their appearance he was to attract the enemy's
attention by opening a spirited cannonading
from the now celebrated "Bull Pups." "The
first gray streaks" was the signal, too, for the
brigade to move into position on the north
bank of the river.
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 53
When the advance reached the river we
found a couple of ferry-boats which our
friends had secreted for us. All the other
detachments crossed by fording, and they had,
I afterward learned, a wretched cold bath.
Along with seven scouts I was the first to land.
Just before shoving off from the shore I re-
ceived my instructions from the General in
person. He desired me to be both cautious
and vigilant, so as not to alarm the enemy,
and we were to approach his encampment
silently, and to watch his actions until the
General's arrival with the main force.
Crossing quietly and safely, it was not long
until we found the Yankee outpost, a cavalry
picket consisting of an officer and fifteen men,
posted not more than a quarter of a mile from
their camp. The picket was in an old car-
riage-house. One of the doors was standing
open and there was a fire near the entrance of
the house, and between us and the door. We
were already within short range, and we
could see the Yankees distinctly as they
stepped out to look up the road. It was so
very cold, so intensely cold, that they did not
dream Morgan would come after them on
such a night. Had they not felt so confident
54
Kelion Franklin Peddicord
surely they would not have dismounted while
on picket duty.
But there we sat, silent as the tomb, watch-
ing our prey, without even the privilege of
shaking our feet in the stirrups to keep them
from freezing. I never came so near freez-
ing in my life. The rest of the scouts and the
detachment with the General arrived just
before day.
When the General saw the pickets, which
we pointed out to him, he said, turning to the
captain of the scouts, "Tom, do you see those
pickets?" The Captain answered promptly,
"I do, distinctly." Then the General said,
"Lead your scouts down there, and take them
in, and if it can be avoided do not fire a gun."
A moment after the boys were on all sides
of the picket, advancing from all sides, and in
less time than I can tell you, the Yankees
were captured, disarmed, placed under arrest,
and sent to the rear. It was done without a
word, without a shot to make our presence
known to the enemy. The General said
before this was done that it would be all he
would require of us. However, we escorted
him to the camp, which was in sight, and as
we galloped into line one of the sentries, on
camp duty, more watchful than the outpost,
Kelion Franklin Peddlcord 55
fired his gun into the air, and almost imme-
diately a reply from the "Bull Pups" came
across the river. This had a pleasing effect
in our favor, for, imagining the attack was
from that direction, the Yankee battery very
soon opened upon them in dead earnest.
Meanwhile, each of our regiments had gained
its position, and the line of battle was formed,
though the Yankees were running in every di-
rection, so complete was their surprise.
Believing, from our actions, we were about
to charge them mounted, the Yankees com-
menced f orming three distinct hollow squares ;
and then again, seeing our men dismount to
fight, they formed into line parallel with ours.
By this time the battery we had with us was
placed in position in our line, and between the
Seventh and Eighth Kentucky Cavalry.
With the General at the head of the scouts,
and supporting the battery, two of our pieces
now opened fire on the Yankee battery, which
was still duelling with the "Bull Pups."
This discharge caused the Yankees to see and
realize their real position. They were sur-
rounded completely. When our big guns
began firing they commanded a little more
respect and attention than the "Pups." The
Yankees quickly reversed their guns, and the
56 Kelion Franklin Peddlcord
second shot hit one of our caissons, and there
was an explosion. The General, the artil-
lery and the scouts were enveloped in such a
dense cloud of smoke and shells that every
one, like myself, thought that he was the only
living one the only one who had escaped
instant death. But on the disappearance of
the smoke our surprise was great to find that
no one was hurt except the drivers and the
horses attached to the caisson. The escape
of General Morgan seemed miraculous in-
deed.
Colonel Duke had led our line of battle
into action, and now the entire line entered
the conflict. Rebel and Yankee were at it,
hot and heavy, still the General would not
permit the scouts to advance, but held us
under fire of the artillery, in reserve, as he
said. But before long our time came.
When it came the two lines were fright-
fully near each other. The Yankee cavalry
regiment was on the rise before us when the
General, calling the attention of the scouts,
said, "Boys, yonder are those horses I've been
promising you." And he added, "Be very
particular how you take them, for you ob-
serve that each horse has an armed man upon
him." Then, giving Captain Tom some in-
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 57
structions, he ordered us to advance, which we
did at a brisk canter. Already the Yankee
lines, in many places broken, were reeling
and staggering like drunken men. We en-
tered the lists just in time to fire the ending
broadside and receive an unconditional sur-
render. We likewise received the horses the
General had presented, besides a great variety
of "other things" that abound in Yankee
camps. The engagement had lasted only an
hour and ten minutes.
The forces surrendered by Colonel Moore
were the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, One Hundred and Sixth
and One Hundred and Eighth Ohio Infantry,
and the Second Indiana Cavalry, making a
total of two thousand three hundred prison-
ers. Sixty or seventy of the enemy were
killed, and twice that number wounded. Our
loss was nearly fifty killed and seventy or
eighty wounded. Our captured horses were
put in charge of some of the scouts, and the
rest of us were ordered to watch the move-
ments of the Yankee brigade that was in sup-
porting distance of the one just captured.
Though this brigade had heard our cannon-
ading, we had struck so quickly and rapidly
58 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
that they could not, at least did not, come up
in time.
After marching over a mile we met the
enemy's advance-guard, and the main force
was marching in line of battle a short dis-
tance in the rear of his advance. We drove
the advance back in confusion upon the main
column. Then a portion of our company
held the ground, while the others withdrew
to the rear and went into ambush, there to
wait the moment to strike.
On this occasion, when hard pressed by the
main line, we suddenly gave way, as if we
were demoralized, and this enticed the ad-
vance out to pursue us. Then the boys in
ambush opened fire on them so unexpectedly
that they retired in confusion. While this
was being enacted the scouts who first fell
back selected another place of ambuscade.
In this way, after receiving the Yankees
warmly once or twice, they learned caution,
and advanced slowly, being obliged to reform
their lines often, which detained them so
much the longer.
When we arrived at the ford we found the
prisoners, the horses and the artillery, as well
as the captured stores, all safe on the other
side of the river. The brigade with which
59
we had been skirmishing took the same posi-
tion as the one captured had taken, and
shelled the ford while we were crossing. But
they showed no inclination to come over them-
selves. Had they done so we certainly
would have had the pleasure of escorting
another Yankee brigade, under guard, to
headquarters; for we found when we gained
the south bank that our forces had been ar-
ranged to give them a warm reception.
By this victory the scouts had the good
fortune to secure fine horses, pistols, blankets,
oil and rubber coats, and blankets, and many
small necessaries such as Uncle Sam's
shoulder-straps carry. And, added to these
things, there was a variety of sutler's stores.
We got back to our encampment about
midnight, cold, hungry, sleepy, and very
much fatigued. The next morning we were
ordered to headquarters to guard and protect
the captured spoils. The prisoners, after
being relieved of the overcoats and surplus
baggage, were turned over to General Bragg
to be disposed of. It was currently reported
afterward that Morgan drew them all up in
line and gave this command, "One Hundred
and Fourth Illinois, came out of them over-
coats!" and then followed a similar command
60 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
concerning pocketbooks, and knives, and so
on, to each regiment. It is true the overcoats
were retained, but nothing else was. The
overcoats were dyed black and worn by our
men afterward.
It was at this time that President Davis
and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston arrived in Mur-
freesboro, and were present to witness Gen-
eral Morgan's marriage ceremony, which
took place very soon after. Until his mar-
riage our leader was but a colonel, command-
ing a brigade, and he received his lady Miss
Mattie Ready, of Murfreesboro and his
promotion at the same time, and received
them both from the hands of the "wise and
good, gentlemanly and Christian" President,
who gave the bride away to "Gen. John H.
Morgan," upon whom he bestowed many
compliments for efficient and gallant service,
as well as upon the command.
The Yankees, though they had fought des-
perately for an hour and ten minutes, were
sadly abused by the populace on their arrival
in Nashville after their exchange. Night-
gowns, and even night-caps, were offered
them, for the people said their conduct was
disgraceful. But let us give honor tc whom
K clio n Franklin Peddicord 61
honor is due. They fought as well as any
troops could while they were engaged
Immediately after the Hartsville engage-
ment preparations were commenced for the
"Christmas Raid" through Kentucky. The
division marched to Alexandria, where the
forces soon arrived, and organized into two
brigades, the first under the command of Col.
Basil W. Duke, of the Second Regiment, and
the second under Colonel William C. Breck-
inridge, of the Ninth Regiment.
This last appointment caused the resigna-
tion of Col. G. St. Leger Grenville, General
Morgan's adjutant-general. The adjutant-
general opposed the appointment of Colonel
Breckinridge for several just reasons. It is
true, Breckinridge was not the senior colonel,
and the appointment was made over the head
of the senior officer. After Colonel Gren-
ville's resignation had been accepted, General
Bragg made him his inspector-general of cav-
alry. He was afterward captured in Chicago
while attempting to effect the release of pris-
oners from Camp Douglas. For this "crime"
he was sentenced to death by a court martial
held in Cincinnati, but his sentence was after-
ward commuted by "our kind President" to
hard labor at Dry Tortugas for life. I feel
g 2 Kclion Franklin Peddicord
very sorry for the Colonel. He is as brave
and gallant as the best.
The command left Alexandria on the morn-
ing of the 22nd of December, 1862, with the
scouts in advance, a post of honor we retained
during the entire trip. I met at this town
both Columbus and Carolus, to whom the
General had entrusted some special duty.
We passed through New Middleton, ap-
proaching the Cumberland opposite Carthage,
and crossing Kaney Fork in sight of Carthage,
and the Cumberland at Hardee's Ford, about
five miles above, a ford named in honor of a
general by that name. General Bragg's army
had used the same ford some time before,
when en route to Kentucky.
We went into camp on the north side of
the river, the scouts doing outpost duty all
night, and the next evening we went into
camp at Tomkinsonville, Kentucky. The
next evening at 9 o'clock the scouts entered
Glasgow. At the General' s request we
halted a few miles from town to feed, prepar-
atory to a night's march, when another de-
tachment took the advance, reaching Glas-
gow a little after dark.
It so happened that a Michigan cavalry
regiment was marching through town at the
Krl ion Franklin Peddicord 63
time our party entered, and a collision was
the results, then a skirmish, then a stampede
of all parties ! Couriers flew to the General,
and from each one he received a different ac-
count as to the numbers of the enemy; from
one he learned that there was a brigade;
from another, a division. But by the courier
who claimed to be "the most reliable," he
learned that the town was full of troops!
The action of this detachment, on this oc-
casion, did not please the General, neither did
it add any laurels to the troops engaged, nor
did the scouts regret it as they ought to have
done, simply because, when the detachment
passed us, they laughed at the boys, and
called out that they "had played out." But
they did not know for what purpose they had
been halted by the General, else they would
not have rejoiced. Yet, when they returned
so quickly, and almost hors-de-combat, the
scouts could not help reminding them of their
boastful remarks.
One of the General's aides brought us
orders to move on Glasgow immediately, so
as to ascertain what the difficulty was, and the
whereabouts and number of the enemy, and
report on the matter. On reaching Glasgow
without adventure the company was dis-
64 Kelion Franklin Peddlcord
mounted to fight near the outskirts of the
town, and we marched into the town in battle
line, under the supposition that the enemy
was still there. I had command, while Cap-
tain Quirk went in advance, as a lookout.
Just as we entered the city square several
pistol shots, fired in rapid succession, were
heard, and we, thinking the "Model Tom"
was in danger, advanced to the rescue. But
before we could reach him he had captured
two Yankee cavalrymen, belonging to the
force that had passed through the town, and
known as "stragglers." Finding "all quiet
along the Potomac" a courier was dispatched
to the General. We had received orders
some time before to advance by the upper
pike and strike the Yankee line of communi-
cation, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad,
north of Green River bridge. The others
were to proceed on the same line south of the
bridge, and north of the Cave City. I was
a member of the latter party.
Leaving the sleeping inhabitants of Glas-
gow guarded by Morpheus and Morgan, we
marched silently through the city. The bri-
gades arrived a little later, and we went into
camp for the rest of the night.
This was "the night before Christmas,"
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 65
and during our march that night "Tom" and
I stopped at several parties long enough to
enjoy a dance with some of the girls, very
much to their surprise and gratification,
they said. They had not the remotest idea
that Morgan was near. But we danced our
set, though the whole country was alive with
the enemy, and the object for which we had
been sent was handsomely accomplished.
Then taking a road leading from the lower
pike to the upper, near the Bear Wallow, we
reached it before the other party of scouts
came up, we having gone two sides of the
"angle" and they but one. This delay was
caused by the collision which they had. during
the night, with the forces marching through
Glasgow, as I have already related. Soon
after we reached the pike and placed our
pickets out, the other portion of scouts came
up and related their midnight adventures with
the Michigan cavalry. Then our entire force
was reformed, and we began our march for-
ward.
Before we had proceeded far a courier
from the General, then several miles in our
rear, reached us, with orders for us to return
with the information we had gained; also
66 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
orders for the scouts that had intercepted us
to go forward at a double-quick, if they had
not yet accomplished the object for which
they had been sent. As they had not accom-
plished it, the Captain again detached them
and sent them forward.
When about a mile in advance of us they
ran into a picket of the Fifth Indiana Cav-
alry, and one of them was sent back to inform
Tom. His response was decisive and to the
point. It was a command, "Attention, scouts!
Double quick! Forward!" The scouts
answered by clapping spurs to their horses,
and were off like a shot, flying up the pike at
a break-neck pace. Coming up with the rest
of the company just after they had captured
several pickets, and ordering them to fall in
our rear, on we went to the charge, for the
enemy was in sight, straight ahead, and in
line of battle.
It seemed almost a suicidal act for fifty men
to charge a regiment of five hundred men,
yet the scouts charged and engaged them
right gallantly. But there were, at the time,
four companies placed in ambush, two on
each side of the pike, and within rifle range.
We did not observe this, and forming our line
parallel to the line opposing, we commenced
KH ion Franklin Peddicord 67
firing, hotly and rapidly. The force in am-
bush then advanced > attacking us in the flank,
much to our surprise and discomfiture. As
soon as our position was discovered a counter-
march was ordered, and we withdrew out of
this trap, for it was nothing more. Reform-
ing our line, the command was given, "Right
wheel, double-quick! Forward, march!"
and on we flew.
Meanwhile, the Yanks had become excited.
The line in front had stood fast, while the
right and left flank, in trying to surround us,
had advanced to the pike, a hundred yards in
advance of the line, which had remained sta-
tionary. This being their condition at the
time we charged them, right into their midst,
yelling like Comanches, we routed them, and
we stampeded and demoralized the first, or
main line, by literally running over them.
Turning short left, off of the pike in the direc-
tion of Woodsonville, near Green River
Bridge, we pursued them, capturing, killing
and wounding some fifteen or more, and get-
ting spoils of all kinds. We pursued them
about three miles, and returned to the pike in
time to meet the General and take the ad-
vance.
In this encounter several scouts were
68 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
wounded, though the wounds were not severe
enough to entice them from their saddles.
Captain Tom received two shots in the back
of his head, but he would not permit the
wounds to be dressed by a surgeon, though
the General requested it. Upon receiving the
praise and smiles of our commander for the
gallantry displayed in the skirmish, and turn-
ing our prisoners over to the provost marshal,
we went rapidly to the advance, and reached
Green River at sun-down.
Crossing the river we proceeded up the
pike about six miles, then turned off "short
left." It was dark and cloudy, and therefore
a disagreeable march over a country road to
Hammondsville, a distance of eight miles,
where we went into camp until the main body
came up. When General Morgan arrived
the company was divided into several detach-
ments, and sent in as many directions to hunt
the enemy. No trooper could have envied
us that pleasure, for it was now midnight,
very dark, and raining hard. But knowing
that "faint heart ne'er wins," we struck boldly
out to make the necessary discoveries. When
daylight returned it found all the scouts at
headquarters, making their reports to the sat-
isfaction of the General.
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 69
In the morning, as soon as we had fed, we
took the advance in the direction of the rail-
road, near Upton's. Just as we got in sight
of the railroad we saw on our left and front
some twenty or thirty Yankee infantrymen
acting, apparently, as a railroad guard. At
the time we discovered them we were march-
ing in a lane. Putting our horses at the
fence, those that did not go over rode it down,
and we all passed over the field at a sweeping
pace, charging the Yanks, who surrendered
without firing a shot, though we gave them a
round at short range. A small force, garri-
soned at Upton's Station, was also captured
soon afterward.
"Lightning," our telegraph operator,
tapped the wire, and his office opened in a
few minutes. Lieut.-Col. Hutchison, of the
Second, with a detachment, compelled the
surrender of the force in the stockade at
Bacon Creek bridge, the first station south of
Upton's, then burnt the bridge. This made
the third time our command had destroyed
that bridge.
We were ordered to "Nolinn" bridge to
find the position of the stockade and the force
that garrisoned it. Approaching quite near
without their knowledge, we were about to
7 o Kelion Franklin Peddicord
open fire when an officer, with an escort, and
bearing a flag of truce from the General, rode
past us, to "demand an immediate and un-
conditional surrender." The officer in com-
mand agreed if we could show him three
pieces of artillery. When he rode out to see
the three pieces he saw six instead, and he sub-
mitted without a word. We proceeded then
to burn the bridge and the stockade.
As soon as this had been accomplished we
moved on Elizabethtown, found the outpost
just at dawn, and went into camp. The Gen-
eral then ordered the scouts from the advance,
and instructed them to remain inside of the
lines during the night. This he did to insure
them some relief, since they had been on the
outpost for several days and nights in suc-
cession, without sleep or rest.
We fared sumptuously that night on the
many delicacies we had captured the day pre-
vious from the sutlers' wagons, things in-
tended for the Christmas holidays. These
luxuries fell into unexpected hands, yet they
were none the less appreciated by us for being
unexpected. Possibly we enjoyed them all
the more.
Early the next morning we scouts went to
the front, and relieved the troops acting as
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 71
advance. Within two or three miles we met
Federal pickets, and had a skirmish with
them, driving them back to within a mile of
town. A Yankee captain, under a flag of
truce, met us. He carried a message to the
General, demanding unconditional and im-
mediate surrender of the forces; further, the
message said that we were surrounded by an
overwhelming force, and that escape was im-
possible. We detained the Yankee captain
while the message was forwarded to the Gen-
eral by one of the scouts.
When the scout returned he carried, for re-
ply to the Yanks, the same message, except
that the General's signature was attached.
For the General, believing that the enemy
were trying to gain time, demanded the same
thing of them that they had demanded of
us unconditional surrender within fifteen
minutes ; and if this demand was not acceded
to, they were ordered to move the non-com-
batants out of town. Not receiving a re-
sponse within the given time we had orders
to advance, and we executed them with a will,
driving the Yankee outposts back upon their
main line with confusion. We then received
instructions to make our way around the town
and cut off their retreat. This we did, de-
72 Kelion Franklin Peddicord
stroying the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road for over two miles, and capturing fifteen
or twenty infantrymen who were guarding
the road. The brigade encamped in and
near the town that night.
The next day we moved against the forces
guarding the trestle at Muldrough's Hill,
composed of two regiments. The one just
captured at Elizabethtown was a very large
regiment, about eight hundred strong. As
there were two trestle works, both were at-
tacked at the same time, and after a pretty
warm fight of an hour's duration they sur-
rendered unconditionally, after which all
their effects, stores of all kinds, stockades and
trestles were burned to the ground. The
prisoners were paroled before dark.
Regaining the pike we marched to the Roll-
ing Fork River, and all, excepting the scouts,
bivouacked on the south side. We crossed
the river and went on outpost duty, keeping a
vigilant watch all night. Early the next
morning all of the command crossed to the
north side, save one regiment, the Eighth,
which was attacked by a large force of
Yankees who had come up during the night.
Colonel Duke, being still on the south side,
superintending the crossing of the troops,
Kelion Franklin Peddicord 73
took command of this regiment, and led them
in person against the enemy. Our men
charged the Yankees furiously and des-
perately, hurling them back with great con-