KIRBY SMITH ROUTS MANSON AT RICHMOND, KY. 215 12th Indiana, McMillan, 95th Ohio, | fantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 15 guns and other valuable officers, had al--which they don't. He estimates ready been. Lt.-Col. Topping and Maj. Conkling, 71st Indiana, had been killed.

The rout was now total and complete; and, to make the most of it, Smith had, hours before, sent Scott, with his cavalry, around to our rear, with instructions to prepare for and intercept the expected fugitives. Manson,, who had resumed command when Nelson fell, had formed a new rear-guard, which was keeping the Rebel pursuit within bounds; when, four miles from Richmond, the fleeing rabble were halted by a body of Rebel horse. Manson, hurrying up, attempted to form a vanguard; but only 100 responded to his call, who were speedily cut up by a fire from a force of Rebels hidden in a cornfield on the left of the road, whereby Lt. Col. Wolfe and 41 others were killed or wounded. The road was here choked with wounded horses and other débris of a shattered army; it was growing dusk (7 P. M.), and the remains of our thoroughly beaten force scattered through the fields; every one attempting to save himself as he could. Gen. Manson, with other officers, attempting escape by flight, was fired on by a squadron of Scott's cavalry; his horse, mortally wounded, fell on him, injuring him severely, and he was taken prisoner; as were many if not most of his compatriots in dis

aster.

his loss at 200 killed, 700 wounded, and 2,000 prisoners. Kirby Smith, on the contrary, makes our force. fully 10,000-his own but 5,000;! and states his total loss at 400, and ours at 1,000 killed and wounded, 5,000 prisoners, 9 guns, 10,000 small arms, and large spoil of munitions and provisions. It is quite probable that his story, though exaggerated, is nearer the truth than Manson's.

Smith set forward directly" for Lexington, which he entered in triumph three days afterward, amid the frantic acclamations of the numerous Rebel sympathizers of that intensely pro-Slavery region. He moved on through Paris to Cynthiana, within striking distance of either Cincinnati or Louisville, which seemed for a few days to lie at his mercy; though considerable numbers, mainly of militia and very green volunteers, had been hastily gathered for the defense of the former, and were busily employed in erecting defenses covering the Kentucky approaches to that city, at some distance back from the Ohio.

Gen. Bragg had now completely flanked Buell's left, and passed behind him, without a struggle and without loss, keeping well eastward of Nashville, and advancing by Carthage, Tenn., and Glasgow, Ky.; first striking the Louisville and Nashville Railroad-which was our main line of supply and rëenforcement—after he entered Kentucky." His advance, under Gen. J. R. Chalmers, first encountered " considerable force at MUNFORDSVILLE, where the railroad crosses Green river, and where Col. Sept. 5.

Manson's report says that his entire force this day "did not exceed 6,500," of whom not over 2,500 were engaged at once-a sad commentary on his generalship-and he adds: "The enemy say they had 12,000 in

15

Sept. 13.

J. T. Wilder, with about 2,100 men, | with his officers, surrendered; being

allowed to march out with drums beating and colors flying, take four days' rations, and set forth immediately, under parole, for Louisville. He says in his report that his entire loss was 37 killed and wounded, "while the enemy admit a loss of 714 on Sunday alone." Bragg, on the contrary, says, "Our [Rebel] loss was about 50 killed and wounded;" and claims 4,000 prisoners and as many muskets, beside guns and mu

had assumed command five days be-
fore, by order of Gen. J. T. Boyle,
commanding in Kentucky, and had
hastily thrown up fortifications, with
intent to dispute the passage of the
river. Chalmers had already sent
a mounted force to the north of
Munfordsville, by which a first de-
mand for surrender was made at 8
The demand being repelled,
an assault was made at daylight next
morning, but speedily repulsed with
loss. At 9 A. M., Wilder was rëen-nitions.
forced by six companies of the 50th
Indiana, Col. C. L. Dunham, who,
being his senior, after hesitating, as-
sumed command; but was superse-
ded soon afterward by an order from
Boyle, and Wilder restored.

P. M.

The Rebels, after their first repulse, kept mainly out of sight, knowing that their ultimate success was inevitable, and allowed two more regiments and six guns to make their way into the town; assured that all who were there would soon fall into their hands. At length, at 9 a. m. on Tuesday," Bragg, having brought up his main body and surrounded the place with not less than 25,000 men, renewed the attack. Advancing cautiously, keeping his men well covered, but crowding up on the weak and exposed points of our defenses in such numbers as absolutely to compel the gradual contraction of our lines, he, about sunset, sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender. As Buell was not at hand, nor likely to be, and as there was no hope of relief from any quarter, and no adequate reason for sacrificing the lives of his men, Wilder, at 2 A. M. next day," after the fullest consultation Sept. 16.

16

Bragg now issued the following address to the people of Kentucky, which, read backward, will indicate the objects and motives of his invasion:

"GLASGOW, KY., Sept. 18, 1862. State with the Confederate Army of the "KENTUCKIANS: I have entered your West, and offer you an opportunity to free yourselves from the tyranny of a despotio ruler. We come, not as conquerors or despoilers, but to restore to you the liberties of which you have been deprived by a cruel and relentless foe. We come to guarantee to all the sanctity of their homes and altars; to punish with a rod of iron the despoilers of your peace, and to avenge the cowardly With all non-cominsults to your women.

batants, the past shall be forgotten. Needful supplies must be had for my army; but they shall be paid for at fair and remunera

ting prices.

"Believing that the heart of Kentucky is with us in our great struggle for Constitutional Freedom, we have transferred from our own soil to yours, not a band of inarauders, but a powerful and well-disciplined army. Your gallant Buckner leads the van. ridge, dear to us as to you, is advancing Marshall is on the right; while Breckinwith Kentucky's valiant sons, to receive the honor and applause due to their heroism. The strong hands which in part have sent Shiloh down to history, and the nerved arms which have kept at bay from our own homes the boastful army of the enemy, are here to assist, to sustain, to liberate you. Will you remain indifferent to our call? or will you not rather vindicate the fair fame

of your once free and envied State? We

believe that you will; and that the memory Sept. 17.

17

of your gallant dead who fell at Shiloh, | ly-installed Governor had to flee their faces turned homeward, will rouse from their approach.'

you to a manly effort for yourselves and posterity.

"Kentuckians! we have come with joyous hopes. Let us not depart in sorrow, as we shall if we find you wedded in your choice to your present lot. If you prefer Federal rule, show it by your frowns, and If you

we shall return whence we came.

choose rather to come within the folds of our brotherhood, then cheer us with the smiles of your women, and lend your will

ing hands to secure you in your heritage of

liberty.

ear.

"Women of Kentucky! your persecutions and heroic bearing have reached our Banish henceforth, forever, from your minds the fear of loathsome prisons or insulting visitations. Let your enthusiasm have free rein. Buckle on the armor of your kindred, your husbands, sons, and brothers, and scoff with shame him who would prove recreant in his duty to you,

his country, and his God.

"BRAXTON BRAGG,

“Gen. Commanding.”

It was not the fault of the General commanding that his army must necessarily have subsisted on the region of Kentucky it traversed; but, when it is considered that he swept off in his retreat all the abundant horses and cattle that came within his reach, with whatever else he could carry, and that he did not and could not pay for any thing, it seems that the mockery of his promise of payment might wisely have been forborne.

From Munfordsville, Bragg continued his unresisted march northward, through Bardstown, to Frankfort," the State capital, where Smith had preceded him, and where Richard Hawes," a weak old man, was inaugurated" "Provisional Governor of Kentucky." "This ceremony," says Pollard, "was scarcely more than a pretentious farce: hardly was it completed when the Yankees threatened Frankfort; and the new18 Oct 1. 19 Formerly a member of Congress.

Gen. Buell, after leaving Nash

ville 21

strongly garrisoned, had marched directly for Louisville, 170 miles; where his army arrived between the 25th and 29th. It had by

this time been swelled by rëenforcements, mainly raw, to nearly 100,000 men; but it was not, in his judgment, yet in condition to fight Bragg's far inferior numbers. Hence, time was taken to reorganize and supply it; while the Rebel cavalry galloped at will over the plenteous central districts of the State, collecting large quantities of cattle and hogs not only, but of serviceable fabrics and

other manufactures as well. Buell's

22

delays, synchronizing with McClellan's lost, were so distasteful at Washington, that an order relieving him from command was issued; but its execution was suspended on the emphatic remonstrance of his subordinate commanders. The hint being a pretty strong one, Buell set his face toward the enemy; " moving in five columns: his left on Frankfort, his right on Shepardsville, intending to concentrate on Bardstown, where Bragg, with his main body, was supposed to be; skirmishing by the way with sinall parties of Rebel cavalry and artillery. Thus advancing steadily, though not rapidly, he passed through Bardstown, and thence to Springfield," 62 miles from Louisville; Bragg slowly retreating before him, harassing rather than resisting his advance, so as to gain time for the escape of his now immense trains, consisting mainly of captured Federal army wagons, heavily laden with the spoils of Kentucky. Here Buell 20 Oct. 4. g21 Sept. 15. Oct. 1. 23 Oct. 6.

BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE-GEN. JACKSON KILLED. 219 left, in order to obtain a more advan- | rapidly charging masses of infantry