the Mississippi, of cutting off our communications with the trans-Mississippi department, and of severing the western from the eastern portion of the Confederacy. Let them all who have at heart the safety of the country, go without delay to Vicksburgh and Port Hudson; let them go for such length of time as they can spare-for thirty or sixty, or for ninety days. Let them assist in preserving the Mississippi River, that great artery of the country, and thus conduce more than in any other way to the perpetuation of the Confederacy and the success of the cause.

slaves or will you be independent?" Will you transmit to your children the freedom and equality which your fathers transmitted to you, or will you bow down in adoration before an idol baser than ever was worshipped by Eastern idolaters? Nothing more is necessary than the mere statement of this issue. Whatever may be the personal sacrifices involved, I am surprised that you will shrink from them whenever the question comes before you. Those men who now assail us, who have been associated with us in a common union, who have inherited a government which they claim to be the best the world ever saw-these men, when left to themselves, have shown that they are incapable of preserving their own personal liberty. They have destroyed the freedom of the press; they have seized upon and imprisoned members of State Legislatures and of municipal councils, who were suspected of sympathy with the South; men have been carried off into captivity in distant States without indictment, without a knowledge of the accusations brought against them, in utter defiance of all rights guaranteed by the institutions under which they live. These people, when separated from the South and

I may say here that I did not expect the confederate enrolling officers to carry on the work of conscription. I relied for this upon the aid of the State authorities. I supposed that State officers would enroll the conscripts within the limits of their respective States, and that confederate officers would then receive them in camps of instruction. This I believe to be the policy of your Governor's arguments. We cannot too strongly enforce the necessity of harmony between the confederate government and the State governments. They must act together, if our cause is to be brought to a successful issue. Of this you may rest assured, whatever the confederate gov-left entirely to themselves, have, in six months, ernment can do for the defence of Mississippi will demonstrated their utter incapacity for self gov be done. I feel equal confidence that whatever ernment. And yet, these are the people who claim Mississippi can do will likewise be done. It un- to be your masters. These are the people who doubtedly requires legislation to cause men to have determined to divide out the South among perform those duties which are purely legal. Men their Federal troops. Mississippi they have devoted are not apt to feel an obligation to discharge duties to the direst vengeance of all. "But vengeance from which they may have been exempted. Ours is the Lord's," and beneath his banner you will is a representative government, and it is only meet and hurl back these worse than vandal hordes. through the operation of the law that the obliga- The great end and aim of the government is to tion toward it can be equally distributed. When make our struggle successful. The men who the last Congress proclaimed that a certain num-stand highest in this contest would fall the first ber of men were required to fill up the ranks of sacrifice to the vengeance of the enemy in case the army, that class of men who were already in the we should be unsuccessful. You may rest assur field, and who were retained in service, would not ed, then, for that reason, if for no other, that have been satisfied had there been no conscription whatever capacity they possess will be devoted of those who had remained at home. I may state to securing the independence of the country. Our also, that I believe this to be the theory for the government is not like the monarchies of the Old military defence of the Confederacy. Cast your World, resting for support upon armies and naeyes forward to that time at the end of the war, vies. It sprang from the people, and the confi when peace shall nominally be proclaimed-for dence of the people is necessary for its success. peace between us and our hated enemy will be When misrepresentations of the government have liable to be broken at short intervals for many been circulated, when accusations have been years to come-cast your eyes forward to that time, brought against it of weakness and inefficiency, and you will see the necessity for continued pre- often have I felt in my heart the struggle between paration and unceasing watchfulness. We have the desire for justice and the duty not to give inbut few men in our country who will be willing formation to the enemy because at such time to enlist in the army for a soldier's pay. But the correction of error would have been injurious every young man who shall have served for two or to the safety of the cause. Thus, that great and three years in the army, will be prepared when war good man, General A. S. Johnston, was contented comes to go into camp and take his place in the to rest beneath contumely and to be pointed at ranks an educated and disciplined soldier. Serv- by the finger of scorn, because he did not ading among his equals, his friends and his neigh-vance from Bowling Green with the little army bors, he will find in the army no distinction of under his command. But month after month he class. To such a system I am sure there can be no objection.

The issue before us is one of no ordinary character. We are not engaged in a conflict for conquest or for aggrandizement, or for the settlement of a point of international law. The question for you to decide is: "Will you be

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maintained his post, keeping the enemy ignorant of the paucity of his numbers, and thus holding the invaders in check. I take this case as one instance; it is not the only one by far.

The issue then being: will you be slaves; will you consent to be robbed of your property; will you renounce the exercise of those rights with

which you were born and which were transmitted self the son of a Revolutionary hero, he has emuto you by your fathers? I feel that in addressing lated his father's glorious example upon other Mississippians the answer will be that their in- fields, and comes to Mississippi to defend, and, I terests, even life itself, should be willingly laid believe, to protect you. down upon the altar of their country.

By the memories of the past, by the glories of the field of Chalmette, where the Mississippians, in a general order of the day, were addressed as the bravest of the brave; by the glorious dead of Mexico, by the still more glorious dead of the battle-fields of the Confederacy, by the desolate widows and orphans whom the martyrs of the war have left behind them, by your maimed and wounded heroes-I invoke you not to delay a moment, but to rush forward and place yourself at the disposal of the State. I have been one of those who, from the beginning, looked forward to a long and bloody war; but I must frankly confess that its magnitude has exceeded my expectations. The enemy have displayed more power, and energy, and resources than I had attributed to them. Their finances have held out far better than I imagined would be the case. But I am also one of those who felt that our final success was certain, and that our people had only to be true to themselves to behold the confederate flag among the recognized nations of the earth. The question is only one of time. It may be remote, but it may be nearer than many people suppose. It is not possible that a war of the dimensions that this one has assumed, of proportions so gigantic, can be very long protracted. The combatants must be soon exhausted. But it is impossible, with a cause like ours, we can be the first to cry: "Hold, enough."

The sacrifices which have already been made have perhaps fallen heavily upon a portion of the people, especially upon the noble little city of Vicksburgh. After Memphis and New Orleans had fallen-two points which were considered to be admirably defended, two points which we had no reason to believe would fall-Vicksburgh became the object of attack. A few earthworks were thrown up, a few guns were mounted, and Vicksburgh received the shock of both fleets; the one which, under Commodore Foote, had descended the river, and the one which, under Farragut, had achieved the capture of New Orleans. Nobly did the little city receive the assault, and even the women said: "Rather than surrender, let us give them the soil, but with the ashes of our dwellings upon it."

This was the heroic devotion of a people who deserve to be free. Your Governor left his chair, and went himself to the scene of danger. Nothing more profoundly touched me and my duties in a distant land, than to hear that the chief magistrate of my own State was defending the town which the enemy had made the object of his attack, and that the defence was successful. Now we are far better prepared in that quarter. The works, then weak, have been greatly strengthened; the troops assigned for their defence are better disciplined and better instructed, and that gallant soldier who came with me has been pouring in his forces to assist in its protection. Him

In the course of this war our eyes have been often turned abroad. We have expected sometimes recognition and sometimes intervention at the hands of foreign nations, and we had a right to expect it. Never before in the history of the world had a people so long a time maintained their ground, and showed themselves capable of maintaining their national existence, without securing the recognition of commercial nations. I know not why this has been so, but this I say, "Put not your trust in princes," and rest not your hopes on foreign nations. This war is ours: we must fight it out ourselves; and I feel some pride in knowing that so far we have done it without the good-will of any body. It is true that there are now symptoms of a change in public opinion abroad. They give us their admiration

they sometimes even say to us God speedand in the remarkable book written by Mr. Spence, the question of secession has been discussed with more of ability than it ever has been even in this country. Yet England still holds back, but France, the ally of other days, seems disposed to hold out to us the hand of fellowship. And when France holds out to us her hand, right willingly will we grasp it.

Mem

During the last year, the war has been characterized by varied fortunes. New-Orleans fell-a sad blow it was to the valley of the Mississippi, and as unexpected to me as to any one. phis also fell; and besides these we have lost various points on the Atlantic coast. The invading armies have pressed upon us at some points; at others they have been driven back; but take a view of our condition now, and compare it with what it was a year ago— look at the enemy's position as it then was and as it now is; consider their immense power, vast numbers, and great resources; look at all these things, and you will be convinced that our condition now will compare favorably with what it was then. Armies are not composed of numbers alone. Officers and men are both to be disciplined and instructed. When the war first began the teacher and the taught were in the condition of the blind leading the blind; now all this is changed for the better. Our troops have become disciplined and instructed. They have stripped the gunboat of its terrors; they have beaten superior numbers in the field; they have discovered that with their shortrange weapons they can close upon the long-range of the enemy and capture them. Thus in all respects, moral as well as physical, we are better prepared than we were a year ago.

There are now two prominent objects in the programme of the enemy. One is to get possession of the Misissippi River and to open it to navigation, in order to appease the clamors of the West, and to utilize the capture of New-Orleans, which has thus far rendered them no service. The other is to seize upon the capital of the Confederacy, and hold this but as a proof that the

themselves from the enemy; when I saw it stated by the enemy that they had handled other States with gloves, but Mississippi was to be handled without gloves, every impulse of my heart dragged me hither, in spite of duties which might have claimed my attention elsewhere. When I heard of the sufferings of my own people, of the danger of their subjugation by a ruthless foe, I felt that if Mississippi were destined for such a fate, I would wish to sleep in her soil. On my way here I stopped at the headquarters of Gen. Johnston. I knew his capacity and his resolution. I imparted to him my own thoughts, and asked him to come with me. I found that his ideas were directed in the same channel. He came in the shortest time for preparation, but whatever man can do will be done by him. I have perfect confidence that, with your assistance and support, he will drive the enemy from the soil of Mississippi.

Confederacy has no existence. We have recently people were fleeing to Texas in order to save repulsed them at Fredericksburgh, and I believe that under God and by the valor of our troops the capital of the Confederacy will stand safe behind its wall of living breasts. Vicksburgh and Port Hudson have been strengthened, and now we can concentrate at either of them a force sufficient for their protection. I have confidence that Vicksburgh will stand as before, and I hope that Johnston will find generals to support him if the enemy dare to land. Port Hudson is now strong. Vicksburgh will stand, and Port Hudson will stand; but let every man that can be spared from other vocations, hasten to defend them, and thus hold the Mississippi River, that great artery of the Confederacy, preserve our communications with the trans-Mississippi department, and thwart the enemy's scheme of forcing navigation through to New Orleans. By holding that section of the river between Port Hudson and Vicksburgh, we shall secure these results, and the people of the West, cut off from New-Orleans, will be driven to the East to seek a market for their products, and will be compelled to pay so much in the way of freights, that those products will be rendered almost valueless. Thus, I should not be surprised if the first daybreak of peace were to dawn upon us from that quarter.

Some time since, for reasons not necessary to recapitulate, I sent to this State a General unknown to most of you, and, perhaps, even by name, known but to few among you. This was the land of my affections. Here were situated the little of worldly goods I possessed. I selected a General who, in my view, was capable of defending my State and discharging the duties of this important service. I am happy to state, after an attentive examination, that I have not been mistaken in the general of my choice. I find that, during his administration here, every thing had been done that could be accomplished with the means at his command. I recommend him to your confidence as you may have confidence in me, who selected him. For the defence of Vicksburgh, I selected one from the army of the Potomac, of whom it is but faint praise to say he has no superior. He was sent to Virginia at the beginning of the war, with a little battery of three guns. With these he fought the Yankee gunboats, drove them off, and stripped them of their terrors. He was promoted for distinguished services on various fields. He was finally made a colonel of cavalry, and I have reason to believe that, at the last great conflict on the field of Manassas, he served to turn the tide of battle and consummate the victory.

On succeeding fields he has won equal distinction. Though yet young, he has fought more battles than many officers who have lived to an advanced age and died in their beds. I have therefore sent Lee to take charge of the defences of Vicksburgh. I have every confidence in the skill and energy of the officers in command. But when I received despatches, and heard rumors of alarm and trepidation and despondency among the people of Mississippi; when I heard even that

After having visited the army-after having mingled among the people of the State-I shall go away from among you with a lighter heart. I do not think the people of Mississippi are despondent or depressed; those who are so are those on whom the iron tread of the invader has fallen, or those who, skulking from their duty, go home with fearful tales to justify their desertion. Nor is the army despondent; on the contrary, it is confident of victory. At Grenada I found the only regret to be that the enemy had not come on. At Vicksburgh, even without reënforcements, the troops did not dream of defeat. I go, therefore, anxious but hopeful. My attachment to Mississippi, and my esteem for her people, have risen since the war began. I have been proud of her soldiers, and I have endeavored to conceal my pride, for I wished to make no distinction between the States of the Confederacy; but I cannot deny that my heart has warmed with a livelier emotion when I have seen those letters upon the boys' caps that have marked him for a Mississippian. Man's affections are not subject to his will; mine are fixed upon Mississippi. And when I return to where I shall find Mississippians fighting for you in a distant State, when I shall tell them that you are safe here, that you can be defended without calling upon them, and that they are necessary to guard the capital, and to prevent the inroads of the enemy in Georgia and Alabama, I shall be say to them for you that they are welcome to stay.

As to the States on the other side of the Mississippi, I can say that their future is bright. The army is organized and disciplined, and it is to be hoped that at no distant day it may be able to advance into that land which has been trodden under the foot of despotism, where old men have been torn from their homes and immured in dungeons, where even the women have been subjected to the insults of the brutal Federal soldierythat under the flag of the Confederacy Missouri will again be free.

Kentucky, too, that gallant State whose cause is our cause, the gallantry of whose sons has never been questioned, is still the object of the ardent wishes of Gen. Bragg. I heard him say,

I can, then, say with confidence that our condition is in every respect greatly improved over what it was last year. Our armies have been augmented, our troops have been instructed and disciplined. The articles necessary for the support of our troops and our people, and from which the enemy's blockade has cut us off, are being produced in the Confederacy. Our manufactories have made rapid progress; so much is this the case, that I learn with equal surprise and pleasure, from the General commanding this department, that Mississippi alone can supply the army which is upon her soil.

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 Our people have learned to economize, and are force to work to manufacture the proper technical satisfied to wear homespun. I never see a woman fixtures, (which I was pained to learn had been dressed in homespun that I do not feel like taking entirely neglected in shipping the guns,) and place off my hat to her; and although our women never them in position on the north side of the river. lose their good looks, I cannot help thinking that At the same time I had the floor of the bridge they are improved by this garb. I never meet a planked over to render it safe in crossing, should man dressed in homespun, but I feel like salut-reenforcements be required on either side. I also ing him. I cannot avoid remarking with how telegraphed Gen. Boyle all the information of immuch pleasure I have noticed the superior mo- portance and asked him for additional ammunition rality of our troops, and the contrast which in for infantry, and sponges, rammers, sights, elevatthis respect they present to the invader. I can ing screws, etc., for the siege-guns. On the twentruly say that an army more pious and more mo- ty-fourth, I had taken all pains to learn the real ral than that defending our liberties I do not be- strength of the enemy, which I found variously lieve to exist. On their valor and the assistance estimated at from three thousand to four thousand of God I confidently rely. 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.

Doc. 88.

MORGAN'S RAID INTO KENTUCKY.

REPORT OF COLONEL E. H. HOBSON.
HEADQUARTERS, MUNFORDVILLE,
January 4, 1863.

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 Greens

George K. Speed, A.A.A. G., Tenth Division: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit a report of the disposition of the troops under my command at this point during the recent raid of Mor-burgh road to Burnt Bridge Ford, north of Green gan on the line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

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 by 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

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 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