Acting Assistant Adjutant-General John Boyle to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, December 12, 1861

HDQRS. ELEVENTH BRIGADE, U.S. VOLUNTEERS,        

Columbia, Ky., December 12, 1861.

Brigadier-General THOMAS,

        Commanding First Division:

GENERAL: General Boyle directs me to say your dispatch and order of 11th instant is just received and acted upon. A force is detailed to commence the work immediately.

The general further directs me to say that reliable information, obtained from various sources, reports the enemy's cavalry, 500 strong, on this side the Cumberland River, at Creelsborough and Rowena. They have seized many citizens and one sick soldier of Colonel Wolford's command.

On receipt of the news last night the general ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Letcher, with a portion of Colonel Wolford's cavalry remaining here and a portion of Haggard's regiment, to march to Creelsborough and Rowena. Colonel Wolford, who had advanced to Williams', according to your orders, was sent down to co-operate with Letcher, and Colonel Haggard, who was conveying a large party of Tennesseeans from Burkesville to this place, was also ordered in that direction.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN BOYLE,        

Acting Assistant Adjutant-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. 494

5th Kentucky Infantry Position Marker: Duncan Field, Shiloh National Military Park

U. S.

ARMY OF THE OHIO

_____ _ ___ _ _____

5^TH KENTUCKY INFANTRY,

ROUSSEAU’S (4^TH) BRIGADE,

McCOOK’S (2^D) DIVISION.

This regiment was engaged here, in reserve line, from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M., April 7, 1862.  It then advanced to Woolf Field.

Incidents Of The Battle Of Ft. Donelson

Peter Morton of the 18^th Illinois, had the case of his watch, which he wore in his upper vest picket, immediately over his heart, torn away by a canister shot, and the watch still continued to keep time.

The life of Reuben Davis of the Kentucky 5^th was saved by a silver half-dollar in his waistcoat pocket.  He had borrowed that amount of a companion, some days before and offered to return it before going upon the field; but his companion told him to keep the coin, as he might stand in need of it before night. – He had need of it in his greatest need, for a rifle ball struck the coin in the centre and destroying the figure of Liberty on its face.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 3

The “Black Hero”

– Many of our citizens will be able to call to mind an eccentric mulatto boy named Dave, who accompanied Capt. Brent, of the Louisville Legion, on his Southern Expedition. On Sunday, during the battle of Shiloh, Dave stood by the side of Capt. Brent during the nine hours’ engagement and aided him in cheering and encouraging the men. He has earned and received the cognomen of the “Black Hero,” and is a great favorite with the Legion. – Lou. Journal.

Is not that very dreadful? Think of the horrible consequences of firing the Southern heart by arming the blacks! Think, too, of the Northern sympathizers with niggerdom; they could never survive the arming of a few negroes. We beg the Journal to expostulate with the Louisville Legion. We beg the Journal not to indulge in commendation of “black heroes.” – Who shall answer for the consequences?

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2