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

On the seventeenth of December, 1862, I received information of a rebel force being in the State. I immediately put my scouts on the alert, and waited for the enemy to make some move which I could detect his design.

On the twenty-fourth I received a despatch from General Reynolds, at Gallatin, stating that a large rebel force had crossed the Cumberland at Gainsville, and were making for Glasgow. I received despatches at the same time, from General Boyle and General Gilbert, confirming what I had formerly heard.

On the evening of the twenty-fourth of December, companies C, L, M, and H, Second Michigan cavalry, under orders from Gallatin to Munfordville, captured a man belonging to Morgan's command, who reported a large force in Glasgow. Company C, Lieut. Darrow, met the advance of the enemy in the town and a skirmish ensued, in which our loss was one killed, one wounded, and sixteen prisoners. The loss of the enemy was one major, one captain, one lieutenant, and several privates killed and wounded, and seven prisoners. It being nearly dark, and the enemy clothed in our uniform, it was with difficulty that friend could be distinguished from foe. After repulsing the advance-guard of Morgan, the Second Michigan fell back to Cave City, their retreat being covered by the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, Colonel Q. C. Shanks, and both returned to camp, the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry to get new arms, which had just arrived, and the Second Michigan cavalry to rest from a march of sixty miles in less than twenty-four hours, men and horses being completely exhausted.

The siege-guns, which were anxiously expected, having arrived on the morning of the twenty-fifth December, at one o'clock, I immediately put a force to work to manufacture the proper technical fixtures, (which I was pained to learn had been entirely neglected in shipping the guns,) and place them in position on the north side of the river. At the same time I had the floor of the bridge planked over to render it safe in crossing, should reenforcements be required on either side. I also telegraphed Gen. Boyle all the information of importance and asked him for additional ammunition for infantry, and sponges, rammers, sights, elevating screws, etc., for the siege-guns. On the twenty-fourth, I had taken all pains to learn the real strength of the enemy, which I found variously estimated at from three thousand to four thousand five hundred, commanded by Major-Gen. Morgan, the regiments by Duke, Gano, Cluke, Chenault, Bennett, Stoner, and Breckinridge, with White's battery of eight guns, the largest a twelve-pounder. White's name is supposed to be Robinson, formerly of Kentucky.

At five o'clock A. M., December twenty-fifth, I again ordered the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, Col. Shanks, to Cave City and beyond to Bear Wallow, with the first and second battalions; the third, under Major Stout, being ordered on the Greensburgh road to Burnt Bridge Ford, north of (Green River, and two companies each, Fourth and Fifth Indiana cavalry, Col. J. P. Gray, on the Burksville road, south of (Green River, with instructions to each to give battle, and if overpowered by largely superior forces, to skirmish the way back by to Woodsonville, sending couriers often to my headquarters.

When near Green's Chapel, six miles from Munfordville, Col. Gray attacked the advance-guard of Morgan, and about the same time Col. Shanks attacked the rear-guard at Bear Wallow, twelve miles from this point. The advance-guard fell back on the main body, with a loss of nine killed, twenty-two wounded, and five prisoners; our loss being one killed, two prisoners, and several horses killed. The Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, in the rear, killed one, wounded two, and took two officers and ten men prisoners, with no loss. The force and position of the enemy being ascertained by these movements, the cavalry was ordered back to camp, having videttes to watch the movements of the enemy. I telegraphed Gen. Granger, Gen. Boyle, and Gen. Gilbert every thing of importance, and telegraphed to Gen. Boyle the condition of [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,

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 [303] the killing of a pig or chicken; nor did they offer any insult to a citizen or tamper with a negro, but were busily engaged in endeavoring to complete the stockade. And in saying this much about them, I am certain the statement would be indorsed by every citizen of the town, without distinction of party.

On Thursday, the twenty-fifth, rumors became rife that Morgan was advancing. On Friday, the twenty-sixth, it was reduced to a certainty. On the morning of Saturday, the twenty-seventh, Morgan's pickets were discovered on the Nashville turnpike road, at about one mile distance. At about eight or nine o'clock A. M. Col. Smith arrived in town with six companies of the Ninety-first, and hasty preparations were made for defence with muskets only. One company, Capt. Fosha's, was placed in the unfinished stockade, and Col. Smith placed his men under the embankment of the railroad, intending to fight from that position. The Colonel had so recently arrived that he was ignorant of the amount of Morgan's forces, and, believing that it was only a guerrilla band of some few hundreds, sent out a flag demanding a surrender; but Morgan, being at the head of a force variously estimated between five thousand and ten thousand, with about ten pieces of artillery, treated the demand with contempt, and soon had the town entirely surrounded, which rendered Col. Smith's position untenable, and after firing a few rounds from the stockade and embankment, fell back into town and placed the men in the second story of the houses around the public square. This occurred after Morgan's batteries had opened from the top of the hills on the south part of the town, above the cemetery, at about five hundred yards of the court-house, completely commanding the whole town. His firing commenced without any warning to the non-combatants, including women and children, to leave. Some of Morgan's friends contend that he did send warning for women and children to leave in forty-five minutes; but, if there was such a respite offered, it is certain that no man, woman, or child heard of it; and none could leave, for some attempted to leave town on the west and north side, but were fired on, and driven back by Morgan's men. And before half the time pretended to be given had elapsed, the artillery was banging away and fired one hundred and seven shots of shell and ball into the town, which lay at his mercy — almost under his feet — and, the only wonder is, that the town was not battered down.

Thirty-six shots took effect on buildings, to wit: Mrs. Mulholland's, on the opposite side of the hill, six shots; A. M. Brown's, three shots; Elias Graham's tavern, three shots; C. F. Rowal's, one shot; S. Haycraft's Riddle House, occupied by G. Gunter, four shots; Dr. Anderson's third story, one shot, killing two men; James D. Cully's frame, two shots; Mrs. Leadan's, two shots; Eagle House, seven shots, killing two men; Mr. George L. Miles's house, three shots; Masonic Hall, one shot; Baptist church, one shot, being a shell, went through a king-post, letting down a girder, and exploding in the attic. The Catholic church, one shot. Nearly all the shot perforated the walls and went through the buildings, many other balls falling in gardens, yards, and streets. Colonel Smith's command fired a great many rounds of musketry, and evinced a commendable disposition to keep up the unequal and hopeless combat. A ball passed through the room where Col. Smith was posted, killing a man and striking the Colonel with a splinter in the face, nearly felling him.

The officers being separated, not affording an opportunity for concert of action, after nearly two hours fighting, some officer without consulting Colonel Smith gave the signal of a surrender. The Colonel was exceedingly mortified, but it was no doubt the most prudent course. It is true that if they had held out fifteen or twenty minutes longer, Morgan's forces to a considerable extent would have occupied the public square, in which case five hundred of his men could have been killed, but it would have resulted in their final defeat and perhaps the complete extermination of the Federal forces, the burning and destruction of the town, and most likely the death of many women and children. It so happened that not a solitary citizen was killed or wounded, many of them having taken refuge in the basements or cellars, or rooms most remote from assailable points. Our whole force engaged was under five hundred. The officers and men were all paroled.

As soon as Morgan got possession, the destruction commenced, first by burning the railroad bridges, then the depot, the stockade; also parts of buildings which had been converted into a kind of fortress; nearly three thousand five hundred bushels of wheat were consumed in the depot, all belonging to Southern rights men. Then every horse in town worth picking up, indeed, the horse-taking extended many miles round. In the latter, Morgan was impartial, for Southern rights men suffered as much if not more than Union men. Then off came every soldier's over-coat, not sparing officers', boots pulled off men's feet. Captain Hackey's fine boots were taken off by a fellow who said he wanted them for General Morgan.

John Friend, Aunt Beck's clerk at the Hill Hotel, found a soldier with his Sunday-go-to-meeting suit on, and he kept it. Coats, shirts, shoes, hats, and all went indiscriminately in some localities. Some stores were literally used up, doors broken open, and the goods taken ad libitum.

Heelburn, a Dutch merchant, had, according to his account, goods taken to the amount of three thousand five hundred dollars, for which not one cent was paid, notwithstanding several Southern rights men appealed to Morgan in his behalf.

They also took from Jacob Kaufman, another Dutch merchant, about two thousand five hundred dollars' worth of goods, for which they refused to pay a cent. From M. N. Parmele they took one thousand dollars' worth. Mr. Parmele appealed to Morgan in person. He asked Parmele if he was a Union man. He replied that he was. Morgan replied that he could do nothing [304] for him, and as he had some orders to issue, told Parmele to leave the room.

Mr. Richey, a jeweller, was robbed of nearly all he had, and beaten over the head with a pistol. He was supposed to be dead. His loss in jewelry and a horse was about five hundred dollars.

Mendell Arthur, a livery-stable keeper, was robbed of horses, buggies, stages, wagons, etc., to the amount of two thousand dollars.

They went into the hospital and robbed the sick soldiers of their blankets, quilts, provisions, medicines, and the surgeons of their instruments.

Morgan himself went into the store of B. Stadaker & Co., and in a very polite way said he wanted goods and would pay for them in good money; made free to open drawers and boxes and helped himself, all in a very polite way, except now and then charging the merchant with lying, and wound up with a bill of upward of one thousand two hundred dollars in silks and costly merchandise, had them boxed up, and launched down the pay in confederate trash, not worth, as Stadaker says, a continental cent. Others came in, took three or four hundred dollars' worth more of goods, and did not pay a cent.

Private families and residences were generally respected. The soldiers entered nearly all the houses for something to eat, but in all cases behaved civilly, and seemed thankful for the fare.

Many of the poorer classes of farmers are literally ruined, not a horse left to draw a stick of wood, not an ear of corn or blade of hay left for them, or bread for themselves or children. Many prominent Southern rights men say that they can offer no apology for this wholesale robbery and plundering.

The prisoners were nearly all quartered and guarded in the Baptist church, and in some respects made comparatively comfortable, but they suffered from hunger until Sunday morning, when they were partially supplied to the extent that the citizens in their confused condition were able; and it is but justice to the Southern rights families, with a few exceptions, to say that they bore their part cheerfully and readily. Governor Helm, in person, brought in a liberal supply in two boxes, saying that it was in return for their good behavior and the respect they had shown him, Morgan and staff left at ten o'clock on Sunday, his men having previously left, except a guard.

Early on Monday morning Col. Harlan's brigade, with a battery and the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry passed through in pursuit. We have since heard of some skirmishing, but nothing reliable.

headquarters U. S. Forces, Elizabethtown, December 27, 1862.
To the Commander of the Rebel Forces:

sir: I demand of you an immediate and unconditional surrender of yourself and forces under your command. I have you completely surrounded, and will open my batteries upon you in twenty minutes, and compel you to surrender.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. Smith, Commanding U. S. Forces.

The demand must have surprised Morgan, and was a good joke, if nothing more. John, however, treated the matter very seriously, and returned the following answer, demanding in turn the surrender of the Federal forces:

headquarters army of Kentucky, Dec. 27, 1862.
H. S. Smith, Officer Commanding U. S. Forces at Elizabethtown:

sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have received your communication of this date, in which you demand an immediate surrender of myself and the forces under my command, stating that you have me completely surrounded. In reply, I would state that I have not yet discovered myself to be in that condition, but that the situation is reversed, and it is your command and not mine that is surrounded, and that in ten minutes my batteries will be in position. Following your example, I have, therefore, to demand an unconditional surrender of yourself and your command. Capt. McGinnis, my A. A.G., has full authority to arrange the terms of the surrender.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Jno. H. Morgan, General Commanding.

To this demand Col. Smith sent the following answer, which is manly at any rate:

Elizabethtown, Ky., December 27.
General John H. Morgan, Commanding Confederate Forces:

sir: Yours of this date is received, and contents noted. In reply, I would say that it is the duty of United States soldiers to fight, and not surrender.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. Smith, Commanding United States Forces.

Immediately after Smith's refusal to surrender, the fight commenced. This was about half-past 1 o'clock P. M. The fighting continued until four o'clock, the Federals occupying the houses and giving shot for shot, until a circumstance occurred which can scarcely be accounted for. A portion of the troops stationed in one of the houses, and commanded by one Capt. Fouchey, took a vote whether they should surrender or not, and actually hung out a white flag without [305] consulting with the Colonel commanding; and, as the command was separated and communication cut off, the entire force was betrayed into the hands of the enemy.

I merely state the facts as they were told me by men whom I know to be good, reliable men, and whom I believe to be gallant soldiers.

When the history of this raid shall be fully known, many men who have been loud in their denunciations of good men, will hang their heads in shame because they allowed themselves to abuse those whose every pulse throbbed only with patriotism, and whose every wish is for the honor and glory of our country. There is a habit of throwing blame upon immediate commanders, without reflecting that it is probable they have not only done all that it was possible for them to do, but, perhaps, even gone beyond, and offered suggestions which would have prevented disaster if followed.