PENI es ER RN REI E REC Ie OR ear

708 Nortu CaroLina Troops, 1861-65.

mountains. Thus, like the Valley of Virginia, it became
during the entire war a constant battle ground, and almost
every part of it became the scene of most desperate struggles.
Unlike the Valley of Virginia, its: population was almost
evenly divided upon the great questions involved. It is
probable more troops were furnished to the Federal army
than to the Confederate from this section. The result was
that a most bitter internecine conflict was waged between
these people for four years, with many of the usual incidents
of such unhappy conditions. “Bushwhacking” and all kinds
of warfare, civilized and uncivilized, cruel and unrelenting,
were prevalent; and a campaign in that country was accom
panied by constant and sanguinary personal encounters and
feuds. Although more than a third of a century has elapsed,
an unhappy state of things may yet, occasionally, be found
to survive in some localities.

KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN.

In September, 1862, the Kentucky campaign began, the
Thirty-ninth, with their neighbors in the Twenty-ninth,
being pushed forward and posted at Baptist Gap, on the
Cumberland, and on the left of Stevenson’s Division, which
was closely pressing General Morgan, who with a strong force,
occupied Cumberland Gap-the key to the whole country. Here
the regiment received its “baptism of fire” ; and it was in con-
sequence of its operations, in connection with the other two
regiments with which it was acting, that General Morgan was
compelled to evacuate Cumberland Gap--theretofore believed
to be practically impregnable—and commenced his flight to-
wards the Ohio. The pursuit was vigorous and doubtless would
have been successful, but the pursuing column was withdrawn
and joined in the general advance upon Frankfort and Louis-
ville. General Bragg, with the greater portion of the army,
proceeded from his base at Chattanooga via Crab Orchard,
while Smith’s Corps (in which the Thirty-ninth was serving,
having at Cumberland Gap been assigned to Raines’ Brigade)
advanced by way of Lancaster, Barboursville, Richmond,
Danville, Harrodsburg, Lawrenceburg, and entered Frank-

fort about 1 October.

Tuirty-NintH REGIMENT. 709

General Bragg had, unfortunately, allowed the Federals,
under General Buell, to escape him at Mumfordville, Ky., and
though closely pursued, they succeeded in reaching Louis-
ville, and there finding heavy reinforcements and abundance
of supplies awaiting him, General Buell speedily resumed
the offensive. Then began the retrograde movement, result-
ing in the hard-fought and drawn battle of Perryville and
almost daily engagements between portions of each army, ex-
tending until late in October and across the State of Ken-
tucky, and closing with the opposing armies occupying almost
the identical positions as when the campaign opened. Perhaps
no better organized army ever existed than that with which
Bragg entered Kentucky—the troops had become veterans,
were of the flower of the population of the Southwest; had
great enthusiasm for the cause and confidence in their lead-
ers and in each other; and whenever they were permitted to
fight they showed that they were far more than a match for
the enemy. The battle of Perryville was, and perhaps will
always remain, a mystery to most of Kirby Smith’s Corps.
All that day with thirty thousand eager fighting men, it lay
inactive on the right of the Confederate line, hearing the
sound of that terrific conflict, witnessing some of the engage-
ment, having the weak, unprotected left wing of the Poderala
in front, and yet it was not permitted to fire a gun! Doubt-
less there was at the time some urgent reason; but from that
moment the men began to doubt the ability of their com-
manding General to handle an army, and such feeling is dif-
ficult to remove, and always has a demoralizing effect. On
the next day the corps was moved through Harrodsburg and
drawn up in line of battle a mile or two west of that town.
All day there was lively skirmishing with artillery engage-
ments, but notwithstanding Buell was offered battle, he ee
been too badly erippled at Perryville to accept the challenge.
The retreat from Kentucky was deliberate. General Buell
who had by this time a very largely superior force, for oie
reason did not attempt to bring on a general engagement, but
contented himself with a series of rear-guard actions, some
of them quite spirited. The Thirty-ninth was in the rear
brigade (Raines’) of Smith’s Corps, and frequently was