Statewide County MsArchives Military Records.....Battle Of Munfordsville 
Civilwar 10th MS Infantry
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Battle Of Munfordsville
AN INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE OF MUNFORDVILLE, KY., SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1862
Prepared by E. T. SYKES, then Capt. of Co. "K", 10th Miss. Infantry, Chalmers'
Brigade, Polk's Corps, Army of Tennessee.

  The particulars and origin of the battle of Munfordville, Ky., Sept. 14th,
1862, as known to me, a participant therein, and in what is styled "Bragg's
Kentucky Campaign," were as follows: Gen. Bragg beginning said campaign by
crossing the Tennessee river, Polk's corps at "Harrison's Landing" about nine
miles north of Chattanooga, and Hardee's Corps crossing lower down, where, at
each place of crossing the troops of the respective corps rested several days
for bathing, et cet., preparatory to their long march ahead,-moved from thence
up the well watered Sequatchie valley to the village from whence the road
leading across Walden Ridge to the vicinity of Sparta, Tenn., nestled. Resting
at the said village for the night, and complying with orders to fill canteens
and husband the water in the passage, next day, of the mountain some twenty
miles across, the troops descended the ridge during the following night at a
sparkling little stream near Sparta, where tents were erected and camps
maintained for a day and night. Then resuming the line of march, and after
crossing the State line between Tennessee and Kentucky, designated by a large,
embellished signboard, the troops finally reached Glasgow, Kentucky.

  Approaching the latter place via a long, straight, and broad lane, in
extension of its principal street in front of, and directly faced by the
courthouse, the Confederate column led by the 10th Miss. Regmt., in column of
fours with extended intervals, and "Arms at Ease," and its band playing "Dixie,"
was greeted by an outpour of sympathizing citizenry, waving Confederate flags
and shouting greetings to the marching column of "Gray."

  Resting at Glasgow with his main forces, Gen. Bragg ordered Chalmers' Brigade
of Mississippians forward to the railroad at Cave City, and Duncan's Brigade of
Louisianians to Glasgow Junction next south, with orders to intercept and cut
off Buell's communications northward by rail, to Louisville-the latter column
being then en route from Nashville.

  Gen. Chalmers surprised and captured the telegraph operator at Cave City, as
well as the depot supplies at that place; but owing to information furnished the
enemy by Union sympathizers residing in the neighborhood, he did not succeed in
capturing any train of cars.

  While at Cave City Gen. Chalmers was informed by Col. Scott, commanding a
regiment of cavalry operating in the vicinity of Munfordville, that the
enemy-about 1800 strong and represented to consist of new, or raw recruits,-was
near that place, to-wit, at the railroad crossing on Green river, fortified and
protecting the iron bridge spanning the river; and Scott offering to cooperate,
if he (Chalmers) would move to that place prepared for action, induced the
latter to move forward on the night of the 13th-and this without orders from, or
information first furnished his commanding officer-presumably, and as believed
by all concerned, in the hope and expectancy, by coup de maitre of winning
promotion, cost what it may in the loss of men.

  Marching rapidly during the night of the 13th, he reached the vicinity of the
fortified position of the enemy about sunrise on the morning of the 14th. The
enemy's pickets were rapidly driven in; and forming line of battle, with
Walthall's regiment (29th Miss.) on his right, and Smith's (10th Miss.) on his
left-the 7th, 9th, and 44th Miss. Regiments covering the interval between the
two, and supported by Ketchum's Alabama Battery in rear of the center-the 10th
Miss, was ordered by Gen. Chalmers to attack, unsupported, the fortified
position on the enemy's right. The advance of the 10th Miss, was through an
opening about half a mile in width, and under fire of the enemy's artillery and
small arms from behind, what proved formidable intrenchments and earthworks.

  Before the advance was ordered, Col. Smith called his captains to the center
and front, and after pointing through the haze of the early morning to the
enemy's fortifications, on the top of which bayonets bristled in the rays of the
morning sun, as also pointing to a fence skirting an abattis of fallen timber,
he said that the order to advance would be "By the right of companies to the
front, quick time." Continuing, he enjoined upon the captains the necessity of
preserving the intervals between the several formations, so that on reaching the
fence which the heads of companies should throw down, and passing through the
order would be given, "Companies into line," thus forming the regimental front.
Then giving the command, "Captains to your posts," next came the command, "By
the right of companies to the front, forward, quick time, march!" For a while,
the advance and attack gave promise of success.

  Soon Walthall's 29th Miss., which was the only other regiment that was at said
time ordered to advance, reached the wide and deep ditch around Fort Craig-a
strong fortification on the enemy's extreme left- and was preparing to cross it,
when Col. Scott, who had agreed with Chalmers to cooperate in the attack, took
position and imprudently opened fire from an eminence several hundred yards
distant, throwing shell among Walthall's men, and causing them to retire. The
10th Miss, had in the meantime reached the ravine where was an abattis of beech
trees that had been felled about 75 yards in front of the enemy's fortified
right, covering the railroad bridge, and prevented the further advance of the
Confederates. Protecting themselves as best they could, the Confederates were
soon able to silence the enemy's fire from their fortifications. In this
position both sides remained nearly two hours doing virtually nothing, save only
an occasional shot-the men of the 10th Miss., not being able, on account of the
timber to their right, and the conformation of the ground, to see or hear from
their center regiments which, with the battery had in the meantime moved forward
and taken position in prolongation of their right, or even from the extreme
right regiment.

  About that time the enemy exhibited from an embrasure of his fortifications in
my immediate front, a flag of truce, when it was-due to ignorance of its
sacredness-wilfully fired on by one Jim Franks, a private in the company on my
left. Taking in the situation, and first placing the defiant Franks in charge of
two men with orders to shoot him if he again attempted to fire on the "flag," I
assured the bearer of the flag that it would be respected, at which the officer
bearing it,-a young First Lieutenant, and Adjutant, of the Third Kentucky
Cavalry, advanced and as the Colonel (Smith) was lying helpless with a mortal
wound, the Lieut.-Colonel (Bullard) lying lifeless near by, and the Major (Barr)
was temporarily acting on Gen. Chalmer's Staff, it devolved upon me as senior
officer present in its immediate front to meet the flag-which I did about midway
between the opposing lines. The officer, a well dressed, handsome and
intelligent gentleman, apparently about my own age (I had not changed clothes
since crossing the Tennessee river, and necessarily, in appearance presented
quite an unfavorable contrast), informed me that Gen. Chalmers had sent a flag
in on our right demanding an unconditional surrender of the Federal forces; that
compliance with the demand had been refused, but that an armistice for the
purpose of removing the dead and wounded1 from the field indefinite as to length
of pendency, had been agreed on; but that ten minutes' notice would be given
before the withdrawal of the flag. I thereupon returned to my regiment and
communicating these facts to the officers and men, returned to the place of the
pending flag. The men of the 10th Miss. promptly began the removal of its dead
and wounded, carrying them to the crest of the ridge from whence we had that
morning begun the advance-the relief party continuing its work until our dead
and wounded, as also everything of value, had been removed.

  During the pendency of the "Flag of Truce," the young officer who accompanied
it-then my new-found friends-being supplied with a canteen of the "liquid fluid
that cheers and sometimes inebriates," but in this instance only mellowed the
soul and sublimated the lips with words of "social commune"-we proceeded to
partake of its stimulating contents. During said time, the young officer
presented me with his engraved card, which I have ever since regretted losing,
and as I was unprepared to return the courtesy in kind, I did the next best
thing, by merely writing my name on a card of his handed me for that purpose; at
the same time mutually exchanging deep felt and sincere expressions and regards,
and promising needed protection, should the fortune of war make either a captive
of the other's army.

  After more than an hour's interval, notice was brought to us that, within ten
minutes time the flag would be withdrawn. Thereupon, with genuine courtesy and
thoughtful consideration for his necessitous and new made Confederate friend, he
asked me which I preferred, "whiskey or brandy?" As laconically, yet as
graciously as possible, I replied in the language of the Irishman, "either is
good enough for me." Thereupon, he wrote a note and sent it by one of his guard
to his Commissary, or surgeon it may have been addressed, in the fortifications,
and soon a flask of brandy was presented to me, with the jocular, but
considerate remark, indicative of the courtly gentleman that he was, "That you
may know it is all right, I take a bumper of it to your health;" after which we
separated with mutual best wishes each for the other.

  I will explain in this connection that, on rejoining my command I found that
the dead of the regiment were being hastily buried, and that orders were given
for the command to return to Cave City. Observing my Colonel (R. A. Smith) lying
near by and suffering excruciating pain produced by the wound that morning
received in front of the enemy's fortifications, and though I knew him to be
absolutely temperate, I insisted on his taking a drink of the brandy. At first
refusing the proffered brandy, but finally consenting to my request, when
observing that it was of such benefit to him, I left the canteen with its
contents with those who were to remain with the chivalric Colonel, who I never
saw again. On our return to the place with Bragg's army two days (16th) after,
the Colonel was a corpse.

  As to the above related incident with the young officer who bore the flag of
truce, and whose card I inadvertently lost, I have since made inquiry to learn
his name and residence, but without success until during the last U. C. V.
Reunion held at Chattanooga in May 1913, when it occurred to me to inquire of my
post bellum friend in the person of Gen. John T. Wilder, who commanded the
Federal forces at Munfordville at the time stated. Soon after the war Gen.
Wilder moved to and engaged in manufacturing in the city of Chattanooga, and has
continuously since resided there. He is now, and for years past has been one of
the three Commissioners of the Chickamauga National Military Park.

  I no sooner asked Gen. Wilder if he recalled the name of the officer who bore
the flag of truce on the occasion named, than he replied: "Why yes, it was W. A.
Bullitt, then First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 3rd Ky. Cavalry, who since
the war became the acknowledged leader of the legal profession in the city of
Louisville. That he was of the distinguished family whose name a county of
Kentucky bears, and one of three brothers, two of whom served in the Confederate
Army." I wished the information that we might correspond and recall memories of
the incident, and I imagine, it would serve as a reminder to both of the coming
resurrection day.

  Thus it was, that on my return home from Chattanooga, I wrote and addressed to
Mr. Bullitt a letter covering the circumstances of our meeting under the flag of
truce, to which I received no reply, the reason being as I soon thereafter
learned, the addressee had died. No pleasure could have been greater to me than
that of calling upon Mr. Bullitt and renewing our acquaintance formed under the
circumstances mentioned, during one or more of my post-bellum visits to
Louisville, had I known of his living there.

  In the above mentioned conversation with Gen. Wilder, he further informed me
that Gen. Buckner accompanied the "Flag of Truce" on the night of Sept. 16th,
bearing Gen. Bragg's demand of him for an unconditional surrender of his forces,
to which demand he declined to accede. He stated his reply to Buckner's reasons
why he should comply with the demand, to have been, that the only terms to which
he would agree were, that he "should be permitted to carry his men to the Ohio
River and there disband them!" After some parleying between them, Buckner said
if Wilder would consent to be blindfolded he would escort him to Gen. Bragg's
headquarters, where Buckner felt assured Wilder would be convinced of the utter
futility of not surrendering as demanded. Making no objection to being
blindfolded he was accordingly escorted to Gen. Bragg's headquarters. The latter
on being informed of Wilder's presence and reason therefor, brusquely said to
Buckner, "No modification of the proposed terms will be made, and, if they are
not accepted, I will kill every one of them when I open with my guns in the
morning." Still, Wilder could not be induced to accept the proffered terms,
whereupon, he and Buckner returned to the point of meeting, but before finally
separating, Buckner-evidently solicitious for a modification of the proposed
terms, requested Wilder to remain there until he could return to Bragg's
quarters and try again for some modification. Doing so, and again interviewing
Bragg, he secured the terms finally agreed on, and returning to the flag, so
informed Wilder.

  The modified terms were substantially, or in effect equivalent to those first
suggested by Wilder, as the only terms upon which he would surrender without a
fight. However, it appears from the communications of Wilder of Sept. 16th and
17th, appearing on page 971, Serial No. 22, War of the Rebellion, that he in
effect, made an "unconditional surrender." But I assume from what Gen. Wilder
told me, and from what I witnessed on the morning of the 18th, he must have been
given assurances that the courtesies of war would be extended him. For early
that morning, Wilder marched his command by Fort Craig where my Company was
stationed, with all the honors of war-drums beating and colors flying, with
side-arms and private property. Wilder's Report, Serial No. 22, p. 962, Army of
the Rebellion.

  I deem it not out of place to state, and to use a common expression, my being
"taken aback" when reaching my regiment after retiring from the flag of truce to
learn of Gen. Chalmers' preparation for a hasty retreat; for, pending the flag
of truce, Lieut. Watt L. Strickland, aid-de-camp on the Staff of Gen. Chalmers
came up and calling me to one side, confided the information that Gen. J. K.
Jackson was advancing and was then near by with his division of infantry, and
that on his arrival, the attack would be renewed and pressed to a successful
end. It appears that this, as it proved-misinformation-had been indirectly
communicated to Col. Wilder at the time of the demand made for his surrender,
and if true, it was an unpardonable military ruse on the part of Chalmers to
extricate his brigade from the perilous situation in which he had unnecessarily
placed it.

  The fact is, the truth had dawned upon Gen. Chalmers that he had been
misinformed by Col. Scott as to the number and character of the troops he had so
unadvisedly, and without orders from his superiors, attacked with the delusive
hope of capturing. Instead of fresh, raw recruits, those defending the
Munfordville fortifications, etc., were seasoned troops of the veteran type.
They were composed of the 17th, 60th, 67th, 68th, and 69th Indiana Infantry, a
Company of Louisville Cavalry, and a part of the 4th Ohio, and a section of the
13th Indiana Battery, numbering in all something more than 1800 men at the
beginning of the attack, but reinforced during its progress by 6 companies of
the 50th Indiana under Col. C. L. Dunham, thus making their aggregate force
2.122, as reported-also 10 guns-the whole commanded by John T. Wilder, Colonel,
Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers.

  Under the foregoing state of facts, Wilder felt justified in refusing to
accede to Chalmers' demand to surrender, and the latter, taking advantage of the
situation, resorted to the unjustifiable ruse aforesaid.

  In Gen. Chalmers' report of the foregoing engagement, made two days (Sept. 16)
thereafter, and to be found on pp. 971-973 of Serial No. 22, "War of the
Rebellion," the following appears as a part of the third paragraph on page 972,
in an attempt to palliate his action. He wrote:

  "I fear that I may have incurred censure at headquarters by my action in this
matter, but with the information in my possession I felt that it was my duty to
make the attempt and I could only believe that the result would be successful. *
* * In addition to this, their artillery refused to reply to ours except by an
occasional shot until ours had been moved up within a few hundred yards of them.
These facts, connected with the information which I had previously received,
forced me to the belief that the enemy were preparing to retreat, or that they
would be easily forced to surrender."

  Upon said report, Gen. Bragg on reaching Knoxville, Tenn., under date of
November 3rd (p. 980 of said Serial No.) made the following indorsement:

  "This attack was unauthorized and injudicious; but the conduct of the troops
and Commander in action reflects credit on both, and adds but another proof to
the many of their distinguished gallantry. The loss of the gallant and admired
Colonel Smith, with the other valuable officers and men of this distinguished
brigade, will be mourned by their comrades and the country.
                            BRAXTON BRAGG,
                          General Commanding."

  Gen. Bragg's estimate of Colonel Smith may be seen from the following letter:

                          SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE,
                     WATER WORKS DEP'T COMMERC'L BANK,
                                 New Orleans, Jan'y 22, 1868.
  Dear Sir; It affords me great pleasure to receive your note of the 4th inst.,
enclosing the carte de visite of my late friend and fellow-soldier, Colonel
Robert A. Smith, Tenth Mississippi volunteers. Entering the service at an early
age, without military experience or education, the Colonel fell in the gallant
discharge of an almost desperate assault, in less than eighteen months, esteemed
and honored for his acquirements and heroic deportment. To me his loss was
severe, for I had looked to him for support, in a much higher and extended command.
  Please convey my thanks to the Colonel's brother for this mark of kind
remembrance, and believe me, truly,
                                         BRAXTON BRAGG. 
To Chas. L. Gaston, Esq'r, Jackson, Miss.

  After the withdrawal of Chalmers, Col. Dunham, being the senior officer
present, assumed command of the Federal forces defending the place, and was in
command when two days later (the 16th) Gen. Bragg moved with his army and
surrounding the Federals then further reenforced and numbering over 4,000, late
the same evening demanding their unconditional surrender. The demand being
declined by Dunham then in command, was on its renewal that night, to-wit, at 2
A. M. of the 17th, after some parleying as to terms, accepted by Col. Wilder,
who following a council cf their officers, held soon after Dunham's declination,
had, by orders of Maj.-Gen. Gilbert commanding at Louisville, superseded Dunham
in the command. Then it was that in return for and in recognition of the gallant
fight made by the Tenth Miss. Regmt. on the 14th previous, it was sent in to
receive the surrender-my company (K) being stationed at and in command of Fort
Craig, where was stored commissary supplies in great and acceptable abundance.

  As the Federal forces were being marched at 6 A. M. out to the road where they
laid down their guns, and in doing so passed near by Fort Craig, I recognized
the officer who had treated me so courteously and generously on the 14th, when
under the flag of truce. Approaching and addressing him, it was soon mutually
recognized that my intercession in his behalf was rendered unnecessary by the
terms of the surrender. For, after being paroled under the directions of
Maj.-Gen. Buckner. just released by exchange from his imprisonment as a Fort
Donalson captive, the Federals were marched back under escort to Gen. Buel about
15 miles on our left flank, and turned over to him.

  It will interest many Confederates-particularly those who were prisoners at
Camp Morton Prison, Ind., in 1862, whilst commanded by Col. Richard Owen, to be
reminded, if they ever knew the considerate fact, that, among the prisoners
surrendering under Gen. Wilder, was this dearly beloved Colonel, and his two
sons, who, because of his humane and benevolent guardianship of the Confederate
prisoners under his charge at Fort Morton, in striking contrast to the cruel and
inhuman treatment of other commanders of Northern prisons, Gen. Bragg, as soon
as he was apprised of the facts, gave the Colonel and his sons their liberty,
without any qualifying conditions.

  Before the war Colonel Owen was a professor in the faculty of the Western
Military Institute in Nashville, and it is said that, the cadets there
"recognized in him the same qualities of kindness and firmness that later came
into play in his treatment of Confederate prisoners under his charge," and which
called forth from his Southern admirers after more than fifty years, the tribute
of an unprecedented memorial, in the form of a heroic bust, which by permission
of the authorities of Indiana, now occupies a niche in its state-house, with the
following inscription:
                        "COL. RICHARD OWEN
    Commandant Camp Morton Prison, 1862
    Tribute by Confederate Prisoners and Their Friends for
    His Courtesy and Kindness."

  In the engagement on the 14th, the Tenth Mississippi lost more than did any
other Regiment of the brigade. My company (K), had 6 killed, and 25 wounded-a
half dozen-of the latter dying soon after from their wounds. The killed of
Company K were Ira Cole, A. T. Johnson, P. L. Kelly, W. R. Turner, Wm. M. Drury
and J. J. Keith, all from Tippah County, Mississippi.

  And in this connection I think it appropriate to record the conscientious
candor and freedom from disguise that characterized my First Lieutenant, W. P.
Stewart, to do his duty in every time of need. Lieutenant, later Captain,
Stewart, was noted for his piety and good works among the soldiers of his
regiment, and a leader in all religious gatherings of the boys, but he confided
to me that he distrusted his own courage, and feared he would prove unable to
face danger when the time came for a display of it on the battlefield. Thus he
quietly suffered until after his first test on the battlefield of Munfordville.
Ky., when with elation he told me, that having been tested and proven worthy, he
was then satisfied; for he then realized that with the help of God, he could
face with composure the ordeal of battle. He added that, "When the regiment
(10th Miss.) began the advance on the enemy's works, and he observed the enemy
awaiting our approach with their bayonets glistening in the sun of the early
morn, he thought his trembling limbs would fail him, "but he began and continued
to pray to the Lord to give him courage to do his duty, and for every step
forward to the close of the advance, he felt that the good Lord was hearing and
answering his prayer."

  I never saw my faithful Lieutenant after my resignation of the Captaincy of
Company K, to accept position as Adjutant-General on the Staff of Brig.-Gen. E.
C. Walthall, and I was succeeded in command of said company by my worthy First
Lieutenant. However, I would occasionally hear of him through others, and from
them learned that after the war he practiced the profession of medicine in
Tippah County, up to the time of his failing physical and mental health.

  Of my quondam friend and faithful First Lieutenant I entertained the tenderest
regards, and since his death, have felt that his soul has been in the keeping of
his God, whom, through life on earth, he so faithfully served.

  And here let me add, that the account given of the battle of the 14th of
September, in the American Cyclopaedia, Vol. 16, p. 797; and p. 146 of the
American Annual Cyclopaedia of 1862, is but a meager and misleading version. In
verification of this, one has only to read the two citations made, to see that
Brig.-Gen. James R. Chalmers commanding his brigade of Mississippians was the
sole attacking force. At said time, Gen. Duncan with his brigade was at Glasgow
Junction, more than 20 miles South; and that General was for the first time near
Munfordville, when on the morning of the 16th he joined the main advancing
column of Confederates, and as the senior of Chalmers took command of the
leading brigades composed of his own and Chalmers'.

  I have been credibly informed that Col. Dunham was more of a politician than a
military man, and like some others of both armies, was much addicted to the
excessive use of stimulants, and for that reason was required to turn over the
command to Col. Wilder on the evening of the 16th. Had he been otherwise, and
had the proper foresight been exercised, there is no sufficient reason for the
final capture by Bragg of the Federal forces at Green River on the morning of
the 17th of September, 1862. Had Col. Wilder remained in continuous command of
the Federals from the evening of the 14th, to the evening of the 16th, I do not
believe such a result would have followed. From Wilder's known and well earned
military reputation throughout the remainder of the war it is believed he would
have anticipated results and withdrawn his troops on the approach of Bragg's
army -at least, have done so before his position was hopelessly surrounded, and
a surrender inevitable.

  For a more accurate and detailed account of this engagement I refer the
inquiring ones to an address delivered by the writer September 14, 1884, on the
unveiling of the monument erected on that battlefield by the late Mr. James
Smith of Glasgow, Scotland, in honor of the memory of his gallant young brother,
Col. Robert A. Smith, of the Tenth Miss. Infantry, who fell on that field 23
years before. The address is to be found in Vol. XII of "Southern Historical
Papers," pp. 471-483, published by Rev. J. William Jones, D. D., Secretary,
Southern Historical Society, Richmond, Va., December, 1884. Also see Serial No.
22, "War of the Rebellion."


Additional Comments:
Volunteer transcription

Extracted from: 

pages 536-548

PUBLICATIONS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EDITED BY
DUNBAR ROWLAND, LL. D.
Secretary

CENTENARY SERIES VOLUME II


JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY
1918

DEMOCRAT PRINTING COMPANY MADISON, WISCONSIN


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