CHAPTER XI.
MORGAN'S SECOND GREAT RAID.
General Morgan was allowed but ten days' rest after his return from hisgreat victory at Hartsville. General Rosecrans had finished repairing theLouisville and Nashville Railroad, and trains were running again betweenthe two cities. Reports had been brought to General Bragg that the Federaltroops at Nashville were suffering greatly for want of food; that militarystores of all kinds were short; and he thought if the road were againbroken, Rosecrans would be forced to fall back on account of supplies. Whoso willing and able to break it as General Morgan?
But there was little use of trying to raid the road south of BowlingGreen, for it was guarded by thousands of men. To cripple the roadeffectually meant another raid clear through the state of Kentucky. Tothis General Morgan was not averse.
When his men heard that another raid was to be made into Kentucky, theirenthusiasm knew no bounds. What cared they for the dangers to beencountered, for long rides, for sleepless nights, and the tremendousfatigue they would be called upon to endure? They were to stir up theYankees once more; that was enough.
"Kentucky! Ho, for Kentucky!" was their cry, and they shouted and sanguntil they could shout and sing no longer for want of breath.
Bragg was fully alive to the importance of the expedition, and was willingto give Morgan all the troops he could possibly spare. Morgan was soon atthe head of the most formidable force he had ever commanded. It consistedof over three thousand cavalry, with a full battery, besides his own lightbattery.
The task which had been assigned him was indeed a perilous one. It was toride almost to the very gates of Louisville, and to destroy the immensetrestle works at Muldraugh Hill. This done, the Louisville and NashvilleRailroad would again be effectually crippled for weeks.
He set out from Alexandria, on December 22, and in two days he was inGlasgow, Kentucky. The citizens of Glasgow had come to look upon Morgan asa monthly visitor by this time; therefore they were not surprised at hiscoming. Here he met with the first Federal force, which was quicklyscattered.
Remaining in Glasgow only long enough to rest his horses, he pushed on forMumfordsville, where the great bridge spans the Green River. But learningthat the place was held by so strong a force that it would be madness forhim to attack it, he passed a few miles to the right, and struck therailroad at Bacon Creek. Here a stout block-house, defended by ninetysoldiers, guarded the bridge. They put up a stout defence in hopes ofbeing reinforced from Mumfordsville, but at last were compelled tosurrender, the block-house being knocked to pieces by Morgan's artillery.
Burning the bridge and destroying four miles of road, the command moved onto Nolan, where another block-house was captured and a bridge burned. Thiswas the third time that these bridges had been destroyed by Morgan.
Elizabethtown was the next goal to be reached. As they approached theplace, Calhoun, who was in advance with his scouts, was met by an officerbearing a flag of truce, who handed him a dirty envelope, on which wasscrawled:
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