Morgan's Speech

*Sept 18 1862 - The surrender of Wilder at Munfordville, KY to General Bragg's forces leaves open the Louisville and Nashville railroad to Confederate control. It also places a major Confederate force close to occupied Nashville and the major Union supply depot in Louisville. Instead of retreating to Harrodsburg, one of John Hunt Morgan's men indicates that the rail center of Louisville has only a few scant militia protecting the city - and they are green. Bragg tells Morgan that the only way he will attack Louisville is with General Kirby's men in a joint operation. Riding as fast as he can, Morgan rides to Lexington and speaks with Kirby, convincing him to join the offensive after an impassioned speech later published with his memoirs.

*Sept 24, 1862 - Bragg forces Louisville's surrender in a combined offensive with minimal warning to the Union, which has to evacuate the poorly defended city on pontoon bridges constructed only a few weeks prior. Among the supplies captured is almost 500 Spencer rifles, which are given to Morgan's men as a prize for his role in taking the city. Bragg is aware that Buell is on his way for battle and is expected to be 2 days away, he grants his troops a chance to rest and resupply while moving some south by railroad in preparation for the next battle while a token force crosses the river to take New Albany and Charleston, Indiana.

*Sept 26, 1862 - Just north of Lebanon Junction at 5am at dawn's first light Bragg unleashes a combined offensive against weary, tired, and hungry Union troops. Buell is caught unaware with artillery on hilltops opening fire while cavalry under Morgan rake through the rear, causing a panic as word of possible encirclement by the Confederacy creates a near-panic. Buell orders a retreat but his soldiers have marched for almost a week straight, are hungry, and their morale is questionable. A fighting retreat under Thomas turns into a general rout after Morgan's company cuts the Union forces in two. The day is a devastating loss for the US, with the Union taking over 4000 dead and over 10,000 captured. Confederate losses are approximately 700 dead and 2,000 wounded by day's end, and Morgan uses his cavalry to harass Buell's army back to Bowling Green. His Army of the Ohio is effectively broken, with almost 2/3 of the fighting strength removed from it and half of those remaining exhausted or injured. Bowling Green is not supportive to Buell, some of his men are caught lootingat nearby Pike Springs in a repeat of the Athens, Alabama incident earlier in the war. General Thomas assumes command of the broken Army and redirects it to Nashville to rebuild though with winter coming and his supply lines
in jeopardy he ponders his next move.

*Sept 29, 1862 - Bragg's forces destroy the Louisville and Portland Canal and render the area useless to river traffic. Word of the victory at Lebanon Junction has spread and panic engulfs much of southern Indiana and Illinois - there is no army between Bragg and Indianapolis. While Bragg has taken soil in Indiana he is worried about his supply lines being severed if he moves into Union territory. Davis, however, sees that capture of a Union state capitol could tip the scales of the UK into recognition of the Confederacy and forcing a negotiated peace. Governor Hawes notes that the last remnants of Kentucky's Union government have fled for Covington just across from Cincinnati and that the area is heavily fortified. Recruitment in Kentucky falls more inline with Confederate expectations after Lebanon Junction and prisoners from the Jefferson Military Hospital in Indiana are pardoned pending recovery.

*Oct 5, 1862 - Thomas's forces arrive in Nashville and he begins fortifying, rebuilding, and retraining his army. Confederate capture of Louisville has removed a key supply base but Thomas is certain they will not hold the town. He is not aware of any Confederate activity northwest of Nashville but does make contingency plans to leave the city if there is reason to believe that his last major supply line, the Tennessee River, will be cut. As the rail tunnel in Gallatin is destroyed he has to rely on riverboats to supply the city from rail running from Cairo, Illinois. Meanwhile the forces under Bragg are split into two - one will move north into Indianapolis in two waves (one by train with 2000 troops then another to secure the area with 6000 troops with 1200 cavalry), the other under Kirby stays in Louisville with recruitment efforts continuing across the state. Within two weeks they will raise over 6000 troops to bring the total of the Army of Kentucky to 18,000. Bragg also informs his army that if any looting, rape, or other incidents take place that the offenders will be executed publically once they reach Indianapolis.

*Oct 9, 1862 - CSA General Forrest launches a cavalry raid on Paris, Tennessee and cutting the rail lines into Nashville itself. Thomas is unable to determine what other Confederate forces are in the area and decides to leave Nashville for fear of encirclement and complete destruction of his army. He has also heard that the Confederates are on the move from Louisville and does not know where their next destination is. Bragg's forces move by rail to just outside of Indianapolis and take the city in a night time attack against a hastily raised militia of 500 men, the severing of two of four major railways connecting east and west leaves the rest of Indiana open to attack and threatens to cut the Union in two. Governor Oliver Morton is captured as he did not believe it possible that the Confederacy would advance so far into Union territory so quickly

*Oct 16, 1872 - Bragg decides not to have Governor Morton imprisoned, but does release all of the political prisoners he had arrested including Southern sympathizers. Prior to the mid-term elections there had been considerable propaganda indicating a desire of the Democrats to secede and possibly join the Confederacy, which their party leaders are quick to deny. He also counts 3500 men liberated from the prisoner-of-war camp on the outskirts of the city and adds their forces to his own, bringing his total forces available to almost 12,000. He does allow the state legislature to meet and a quorum is present, allowing the state to raise taxes and fund itself. They are careful not to pass any legislature relating to the war.

*Oct 19, 1862 - with Thomas moving his army out of the city, Forrest retakes Nashville and stays away from the bulk of the albeit weakened Army of Ohio. He allows them free use of the railways as they head for the Mississippi river, the thought being that they might still be able to sever the Confederates in two if they can take control of the length of the river. Thomas decides he will head for Jackson where the army can rebuild and rest. Bragg's army unites in Indianapolis while Morgan's cavalry raiders, now
1500 strong, head east to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio to try to liberate the Confederate prisoners there. Bragg also has begun probing Illinois defenses but given the greater time to prepare there will be no surprise moves against Springfield. Governor Morton flees the state as the rump Indiana legislature decides to try him for violation of his powers
over the funding issues prior to Confederate invasion.

*Oct 24, 1862 - Lord Lyons gives President Lincoln written notice that, following the fall of Indianapolis and Nashville, Lord Palmerston's government has decided to recognize the CSA. Lincoln is furious and calls an immediate cabinet meeting. Morgan's liberation of over almost 60 key political prisoners at Camp Chase, including prominent figures in western Virginia and Kentucky, has caused a furor in those states. While many in his cabinet are poised to consider war with the UK, the defeat and occupation of much of southern and central Indiana by Confederate forces along with successful raids into Ohio and Illinois mean that there is no experienced Union army between Jackson, Tennessee and Washington DC. While troops are moving west quickly by rail and foot it will be at least a month before they can be fully deployed. Snow is already falling in parts of the North and the return of Nashville has reinvigorated Confederate supplies even in Virginia. Reluctantly Lincoln agrees to call a cease-fire pending peace negotiations.

*Oct 30, 1862 - News of the general cease-fire reaches the last of the lines in the far Western theater as the lines solidify. Most of Missouri remains in Union hands as much of Indiana now remains in Confederate hands. El Paso has fallen to a California Union column but the rest of the state remains in Confederate hands. Forrest's men have retaken most of Tennessee save the southwestern portion - Memphis where a large Union garrison protects the river. Thomas's army remains in Jackson but does not control the countryside. France announces her recognition of the Confederacy, within to weeks the Netherlands, Kingdom of Sardinia, Spain, and Portugal join suit. Peace negotiations begin in Washington DC as political prisoners on both sides are released.

*Nov 1, 1862 - In a surprise move, the Indiana legislature votes to consider secession from the Union. Its legislature is dominated by pro-Southern interests, along with recent release of several pro-Southern sympathizers has given the legislature the numbers needed to pass the vote. There is no interim governor to oppose the vote but where the real feelings of the state lie are not known.
 
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So, how does this get dealt with?

(OTL situation, as described by Thomas Connelly)

"On the seventeenth (Bragg) had information that a strong force was digging in at Louisville to oppose his advance.
. . .
On the night of the seventeenth, spy and scout reports indicated Buell was not behind his Bowling Green entrenchments as Bragg had supposed. Instead the Yankees wer swinging West of the main Louisville pike, and were reported moving through Leitchfield, Hawesville, Bornsville, and even Owensboro, to skirt Bragg and get into Louisville. Bragg, realizing his error, moved Cheatham's division north towards Beaver Dam Creek, and ordered the entire force to march at daylight on September 19th to join Kirby Smith.

Bragg's inability to make a final commitment now began to tell. Early on the morning of September 18th, in the midst of a drizzling rain, Wheeler's exhausted troopers staggered in from near Bowling Green. At a critical time Wheeler had failed to pinpoint Buell's location. He reported that a heavy Union force was crossing Big Barren and moving north around Bragg. But another force of of infantry in division strength had loomed up in Bragg's front on the Munfordville pike. Wheeler had been pushed back, his picket at Merry Oaks had collapsed, and he could tell Bragg little of the mysterious force approaching Green River
. . .
But he was still committed to his junction with Kirby Smith, so committed that he sent Stoddard Johnston to Lexington on September 18 to arrange it. Johnston was to deliver and important erbal request - one which might easily be misconstrued."

So some questions as relates to changing this:

How does the information from "one of Morgan's men" compare to the information Bragg has from OTL's sources?

Why would Bragg send Morgan to convince Kirby Smith?

How long would it take Morgan to get there? It's - by this: http://www.distance-calculator.co.uk/map-print.php?town1=Munfordville&town2=Lexington,+Kentucky - 112 miles between the two places. Even if that's the long route, that's still over a day's journey on horseback I imagine.

How is Morgan so convincing? I mean, being impassioned is good and all, but I'm not sure Kirby Smith would necessarily find Morgan convincing or want to give up his precious independent command.

How long does it take Kirby Smith's men to join Bragg? That's going to be several days of marching at the very least.

There's more I'm wondering about, but until this is dealt with - and no, two paragraphs summing up events is not dealing with it - this falls flat on its face.
 
So, how does this get dealt with?

(OTL situation, as described by Thomas Connelly)

"On the seventeenth (Bragg) had information that a strong force was digging in at Louisville to oppose his advance.
. . .
On the night of the seventeenth, spy and scout reports indicated Buell was not behind his Bowling Green entrenchments as Bragg had supposed. Instead the Yankees wer swinging West of the main Louisville pike, and were reported moving through Leitchfield, Hawesville, Bornsville, and even Owensboro, to skirt Bragg and get into Louisville. Bragg, realizing his error, moved Cheatham's division north towards Beaver Dam Creek, and ordered the entire force to march at daylight on September 19th to join Kirby Smith.

Bragg's inability to make a final commitment now began to tell. Early on the morning of September 18th, in the midst of a drizzling rain, Wheeler's exhausted troopers staggered in from near Bowling Green. At a critical time Wheeler had failed to pinpoint Buell's location. He reported that a heavy Union force was crossing Big Barren and moving north around Bragg. But another force of of infantry in division strength had loomed up in Bragg's front on the Munfordville pike. Wheeler had been pushed back, his picket at Merry Oaks had collapsed, and he could tell Bragg little of the mysterious force approaching Green River
. . .
But he was still committed to his junction with Kirby Smith, so committed that he sent Stoddard Johnston to Lexington on September 18 to arrange it. Johnston was to deliver and important erbal request - one which might easily be misconstrued."

So some questions as relates to changing this:

How does the information from "one of Morgan's men" compare to the information Bragg has from OTL's sources?

Why would Bragg send Morgan to convince Kirby Smith?

How long would it take Morgan to get there? It's - by this: http://www.distance-calculator.co.uk/map-print.php?town1=Munfordville&town2=Lexington%2C+Kentucky - 112 miles between the two places. Even if that's the long route, that's still over a day's journey on horseback I imagine.

How is Morgan so convincing? I mean, being impassioned is good and all, but I'm not sure Kirby Smith would necessarily find Morgan convincing or want to give up his precious independent command.

How long does it take Kirby Smith's men to join Bragg? That's going to be several days of marching at the very least.

There's more I'm wondering about, but until this is dealt with - and no, two paragraphs summing up events is not dealing with it - this falls flat on its face.

Your points are noted, I'll make a few changes about times and days.

*Morgan is from central Kentucky and knows the area well. He was training men in that area for war and is related to some of the most influential people in the region. If anyone can try to convince Kirby, Morgan is the man to do this, especially as his cavalry raiding is part of the reason for the invasion of Kentucky in the first place. A decisive victory in Kentucky and the taking of Louisville is going to be important, and it will go a long way to winning the war.

*The idea of (several of) Morgan's men bringing more information about Louisville's defenses is to tip the balance of Bragg's thoughts. Union forces were building pontoon bridges to get out of Louisville if needed, if he can reach the city's defenses he will likely be able to take it.

*Lebanon Junction is the name of a town near Louisville that is also a railhead into central Kentucky, it is only 80 miles from Lexington. Confederate forces took it during this time and it is along one of the main roads from Munfordville to Lexington. That is where I think Kirby could meet with Bragg and attack the city. It's about 45 miles from Munfordville to there and another 35 miles to Louisville. Given the time frame and distance I'm not sure that they could coordinate and meet at Louisville itself, which is about 80 miles from Munfordville and 80 miles from Lexington but that might also work. Twenty miles a day was common for foot soldiers at that time, with twenty-five possible (thirty miles per day had been done but not if fighting was expected).
 
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Your points are noted, I'll make a few changes about times and days.

*Morgan is from central Kentucky and knows the area well. He was training men in that area for war and is related to some of the most influential people in the region. If anyone can try to convince Kirby, Morgan is the man to do this, especially as his cavalry raiding is part of the reason for the invasion of Kentucky in the first place. A decisive victory in Kentucky and the taking of Louisville is going to be important, and it will go a long way to winning the war.

How is he the man to do this? None of those make him a good speaker or someone Bragg would trust or Kirby Smith would listen to especially hard.

*The idea of (several of) Morgan's men bringing more information about Louisville's defenses is to tip the balance of Bragg's thoughts. Union forces were building pontoon bridges to get out of Louisville if needed, if he can reach the city's defenses he will likely be able to take it.
So we have Bragg's information making a capture look unfavorable, and some of Morgan's men present contradicting information. That sounds less like balance tipping and more like confusion inducing.

*Lebanon Junction is the name of a town near Louisville that is also a railhead into central Kentucky, it is only 80 miles from Lexington. Confederate forces took it during this time and it is along one of the main roads from Munfordville to Lexington. That is where I think Kirby could meet with Bragg and attack the city. It's about 45 miles from Munfordville to there and another 35 miles to Louisville. Given the time frame and distance I'm not sure that they could coordinate and meet at Louisville itself, which is about 80 miles from Munfordville and 80 miles from Lexington but that might also work. Twenty miles a day was common for foot soldiers at that time, with twenty-five possible (thirty miles per day had been done but not if fighting was expected).
Common for a forced march - but average is closer to 10-15. But let's say twenty.

That means two days to meet up with Bragg, two days to Louisville, plus the time it takes Morgan to reach Kirby Smith.

This sounds awfully fast.

Also, if Bragg thinks the place is only held by a handful of militia, rushing is going to be less important, not more.
 
Bragg knows Buell is coming up to Louisville, he has to move sooner rather than later. Also in OTL the CSA raided into Louisville itself with 500 cavalry and was able to capture 50 Union troops on Sept 26, the defenses are not that strong. Maybe they do this earlier and discover just how weak the defenses really are? Maybe they also learn from a Union soldier/officer that reinforcement from Illinois are scheduled to arrive some time in early October?

Bragg is already going to pass by Lebanon Junction and in fact they came close to Louisville itself, Morgan can ride there and back in that time, especially if he meets Bragg at Lebanon Junction. Again, Kirby can also decide to meet Bragg in Louisville as he has an independent command.
 
Bragg knows Buell is coming up to Louisville, he has to move sooner rather than later. Also in OTL the CSA raided into Louisville itself with 500 cavalry and was able to capture 50 Union troops on Sept 26, the defenses are not that strong. Maybe they do this earlier and discover just how weak the defenses really are? Maybe they also learn from a Union soldier/officer that reinforcement from Illinois are scheduled to arrive some time in early October?

Bragg is already going to pass by Lebanon Junction and in fact they came close to Louisville itself, Morgan can ride there and back in that time, especially if he meets Bragg at Lebanon Junction. Again, Kirby can also decide to meet Bragg in Louisville as he has an independent command.

"Is coming up" and "will be there any time soon" are two different things. And what raid is this?

By the way, Connelly mentions Louisville being very well garrisoned, but I haven't looked up in the OR what it says there.

But this mentions "only" (my quotes) 30,000 Federal troops in Louisville, and Buell's army arriving on the 26th - no mention of any raid into it.

http://www.louisvillehistoricalleag...ates_in_Louisville_History_rev_1-16-2011_.pdf

So the more I look at this, the less I see how this could work, even if Morgan is able to do this (Ans is Morgan even with Bragg , as opposed to Kirby Smith? I'm not sure - but anyway, we can have him show up at this point as a POD for something, certainly - just not sure it would work out like this).
 
"Is coming up" and "will be there any time soon" are two different things. And what raid is this?

By the way, Connelly mentions Louisville being very well garrisoned, but I haven't looked up in the OR what it says there.

But this mentions "only" (my quotes) 30,000 Federal troops in Louisville, and Buell's army arriving on the 26th - no mention of any raid into it.

http://www.louisvillehistoricalleag...ates_in_Louisville_History_rev_1-16-2011_.pdf

So the more I look at this, the less I see how this could work, even if Morgan is able to do this (Ans is Morgan even with Bragg , as opposed to Kirby Smith? I'm not sure - but anyway, we can have him show up at this point as a POD for something, certainly - just not sure it would work out like this).

Perhaps this will help:
http://www.floydsfork.org/ht/ht_shelbyville.htm

Bragg arrives later on September 25th and is key to reinforcing the city. Illinois troops will arrive some time after that, and I think combined with the existing forces of Bragg from Tennessee you get to 30,000 prior to Perryville. By September 30 the city will likely not fall even to a combined force from Bragg and Kirby, but if attacked before that in unison there is a real chance that Louisville flies the Stars and Bars.
 
Except that the 30,000 is before Buell gets there.

Connelly:

"On September 23, two days before Buell's lead division reached the city, Louisville was manned by some thirty-seven thousand troops plus between four thousand and five thousand civilian volunteers."

Or as Gordon Granger reported to Buell on the 24th: "I have thirty-five thousand men. I am entrenched and believe I can hold the city. . . . When you have brought Bragg to bay then I will attack him. Only let me know the route and time. Granger to Buell, September 24, 1862, in Buell Papers, Rice."

As of the 19th, we have this: http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordview.cfm?content=/023/0526

Trying to find more precise information, but I am disinclined to trust that website from the information I have.
 
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