Col. J. Stoddard Johnston, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 9.1, Kentucky
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

Headquarters Morgan's Brigade, Hartsville, Tenn., August 22, 1862.

Soldiers: Your gallant bearing during the last two days will be not only inscribed in the history of the country, and the annals of this war, but is engraven deeply in my heart. Your zeal and devotion at the attack of the trestle work at Saundersville and of the Edgeville Junction stockade, your heroism during the two hard fights of yesterday, have placed you high on the list of those patriots who are now in arms for our Southern rights.

All communication cut off betwixt Gallatin and Nashville, a body of 300 infantry totally cut up or taken prisoners, the liberation of those kind friends arrested by our revengeful foes for no other reason than their compassionate care of our sick and wounded, would have been laurels sufficient for your brows; but soldiers, the utter annihilation of General Johnson's brigade, composed of 24 picked companies of regulars sent on purpose to take us, raises your reputation as soldiers and strikes fear into the craven hearts of your enemies. General Johnson and his staff, with 200 men taken prisoners, 64 killed and 100 wounded, attest the resistance made and bear testimony to your valor. But our victories have not been achieved without loss. We have to mourn some brave and dear comrades. Their names will remain in our breasts and their fame outlives them. They died in defense of a good cause; they died like gallant soldiers with their front to the foe.

Officers and men, your conduct makes me proud to command you. Fight always as you fought yesterday, and you are invincible.

John H. Morgan, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry.

By this time the disasters were thickening and General Buell was thoroughly aroused to a realization of the storm which was about to burst upon him, of which these were but the preliminary admonitions. The movements of Gen. Kirby Smith in East Tennessee had caused him