Unknown to James F. Robinson

KYR-0001-027-0064.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-027-0064

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1862-1863

Item Location

R2-98 to R2-100

Place of Creation

Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

13 October 1862

Dates Mentioned

1862-10-13

Unknown to James F. Robinson, 13 October 1862, Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1862-1863, R2-98 to R2-100, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-027-0064, (accessed April 20, 2024).

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< No 1 >
Frankfort Oct 13^th /62
Dear Sir

I do not intend to obtrude my opinions upon you, but feel it to be my duty to give you a few military facts--

Chapter 1st

1^st I arrived here at one O'clock P. M. on thursday & found Gen Dumont encamped, with a large force, of Infantry, with Several batteries & some 1.000 or 1500 Cavalry on both sides of the river --, his advance having aided in driving out Scotts cavalry-- (a few hundred) the night before & preventeding them from burning the bridge. -- (2^d) On friday morning I received the following information from Mr Scarce(a true Union man) from Versailles -- (See paper No 1.) and went with him-- first to Genl Grainger -- 2^nd in Command, located with his troops, on the Dudley farm, who replied that he could not move without orders -- I then took Mr Scarce to Genl Dumont & urged him, at once, to send Genl Graingers division-- Say 1000 Cavalry one or two
Batteries of some 4 or 5 Regiments of Infantry in pursuit, via Versailles to Nicholasville & as far as the bridge, at the mouth of Hickman, -- hoping thereby to overtake the enemy -- cut off his heavy trains -- in part -- & save the bridge.

3rd On Saturday, Col Miller was sent to Versailles with Several thousand Infantry -- some Cavalry & artillery -- reaching there that evening & capturing some 150 Rebels, -- I presume the Sick in the hospitals. He remained there till 12 or 1 Oclock yesterday & then started in pursuit. After marching a few miles, towards Nicholasville & finding no enemy, he faced about & camped, last Night, 3 Miles on this side of Versailles. What he will do next-- God knows, I have no idea.

4^th Genl Granger marched also on Saturday with a large force of Cavalry & Infantry with one or two Batteries, towards ~~Lousville~~ Lawrenceburg, which he reached about dark, drove out the enemy in considerable force & ~~afterwards~~ captured some prisoners. --

What he has since done, I have not heard. So much for Genl Dumont & his army.

Chapter 2^nd

A gentleman well known to you M^r D. E. Harcourt arrived here last Night from Georgetown, who walked up from here on Saturday & gives me the following information--

1^st At Elkhorn bridge he was stoped by Capt White, at the head of about eight Rebels Cavalry, ~~[...]~~who cautioned him not to tell he had seen them, as they were looking out for Federal Pickets.

2^ndGenl Pratt reached Georgetown yesterday at 3 oclock P. M. and gave M^r Harcourt the following information, which he hastened to communicate to Genl Dumont last Night & to me this Morning Viz That he had left Genl Burbridge with a large column of Infantry, Artillery & cavalry at Williamstown (Say 9000) & understood that Genl Green Clay Smith was at the head of a similar Column on the great State dirt road to Cynthiana-- all waiting
for orders & to hear from Genl Dumont; Reminding me, very much, of the remarkable pursuit of Morgan, on his late raid -- when two columns -- each large enough to whip him, (if well commanded) after coming up with him at Paris -- rested a day & night & then pursued him in double Slow-time.

Remarks

1^st I would stake my life, & so told Genl. Dumont, that there is not, at this time, & was not on yesterday-- 1000 armed Rebels -- all told-- North of the Kentucky River & yet these large columns, instead of moving ahead rapidly on Braggs rear & supporting Genl Buell, will wait on each other till they can do no good & then march into our rich counties & consume or destroy all that the Rebels have left us.

Respectfully Your
Most Ob't. Sv't.

His Excel. Gov Robinson

Paper No 1

M^r Scarce informed me & I wrote to Genl Dumont & told him that a column of Rebel Infantry (say 5000 or 6000) left Versailles on the Nicholasville Turnpike Wednesday-- Evening-- leaving only some 150 sick in the hospitals -- That Genl Scott left there with all his cavalry, except Col Stearns Regiment, which was encamped at Harts farm, on this side of Versailles -- about 2 oclock thursday afternoon & was followed by Col Stearnes at 7 oclock the Same Evening-- towards Nicholasville -- That a large train of Waggons which had started towards Harrodsburg, was brought back & sent off also on the turnpike road to Nicholasville &c &c. He had also received reliable information that with the exception of a small cavalry force, all the Rebels left Lexington Wednesday-Evening in haste and Confusion.

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