Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, December 27, 1861

McClellan's and Branner's Battalions returned to their camps at Beech Grove. Our battalion recrossed the river and went into camps near Mr. West's, where we left our wagon train the 25th.

At nine P. M., Colonel T. E. Bramlette (First Kentucky Infantry), who was at that time in command of General Boyle's Brigade at Columbia, wrote as follows to General Thomas:

The enemy is at Jamestown, eighteen miles from here, some three thousand strong.

He has ascertained the strength and position of Colonel Wolford's camp, and threatens to destroy that before moving further. He has one thousand seven hundred mounted men, armed mostly as infantry.

I would not be surprised if the whole of Zollicoffer's forces were to be on us in two or three days.

We will, however, strike a blow, even if left to ourselves, that shall terrify the rebel hell-hounds wherever they hear of us. Retreat we will not, and if they come upon us we will fight the fight of desperation to win.¹

Notwithstanding McNairy did not go so far down the river as Zollicoffer had instructed him to go, yet it would seem from the above communication that the object of the expedition, at least to some extent, had been accomplished. That is to say, the attention of the Federals had been attracted from the river, and Colonel Bramlette was now holding his brigade in readiness at Columbia, awaiting an attack from Zollicoffer.

The long looked for “reserves” are coming in at last. Colonel William B. Wood, with a battalion of his regiment (Sixteenth Alabama), and Captain H. L. W. McClung, with his battery of artillery (six guns), have arrived. Colonel Samuel Powell's Regiment will be here soon, having started from Knoxville the 24th instant, Colonel Moses White's Regiment, of General Carroll's Brigade, is also on the way from Knoxville.

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¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., P: 517.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 103-4

Colonel Thomas E. Bramlette to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, December 27, 1861—9 p.m.

CAMP BOYLE, December 27, 1861—9 p.m.

General THOMAS:

The enemy is at Jamestown, 18 miles from here, some 3,000 strong. He has ascertained the strength and position of Colonel Wolford's camp, and threatens to destroy that before moving farther. He has 1,700 mounted men, armed mostly as infantry. With such force Wolford would be cut off without remedy; I have ordered him under the circumstances of necessity to move up here with his stores and troops, to cooperate with me in an attack upon the enemy, should he move toward Burkesville or this place. I would not be surprised if the whole of Zollicoffer's forces were to be on us in two or three days. They must be retiring from before Somerset, either intending to attack here or move down the river to Burkesville, and thence to join Buckner. In either case we intend here to meet him. Our situation is, however, somewhat critical—no artillery, and threatened on both flanks by superior numbers, and nobody to help us.

We will, however, strike a blow, even if left to ourselves, that shall terrify the rebel hell-hounds wherever they hear of us. Retreat we will not, and if they come upon us we will fight the fight of desperation to win. We have too much stores here to leave, too many sick to move, and they must and shall be defended with the last life we have to spare; and if we, after the frequent notifications of our position to division and department headquarters, are cut to pieces for the want of the necessary means of defense, the fault will not be ours.

Respectfully,

THO. E. BRAMLETTE,        

Colonel, Commanding Post.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 517-8

Brigadier-General Jeremiah T. Boyle to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, December 12, 1861

HDQRS. ELEVENTH BRIGADE, U. S. VOLUNTEERS,        

Columbia, December 12, 1861.

General THOMAS, U. S. A.
        Commanding First Division, Lebanon, Ky.:

GENERAL: I directed Colonel Bramlette, with two companies from his the Pulaski or Somerset road and take and occupy the most available position of defense, having regard to water, &c., and to take with him Lieutenant Bonter, (?) temporarily on my staff, a fine engineer, to aid him.

After an examination of the grounds, we regard the most available point of defense at and near the crossing of Russell's Creek, on the Somerset road, northeast of and near the town. Such defenses as will be required can soon be formed. With a battery of artillery the place can be held against considerable odds. Can we not be supported with a battery?

The rebel cavalry who crossed the Cumberland into Russell County have, it is reported, killed 50 or 60 of the loyal and defenseless citizens. I ordered part of Wolford's and part of Haggard's cavalry to the relief of the country. Can I at my discretion move one or more regiments to or in the direction of Cumberland, to give protection to the country on the Cumberland and hold the enemy in check?

If General Schoepf is moving on the enemy from the other direction, can I not be ordered up to attack from this side simultaneously, the movement being understood by General Schoepf?

If there is not reason to expect an attack here or a very early movement forward, I desire leave of absence for several days. I have no uniforms, no clothing, and no arms. I have no uniform or arms of any kind. There are other reasons rendering it necessary for me to be absent for some days which I do not give.

Colonel Beatty, of Nineteenth Ohio, was mustered into service August 10, but has no commission yet. Colonel Bramlette's commission is of 10th September, 1861.

Respectfully, &c.,

J. T. BOYLE,        

Acting Brigadier-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 493-4

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, November 29, 1861

We returned to camps a little after dark at the same place we started from the morning before. It was a cold, rainy day.

We learned that quite a sad affair had happened in camps that day-the result of card playing. W. K. Natcher had shot and killed George Aiken. Natcher was put under arrest. Both from Company A.

On the above date, Colonel T. E. Bramlette, who was stationed at Columbia with his regiment (First Kentucky Infantry) and a part of Wolford's and Haggard's Cavalry, made the following report of our visit to Burkesville, in a dispatch addressed to General G. H. Thomas:

I received a dispatch before day this morning from Burkesville that two hundred rebel cavalry were at the ferry on the south side of the river. A few of them crossed over and went to Boles', saw and arranged with him and his partners for the slaughter of hogs, and returned. The courier informed me that the men who are acting for the rebels are killing and packing a large number of hogs at Burkesville, viz : J. B. Alexander, J. R. Ryan, James and Sam Boles, and Robert Cross.

I have no doubt but steamboats will be up in a few days and carry off the large amount of pork, wheat, etc., the rebels are gathering upon the river. The rebels are now in possession of the river from Mill Springs down. . . . . . . . . .

I sent Colonel Wolford to the aid of Colonel Haskins with five hundred cavalry, embracing part of Colonel Haggard's command.

As I have before advised, the rebels are at Mill Springs, in force about eight thousand, but as yet have not crossed the river, and I do not believe will.¹

Colonel Haskins, with his regiment, the Fourth* Kentucky Infantry, was now encamped on the north bank of the Cumberland, some ten miles above Mill Springs.

General Zollicoffer, having reached the vicinity of Mill Springs late in the afternoon, established his headquarters at one Mr. A. R. West's, within about one mile of the river. As a portion of Captain Allison's company had gone through with the General, and was still acting as escort for him, Allison and his men put up at the same place.

Colonel Stanton, who had arrived at Mill Springs with two regiments of infantry and McClellan's Battalion and Sanders' company of cavalry, about two days in advance of Zollicoffer, had failed to secure any boats, from the fact that Colonel Haskins had taken the precaution to have them sunk; and for want of transporta[tion] he (Stanton) had failed to cross the river, as directed by Zollicoffer, to cut off Haskins' Regiment.
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¹ Col, Thomas E. Bramlette to Brig.-Gen. George H. Thomas, November 29, 1861

* Afterward the Twelfth.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 86-7

Colonel Thomas E. Bramlette to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, November 29, 1861

COLUMBIA, KY., November 29, 1861.        

(Received November 30, 1861.)

General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

I received a dispatch before day this morning from Burkesville that 200 rebel cavalry were at the ferry on the south side of the river; a few of them crossed over and went to Boles', saw and arranged with him and his partners for the slaughter of hogs, and returned. The courier informed me that the men who are acting for the rebels are killing and packing a large number of hogs at Burkesville, viz, J. B. Alexander, J. R. Ryan, James and Sam. Boles, and Robert Cross.

I have no doubt but steamboats will be up in a few days and carry off the large amount of pork, wheat, &c., the rebels are gathering upon the river. All this could be prevented by a force being stationed at Burkesville with artillery to command the river. The rebels are now in possession of the river from Mill Springs down. I sent out scouts towards Glasgow; they went as far as Edmonton, and returned with a rebel flag, which the rebel cavalry had hoisted there the day before. I have a small number at Lairville, opposite Rowena, seven, including James Ferguson.

On yesterday some 50 rebel cavalry appeared on the southern bank. Ferguson and his squad fired upon them, and after about four rounds the rebels fled, leaving one fine horse wounded in the hind leg, some blankets, &c., which our scouts secured.

I sent Colonel Wolford to the aid of Colonel Hoskins with 500 cavalry, embracing part of Colonel Haggard's command.

As I have before advised, the rebels are at Mill Springs, in force about 8,000, but as yet have not crossed the river, and I do not believe will. I am still unshaken in the conviction that their purpose is to seize all the wheat, corn, fat hogs, mules, &c., they can south of the river and return perhaps by steamboats or other craft; perhaps fall back to their former camps in Tennessee.

It would be an easy matter to hem them in were there sufficient forces to make the movement from here. Two days' easy march would throw us in their rear, so that, with the river in front and around and we in their rear, no escape would be left.

Respectfully,

THO. E. BRAMLETTE,        

Colonel First Regiment Infantry Kentucky Volunteers.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 459

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, November 8, 1861

In the saddle early that morning, our battalion arrived at Jacksborough late in the afternoon (about twenty-two miles). Zollicoffer had left orders here for McNairy to follow the brigade by a forced march in the direction of Clinton. After allowing his men to halt long enough to feed their horses and take supper, McNairy pressed on thirteen miles further and bivouacked for the rest of the night.¹ Here he was met by a messenger, with orders for him to halt.

Nelson and Bob Smith were sick of the measles at Jacksborough and discharged at Clinton.

The rest of the brigade had also halted, and I shall now endeavor to explain why.

The First Kentucky Infantry, under Colonel Bramlette, and the Fourth, under Colonel Haskins, and Wolford's Cavalry were at that time encamped at or near “Camp Goggin," on the north bank of the Cumberland, some nine miles above Mill Springs and twenty from Monticello, Kentucky.² On the 3d, Colonel Wolford set out from the above named camp with four hundred of his regiment and one piece of artillery on a reconnoitering expedition in the direction of Monticello, and, if necessary, he was to send a messenger back and Colonels Bramlette and Haskins were to follow with all their available force—1,200. Colonel Wolford went as far as Monticello, and, finding no “Rebs” there, he returned to Camp Goggin.

It appears that Madam Rumor had swelled Wolford's four hundred to 6,000 before she delivered her “entirely reliable” report to Lieutenant-Colonel McClellan, for on the next day, the 4th, he wrote the dispatch which has been previously given, under the 7th instant. On the 5th, he moved his battalion down to Camp McGinnis, and sent some of his men out toward Monticello to meet the enemy. They went as far as Monticello, and sent a messenger back, who reported that a few cavalry had been there, but had gone back to Camp Goggin. So, just as Zollicoffer entered the road from Knoxville to Wartburg, within twenty-two miles of the latter place, a messenger met him with a dispatch from Colonel McClellan, stating that the information which he had given on the 4th was founded in error. Therefore, our General decided to fall back to Jacksborough, and completely blockade the two wagon roads through the mountains in that vicinity.³

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¹ I had been on the sick list ever since our battalion left Flat Lick, but had still followed the command until the above night. Not being able to go any further, I put up with one Mr. Bowling, who lived on the Clinton road, six miles south of Jacksborough, the county seat of Campbell County, where I remained for about ten days, and was quite sick with a fever during the time. J. W. Kennedy first stopped with me, but as I continued to grow worse for some days, my brother, B. A. Hancock, resigned as assistant commissary of our battalion and came to see that I was properly cared for. Ben and I rejoined the battalion at Clinton, on the 18th. B. J. Mullinax, P.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 328.

³ Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 530.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 72-4

Colonel Thomas E. Bramlette to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, November 2, 1861

CAMP WOLFORD, ONE AND A HALF MILES FROM CAMP GOGGIN,        

November 2, 1861.    

(Received November 6.)

General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

I reached here with my command last evening.

The enemy on 31st ultimo threw forward to Monticello 400 to 600 of his cavalry. I learn to-day that he withdrew them the same night to some point not ascertained below Monticello, toward the Tennessee border. His infantry is yet in Clinton County, and I think will not now advance.

I have dispatched a messenger to Columbia, where I learn Colonel Haggard [and] Colonel Grider are with their regiments; and one of my wagoners, who had just come into camp from Adair, reports two Ohio or Indiana regiments are in camp. By to-morrow night I shall get reply. I have written to them to know what effective force they have at Columbia; whether they can move in concert with me, and when; whether they have sufficient force to throw in the rear to cut off his retreat, and, if so, can they still furnish, and how much, force to join with me in front.

If they will throw forward to Burkesville sufficient force to hold the passes and cut off communication with Buckner's line, the rebel and rabble crew can be effectually crushed.

I have ordered 400 of Colonel Wolford's cavalry go forward one hour before day to reconnoiter, to advance as far as they can prudently go, gather all they can of the strength, character of forces, positions, and movements of the enemy and return and report, by which time I shall hear from Columbia. From all I can gather I take it that this is the same body of unorganized, badly-armed rebels who have been heretofore gathered near Monroe, in Overton County, Tennessee. Their strength has doubtless been greatly exaggerated. There were for some two months near Monroe 2,000 to 2,500; they left there to join Buckner, and returned through Monroe County, Kentucky, Cumberland County, and to Clinton, where they were at last accounts, with the purpose of breaking up the unarmed camps at Burkesville and then at this place. Their failure to advance, I suppose, grows out of the fact that they ascertained that the camp at Goggin was armed.

Colonels Wolford and Hoskins requested me in your absence to take command.

I have sent back for the provisions we were unable to bring up. There is no possible chance for the enemy to advance upon our front without being cut to pieces. He may attempt a flank movement, but I will guard that in time to meet him at equally as formidable a pass.

Respectfully,

THO. E. BRAMLETTE.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 4 (Serial No. 4), p. 327-8

Diary of John Hay: November 22, 1863

This evening Seward read to the President a despatch from Cash Clay, in which he discussed the whole field of American politics — European diplomacy — and the naval improvements of the century. This man is certainly the most wonderful ass of the age. He recently sent a despatch to Seward, criticising in his usual elusive and arrogant style, the late Oration of Sumner on Foreign Relations, concluding in regular diplomatic style by saying: — “You will read this to Mr. Sumner, and if he desires it, give him a copy.”

Seward says: — “It is saddening to think of the effect of prosperity on such a man. Had not we succeeded, and he prospered, he would always have been known as a brave, sincere, self-sacrificing and eloquent orator. I went all the way to Kentucky to see and to encourage him. It is prosperity that has developed that fearful underlying vanity that poisons his whole character.”

I asked Mr. Seward if he heard of the three revolutions of Matamoras, of which we have been talking to-day. He said: — “Yes! I have received a despatch about it from Gov^r Banks. I am surprised that a man so sagacious and cautious should have been on the brink of doing so imprudent a thing.”

“He was about to fire on them then?” said the President.

“Yes!” said Seward. “Our consul at Matamoras asked for protection, and he brought his guns to bear on the Castle for that purpose. I wrote to him at once that that would be war; that if our consul wanted protection he must come to Brownsville for it. Firing upon the town would involve us in a war with the Lord knows who.”

“Or rather,” said the President, “the Lord knows who not.”

I happened to mention the Proclamation of Emancipation, and Seward said: — “One-half the world are continually busying themselves for the purpose of accomplishing Proclamations and Declarations of War, etc., which they leave to the other half to carry out. Purposes can usually better be accomplished without Proclamations. And failures are less signal when not preceded by sounding promises.

“The slave States seem inclined to save us any further trouble in that way,” he continued. “Their best men are making up their minds that the thing is dead. Bramlette has written an admirable letter in answer to some slaveholders who ask him how he, a pro-slavery man, can support a war whose result will be the abolition of slavery. He tells them the war must be prosecuted, no matter what the result; that it will probably be the destruction of slavery, and he will not fight against it, nor greatly care to see the institution ended.”

The President added, as another cheering incident from Kentucky, that Jerry Boyle has asked for permission to enlist three thousand negroes for teamsters, paying them wages and promising them freedom.

The President is very anxious about Burnside.

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 125-8; For the whole diary entry see Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and letters of John Hay, p. 124-5.