for him to surrender； which Morgan declined； and returned the compliment by making the same demand on Smith； who also declined。 After an engagement lasting some six hours； Morgan's artillery rendered the building Smith's command was fighting in untenable； and he then surrendered。 The next day Morgan； moving along the railroad； destroyed it thoroughly。 The principal object of the expedition was the great trestleworks at Muldraugh's Hills； only a short distance apart。 The garrison defending the lower trestle； 600 strong； was captured by the Second Brigade。 The First Brigade captured the garrison at the upper trestle200 strong。 These trestles were respectively 80 and 90 feet high； and each of them 500 feet long。 They were thoroughly destroyed。 Thus was accomplished the objects of the raid； but the destruction of these bridgestrestle and railroaddid not accomplish the design contemplated by Bragg。 Rosecrans's prompt movement from Nashville on the rebels encamped at Murfreesboro； and the result of that campaign； rendered Morgan's raid a failure in the main； as Bragg intended the road should be so thoroughly destroyed as to prevent the further occupation of Nashville by our army。 The loss to the Federals was an exceedingly severe one； and had Rosecrans remained at Nashville inactive all the winter of 1862； Bragg's designs would have met with a greater degree of success。
On the 29th； Colonel Harlan with his brigade attacked and routed Morgan's troopers at Rolling Fork of Salt River； and drove them to Bardstown。 While Morgan was moving around Lebanon； Colonel Hoskins's command attacked him and captured 150 men。 Morgan passed between the forces sent against him； showing again that it is impossible to catch cavalry with infantry。 Morgan then commenced his retreat form the State。 On the morning of January 1； 1863； as his command was passing Columbia； 115 miles in an air…line from Murfreesboro； his men reported hearing distinctly the roar of heavy cannonading in that direction。 On the 2d Morgan crossed the Cumberland； and felt safe once more from all pursuit。
On December 21st； General Carter moved with three regiments of cavalry toward East Tennessee； from Lebanon； Ky。； to raid on the rebel line of communication。 Crossing the Cumberland Mountains forty miles northeast of Cumberland Gap； he passed through Southwestern Virginia and Tennessee to Carter's Station； destroying the Holston and Watauga bridges and several miles of railroad。 He then leisurely returned to Kentucky by the same route he had advanced。
Chapter VII。
The Advance to Murfreesboro。
On December 22d； General Thomas moved his headquarters from Gallatin to Nashville； and there concentrated the divisions of Rousseau and Negley； and Walker's brigade of Fry's division。 Of the five divisions composing the Centre； that of J。 J。 Reynolds was guarding the Louisville and Nashville railroad； and on the same duty were the remaining two brigades of Fry's division。 R。 B。 Mitchell was assigned to the command of Nashville with his division as the garrison。 This left； under the immediate command of Thomas； the two divisions and the brigade as above； as his only available force。 McCook with three divisions under Johnson； Davis； and Sheridan； and Crittenden； also with three divisions under Wood； Palmer； and Van Cleve； were in camp in front of Nashville； on the Franklin； Nolinsville； and Murfreesboro turnpikes。
The position of the enemy under Bragg was fully known to Rosecrans。 Two corps under Polk and Kirby Smith were at Murfreesboro with strong outposts at Stewart's Creek and Lavergne。 The corps under Hardee was on the Shelbyville and Nolinsville pike； between Triune and Eaglesville； with an advance guard at Nolinsville。 Rosecrans； on the morning of the 26th； directed the advance movement to commence in the following order。 McCook was to move his command of three divisions direct on the Nolinsville pike to Triune。 Thomas was to advance his command of two divisions and a brigade on McCook's right by the Franklin and Wilson pikes； threatening Hardee's left； and on his falling back was then to cross over on country roads and occupy Nolinsville。 Crittenden was ordered to move his command direct on the Murfreesboro pike。 On the arrival of Thomas at Nolinsville； and being in a position to support； McCook was to attack Hardee at Triune； and if the latter was re…enforced and McCook's advance resisted； Thomas was to go to his aid。 If Hardee fell back to Stewart's Creek； five miles south of Lavergne； and the enemy made a stand there； then Crittenden was to attack him at once； and Thomas was to come in on his left flank； while McCook was to bring his forces in supporting distance of Thomas and Crittenden as needed； after sending a division to watch Hardee and to pursue him if retreating。
Davis took the advance of the Right Wing with the First Division。 He moved from camp at 6 A。M。 on the Edmondson pike； on which he was ordered to move to Prim's blacksmith shop； from whence he was to march direct on a country road to Nolinsville。 The Third Division under Sheridan moved on the Nolinsville pike； followed by the Second under Johnson。 The advance of both these columns encountered the cavalry pickets of the enemy； within two miles of the Federal picket line。 As these commands advanced； there was constant skirmishing until the heads of each of these columns reached Nolinsville。 About one mile south of the town the enemy made a determined stand in a defile； and upon the hills through which the pike ran at this place； known as Knobb's Gap。 This was a favorable position for the rebels； well guarded by their artillery； which opened fire at long range upon Carlin's lines。 Davis then brought up two batteries and opened fire upon the enemy； while Carlin charged their position； capturing two guns and several prisoners。 Davis's other brigades carried the enemy's position on the right and left。 His divisions then bivouacked for the night。 McCook's loss that day was about seventy…five killed and wounde
