Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[302] the guns and the want of ammunition. I sent despatches frequently, but could get no answer from the operator in Louisville to the call of the operator at this point, during the afternoon of the twenty-fifth, until too late to effect any thing by trains from Louisville. I also telegraphed that it was Morgan's design to attack the tunnel and the works beyond.

At nine o'clock P. M., the twenty-fifth, scouts brought the information that one hundred of the enemy were crossing the river at Burnt Bridge Ford. This was confirmed during the night by reports that the whole force was crossing and moving in the direction of Hammondsville. I immediately ordered Captain Dickey, of the Second Michigan, to proceed to Bacon Creek stockade, reporting to my headquarters by courier at nine and ten A. M., and oftener if necessary, and also ordered the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, Colonel Shanks, toward Hammondsville, to report often by courier. Soon after arriving at Bacon Creek and arranging his pickets, Capt. Dickey was attacked by the advance of Morgan, and flanked by a large force. Captain Dickey having less than eighty men for duty, on account of the exertions of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth, was compelled to fill back on Munfordville, fighting his way. Learning this by courier, I shifted Colonel Shanks, with the exception of two companies, from the Greensburgh road to cover the retreat of the Second Michigan by attacking the enemy, and, gradually falling back on Munfordville, to draw him in and give play for the skirmishers; the Twenty-fifth Michigan infantry, Colonel Moore, on the right, Lieutenant-Colonel Carey, Thirty-first Indiana, in the centre, with the convalescent battalion and Major Hobson commanding Fifteenth Kentucky on the left. The officers and men of these commands acted with great promptness and ease while performing the various evolutions, but the wary foe would not engage them. A few shots were fired by the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, when the enemy fell back to Bacon Creek. During this skirmish our loss was twenty-one men and two officers taken prisoner. Loss of the enemy not known. During the night of the twenty-sixth, believing that Morgan would make an attack on this place from the other side of the river, I made arrangements for ferrying from the south side the only two field-pieces under Lieutenant Hale, Fifth Michigan battery; also, to bring over ammunition by way of the bridge on a hand-car.

I kept the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry in line of battle between Bacon Creek and Munfordville until after dark on the twenty-sixth, and, believing that if an attack was made in the morning, the depot would be burned, I doubled my line of pickets, and removed the stores within the fortifications. The gallant hero of inferior numbers did not attack me on the morning of the twenty-seventh, and I was forced to be content with reenforcing Col. Harlan with the Thirteenth Kentucky infantry, and nine companies of the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry at the urgent request of Col. Shanks, whose services he will of course mention in his report in a proper manner. The troops were all in readiness for the reception of Morgan. The brass guns, (six-pounders,) under command of Capt. Demarest, Twenty-fifth Michigan infantry, manned by infantry, were placed in positions commanding Bacon Creek and Greensburgh roads and the two siege-guns being in the fortifications near the bridge, under special charge of Captain Stacey, Inspector-General of the Fifteenth division, whose perseverance in overcoming the difficulties of mounting the guns, without the proper equipment, deserves the highest praise. The officers and men of my command, during these movements, bore themselves with the most soldierly behavior.

I cannot speak too highly of the cavalry commands of Colonel Gray, Colonel Shanks, Captain Dickey, and Captain Twyman, for the valuable services they rendered constantly. Flegle's sharp-shooters were promptly at their post, ready at any time to do their duty as becomes their commands, as also the One Hundred and Seventh Illinois, Lieut.-Col. McCowas. The Twenty-seventh Kentucky, Lieut.-Col. J. H. Ward, also rendered efficient service south of the river — not forgetting to bring to your notice Lieut. Hales, sixth section battery Fifth Michigan, and Capt. Hall, commanding battery Thirty-third Kentucky.

I was materially assisted in my duties of the disposition and movements of my command by J. S. Butler, A. A. A. G., and Captain Stacey, of (Gen. Gilbert's staff; also by the energy and efficiency of volunteer aids Lieut. Smith, Thirteenth Kentucky, and Lieut. Dawson, Thirty-third Kentucky; also Post Quartermaster and Lieutenant Cummings.

Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,

gentlemen: You will doubtless have, in a few days, an official report of the battles and defeats of our little force at this place by Morgan's cavalry on Saturday, the twenty-seventh instant.

The Ninety-first Illinois regiment, under Col. Day, arrived here on the tenth instant, and was divided into companies and placed at different points on the railroad, leaving only one company here under Captain Fosha.

Colonel Day left here on furlough some two weeks since, and the command devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, a gallant man and perfect gentleman. He established his Headquarters near the depot, and remained there with Major Day until early last week, when he was removed by General Gilbert to the lower trestle.

Col. Day, Lieut.-Col. Smith, Major Day, and staff-officers endeared themselves to the citizens of this town by their gentlemanly deportment; and it is due to Capt. Fosha and his company to say, that we were never visited by a better behaved set of men. There was not a solitary complaint of any outrage or depredations committed by them, even to the burning of a fence-rail, or