calling themselves Mississippians are marching
with the Northmen your brothers are not in
their ranks. They are really and truly invaders,
and should be met with resistance in every shapo
and manner, and death should meet them at
every step. Let them see that this is your de
termination. Let them feel that their advance
will be bloody, and their retreat bootless, and
you will then be safe.
Remove your cotton from the pens and gin-
houses, that it can be speedily burned, (it need
not be unbalcd,) and then if we can fight and
save it we will, and if we cannot save it, then we
can destroy it without burning up your gins,
which we will be compelled to do if we spare it
long enough to try to save it. If this request is
not complied with, and not only the people turn
out to assist us, but the cotton prepared to be
burned, we will have to burn it in our rear, for
fear of having to fall back too speedily to attend
to it. Yours respectfully,
Brig. -Gen. M. JEFF. THOMPSON,
M. S. S., on Special Service for Confederate States.
July 5, 1802.
Doc. 86.
THE UNIONISTS OF ALABAMA.
REPORT OF COLONEL STREIGIIT.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTY-FIRST INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, )
CAMP NEAR MoORIiSVILLE, ALA., July 16. f
SIR : While in command at Decatur there were
several small parties of loyal Alabamians who
came into our lines begging me to give them pro
tection and a chance to defend the flag of our
country. The tale of suffering and misery, as
told by each as they arrived, was in itself a la
mentable history of the deplorable condition of
the Union people of the South. Notwithstand
ing the oft-repeated assertion that there was a
strong Union sentiment in portions of the Cotton
States, I had long since given up all hopes of
finding the people entertaining it ; hence J[ was at
first incredulous as to what they said, and even
suspicious that they were spies belonging to the
enemy ; but as their numbers increased, each-
Corroborating 11 the storv of the other, I at last 1 - =-
282
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
came convinced that the matter was worthy of
notice. About this time, on the tenth instant, I
was informed by a courier that there was a party
of about fort) r men some five or six miles toward
the mountains trying to come to us, and that
about the same number of the enemy s cavalry
was between them and Decatnr, trying to inter
cept and capture them. As my orders were to
defend the town only, I did not feel at liberty to
send out assistance to the Union men without
further orders, and there being no telegraphic
communication with you, I at once informed (Jen.
Buell by telegraph of the circumstances, where
upon I received the following reply :
"HDNTSVILLE, ALA.
"A. D. Streiglit, Colonel Fifty-first Indiana
Volunteers :
" Send out what force you deem sufficient to
assist the Union men in, and drive off the rebel
cavalry, and see that they are not playing a trick
to draw you out by these reports.
" JAMES B. FRY,
" Colonel, and Chief of Staff 1 ."
Owing to a storm that was passing over the
telegraph-lines, the above was not received until
near three hours after I sent Gen. Buell the first
despatch ; but as soon as I received the above
instructions from Colonel Fry, I at once ordered
three companies of my regiment to cross the river
with their arms and full forty rounds of car
tridges. This was done in the least possible
time, but just as the three companies were in
line ready to march, another courier arrived stat
ing that the Alabama boys had succeeded in
avoiding the rebels, and had got within our lines.
But a short time elapsed before they arrived.
Such were the manifestations of joy and gladness
exhibited by them, that all doubts were fully ex
pelled from my mind ; whereupon I resolved to
go to the assistance of those who were left behind,
providing I could get permission to do so. Con
sequently, I telegraphed the following :
" DECATUR, ALA., July 10, 7 o clock P.M.
" Sm : I have the honor to report to you that
the party of Alabama volunteers has just arrived,
and forty of them have been mustered into the
service of the United States. Their accounts of
the hardships endured are sufficient to enlist the
sympathies of the hardest heart. They report
that there are several hundred who would come,
but for the danger of passing from the foot of the
mountains here, some twenty-five miles distant.
" If you will give me one company of cavalry
to take with my regiment, I am fully satisfied
that I could, by going, say fifteen miles toward
the foot of the mountains and then sending out a
few of these new recruits to notify their neigh
bors, bring back with me at least five hundred
volunteers. If you will allow me to make the
experiment, my word for it, I will return safely
with my command.
" I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
" A. D. STREIGIIT,
" Colonel Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers.
" To Col. JAMES B. FRY,
"A. A. a.. Chief of Staff."
Nothing was heard from the foregoing despatch
till about two o clock p. M., the next day, (July
eleventh,) when Captain Leonard handed me the
following communication from Col. Fry to Gen.
Wood, with verbal instructions to carry out its
provisions :
" HEADQUARTERS, HUNTSVILLE, July 11.
"General Wood :
"Colonel Streight reports that there are several
hundred men about twenty-five miles south of
Decatur, who are trying to come on to join our
army, and Col. Streight is anxious to go with his
regiment to bring them in. You can order an
expedition of this kind. In doing so it will be
necessary to send another regiment to take Col.
Streight s place near Decatur. It will not bo
practicable for you to cross cavalry over to send,
but the Colonel can take any cavalry that may
be at Decatur. Instruct Colonel Streight to be
cautious, and not expose his command to ambus
cade or surprise, or to attack from superior force.
He should not be gone more than three or four
days, and must take no baggage. He must be
careful, and not let the people suppose that his
presence indicates a permanent occupation, and
thus lead them into demonstrations for which the
rebels would make them suffer after our with
drawal. Give such orders for the details and
precautionary instructions as the case may seem
to you to require. JAMES B. FRY,
" Colonel, and Chief of Staff."
Upon the receipt of the above I proceeded to
get my command in readiness for the expedition
as quickly as possible. Four days rations were
ordered, and one camp-kettle to each company.
The haversacks holding only three days rations,
we filled the kettles and buckets out of the re
mainder, and decided to get along as best we
could under the circumstances. The guides were
selected to conduct us to the Union settlement,
who were also to act as couriers to inform their
friends of the nature of our mission. There were
but sixteen men and the Captain of company D,
First Ohio cavalry, at Decatur, who were also
put in readiness to march. In accordance with
these arrangements we moved off at daylight on
the twelfth inst., in the direction of a place called
Davis s Gap, some nine miles south-east of Dan
ville, and twenty-five south of Decatur. The cav
alry were thrown out in the advance a suitable
distance, to give notice of the approach of an ene
my, and a strong advance and rear-guard was at
all times kept in readiness for immediate action.
When we had proceeded some twelve miles on
our way, being unable to hear any thing of the
enemy, I ordered the captain commanding the
cavalry to proceed with his command in advance
with three of the guides, and escort them as far
toward Davis s Gap as he should deem safe, so as
to allow the guides to give the information to the
Union people that we were corning. I gave him
the most positive instructions to make diligent
inquiry relative to the enemy, and to go no fur
ther than he could with perfect safety, and as
soon as he arrived near enough the mountains to
enable the guides to get through, he should fall
DOCUMENTS.
283
back at once and rejoin me I at this time hav
ing ascertained that it would, in all probability,
be necessary for me to go about twenty-three
miles instead of fifteen, the distance I at first
expected, but did not expect to be able to get
through the first day.
Under these circumstances he proceeded some
what faster than the infantry could march, con
sequently when he arrived some twenty-two miles
from Decatur, (ten miles from where he left us,)
he was probably not more than five or six miles
ahead of my regiment ; but it being very hot in
the middle of the day, we halted to rest, expect
ing the cavalry to rejoin us as ordered. In direct
disobedience to my orders, the cavalry spent
about an hour s time in scouting about the-coun-
tiy after they had escorted the guides to within
three miles of the mountains, after which they
stopped at a Mr. Menter s house and ordered din
ner, where they spent about three hours more.
The captain was warned, when he first arrived
in the neighborhood, that forty of the enemy s
cavalry were within six miles of him, yet with
these facts before him, as I have above shown,
he spent nearly four hours in the neighborhood,
and at Menter s house a sufficient time to have
returned to Decatur, if necessar} 3 ", much less to
rejoin me. At about half-past five o clock he
was attacked by upward of forty of the enemy s
cavalry and guerrillas. Here, again, his conduct
seems to have been very injudicious, for, although
there were several log buildings that he could
have held against any force the enemy could
bring to bear against him, yet, instead of occu
pying them, after exchanging a few shots, in
which one of his men was wounded, and two of
the enemy killed and two wounded, he ordered
a retreat across the field, which seems to have
been accomplished very precipitately, especially,
when taking into consideration the fact that the
enemy did not pursue him but a few rods, and
that, too, on foot. Four of his men got lost from
the balance. He proceeded in a westerly, circuit
ous route to Decatur, where he arrived the even
ing of the same day, with twelve of his men.
In the mean time, I had arrived to within two
miles of the place where he was attacked, before
the enemy had left, and think I would have been
in time to have done them justice, had I not
halted to chastise some guerrillas that had the
impudence to fire into my rear-guard ; but, as it
was, we arrived just in time to see the chivalry
put spurs to their horses and leave hurriedly to
the eastward, thus showing conclusively that the
enemy did not follow our cavalry. We bivouacked
that night twenty-three miles from Decatur, and
within one mile of where the skirmish took
place.
The next day was spent in ascertaining what
we could relative to the extent of the damage
done to the cavalry, and in notifying the people
in the mountains that they could now have a
chance to join the Union army. I ascertained
the loss of our cavalry in the engagement to be
one man missing, who, when last seen, some two
miles from where the skirmish took place, was
wounded in the thigh, not seriously, and one
taken prisoner, one horse killed and one disabled.
Three cavalry men came in early in the morn
ing without horses, but our boys succeeded in
finding the horses and equipments near where
they were left. The captain s sword \vas also
found about one hundred rods from where the
fight occurred.
I soon became convinced that the time set for
me to return was insufficient to fully accomplish
the object of my mission. The news of the de
feat of our cavalry spread over the country like
a fire on a prairie, causing great consternation
among the Union people and boldness on the
part of the guerrillas.
The guides became frightened, and it was very
difficult to induce them to leave my command ;
however, after laboring under all these difficul
ties, we succeeded in bringing back with us one
hundred and fifty volunteers. Several small par
ties that started to join us failed to get there in
time. One party, numbering thirty-four men,
were within twenty miles of us at da}dight the
morning we left ; and although a messenger ar
rived giving me that information when we had
marched but a short distance on our return, yet
I was ordered .to return within four days time,
and could wait no longer.
At eleven o clock A.M. yesterday, we took up
our line of march for Decatur, and when we had
proceeded about four miles from our encamp
ment, we were informed that the enemy s cav
alry, about five hundred strong, were posted at
the crossing of the roads, about one mile ahead.
The country being thickly wooded, I had nothing
to fear from mounted men, but supposing that
they might dismount and act as infantry, I de
ployed companies A and F on each side of the
road, in advance, as skirmishers, at the same
time ordering company D forward in the road, to
form a reserve, and also to deploy six men in ad
vance to act as signal men. One company, having
been previously detailed to act as rear-guard, they
too were ordered to throw out skirmishers on the
flanks, to avoid an undiscovered approach from
either of these directions.
The Alabamians had previously been placed
next to the rear-guard. Having advanced the
skirmishers and advance reserve four hundred
yards, I ordered the whole battalion to move for
ward, each individual and company to keep their
relative positions. In this order we proceeded,
but as we approached the position occupied by
the enemy, they fled before us without firing a
un. It now became apparent to me that the
intention of the enemy was to harass our march,
and as the country was mostly wooded, I con-
luded to continue the march in the order above
referred to, thus avoiding the possibility of run
ning into an ambuscade, or of being surprised.
The enemy fell back as we approached for
about two miles, where they turned eastward.
For some time afterward I was expecting a de-
iionstration upon our rear, and made prepara
tions accordingly ; but we proceeded to march in-
this manner for twelve miles, frequently relieving
284
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
the skirmishers by sending out others, without
further molestation.
It was now getting dark, and we were within
seven miles of Decatur, when we concluded to
bivouac for the night. Strong pickets were
thrown out in every approachable direction. The
boj S were allowed to sleep till three o clock the
next morning, when they were awakened, and as
soon as it was daylight, we were on our way.
We arrived at Decatur at half-past six o clock
A. 3i., bringing back every member of my regiment
that went with us.
I wish to say a word relative to the condition
of these people. They are mostly poor, though
many of them are, or rather have been, in good
circumstances. They outnumber nearly three
to one the secessionists in portions of Morgan,
Blount, Winston, Marion, Walker, Fayette and
Jefferson counties ; but situated as they are, sur
rounded by a most relentless foe, mostly unarm
ed and destitute of ammunition, they are perse
cuted in every conceivable way, jet up to this
time most of them have kept out of the w r ay suf
ficiently to avoid being dragged off by the gangs
that infest the country for the purpose of plunder
and enforcing the provisions of the rebel con
scription act, but their horses and cattle are
driven off in vast numbers. Every public road
is patrolled by guerrilla bands, and the Union
men have been compelled to seek protection in
the fastness of the mountainous wilderness. They
cannot hold out much longer. This state of
things has so disturbed them, that but very little
attention has been paid to farming ; consequently
many of them are now destitute of food of their
own, and are living off their more fortunate neigh
bors.
Such examples of patriotism as these people
have set are worthy of being followed. One old
lady, Mrs. Anna Campbell, volunteered to ride
thirty -five miles, and return, making seventy
miles, with about thirty recruits, inside of thirty-
six hours. When it is taken into consideration
that these people were all hid away to avoid be
ing taken by the rebels, and that the country is
but sparsely settled, this case is without a parallel
in American history. There arc many cases of a
similar nature that came under my observation,
but I do not desire to weary your patience with
them. Suffice it to say, that I have never wit
nessed such an outpouring of devoted and de
termined patriotism among any other people ; and
I am now of the opinion that, if there could be a
sufficient force in that portion of the country to
protect these people, there could be at least two
full regiments raised of as good and true men as
sver defended the American flag. So confident
am I that my views are correct, that if the Com
manding General will grant me permission to do
so, I will take my regiment, (the boys all want to
go,) and two weeks rations of bread, salt, sugar
and coffee, (meat we can get there,) and five hun
dred extra stand of arms, with a sufficient supply
of ammunition, and locate at least thirty miles
south of Decatur, where I will rally around me a
sufficient number of the brave mountaineers to pro
tect the country effectually against anything ex<*ept
the regular rebel army, who, by the way, would
find it a difficult country to operate in. Never
did people stand in greater need of protection.
They have battled manfully against the most un
scrupulous foe that civilized warfare has ever wit
nessed. They have been shut out from all com
munication with any thing but then* enemies for
a year and a half, and yet they stand firm and
true. If such merit is riot to be rewarded, if
such citizens are not to receive protection, then
is their case a deplorable one indeed.
I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
A. D. STKEIGIIT,
Colonel Fifty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers.
To Capt. WM. A. SCIILATEK, A.A.G,
Doc. 87.
REBEL RAID INTO LEBANON, KY.,
JULY 11 -12, 1862,
A CORRESPONDENT of the Louisville Journal
gives the following account of this affair :
LEBANON, KY., July 15.
Now that things are somewhat quiet in and
near Lebanon, I have concluded to give } ou a
fair and impartial history of events that have
transpired since the coming and going of the far-
famed Acting Brig. -Gen. J. II. Morgan, C.S.A.
On Friday, the eleventh, it was reported here
about noon, that Gen. Morgan had attacked and
routed the Federal forces in Southern Kentucky,
and that he was making his way to Lexington
through Lebanon. Shortly after a despatch of
this character was received, it was currently and
correctly reported that the General, with a largt*
force, was about twenty miles south-west of Le
banon, near the little village of ik Pinch em," and
that he would take Lebanon on that (Friday)
night.
Lieut. -Colonel A. Y. Johnston, in command at
this place, immediately sent runners to the Home
Guards to hold themselves in readiness for any
emergency, and prepared Capt. Barth s company,
under Capt. Barth s immediate charge, for offen
sive operations. Late in the evening ten or
twelve soldiers, members of Capt. Barth s cornpa
ny, Twenty-eighth Kentucky, were sent to New
Market, distance six miles from Lebanon, to
guard the bridge across Rolling Fork at that
point. The men were under charge of First
Lieut. Catlin, and were joined by some fifteen
Home Guards. Night came, and reenforccrnents
were anxiously looked for from Louisville and
other points. It was known that Morgan s force
was large and in good fighting trim. The Le
banon Home Guard, Capt. Merrirnee, met and
sent pickets out on the roads leading into Le
banon. The entire force under Col. Johnston,
at half-past ten o clock was near forty soldiers
and forty Home Guards in all eighty men.
At half-past eleven, as far as I can guess, new9
came that Morgan had reached New -Market
DOCUMENTS.
285
bridge, and that the guard there had fired on
the enemy, driving them back. Col. Johnston
ordered a soldier, whose name I forgot, and Mr.
Hastings, with Lieut. Fidler, who had volunteered
as aid to Col. Johnston, to go to New-Market, see
what was being done, and report immediately.
These gentlemen hurried forward, and, on going
up a hill near New-Market, suddenly met the ad
vance of Morgan s brigade, were ordered to halt,
and, upon failure to do this, were fired upon.
Some twenty shots were fired, but fortunately
neither of the gentlemen were injured. Lieut.
Fidler, being on a slow horse, was taken prison
er ; his horse, saddle, and bridle, with a splendid
navy-pistol, were taken from him. Hastings re
ported to the officer in command that Morgan
was advancing with overwhelming numbers.
The Lieut-Colonel gave orders for no firing to be
done, if the enemy was so much our superior in
numbers. When Morgan s advance reached our
pickets it was fired on, and immediately a sharp
little skirmish began, which the whole body of
soldiers soon participated in the pickets having
been compelled to fall back on the main body.
Our soldiers were soon compelled to skedaddle by
overwhelming numbers, and they fled in every
direction, leaving two men on the field dead.
Whether the enemy suffered any loss or not I
cannot say. I saw several of their wounded who
were badly hurt. The men killed on our side
were Moses Rickets, an excellent citizen, honest,
upright, well thought of by every one, a grocery-
keeper ; indeed, one of Lebanon s best citizens ;
and Mr. Dyke, a peaceable, quiet, kind, upright,
respected man. Lebanon laments their loss very
much. How terrible is war the desolator of
homes, and the great enemy of happiness !
Lieut. -Col. Johnston and eighteen privates of
the Twenty-eighth Kentucky were taken prison
ers, and some eight or nine citizens connected
with the Home Guards. Morgan took possession
of Lebanon, which he found almost depopulated,
the citizens having fled to the country for pro
tection. He gave orders that private property
should be respected, and threatened any one with
death who should disobey orders. His men
quartered themselves where they best liked, ate
when they pleased, and fed their horses on the
corn and grain of all. They were not guilty of
proffering pay for any thing. I believe I did see
them offer confederate scrip when there was a
possibility of getting good money in change.
When day came, Morgan proclaimed that he
was going to divide United States commissary
stores here among the poor of the town, and de
stroy only the ordnance in store. But when he
promised this he is suspected of having told a big
bully, devilish-looking blackguard, whisky bloat,
unmerciful, degenerated puppy an Englishman,
named Col. St. Leger Grenville, the same immacu
late personage who desired to hang all Unionists,
burn down the commodious depot here, and set
on fire our court-house, insuring the entire de
struction of our town to burn down the depots
for United States goods. I notice that only
prominent rebels were so fortunate as to get any
of the spoils. Our soldiers are compelling these
fellows to disgorge. In the Government depots
were sugar, coffee, flour, bread, etc., etc., and the
destruction was immense ; guns were bent double
by hard licks over rocks, powder, cartridges, and
caps were thrown into the creek. It is estimated
that the Government lost near one hundred thou
sand dollars perhaps more. The commodious
hospital near town, with sick soldiers clothing,
was burned to the ground, and the sick turned
out of doors. Fortunately their number was few.
The wagon-yard, wagons, ambulances, etc., were
destroyed.
Morgan took possession of the town near three
o clock in the morning. He was detained at
New-Market bridge nearly two hours by thirty
men, and failed to force his way across the bridge
until he brought his artillery to bear upon it.
During the engagement he got two bullet-holes
through the top of his hat. He awarded great
praise to Lieut. Catlin and men for their daring
and accuracy in shooting. The Lieutenant and
men made good their escape, and lay out in the
woods until Sunday last.
When Morgan took possession of Lebanon he
declared that he would respect private property.
But his men foiled to do it, and he failed to make
them do it when his attention was called to their
misdemeanors. The soldiery stole horses by the
wholesale. It is a low estimate to say that Ma
rion County had two hundred and fifty horses
stolen. They wanted shoes, and took one hun
dred and fifty dollars worth from Edmonds and
Bro. Indeed, whenever they wanted any thing