Читать книгу One of Morgan's Men - John M. Porter - Страница 15

John M. Porter reached Corinth, Mississippi, although he never was able to join John Hunt Morgan's command there or even participate in the Battle of Shiloh, where General Johnston was mortally wounded and the Confederate Army of the Mississippi was hurled back after two days of fierce fighting. After the Army of the Mississippi withdrew back to Corinth and on to Tupelo, Porter set out to find Morgan. John Hunt Morgan had already left the Army of the Mississippi after the Battle of Shiloh and had proceeded to central Tennessee, around Murfreesboro. He then rode on to Chattanooga, and soon moved to Knoxville to confer with the commander of the Confederate Department of East Tennessee, Major General Edmund Kirby Smith. Informed by Smith of the likelihood of an invasion of Kentucky later that summer, Morgan was instructed to enter Kentucky for the purpose of destroying rail lines, telegraph lines, and government stores in the central part of the state and capturing and forcing the withdrawal of as many Federal troops as possible, all to support a Confederate invasion, the objective of which was to hold central Kentucky.

Now commanding the Second Kentucky Cavalry (C.S.A.) Regiment, along with a battalion of Texans under Major Richard M. Gano, newly commissioned Colonel John Hunt Morgan left Knoxville and moved to Sparta, Tennessee. A regiment of Georgia partisan rangers under Major F. M. Nix was added to the command. From Sparta Morgan moved to Tompkinsville, Kentucky, and arrived at Glasgow on July 10, where he destroyed government stores along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) Glasgow Branch. Morgan pressed on to Lebanon, tearing up L&N tracks, bridges, and rolling stock and seizing and burning government stores along the Lebanon Branch on July 12.

From Lebanon, Morgan moved his command to Spnngfield and Harrodsburg and on to Lawrenceburg. Crossing the Kentucky River at Shryock ‘s Ferry, Morgan's command entered Versailles on July 14. The next day, Morgan and his men rode to Midway, where they destroyed tracks, bridges, and telegraph wires of the Lexington and Frankfort Railroad. They then rode on to Georgetown, skirting Lexington because of a large Federal force there.

All the while, John M. Porter was trying to locate Morgan and his command. Porter embarked upon his odyssey while Morgan was still in central Tennessee. Porter journeyed from north Alabama all the way to central Kentucky. He was ultimately joined in Kentucky, near Winchester, by Lieutenant Thomas H. Hines, the Butler County native and kinsman who would become his lifelong friend and law partner after the war. Along the way, they found refuge in the homes of those who sympathized with the Confederate cause.

It was at Georgetown, on July 15, that Porter joined Company C of the Second Kentucky Cavalry (C.S.A.) in Morgan's command; he would ride with Morgan for the remainder of his military service. Morgan's next target—and Porter's first pitched battle alongside Morgan's men—would be Cynthiana, an important rail center on the Kentucky Central Railroad between Covington and Lexington.

A few days after the Battle of Shiloh, Andy Kuykendall, some others and I boarded, for the time being, with a man by the name of Davenport, near Jacinto, Mississippi. William L. Dulaney was one of our party at this place. After we had spent perhaps two weeks at that house, Andy Kuykendall and I rode to Tuscumbia, Alabama, and there we met the Texas Rangers, the Eighth Texas, Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry's old regiment, and in the same vicinity was Colonel Benjamin Hardin Helm's First Kentucky Cavalry (C.S.A.). The First Kentucky had campaigned through Tennessee and as far as Cave City, Kentucky, having left the army at Corinth while we were at the Davenports', which fact prevented our being with it, and which was the cause of our being away from Morgan's command until about July of that year.¹

When we arrived at Tuscumbia, we found the Eighth Texas Cavalry and First Kentucky Cavalry regiments were about ready to move across the Tennessee River at Lamb's Ferry for the purpose of ridding that part of Alabama of the Federals, who, under Brigadier General Ormsby M. Mitchel, had occupied it, and were at that time traversing the whole country about Florence, Athens and Rogersville. Andy and I, at once, took our place in the ranks of a company of the Texas regiment, to which Andy's brother belonged, and the command proceeded to the Tennessee River. By means of an improvised boat, we succeeded, in about two days, in crossing the river which, at that point, was quite wide. About two miles from the river we camped, and a scouting party was sent out for some distance, and it had a considerable fight with the enemy in which some Texans and Kentuckians were killed and wounded. Captain Charles T. Noel, Company C, First Kentucky Cavalry, of Daviess County was killed there.²

A few days later, the commands all advanced into the country infested with the enemy, leaving a small guard at camp for the purpose of protecting the boats and securing a way of retreat if it became necessary. The object, however, was not accomplished so fully as was desired, for a very large force of the enemy came upon those of us who were left at camp, and dispersed us to the four winds. The coming of the Federals was so sudden that time was not given to re-cross the river and, as a matter of course, after a fair show of the fight with little of the reality, we retreated down the river in the direction of Florence. There was no one to command, no one to obey, and, in short, it was a stampede. We did not cross the river, but were scattered around through the country in squads of from two to six just as we happened to be thrown together.

Andy and another person and I were together, and, for a day or so, were in the woods and roads and everywhere, first trying to find out, if we could, where the Yankees were, and, next thing, finding them uncomfortably close. At one time we ran upon a few of them at a short turn of the road. Both parties were alarmed and both retreated in “good order.” At another time they gave chase and pursued us for a mile or more at full speed. No one, I think, but Andy and myself were thus chased. Finding it not in our power to find the main body of the command, the whereabouts of which we had not heard for some days, we determined to strike out on our own responsibility in the direction of Tennessee, for at that particular time, it was useless to remain where we were and almost as useless to attempt to return toward the Tennessee River.

We did not know where Morgan was, but expected to find him in middle Tennessee. In this we were disappointed, however. We fell into the hands of the Yankees at Pulaski, Tennessee, and were detained for a day or so, when we came on to Nashville by way of Columbia and Franklin. We had determined to go directly to Kentucky to see our friends, and had attired ourselves as citizens so as to pass unmolested. After some days riding, we got to Logan County, Kentucky, where, after night, we proceeded in order to prevent anyone from seeing us. This was, I am of the opinion, some time about the middle or latter part of May 1862. Andy and I remained at our homes for a day or two, and then we determined to leave and go to the central part of the State, Clark County, where Andy had relatives.³

Attiring ourselves in the dress of citizens, we started from our homes for our destination. The entire State through which our route lay was full of Federal soldiers. Our journey was through Warren, Barren, Hart, Green, Taylor, Marion, Boyle, Jessamine, Fayette, and Clark Counties. Passing ourselves, sometimes, as stock traders and sometimes as agents for purchasing supplies for the Yankee army, as the emergencies suited us, we made our trip without being arrested, although we encountered frequent bodies of soldiers. One night I remember we stayed at a tavern not far from Dix River Bridge, where there was a company of cavalry which regarded us suspiciously.⁴

The covered bridge over the Dix River at King's Mill. John M. Porter crossed the bridge on his way to Bryantsville, Kentucky, three miles distant, and Lexington to join Morgan's command. (J. Winston Coleman, Jr. Photographic Collection, Transylvania University Library.)

The Old Burnt Tavern, Bryantsville, Kentucky. John M. Porter stopped at the tavern on his way to Lexington to join Morgan's command. The tavern burned in 1956. (J. Winston Coleman, Jr. Photographic Collection, Transylvania University Library.)

We were received at Mr. David Hays's, four miles from Winchester, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and were hospitably welcomed, Mr. Hays and his wife being the uncle and aunt to Andy. There were a good many persons at Mr. Hays's when we arrived there, neighbors who had come in to spend the afternoon. I was an entire stranger to the family as well as their visitor, but was introduced to the family as a relative from western Kentucky, and the intimation was given that Andy and I were only on a visit to see kinfolk.⁵

As soon as the company had gone, we told the Hays our reason for being there and on what business we were bent, as well as what we had been doing the preceding eight or ten months. The family were true friends of the South and naturally very kind and hospitable. There were, however, a good many Union people in that section, and some very close neighbors were of that number. It was highly important that our views and designs should not be known to any except true and trusty friends. We soon came to be looked on in the neighborhood as suspicious persons, and it was even whispered around that we were rebel soldiers in disguise. The surmises were pretty accurate to say the least.

We remained at Mr. Hays's for a few days under the pretense of resting from our fatiguing ride, when, in reality, we were accustomed to riding constantly and great distances without rest. Then, after we had been there a few days, we visited around in the neighborhood with members of the family and attended picnics and gatherings of all kind. We went to church on Sundays and frequently went to Winchester. About twice we entered Lexington, which was filled with Federal troops, and returned in safety to our country retreat. We remained in this quarter till about July 1, 1862, when we were joined by Lieutenant Thomas H. Hines, who had been in the Green River section and had heard where we were and had hunted us up. This was about the time newly commissioned Colonel John Hunt Morgan entered the State on his first great raid. We were already expecting to hear from him when Hines came and gave us definite news in regard to it.⁶

Hines and I then drove to Lexington, eighteen miles distant, in order to ascertain what we could about the number of troops there and the means of defending the city. We stopped at a hotel, and, while at dinner, heard a conversation between two Yankee officers by which we learned that great preparations were being made to defend the city, and that they expected an attack within twenty-four hours by Colonel Morgan, who really was some distance away but no one knew precisely where. After dinner we drove around the city and out to the cemetery and observed everything which afforded us any idea of the force there. When we came back to the hotel in the afternoon, perhaps four o'clock, we found Home Guards were arriving in large numbers from all the surrounding country, and at the same time we received information that in a very few minutes, or quite a short time, all persons would be prevented from leaving the city, and perhaps would be forced to take up arms to defend the place from the anticipated attack. This information, which was given to us by a friend to whom we had made ourselves known, was rather startling, and immediately we were in our buggy and driving at full speed out the Winchester Road in order to clear the limits of the city before pickets were sent out. This we succeeded in doing, although the pickets were in view behind us coming on their posts. We had made our escape by the narrowest, and made our way back to Mr. Hays's that night for supper. We had learned that Colonel Morgan would, in a short time, be in the vicinity of Lexington, but we did not know whether he would attack the city or not. Indeed, he was expected to attack that very night, and great consternation was visible among the soldiers when we left town.⁷

Thomas Henry Hines, John M. Porter's kinsman, compatriot during the war, and law partner after the war. The photograph was taken after the war. (Thomas H. Hines Papers, Filson Historical Society Collections, Louisville, Kentucky.)

Hines, Andy Kuykendall and myself, after taking supper at Mr. Hays's and remaining till the family of negroes on the place had gone to bed or become quiet and we were satisfied all was well, bid “goodbye” to the kind friends who had entertained us, and started out for the purpose of getting with Colonel Morgan, believing we would find him somewhere in the vicinity of Lexington, Versailles or Georgetown.⁸

The night was a pleasant one, and having a pilot with us who knew the country very well, we traveled neighborhood roads and avoided the more public ones. About three o'clock in the morning, our guide, Mr. Colby Hays, who afterwards was a gallant soldier in our command, left us and returned home in order to reach there before daylight. We were then alone in a strange locality with nothing familiar, no roads over which we had ever gone over, no acquaintances in all that section and no definite news of the whereabouts of the command.⁹

Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, looking east toward the corner of Main and Limestone streets, circa 1860. The three-story building in the center of the photograph is the Phoenix Hotel, where John M. Porter and Thomas Henry Hines inquired about the whereabouts of Morgan's command on July 14, 1862. (Lafayette Studio Photographic Collection, University of Kentucky Special Collections.)

After we three had consulted, we concluded to approach Lexington and ascertain if any attack would be or had been made. We knew if the attack occurred, it would probably be about daylight, and we at once moved forward and in a short time entered a pike which, from its direction, we judged led into the city. Rapidly riding this pike, which I believe was called the Tate's Creek Pike, about daylight we came within one mile of the city and halted in sight of Yankee pickets on that road. We remained there in a position to observe their movements and where we could easily discover whether any fight had begun or not.¹⁰

The sun rose and there were no indications of a fight. We were satisfied that Colonel Morgan was not in the immediate vicinity. Our course was then changed, and we turned our attention to find some way of getting around towards the Kentucky River, and, by way of Nicholasville and some other points, reach Versailles. We did not dare go on a direct route, fearing we would meet some of the numerous scouting parties of the enemy, as we well knew they were all through the country. After riding until about ten o'clock in the forenoon we called at a house and asked to remain for dinner and have our horses fed. This favor was granted by the lady whose husband was absent when we got there. This lady, Mrs. Martin, was a friend to our cause, but whereas she did not know us, neither did we, at the time, know her views. She was inquisitive and we were inquisitive, and in a short time we found her “cut,” and had no hesitancy in telling who and what we were.¹¹

In the meantime, her husband came in, and, just as dinner was announced, it was discovered that three Yankees were dismounting at the gate. Here was a dilemma. We could easily have taken them prisoners because they did not know we were there. The family was very much frightened, and, to quiet their fears, we bid the husband to meet the Yankees in the front yard and conduct them in to dinner, while we would remain in the parlor and be ready for any emergency. The officers, for such they were, were accordingly taken in a different room and then sat down to eat the dinner which had been prepared for us by Mrs. Martin. As soon as they were well at work on the viands, we walked out and went to the stable, mounted our horses, and rode away. We walked by their horses and did not interrupt them, because we knew Mr. Martin and his family would be arrested and persecuted if we were known to have been there. For their sakes alone, these three Yankees were permitted to go unmolested, to eat our dinner, while we fasted.

We rode a few miles and halted in a woods till nightfall. While we were in this woods, we saw one or two parties of Yankees pass along a road at no great distance from us. At night we again set out, and morning found us near a village called Keene, I think, and here or near it, we encountered about one or two hundred Yankee Home Guards. We met them in the road, they on their way to Lexington and we, by chance, going in the direction of Shyrock's Ferry on the Kentucky River. We out-talked the officer in command, passed the entire party unmolested, and, as soon as they had disappeared from our view, we changed our direction and rode rapidly away. We carried beneath our coats side arms which were not visible to the casual observer. The day closed and still we had not found Colonel Morgan, nor even heard of his whereabouts.¹²

Night again came on, and, by circuitous routes, we reached the farm of Abram Buford, soon to be a brigadier general, by breakfast time, and from him heard that Morgan had gone in the direction of Midway and Georgetown. A day's ride in a dangerous locality brought us late in the evening to Georgetown, and soon we had overtaken the command and were again free and easy.¹³

During the trip from Mr. Hays's in the vicinity of Winchester to the command of Colonel Morgan at Georgetown, we encountered a good many obstacles, and were frequently in dangerous situations. We each had papers on our person which would have been sufficient to have told what our politics were, and early one morning, when on a turnpike which led into Lexington, and only a few miles from the city, we concluded to destroy our papers and letters. We called at a black smith shop about sunrise after a night's travel and asked for a shoe to be repaired on a horse. While the desired work was being done, we walked about thirty yards away and, lighting a match, burned everything which could lead to our identity. We returned to the shop and conversed freely with the wondering smith for a short time and then rode away, leaving him in a bewildering state of mind as to what we meant and who we were. I venture to say that that black smith has thought a thousand times since about the three strange—and doubtless to him, suspicious—persons whom he saw that morning. From our appearance, he must have known that we had ridden all night, and, in those days of the war, every stranger was regarded with distrust.¹⁴

Keene Springs Tavern and Hotel, Jessamine County, Kentucky, as it looked at the time of the Civil War. John M. Porter passed the hotel on his way from Nicholasville, Kentucky, to Versailles to join Morgan's command. (J. Winston Coleman, Jr. Photographic Collection, Transylvania University Library.)

A rarely published carte de visite photograph of Brigadier General Abraham Buford taken at the time he joined the Confederate Army, fall 1862. (Courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.)