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[587]

All who witnessed that battle will accord to Gen. Johnson the highest praise for his courage, skill, and gallantry throughout the engagement.

Thus it will be seen, upon a plain statement of the facts of the battle, that the regiment I commanded did their duty, and whipped the enemy they fought, although greatly outnumbering us; that the panic that caused confusion in my regiment originated elsewhere, and that the men who remained and fought in the second engagement were nearly all of my regiment.

Colonel Morgan treated all the prisoners well, for which I am, as a gentleman, compelled to give him credit.

Respectfully,

T. C. Winfrey, Major Fifth Kentucky Cavalry.


Report of the guerrilla Morgan.

headquarters Morgan's regiment, Hartsville, August 22, 1862.
To Gen. Cooper, Adjutant-General, Richmond:
General: I beg to confirm my despatch of the twentieth instant, announcing the result of yesterday's expedition.

My command, consisting of my own regiment, seven hundred strong, and a squadron of Texas Rangers, numbering one hundred men, returned that day, worn out, to Gallatin.

At eleven P. M. I received information from one of my friendly scouts that the enemy's cavalry were encamped on the road-side between Castilian Springs and Hartsville, a distance of only twelve miles from my camp.

Judging from the fact that they had halted by the road-side, I concluded that they intended to march at night and attack early in the morning, and I made my preparations accordingly, despatching scouts upon whom I could depend to bring me positive information as to the enemy's movements.

At daybreak my column was on the move, and as the advanced guard reached the head of the town my pickets came galloping in, followed by my principal scout, who reported that he was closely pursued by a large body of cavalry.

Not wishing, on account of the inhabitants, to make Gallatin the scene of our contest, I advanced my column, and was greeted, on reaching the Hartsville pike, by a heavy fire from that direction.

I dismounted the two leading companies to fight, and threw them into the woods, on the left of the road. The enemy increased his fire, and I gradually had my whole command engaged.

The fight began at half-past 6 o'clock, and was maintained without much advantage on either side — the enemy having, perhaps, rather the best of it at first--until about half-past 8, when they began to fall back, and my men to redouble their efforts. At half-past 9 I had driven them four miles, and was preparing for a final charge, when a flag of truce was brought, proposing an armistice, in order to bury their dead.

My reply was, that I could entertain no proposition except unconditional surrender.

I learned then that the troops were commanded by Brig.-Gen. Johnson. During the parley, the enemy had formed into line of battle, and were, evidently, ready to defend themselves from any fresh attack.

I divided my force into three divisions, leading one myself in the direction which I thought Gen. Johnson had taken. Major Morgan had five companies under his orders on my left. Lieut.-Col. Duke, on my right, had three companies and his advanced guard.

Some delay was occasioned by the non-arrival of my gallant Texan Rangers, who formed part of the body under my own immediate orders. They had been separated from their horses during the preceding fight, and had not been able to recover them in time to come to the front. On their arrival, we marched on in the direction of the enemy, and Colonel Duke's division coming within sight, advanced at a canter and opened fire.

Gen. Johnson's forces, being on a good pike, retreated for some time faster than my men, who were on difficult ground, could follow, but after a pursuit of some two miles they were overtaken and compelled to fight.

They were dismounted and formed behind their horses. The position they had selected was a very good one, especially as they considerably outnumbered Col. Duke's force, which was the only one opposed to them, Major Morgan and my own detachment, in the eagerness of pursuit, having taken too far to the left.

Col. Duke reports that on perceiving that the enemy had halted, he formed his three companies and the advanced guard into columns of squadrons, preserving the regular distances betwixt each, so as to be able to form into line at command and attack.

This was done with admirable precision and coolness by his men, and nothing could exceed their gallantry.

The enemy were formed under the brow of a hill, and my men were drawn up above them, so that their fire told with effect on my line, whilst that of the attacking party went over their heads.

After a very sharp engagement of about fifteen minutes they broke and ran.

Gen. Johnson, his Adjutant-General, Captain Turner, Major Winfrey, and a number of privates were captured, but the main body escaped to the hills, through the woods and high corn, making for the Cumberland River.

Thus ended an action in which my command, not exceeding seven hundred men, (one whole company being in the rear with prisoners,) succeeded in defeating a brigade of one thousand two hundred chosen cavalry sent by Gen. Buell expressly to take me or drive me out of Tennessee, killing and wounding some one hundred and eighty and taking two hundred prisoners, including the Brigadier-General Commanding, and the greater part of the regimental officers.

My loss in both actions amounted to five killed and eighteen wounded, two missing. Among the wounded was Capt. Huffman, who had his


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