Chapter 5 - Chasing After Morgan |
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15 At Columbia, General Judah divided General Hobson's Brigade, taking command of the 11th Ohio, 23rd Michigan and 107th Illinois Mounted Infantry, the 14th Illinois, 5th Indiana, and the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. General Hobson was ordered to move west to Glasgow with the belief that Morgan may try to move that way if he crossed the Cumberland River, when General Judah told him to turn toward Tompkinsville, Kentucky. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry marched with General Judah through Scottsville. It had been raining hard for the past few days and streams were out of their banks with many bridges washed away, slowing their progress. During the march, two men from Company C deserted the regiment. Scouts had told General Hobson that Morgan's men had started to move north and would probably cross the Cumberland River at or near Burksville, Kentucky. So, on the 1st of July, the regiment joined forces with Hobson at Tompkinsville. Hobson wanted to move at once to Burksville but General Judah ordered him to Marrowbone instead, ten miles to the west of Burksville, and told him to hold that town until further orders. On July 2nd, Morgan's men began crossing the Cumberland River near Burksville. Hobson's Brigade attempted to get ahead of Morgan by riding to Columbia and then to Campbellsville. The 11th Kentucky's Brigade, under General Judah, found itself trapped south of the Green River when it ran out of its banks. For 36 hours they waited for the river to recede enough for them to cross. In the meantime, Morgan had reached Columbia where they had a fight with Colonel Wolford's Cavalry. The regiment finally crossed the river at Vaughn's Ferry at 8 AM on July 6th. They were now headed for Muldraugh's Hill, where Hobson's forces were. All the telegraph lines had been cut and Judah could not send word of their whereabouts to General Burnside in Cincinnati. Confederate General Morgan reached Lebanon, Ky on July 5th, attacking the post commanded by Lt. Colonel Charles Hanson. Hanson held out for several hours, but after exhausting their ammunition and having several wounded men, Hanson surrendered the post. On July 8th word was received that Morgan had crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg and was now in Indiana. Judah and the 11th Ky Cavalry were now in Elizabethtown, Ky, 20 hours behind Morgan. He reported that his horses were about broken down. They were being replaced by citizen's horses. The rations were also about gone and Judah requested a train be sent with supplies for six days for 1,200 men and four 8 mule teams. On July 9th, Judah moved to Litchfield, against General Boyle's orders. A courier was sent to Judah ordering him to move to Munfordville and there await General Boyle's orders. General Judah disobeyed this order. General Boyle reported this to General Burnside. pg 16 On July 10th, Morgan and his raiders were north of Salem, Indiana. General Hobson, with his forces crossed the Ohio River in pursuit. General Judah's forces were still in Litchfield awaiting orders. Word finally reached Judah that Morgan had continued moving north and was across the Ohio River in Indiana. The Brigade rode back to Elizabethtown and boarded railway cars on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and rode to Louisville. At that city they went aboard steamboats to continue up the Ohio River in an attempt to cut Morgan off at Cincinnati. The Brigade was aboard 10 different boats. The flagship "Bostona" led the way, followed by "No. 2 Fisher, "Emma No. 2", "Wren" and "Silver Moon". This trip up the Ohio allowed the men and especially the horses to get a much needed rest. When they landed at Cincinnati, they found they were about 10 hours too late as Morgan had passed north of the City, continuing east through Ohio. Orders came from General Burnside for the Brigade to return to the steamers and proceed upriver, keeping as close to Morgan as possible. General Judah had to leave part of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry at Cincinnati due to their lack of horses. He gave orders for them to follow as soon as they could, but not enough horses could be found. The Brigade eventually disembarked from the boats at Portsmouth, Ohio, and rode west along the River Road, believing the enemy was making for the River. They learned, however, that once again, instead of being in front of Morgan, they were behind and to one side of him. Continuing their pursuit of Morgan, they pressed on hour after hour, their poor horses tired and the men half asleep in their saddles, finally reaching the town of Pomeroy, Ohio. Morgan was not far away now and General Hobson was about 10 miles away in Chester, Ohio. In Pomeroy, the brigade rested in the streets and the people of the town brought them food and some fodder for their horses. After resting, they marched through Racine, Antiquity and Dorcas, driving hard for the ford across the Ohio River at Buffington Island, where Morgan was expected to cross over into West Virginia. The fog was very thick along the River bottom, and suddenly they found themselves nearly face to face with the Rebs, not knowing they were so close to the ford. BATTLE AT BUFFINGTON ISLAND As soon as they discovered each other through the fog, they received a volley from at least a hundred enemy rifles. The 8th Indiana, under Colonel Butler, was up forward and the 14th Illinois Cavalry was in the rear, in reserve. Other Regiments had swung wide to form up on Butler's right, and a detachment of the 5th Indiana under Lieutenant John O'Neil, followed the River's edge. General Judah and his staff rode just ahead of a single Gun belonging to Henshaw's Illinois Battery and an escort of 45 mounted men under Lieutenant Armstrong from the 14th Illinois. The Rebels, throwing their rifles aside, charged the 8th Indiana, firing their pistols and yelling. The 8th Indiana began to retreat and then the lead horses, pulling the single cannon, were killed and the other horses became entangled in the traces. The Gun overturned and General Judah had a difficult time getting back through the narrow lane. Regrouping, the 11th Kentucky with 2 other regiments attacked Morgan's men about 6 A.M. and nearly surrounded them. The Union Batteries began firing into the enemy's rear units. With the arrival of General Hobson's forces, the enemy began to fall back. Within an hour about 700 of Morgan's men surrendered. More than 120 were dead or wounded. General Morgan, with about 500 men escaped. This battle took place on July 19th, 1863. pg 17 CAPTURE OF MORGAN General Hobson replaced General Judah and took his command in pursuit of Morgan and his men. General Shackelford also with a large force joined in the pursuit. Out in front were cavalry commanded by Major Rue and with him were 120 men of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, including Company A, commanded by Major Graham. By July 24th, Major Rue was at Bellaire, Ohio, closing in on Morgan. On the 26th, Major Rue, with the 9th Kentucky Cavalry and some of the 11th Kentucky, was ordered to intercept Morgan who was going in the direction of Salineville, Ohio. Coming within 1 mile of Morgan and his men, Major Rue ordered his command to move forward on the double quick. Rue took the advance accompanied by Captain Pond and Adjutant Pierce, with about 20 men from Company A, of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. They dashed forward over a rough, hilly road in advance of the Confederates and drew up in line of battle, ready for action of the enemy's front and flank. Previously Major Graham had ordered Lieutenant Burton of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, with 30 men, to annoy the rear of the enemy by following him on the main road and prevent Morgan from retreating. Morgan was now surrounded. Morgan then sent in a flag of truce and surrendered. Major Rue held the prisoners until General Shackelford came up, about 30 minutes later. General Morgan even presented his fine horse to Major Rue. However, after Shackelford came up he took the horse for himself. Major Rue, in his report, praised Captain Pond and Adjutant Pierce and the 20 soldiers of Company A of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry for their boldness and bravery. It is possible that Eli Hurt and his two brothers were among the 20 soldiers mentioned. ------o------ Returning to Kentucky, via Cincinnati, the 11th Kentucky rode to Nicholasville, where men and mounts were rested and the regiment refitted. During this month of July, Colonel Riley resigned and left the regiment on the 18th. Colonel Graham assumed command of the Regiment. Also, during this month, one man from Company B died at Campbellsville, Ky. of diphtheria on the 18th. A man from Company D was sent home sick and three men from Company D were discharged on disability. While at Glasgow, Kentucky, on the 1st, a Private from Company F deserted. |