As the War Turns

On July 16th, 1862, the Seventeenth Kentucky bids farewell to Nelson's Fourth Division in the Army of the Ohio, having marched from Shiloh to nearby Pulaski, Tennessee in just three months and having spent this time rebuilding roads, bridges and railways in the hot southern summer.

The 17th's duty in Nelson's Fourth Division (light blue dots) included "Seige of Corinth" and "Pursuit to Booneville", Iuka and Bear Creek Bridge, M&C Railroad duty to Tuscumbia, on to Athens, Alabama and then to Pulaski, Tennessee- a march of nearly 250 miles in three months. After Booneville, their division was participating in "Buell's Operations in Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee."
Original map courtesy of son of the south

Captain Cox believes they are finally getting that sorely needed rest as he writes today's entry in his diary.

Up this morning at 2 o'clock and to our great surprise, we were informed that the regiment would be left to garrison the town, and the 23rd Kentucky to take place in the 4th Division, to which we heartily concurred for we are actually worn out and need a good rest.  We came up town this morning as the troops passed through, and immediately looked over our respective quarters.  We are now situated, or at least camped, in the buildings around the public square.  My company is in the Pulaski Hotel.  This is a beautiful place, but like all other towns in the South, shows the effects of the war.*

The Captain once again expresses his empathy for the Southern citizens, just as his home state is beginning to suffer similar "effects of the war." Buell's policy, though not always enforced by some of his commanders, is the practice of "conciliatory warfare" in which civilians and their property rights are to be respected.  The Seventeenth seems to embrace this policy as well, and the captain frequently laments the vulgar actions of some Union regiments.  There is no formal government policy regarding the treatment of civilians at this time but the debate is raging among northern editorialists and politicians.

As evidenced by this abrasive letter to the Commissary at Louisville from Buell's Chief of Staff, maintaing the supply routes is not the same as maintaining access to even routine supplies.

Ref.: http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0165

HEADQUARTERS,
Huntsville, July 16, 1862.
Captain SYMONDS,
Commissary of Subsistence, Louisville:

What do you mean by not seeing your way clear if we use hard bread and salt meat? Can't you get these or can't you ship them? I see no difficulty in either case. We only eat about 75 tons a day. The railroad can send for Government 300 tons a day if it is properly presented. It would doubtless relieve your department very much if we furnish our own four and did not use salt meat; but the commissary department cannot be relieved from furnishing bread and meat. The country here cannot supply the flour, nor is there any necessity for our depending on the country if it could. The railroad from Louisville, the Cumberland River, and Green River to Bowling Green are all open to us, and if we don't get supplies it can only be our own fault. Three should be twenty days' supply ahead in Nashville, whereas there are none there and have been none for six or seven days.

JAMES B. FRY,
Chief of Staff.


* Cox, Samuel K., Civil War Diary 1862-1865 of Captain Samuel Kennedy Cox, courtesy of Daviess County Public Library, Kentucky Room archives, p.20.

Hitting the Wall

The forced march ordered by General Buell is having devastating effects on the Volunteers in Nelson's Division.  The fatigue is evident in Captain Cox's diary entry for July 15, 1862

Started this morning at two o'clock, crossed the Elk River at Elkton at sun-up, at which place we took our breakfast and afterwards took the Turn Pike to Pulaski, Tenn.  The sun coming down, as on yesterday, and in fact, 'hotter than Hell."  Today the whole brigade gave out;  the men actually refused "Old Ironsides Nelson" to go an inch farther.  He took the artillery and moved on to Pulaski having made twenty miles in that time.

We are now encamped for the night on the creek near said town; a great many are still behind and one or two, I suppose, will never get up as they fell on the road.

We are ordered to move forward at 2 o'clock tomorrow morning.*

If the men had known of the multiple incursions into Kentucky and the Union's surrender of Murfreesboro, they might have been persuaded to continue.  At least Nelson got his artillery to Pulaski on time, per Buell's orders.

Buell's frustration finds expression in the following telegram to the recently promoted General-in-Chief Henry Halleck.

Ref.: http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?page=151&dir=023

HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, July 15, 1862.
General HALLECK:

My information up to the night of the 13th from Murfreesborough[sic] was that the Ninth Michigan had been captured, but that Colonel Lester's regiment and Hewett's battery were doing well and felt confident of being able to hold out. Re-enforcements were being started from Nashville. It appears that before they arrived Colonel Lester surrendered at 4 o'clock p. m. the same day. I have no particulars, and at present no remarks to make upon what appears now to be a most disgraceful affair; of course it may embarrass me considerably. I have been too busy to counteract it. The words is the interruption of the Chattanooga road, which was just completed. I had taken the precaution to place some twelve regiments on that route until it should be securely established. We will go to work again.

D. C. BUELL.

In the final statement, Buell demonstrates that his efforts are still directed at maintaining the roads and supply lines, a priority that was passed down straight from the old general himself.  The importance of maintaining supply routes is a lesson learned early in an officer's education, but should not come at the expense of the mission objective.  How long will it take Halleck and Buell to realize that the primary purpose of an army in wartime is to engage and defeat the enemy?

* Cox, Samuel K., Civil War Diary 1862-1865 of Captain Samuel Kennedy Cox, courtesy of Daviess County Public Library, Kentucky Room archives, p.19.

Rise and Shine

The Seventeenth is once again on the road today, July 14, 1862.  There was no advance warning of this move and the destination was unknown, causing much discussion in the ranks. The men were also unaware of the followiwng orders received by General Nelson the previous evening.

(Ref.:  http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=023/0139)

HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, July 13, 1862.
General NELSON, Athens:

Order the Third Kentucky Cavalry and one section of artillery from the artillery reserve to move by forced marches to Fayetteville, thence to Shelbyville, to form a junction with the troops at Wartrace or at Tullahoma, and to act, according to circumstances, in attacking the enemy, who appeared this morning at Murfreesborough [sic], or in cutting off his retreat. They must be vigilant on the march, and should take three days' rations at least and buy forage on the route. Move one of your brigades of infantry by forced march to Reynolds' Station, and there if possible take the cars and move toward Nashville to any point which may be threatened. If the railroad fails you must march of course. Take with this brigade four pieces of artillery from the artillery reserve. Move forward the most advanced regiment you now have working on the road by forced marches to Reynolds' Station and replace it on the road by another regiment moved forward by forced march from your camp. You are to go up in person with the brigade, and you will take command of any troops you find on the route and use them in the maner best calculated to drive back the enemy or cut off his retreat. You will understand that the preservation of the road is a matter of vital importance. It is reported that about 2,500 rebel cavalry surprised our troops at Murfreesborough [sic] this morning and defeated them. The wire is cut and we hear nothing from them except by messengers to Nashville. It is supposed the rebels will either move on Nashville or Franklin.

JAMES B. FRY,
Chief of Staff.


 Captain Cox penned this entry in his diary after a hard days' march under the hot southern sun, having spent just five nights in the camp he had hoped to call home for the summer.

This morning we were aroused from our slumbers by the bugle sounding reveille at 2 o'clock.  It was something unusual for we were in the habit of sleeping until sun-up, except when on the march.  We could not imagine what was up until we were ordered to eat breakfast, strike tents, and be ready to march at 5 o'clock.  The boys did not like to tear down their tents from the fact that they were better situated than we have been since we came into service.  We, however, obeyed the orders and by five o'clock we were on the road to Athens.  We passed through said town and took the road leading to Elkton and Nashville and at present are camped for the night four miles from Elkton.  This has been the warmest day that was ever known.  I am sure that the Old Master cannot make the sun shine warmer than it has today.  We have travelled twenty miles, the men carrying 60 rounds of cartridges, knapsacks, etc.  The consequence has been that many poor soldiers have given up and are still behind on the road.  They will, I suppose, come up tonight.*


The captain's mention of "60 rounds of cartridges" is significant.  This is more than they would carry on a standard march, and indicated to the experienced officer that there may be trouble ahead.  By comparrison, each man carried only 80 cartridges into battle on that fateful Sunday morning at Shiloh. 

In the last statement, the Captain's concern for the men who were unable to keep up was tinged with the knowledge that small bands of men in gray and rogue civilians trailed these trains in hopes of picking off stragglers and capturing the occasional broken down supply wagon. Collecting just one weary soldier's Enfield with 60 rounds and a knapsack filled with three days' rations was a successful day for one of these scavengers.


*Cox, Samuel K., Civil War Diary 1862-1865 of Captain Samuel Kennedy Cox, courtesy of Daviess County Public Library, Kentucky Room archives, pp.19-20.