Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Wednesday, October 23, 1861

Zollicoffer moved on to, and camped for the night at, Barboursville.

Two companies, A and E, of McNairy's Battalion, were sent out about ten miles from Barboursville on the Manchester road. They returned to Barboursville, a little after midnight, without learning any thing worthy of note.*

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* I shall here relate an amusing incident that occurred while out on the above named scout. It occurred thus: We called on an old gentleman to know if he could furnish us some forage for our horses. He replied, rather emphatically: “No, I have no forage for your horses. My neighbors know I have none; I don't see why they sent you here." As soon, however, as the old gentleman was informed that we were “UNION” men, he cried out in a still higher key, addressing his wife, “O Betsey, these are good Union boys! I have plenty of corn and fodder!” We then fed our horses, and “ Betsey" furnished supper for several of the “good Union boys.”

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 65-6

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, October 24, 1861

The infantry and artillery moved on in the direction of Camp Buckner. A part of Brazelton's Battalion was left on the London road a short distance north-west of Barboursville.

Colonel McNairy ordered Captain Allison to take his company and picket the road leading east from Barboursville in the direction of Mount Pleasant. Going about one mile and a half from town, Allison ordered his company to halt, except five men who were ordered to take post about half a mile in advance of the picket base. About the time the company had dismounted and tied up their horses, our pickets commenced firing, only about four hundred yards from us. In less than three minutes we were in the saddle again, and going in a dash to see what the trouble was.

We soon learned that our pickets had seen only one man, who, on being ordered to halt, took to the bushes. They fired about four shots at him, but he made good his escape. We then returned to where we had first dismounted, but did not unsaddle that night.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 65-6

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Friday, October 25, 1861

Captain Allison sent some of his men out to search the woods into which the bush-whacker was chased last evening to see what discovery they could make. They soon after returned with four muskets, about twenty thousand caps, and some powder, which they had found hid out in the woods.

Captain Horn's servant was shot, but only wounded, by a bush-whacker between Barboursville and Camp Buckner.

Calling in Allison's company off of picket, McNairy moved two miles from Barboursville on the road to Cumberland Ford.

As we were on the lookout for the enemy, we did not unsaddle our horses.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 66-7

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, September 26, 1861

According to Zollicoffer's orders of yesterday, the several detachments named (except Companies B and C of McNairy's Battalion that did not move to Barboursville till the next day), marched (sixteen miles) from Camp Buckner to Barboursville, the county seat of Knox County, Kentucky, leaving their tents at the former place.

It was said that only three families remained in town, and this showed the strong “Union sentiments” of that

Our men put up in deserted houses.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 47

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

We remained at Barboursville. Col. Rains ordered his demi-brigade to cook three days' rations and be ready to move early the next morning.

We were now in twenty miles of the enemy's camp at Laurel Bridge. Col. Brown, who lived near London, was in command of the Home Guards at that camp. Col. Wolford, with a part of his regiment, was also in that vicinity.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 47

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Saturday, September 28, 1861

According to previous instructions (see under 25th instant), Col. Rains, with his regiment, McNairy's Battalion and Falcond's section of artillery, moved out from Barboursville in the direction of Laurel Bridge, while Col. Cummings, with his detachment and about fifty wagons, moved out for the Salt Works, and Col. Statham moved so as to support either of the other detachments if necessary.

Col. McNairy was ordered to take the advance with Harris's, Payne's and Allison's Companies. Our Col. had not gone far along the London road before he threw out flankers as well as an advance guard, with instructions to keep a sharp lookout for the enemy. Thus, we moved on without any incident worthy of note until we struck the enemy's picket, within three miles of their camp. Our advance guard captured three of their picket and chased the rest (six or eight) into camp. Col. McNairy then fell back a short distance, sent a messenger to meet Col. Rains, and awaited his arrival with the infantry and artillery. As soon as Rains caught up, the command moved on again with McNairy's three companies still in front. We met a citizen who said that the enemy was lying in wait for us. thought that we would sure have our first engagement, then and there. Before reaching the enemy's camp, Col. McNairy was ordered to halt, and Col. Rains took the advance with his regiment, leaving orders for McNairy to hold his battalion well in hand, ready to pursue if he (Rains) should succeed in routing them. On reaching the Federal camp, and finding it deserted, Rains' men raised a war-whoop that must have made the Federals believe, if they were in hearing, that 10,000 men¹ were after them. Then dashing forward in pursuit, our battalion went as far as London, took down a Union flag, but did not overtake any of the fugitives. The citizens caught the panic—men, women, children and negroes—nearly all, either fled with the Home Guards and Federals to Camp Wildcat, some thirteen miles beyond London, or went to their neighbor's off the main road. How strange! that they should think that we were making war on women and children!

As it was now about nightfall, our battalion moved back about two miles and rejoined Col. Rains, encamped where the Home Guards had been camping.

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¹ The larger portion of the household furniture was left in many of the dwellings; therefore, the writer, as well as a good many others, had the pleasure of occupying a good Kentucky feather bed the two nights that we remained in Barboursville.

² Col. Walford estimated our force at “from 5,000 to 7,000.”—See Rebellion Records (Garrard to Thomas), p. 280.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 47-9

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Sunday, September 29, 1861

Col. Rains had learned that Col. Brown, who was in command of the Home Guards that had fled to Wildcat the evening before, lived some two or three miles beyond London, and, thinking that perhaps Brown might have some supplies for his men stored away at his home, he (Rains) ordered Col. McNairy to take his battalion, go to Brown's and search for the supposed supplies. Swinging ourselves into the saddle, before I o'clock A. M., we went by the way of London, and searched Brown's dwelling and premises, but found only a box of shoes.¹ As soon as he was satisfied that there was nothing more to be found in the way of army supplies, our Col. called out, “Mount your horses!” and we were soon on our way back to London. Arriving at that place about daylight, we halted until McNairy treated the whole battalion on brandy, after which we returned to camp and took another breakfast.

Besides the three prisoners and the shoes (twenty-five pairs) already mentioned, Col. Rains captured 8,000 cartridges, 25,000 caps, three kegs of powder, several guns, six barrels of salt, two wagons and teams, loaded with the last of their camp equipage, and three other horses.

Soon after breakfast, our picket came dashing into camp and reported that they had been fired on just beyond London. Major Malcomb was immediately sent out in the direction of London with two companies of McNairy's Battalion to meet the enemy and bring on the engagement, while Col. Rains deployed his men into battle line ready to receive the enemy should Malcomb be forced back. The Major returned, however, and reported no enemy found, so we concluded that it was only a scout, or “bush-whackers,” that had fired on our picket.

Having accomplished the object for which he had been sent out, Col. Rains now set out on his return. Going about eight miles back in the direction of Barboursville, his regiment and Allison's Company bivouacked, while McNairy with the rest of his battalion went on to Barboursville.

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¹ It would seem that the panic struck Col. Brown's family just as they were ready to take supper last eve, for we found their supper still on the table when we entered the house this morning before day, but I did not say that it was on the table when we left.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 49-50

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Monday, September 30, 1861

Through carelessness, or some other cause, five barrels of salt were left where they were captured, near where the enemy had been camping. Lieutenant M. V. Wilson was ordered to take twenty-five of Allison's Company and a wagon and go back after the salt, while the rest of the command moved on toward Barboursville. We regarded this as rather a hazardous trip, though we went back to, and loaded in, four barrels of the salt (thinking five would be too much for our team) without any incident worthy of note; but we had not gone far with our salt before bang! bang! bang! went several guns back about where our rear guard was. This caused considerable excitement in our little squad, though one of the rear guard soon came dashing up, and reported that it was only bush-whackers that had fired on them, and that some of the balls cut very close, but no one was hurt. So we felt better then, and moved on to Barboursville without any more trouble. Here we found two companies of our battalion (B and C), but the other two (A and D) had gone on back to Camp Buckner, on Cumberland river. We found Rains' Regiment and the balance of our company (E) encamped two miles from Barboursville on the road leading back to Camp Buckner.

Col. Cummings went with his detachment to the Salt Works, loaded in all the salt there, 200 bushels, and returned without coming in contact with the enemy. He receipted for the salt, as directed by General Zollicoffer. The Salt Works belonged to Union men, yet Zollicoffer expected to have it paid for at the price of salt at the works—forty cents per bushel.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 50-1

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Tuesday, October 1, 1861

Rain's Regiment and Allison's Company returned to camp at Camp Buckner. Companies B and C of McNairy's Battalion remained at Barboursville.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 51

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Wednesday, October 2, 1861

Several of Allison's Company who had been home returned to camp, brother Will (W. C. Hancock) and J. C. McAdoo, who were sick of the measles at Camp Schuyler, last August, and went home from there, were among the number.

Companies B and C (they had been at Barboursville since the 29th ultimo) rejoined the battalion at Camp Buckner.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 51

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, October 3, 1861

Lieutenant Joe Wyatt (Company C) was elected surgeon of McNairy's Battalion, F. W. Hearn (Company B), Quartermaster, and M. D. A. Nolan (Company A), Commissary Sergeant.

Sergeant Major M. W. McKnight, Lieutenant George Alexander and Private T. D. Summer, all from Company E, started home on furlough.

On the 2d instant, Col. T. T. Garrard wrote to General G. H. Thomas thus:

Col. Brown has now enrolled and in camp some 250¹ twelve months soldiers. He has muskets, but no cartridge boxes, caps, pouches, nor bayonet scabbards.

Have not heard anything of the Rebels since they reached Barboursville. The last account is that some 100 or upwards were in Barboursville. (Two companies of McNairy's Battalion).

I have got Col. Brown to move all of his men to the river (Big Rockcastle, some two miles to the rear) except one company, and they are outside our camp in a rock house. We have been much annoyed by them, as well as visitors and others who were driven before the Rebels. Some of them returned this evening part of the way home, but heard of the Rebels below London, and they returned to camp. The report, I am satisfied, is false.²

And the next day, the 3d, he wrote thus in reference to Brown's men:

You will see before this reaches you that Col. Brown has moved to the river, some two miles from us. I would be afraid to place them between the enemy and our camp.

Some of his men are, I fear, a little timid, and I doubt whether or not they will do their duty on that side of us.³

And in reference to Wolford's Cavalry, on the 10th, he puts it thus:

When Captain Smith, of the cavalry, reached here (Wildcat), there was not one of Walford's men in camp, nor had there been for several days, and if my informant is correct, some of them that are now here will do no good. They were seen drunk on picket yesterday at, or near, London.⁴

On the date under which I am now writing, the 3d, Zollicoffer sent the following telegraph dispatch to General A. S. Johnston, Columbus, Kentucky:

I think I have reliable information that Camp (Dick) Robinson was 7,000 strong; 1,000 of these have gone to Lexington and Frankfort; 1,500 remain in camp, the residue believed to be certainly moving toward Barboursville to meet me. Should it appear to me expedient, I wish permission to meet them half way.⁵

On the same day Johnston replied as follows:

"Dispatch received. Exercise your own discretion in attacking the enemy."⁶

It was about this time that Captain William Ewing resigned and returned home, and William Parrish became Captain of Company C, First Battalion.

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¹ It appears from the above that their force at Laurel Bridge had been overestimated. Including Walford's Cavalry, perhaps they did not exceed 500.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 290.

³ Ibid, p. 292.

⁴ See Rebellion Records (Garrard to Thomas), Vol. IV., p. 301.

⁵ Rebellion Records, Vol. IV, p. 435.

⁶ RebellionRecords, Vol. IV, p. 435.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 51-3

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zolicoffer, September 25, 1861

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Camp Buckner, September 25, 1861.

Col. James E. Rains will march at 4 o'clock to-morrow morning, via Barboursville, to Laurel Bridge, on the London road, with his regiment, provisioned for six days, three rations of which should be cooked, leaving his tents in this encampment. Colonel McNairy's command will accompany him or follow him, by a right-hand road crossing Laurel Creek about 2 miles above the bridge. Colonel R. will have command, and will dislodge a supposed force of the enemy at the bridge by attacking simultaneously with infantry and cavalry at both ends of the bridge. He will be furnished a guide who will give him information of some arms, which he will capture, if practicable. He will take with him also Lieutenant Falcond's section of artillery. A battalion of Colonel Statham’s infantry, with three companies of Colonel Branner's cavalry, will be posted on the road to be pursued by Colonel McNairy about 10 miles back, to give support, if necessary. Simultaneously. Colonel Cummings' regiment, with two companies of Colonel Broydton's [Brazelton's?] cavalry, will escort a train of wagons to the Goose Creek Salt Works, 16 or 18 miles east, in Clay County, to load with salt. The different detachments will communicate by express messengers with each other and with me, and when the salt train returns all will return to this encampment. Much is trusted to Colonel Rains' discretion in whatever may transpire on the way.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-General.

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. 292

Colonel Theophilus T. Garrard to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, October 2, 1861

CAMP WILDCAT, October 2, 1861.

General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

Since General Carter arrived we have been over considerable country. The general thinks when the work is completed we will be secure against almost any force. With strangers they could not find passways, but persons acquainted with the country could get into our camp really ways. Still, they could not do so if we had a small force at each point. The distance from Little Rockcastle River to Big Rockcastle is some 3½ miles. A considerable portion of this distance is defended by natural cliffs, so that it relieves us from performing much labor at those places. Ten miles of the road south of our camp is almost a dense thicket on each side of the road, and could be defended, or at least we could annoy the enemy with infantry the entire distance, whilst we would be comparatively secure, provided we acted cautiously. General Carter can explain more explicitly.

Colonel Brown desires me to say to you that he can supply his command of twelve-months' men with beef and bread, but will be dependent on you or General Crittenden for sugar, coffee, soap, candles, and such other articles as are furnished. He has no tents or camp equipage. Many of his men are bare of shoes, clothing, and blankets.

Colonel Brown desires to know whether or not he must open a correspondence with General Crittenden or must he address you on all matters connected with his military affairs? He desires such instructions as you may from time to time think proper to give.

Colonel Brown has now enrolled and in camp some 250 twelve-months' soldiers. He has muskets, but no cartridge-boxes, caps, pouches, nor bayonet scabbards. He desires to hear from you as soon as convenient. Mount Vernon is the post-office, if sent by mail.

I have not heard anything of the rebels since they reached Barboursville. The last account is that some 100 or upwards were in Barboursville. I have heard, but do not say that it is reliable, that there is a robbing party going through Knox County, plundering every person (almost) they come across, and that it is headed by men by the name of Arthur, citizens of Knox County, Kentucky.

I have got Colonel Brown to move all of his men to the river except one company, and they are outside our camp in a rock house. We have been much annoyed by them, as well as visitors and others who were driven before the rebels. Some of them returned this evening part of the way home, but heard of the rebels below London, and they returned to camp. The report, I am satisfied, is false.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. T. GARRARD,        

Colonel Third Regiment Volunteers.

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. 289-90

Official Reports: Action at Barboursville, Ky. September 19, 1861—Report of Brig. Gen. G. K. Zollicoffer, C. S. Army

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,        

Camp Buckner, near Cumberland Ford, Ky., Sept. 19, 1861.

SIR: On my way here to-day an express overtook me with your order to send two regiments from my command to Camp Trousdale. I immediately caused orders to be given to Fourteenth Mississippi Regiment, Colonel Baldwin, and Third East Tennessee Regiment, Colonel Lillard, to move to Camp Trousdale, those two regiments being on the line of the railroad and most readily to be brought to the position designated.

I have now four regiments here and one at Cumberland Gap. I have here one 6-pounder field battery of six guns and four companies of cavalry—eight other cavalry companies on the way. There are now but two infantry regiments left in East Tennessee; one, the Alabama regiment, with more than 400 sick. There are five cavalry companies left for that service.

An advanced force sent out last night, about 800 strong, entered Barboursville, 18 miles from here, about daylight, where they found about 300 of the enemy, and a fight ensued, in which we killed 12 and took 2 prisoners. We lost I killed, Lieutenant Powell, of Colonel Cummings' regiment, 1 fatally wounded, and 3 slightly wounded. The enemy fled precipitately. The number of his wounded unknown.

Col. J. A. Battle commanded the detachment, making a march of 34 miles and dispersing this detachment of the enemy within a period of twenty hours. He destroyed their encampment, called Camp Andrew Johnson, and captured about 25 arms. Two prisoners had been taken a day or two before, one of whom was bearing a letter from an East Tennessee captain in the Lincoln camp at Hoskins' Cross-Roads to his wife, in which the writer states that the strength of that camp is 15,000 and still rapidly increasing. We now have a report from the country people that they are 20,000 strong.

My only engineer officer understanding military engineering has resigned and gone home.

Very respectfully,

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,        

Brigadier-General.

General A. S. JOHNSTON, Memphis, Tenn.

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. 199