CHAPTER X.
HARTSVILLE.
WHEN Bragg evacuated Kentucky his weary army found rest at Murfreesboro.This little city is thirty-two miles southeast of Nashville, situated onthe railroad leading from Nashville to Chattanooga. It had already becomefamous by the capture of a Federal brigade there in August, by General N.B. Forrest, and was destined to become the theatre of one of the greatestbattles of the war.
In the Federal army a great change had taken place. General Buell had beenrelieved from command, and General W. Rosecrans, the hero of the battle ofCorinth, appointed in his place. This general assembled his army atNashville. Thus the two great armies were only thirty-two miles apart,with their outposts almost touching.
Bragg, believing that it would be impossible for Rosecrans to advancebefore spring, established his army in winter quarters, and the soldierslooked forward to two or three months of comparative quiet.
Rosecrans's first duty was to reopen the Louisville and NashvilleRailroad, which had been so thoroughly destroyed by Morgan. An army of mendid the work--a work which took them weeks to accomplish. But it was not inthe nature of Morgan to be quiet. Not only he, but his men, fretted incamp life. Its daily routine with its drills did not suit them. Their homewas the saddle, and they wanted no other. Therefore Morgan began to lookaround in search of a weak point in the Federal lines. For this purposeCalhoun and his scouts were kept busy. They seemed to be omnipresent, nowhere, now there. They would ride in between the Federal posts, learn ofthe citizens where the enemy were posted, and whether their camps wereguarded with vigilance or not. Many a prisoner was picked up, and muchvaluable information obtained. In this way Morgan soon knew, as well asthe Federal commander himself, how his troops were posted, and the numberat each post.
Taking everything into consideration, Calhoun reported that Hartsvilleoffered the best opening for an attack. "It is the extreme eastern outpostof the Federals," he said. "The nearest troops to them are at CastalianSprings, nine miles away. The country from here to Hartsville is entirelyfree of Federal troops, and we can approach the place unobserved. TheCumberland River is low and can be forded. But if you wish, I will go andmake a thorough reconnaissance of the place."
"Go, and be back as soon as possible," replied Morgan, "but be careful; donot take too many risks."
With a dozen of his trusty scouts, Calhoun had no trouble in reaching thebank of the Cumberland River opposite Hartsville. Here, concealed in thewoods, through his glass he noted the position of every regiment, and drewa map of the camp. But he was not satisfied with this. Under the cover ofdarkness he crossed the river, determined to learn more. Above all, hewished to learn where the enemy's pickets were posted at night, theirexact force, as nearly as possible, and the discipline which they wereunder. He wanted to do all this without alarming them.
After crossing the river he concluded to call at a commodious farm-house,situated some three miles from Hartsville. He was almost certain of ahearty welcome; there were few disloyal to the South in that section. Atfirst he was taken for a Federal soldier in disguise, and admittance wasrefused; but once the inmates were convinced that he was one of Morgan'smen, the heartiness of his welcome made up for the coldness of his firstreception.
The planter was well posted. There was one brigade at Hartsville. Until afew days before, the brigade had been commanded by a Colonel Scott, but hehad been relieved by a Colonel Moore. This Moore was the colonel of one ofthe regiments at Hartsville, and had been in the service but a short time.Most of the troops were raw and inexperienced. Calhoun was glad to hearall this.
In the morning, dressed as a rough country boy, he made a circuit of theentire place. This he did by going on foot, and keeping to the fields andwoods. The location of every picket post was carefully noted, and the bestway to approach each one. In two or three instances he did not hesitate toapproach soldiers who were foraging outside of the lines, and in a whiningtone, enter into conversation with them, informing them he was looking forsome of his father's pigs.
"Mighty 'fraid sum ov yo-uns Yanks got 'em," he said, with a sigh.
"No doubt, sonny, no doubt," replied a soldier with a hearty laugh. "Yousee, if a pig comes up and grunts at the flag, we have a right to kill himfor the insult offered. Probably your pigs were guilty of this heinouscrime, and were sacrificed for the good of the country."
"Do yo-uns mean the Yanks hev 'em?" asked Calhoun.
"Undoubtedly, sonny. What are you going to do about it?"
"Goin' to tell dad," replied Calhoun, as he limped off, for he pretendedto be lame.
Calhoun found that the post was picketed much more strongly to the eastthan the west, for Castalian Springs lay to the west, and the Federals hadno idea that an attack would come from that direction. If attacked, theConfederates would try to force the ford, or they would come from theeast. For this reason Calhoun decided that Morgan should cross the riverin between Hartsville and Castalian Springs, and assault from the west.
There was a ferry two miles below Hartsville where the infantry couldcross the river, but the cavalry would have to go to a ford seven miles orwithin two miles of Castalian Springs. To his surprise, but greatgratification, he found neither the ferry nor the ford guarded.
Calhoun recrossed the river in safety, and joining his scouts, whom he hadleft on the southern side of the river, he lost no time in making his wayback to Murfreesboro. Morgan heard his report with evident satisfaction.
"Our only danger," said Calhoun, as he finished his report, "is from theforce at Castalian Springs. From what I could learn there are at leastfive thousand Federals there. To be successful we must surprise the campat Hartsville, capture the place, and re-cross the river before the forcefrom the Springs can reach us. A hard thing to do, but I believe it can bedone."
"So do I," said Morgan; "with General Bragg's consent, I will start atonce."
General Bragg not only gave his consent, but owing to the importance ofthe expedition, added to Morgan's cavalry brigade two regiments ofinfantry and a battery.
The force marched to within five miles of Hartsville, and halted untilnight. The night proved very dark, and the way was rough. There was butone small ferry-boat in which to cross the infantry, and it was 5:30 inthe morning before the infantry were all across, and in position two milesfrom Hartsville.
The cavalry had had even a rougher time than the infantry, and one largeregiment had not yet reported. But Morgan determined not to wait, for itwould soon be light, and they would be discovered. So with thirteenhundred men Morgan moved to capture a Federal brigade of over twothousand, and in a position of their own choosing.
To Calhoun and his scouts was assigned the difficult but important task ofcapturing the outposts without alarming the camp. The success of the wholemovement might depend upon this.
So adroitly did Calhoun manage it, that the surprised pickets werecaptured without firing a gun. Nor was the Confederate force discovereduntil they were within four hundred yards of the Federal camp, andadvancing in line of battle. It was now getting light, and a negrocamp-follower discovered them and gave the alarm.
The Federals having been taken by surprise and most of the officers andmen being raw and inexperienced, consternation reigned in the camp. Butthey formed their lines, and for a few moments put up a brave fight. Thentheir lines broke. Colonel Moore did not seem to have his brigade well inhand, and each regiment fought more or less independently. In a short timeonly the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois regiment was left on the site ofthe camp to continue the battle. Although this regiment had been onlythree months in the service and had never been in an engagement before,under the command of their brave Lieutenant Colonel, Douglass Hapeman,they did not surrender until they were entirely surrounded and nearly twohundred of their number had been shot down.
Morgan warmly complimented this regiment on its bravery, saying if all theregiments had been like it, the result of the contest would have beendo
ubtful. In one hour and a quarter after the battle opened, all was over.A whole brigade had laid down their arms to the prowess of Morgan.
But now a new danger arose. Calhoun had been sent toward Castalian Springsto watch the enemy in that direction. One of his scouts came dashing inwith the intelligence that five thousand Federals were hurrying to therelief of Hartsville. They must be stopped, and time given to get theprisoners and munitions of war across the Cumberland.
Morgan hurried two regiments to where Calhoun and his little band ofscouts were resisting the advance of the enemy. The show of strength madehalted the Federals, and a precious hour and a half was gained. In thistime, by almost superhuman efforts, Morgan had succeeded in crossing theprisoners and his men to the south side of the Cumberland. They were nowsafe from pursuit.
It was during the fight with the approaching reinforcements that anincident happened which caused Calhoun many hours of uneasiness. Duringthe hottest of the engagement a ball, evidently fired from the rear,grazed his cheek. He thought little of it, supposing some one had fired inhis rear, not seeing him. But in a moment a ball passed through his hat.Wheeling suddenly, to his surprise he saw Captain Conway with a smokingrevolver in his hand.
"You are shooting carelessly, Captain!" exclaimed Calhoun, angrily, ridingup to him.
For a moment the Captain cowered, then recovering himself, he said: "Youare mistaken, Lieutenant; it was some one in the rear. The same balls cameclose to me." Just then the order was given to fall back, and Conway rodehastily away. There was no direct proof, but Calhoun was certain Conwayhad tried to kill him. More than one man has been disposed of in time ofbattle by a personal enemy. Many an obnoxious officer has bitten the dustin this manner. Calhoun could only bide his time and watch. But he nowfirmly believed his life was in more danger from Conway than it was inbattle with the Federals.
Hartsville, considering everything, was one of the greatest victoriesMorgan ever won, as he captured a whole brigade with a vastly inferiorforce. The Federals lost in killed, wounded, and captured two thousand onehundred men. Of these nearly three hundred were killed and wounded.Morgan's actual force engaged was only thirteen hundred, and of these helost one hundred and forty, a small loss considering he was the assaultingparty.
The capture of Hartsville caused the utmost chagrin in the Federal army,and not only in the army but throughout the North. Even President Lincolntelegraphed asking for full particulars. General Halleck ordered thedishonorable dismissal of Colonel Moore, but the order was never carriedinto effect. Of his bravery there was no question.
This victory caused the name of Morgan to be more feared than ever."Morgan is coming!" was a cry which caused fear and trembling in many aYankee's heart.
President Davis of the Confederate States, shortly after the capture ofHartsville, visited Murfreesboro, and as a reward for his services,presented Morgan with a commission as Brigadier-General in the Confederatearmy. General Hardie asked that he be made a Major-General. Hardie knewMorgan, and appreciated his worth, but for some reason President Davisrefused the request.
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