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

An Incident of the War

We of the North can scarcely realize the hard struggles and bitter trials of feelings that the Union men of the Border States, fighting in the Federal ranks have to undergo in this unnatural strife. Brother is arrayed against brother, father against son, and numerous cases have come to light where members of one family have come face to face in the heat of battle. A letter from a member of the 2d Kentucky to his relatives, in this city describes an incident of this kind, in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. He says:

During this battle a Sergeant in the 2nd Kentucky, Co. B, found his brother, a mere boy, (a private in the 4th Kentucky Rebel Regiment) lying wounded on the field, unconscious. He carried him off, and he is now better and seems to regret what he had done. It is touching to see two brothers one defending his country the other a traitor, wounded and a prisoner. All Sergt. B___ said was, “Eddy, what will mother say when she hears of this?” – Cleveland Herald.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 30, 1862, p. 2

The Rebel Governor Johnson Killed

LOUISVILLE, April 13. – The steamer Minnehaha [has] arrived to-day with about 230 wounded from Pittsburgh Landing.

A wounded rebel officer reports that George W. Johnson, Provisional Governor of Kentucky, had a horse shot under him on Sunday, while acting on Breckinridge’s Staff, and was himself killed on Monday, while fighting in a company of the 4th rebel Kentucky regiment.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday, April 15, 1862 & in the in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862