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Regiment: 8th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Lawrenceburg, Ky
July 9th, 1863
Dear Father,
To show you that I am as strong as ever and have entirely recovered from my sickness, I must give some account of the march we have just had and are yet through with in search of Genl. Jno. Morgan.
Fourth of July P.M., Lieut. Strong and myself escorted a couple of young ladies some two or three miles to visit some falls. On our return we took tea with them. Not long after which Huggins rode up to tell me that the regiment was under marching orders & would have in half an hour. As I was on Acting Grig General Mott’s Staff, I could not go without his consent so I immediately took my horse, hurried to headquarters & after some hesitation he consented to let me go. In a short time what few things I could pack in my valise were there & just as the regiment moved by I was ready & rode to the front with the Lt. Col.
We left about 9 o’clock taking the pike for Danville. About four miles beyond Danville we found the 9th Michigan Cavalry, their horses picketed to the fences along the road & the men lying along the ground, some in the road fast asleep. This was about 3 o’clock A.M. on the 5th inst.
We turned into a lot just beyond the 9th to rest the horses & give them a little feed having marched 24 miles.
When we passed the 9th I was riding with the Lt. in command of the advance guard & it would amuse you as it did us to see the excitment of the men roused from sudden sleep. Our horses almost trod on some of them. One Captain in his excitment shouted to his men to mount moving around waking them up. They thought at first we were the enemy. There had been a heavy rain the P.M. of the 4th so there was a heavy fog & due most like rain for us to ride through.
Rob was along with me & after seeing that he took proper care of my horse, I threw myself upon the ground, my head upon the saddle, my norse blanket under me & shawl over in which condition sleep immediately overtook me & I slept for nearly two hours at which time boots & saddles sounded & we were soon the move again.
We halted for breakfast between 7 & 8 o’clock at which time the 9th came up & as their Colonel ranked our Lt. Col. (Col. Stockton could not come being in command of Post) & had the same orders with us, we were under his command. When we started the 9th took the lead ordering us to keep close upon their rear. The 9th have about 400 men & their battery. We have 320 men.
June 5th early in the morning we met a courier from Lebanon saying that Morgan with about 4000 men & a battery had commenced battle at Lebanon & was shelling the town & urged us to move as rapidly as possible. The day was very hot & it would not do to urge the horses too much. We had 25 miles from our camping or resting ground near Danville to march to reach Lenanon.
When about 18 miles from Lebabon we heard that the Rebs had cut the wires 4 miles this side of that place & that they were burning the town. We were filled all of us apparently with a fever to push on but our horses could not endure urging in the hot sun & 9th were ahead of us. We came in sight of Lebabon a little before 3 o’clock & immediately opened with 11th battery connected with the 9th upon the Rebs seen moving through the town. After shelling for a short time & disposing the men in line of battle in different fields near by, a detachment charged into town but the rear guard was seen on the gallop making toward Springfield on the pike.
I rode down with Colonel David, Lt. Col. Wormer into the village in the midst of a torrent of rain which had just come upon us. As we rode through the streets, what a sight did we behold – burning buildings, gutted stotres & streets or walks filled with rubbage. Morgan’s men burned the Depot, several private residences & gutted the stores of all Union men taking there from from everything you can think of even to children’s clothes, shoes, dress goods – Just loading themselves down & what they can do with them is more than I can conceive.
The 20th Kentucky Infantry, about 400 strong commanded by Lt. Col. Hanson, was all the force we had there & these few men held the town from 6 o’clock of the 4th until 2 o’clock P.M. of the 5th, one hour before we arrived & this against 4000 men & a battery. Col. Hanson surrendered only an account of the citizens urging him to do so for the Rebs or Morgan had issued an order to show no quarters & burn the town. The citizens spoke highly of Lt. Co. Hanson’s bravery. Morgan had a brother killed here & from 50 to 100 killed & wounded. I could not find out definitely the number.
Took a stroll with Chaplain through the town. Saw the depot entirely destroyed. This was where most of our forces were stationed, the balance over stores in the town. Saw two dead rebels in a building near by & what made my blood boil, three Union soldiers – one a Sergt. lying outside a warehouse where the rain had been pouring upon their marble faces for an hour. Seeing an officer near by, I expressed myself to him in such terms that although much offended he had them placed within the building.
What I saw here has put a new fire in my heart. Oh heavens how I hate all that is secesh or sympathy that way!
Now I am going to say something private for it is not allowed an officer to critize a superior. We ought to have made a large haul of rebels here. We should have been & might have been in time to save the town. By taking a cross road known to all we might have cut them off or a portion of them. The boys are hopping mud & express themselves very plainly about cowardice. Colonel David was in command.
I urged as far as I dared express myself that we ought to follow Morgan right up and although his horses might be fresher & better than ours, still we could overhaul him before he could sack anoth town. But no, it was decided by Colonel David to return to Danville & cut him off there or prevent his getting into Hickman Post where it was thought he was making his way. So about 8 o’clock and so dark that we could not see the road we started our return march.
About 1 o’clock we encamped for a little rest & sleep expecting to stay til morning. The men threw off their saddles & themselves upon the wet grass & immediately were in a death-like sleep being fatiqued. But rest was not yet in store for us for just as Lt. Col. & myself had laid down a courier comes from the 9th with orders that from news received it was necessary to move right on & that the 9th were then underway. So very reluctantly we roused up. It was hard work to get the men awake. It required much load talk, punching, & etc. I went to wake Rob & he slept like the dead. About 4 o’clock P.M. of the 6th we reached Danville & expected to find re bels there as we heard on the way that they had been in the town. All Governmane propery had been moved and much private property. Danville is a very pleasant place, has much wealth & is very aristocratic. There is a large female seminary here. The head of the column halted in front of the fine mansion & I immediately with the Adjutant lead my horse into his extended front yard and fed my horse on his grass & lay down to sleep on the same.
Here Colonel Saunders took command of our force. He is a regular army officer, was in the battlr of the Potomac & at Antietam. He made that great cavalry raid in East Tennessee cutting railroads. He is a large, heavy man and looks fight all over.
Left Danville at about 12 o’clock and marched on to Harrodsburg where we took breakfast. Being out of hardtack, we were obliged to send squads of men to the different houses for their meal. This pleased them much for a warm meal they had not seen for some time. A body of rebs had a picnoc here the day before. We expected to find rebs all day and sent off several scouting parties.
Reached Lawrenceburg about 4 o’clock P.M. and went on ahead to make arragements for supper for the command. I was appointed old de camp to Colonel Saunders and am now Brigade Commissary. So to sum it up, I am commissary of the 8th Michigan Cavalry, Captain & ACS on Mott’s staff, aid on acting Brig. General Saunder’s staff and also commissary on same.
I take meals with Colonel Saunders at a very pleasant place. Two fine young ladies there, very fine, sing & play.
Slept in camp on ground. Feel very well. My horse is going to give out. His feet are sore. He was not properly shod the day I left. We left in such haste that the men did not bring their tents, any mess kettles or any baggage for we expected to be back in two or three days.
We have been here now all day yesterday and today and cannot tell when we leave but when we do it will be sudden and rapid.
Morgan does not want to fight. All he wants is to spoll Government property & and annoy the enemy. If he did he would give us fight for he has at least 3 to our one.
What glorious news we hear – great victories in P.A. & Vicksburg taken. Thank God!
How are you all? I look for a large mail at Hickman when we return.
Love to all. Very affectionately, Watson
