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Hight, John J. and Gilbert R. Stormont. History of the Fifty-Eighth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Princeton,Indiana: Press of the Clarion, 1895.
Pages 93-95
Next morning after our little brush with the rebels we resumed our march toward Louisville. Bragg was now in our advance, but at Elizabethtown he turned to the right, taking the route leading through Bardstown. It was yet uncertain whether he would reach Louisville ahead of us, and we pushed forward with all possible speed. We passed rapidly on to Elizabethtown where we arrived at 3 p. m. of the same day. We went into bivouac for a short time, but about dark we again took up our line of march and kept going until 11 p. m., when we went into camp for the night. Early next morning we started without having an opportunity to get anything to eat. About 2 o’clock p. m. we arrived at West Point on the Ohio river, nineteen miles below Louisville. General Buell here took steamboat passage for Louisville, and we went into bivouac until 10 o’clock next morning. At that hour we started again but did not make very rapid progress. Late in the afternoon of September 25th, we went into camp in a meadow, situated on the river bank, with the pleasant prospect of a good night’s rest. But our anticipations were not realized. About 9 o’clock word came in to “fall in” and move on to Louisville, about ten miles distant. It seems there was great fear that the rebels would strike that place with its garrison of new troops before our arrival. Hence the order for us to proceed at once. We were now in advance of Buell’s entire army and it was, therefore, important that we should move on.
They were also tired, foot-sore, and very much disgusted and discouraged. Here we were again at the same place from which we started about nine months ago, with a strong and defiant rebel army within a few miles of us. It indeed was discouraging, for it seemed that all our arduous work had been for naught. No wonder many of our soldiers took advantage of our proximity to Indiana to take a “French furlough” here, and visited their homes. Under all the circumstances it is easy to understand how many of those who thus absented themselves without leave, were persuaded, by some of their rebel-sympathizing friends, to remain at home, and thus to cause themselves to be marked as deserters. It is a fact that there were more cases of desertion during the retreat of our army, and while we were at Louisville, than any other time. Perhaps more than during the entire three years’ service. As soon as we struck the Ohio river, at the mouth of Salt river, there was a longing desire to cross over into “God’s Country,” as our soldiers called Indiana. The homes of many our Regiment were only a few miles distant, and it was not unnatural that some of them should avail themselves of this opportunity to visit their friends. At Louisville there was a great pressure upon the commanding officers for furloughs. A few were granted but it was out of the question to grant all request of this kind. It would have simply amounted to a temporary disbanding of the army and giving up the city to the rebels. However, those who were very anxious to go home did not stand on the formality of a furlough; they simply went, both officers and men. It was a risky thing to do, but most of them were fortunate enough to get back to their Regiments in time to avoid any serious consequences to themselves.
As it has been stated, we arrived in Louisville at 3 o’clock on the morning of September 26th, in advance of Buell’s army. It was a cold frosty night, the men were all thinly clad and suffered from the cold. We halted on a vacant lot on Broad street, near the center of the city. There were several old frame buildings near at hand, and it was not long until this combustible material was doing patriotic service in warming the tired soldiers, and boiling coffee for their refreshment. It was cause of great astonishment to the Louisvillians, this invasion of their city at that hour of the night, and this appropriation of their property, without leave or license. But our ragged and fatigued veterans were not in the most amiable mood just then, and were not inclined to stand on ceremony.
Our entry into Louisville at this time and in this fashion, also occasioned something of a surprise to the Regiments of new troops which were guarding the city. Some of these new troops thought the rebels were coming sure, and the “long roll” was sounded in several camps, calling the soldiers into line of battle to resist the invasion. Their alarm is not to be wondered at, taking everything into consideration. For several days the city had been in a state of feverish excitement on account of the approach of the rebel army. For some time after leaving Mumfordsville, as we have stated, Bragg’s army was ahead of Buell, and there was a probability that Bragg would reach Louisville first. He could have easily done so, but for some reason he chose to switch off to Bardstown. Then, another reason why the fresh troops might be excused for being alarmed at our visit on that cool September night, was because our general appearance was very much like what they would imagine the rebels would be. We were ragged and dusty, and only a few of our men had a coat or blouse of any kind. In the mater of appearance of our attire we might easily be mistaken for a rebel army, or an army of beggars.
Next day we were moved to an open space outside of the city, not far from the place we first camped on Kentucky soil. We had a chance to rest here for a few days, but we had no change of clothes and no opportunity to draw new clothes. Our knapsacks and extra clothing had been left with the wagon train at Bowling Green. We could wash and make a more presentable appearance, however, and this we did. It is remarkable what a change can be effected, even on a ragged soldier, with a little soap and water, and an inclination to use them
Pages 93-95
Next morning after our little brush with the rebels we resumed our march toward Louisville. Bragg was now in our advance, but at Elizabethtown he turned to the right, taking the route leading through Bardstown. It was yet uncertain whether he would reach Louisville ahead of us, and we pushed forward with all possible speed. We passed rapidly on to Elizabethtown where we arrived at 3 p. m. of the same day. We went into bivouac for a short time, but about dark we again took up our line of march and kept going until 11 p. m., when we went into camp for the night. Early next morning we started without having an opportunity to get anything to eat. About 2 o’clock p. m. we arrived at West Point on the Ohio river, nineteen miles below Louisville. General Buell here took steamboat passage for Louisville, and we went into bivouac until 10 o’clock next morning. At that hour we started again but did not make very rapid progress. Late in the afternoon of September 25th, we went into camp in a meadow, situated on the river bank, with the pleasant prospect of a good night’s rest. But our anticipations were not realized. About 9 o’clock word came in to “fall in” and move on to Louisville, about ten miles distant. It seems there was great fear that the rebels would strike that place with its garrison of new troops before our arrival. Hence the order for us to proceed at once. We were now in advance of Buell’s entire army and it was, therefore, important that we should move on.
They were also tired, foot-sore, and very much disgusted and discouraged. Here we were again at the same place from which we started about nine months ago, with a strong and defiant rebel army within a few miles of us. It indeed was discouraging, for it seemed that all our arduous work had been for naught. No wonder many of our soldiers took advantage of our proximity to Indiana to take a “French furlough” here, and visited their homes. Under all the circumstances it is easy to understand how many of those who thus absented themselves without leave, were persuaded, by some of their rebel-sympathizing friends, to remain at home, and thus to cause themselves to be marked as deserters. It is a fact that there were more cases of desertion during the retreat of our army, and while we were at Louisville, than any other time. Perhaps more than during the entire three years’ service. As soon as we struck the Ohio river, at the mouth of Salt river, there was a longing desire to cross over into “God’s Country,” as our soldiers called Indiana. The homes of many our Regiment were only a few miles distant, and it was not unnatural that some of them should avail themselves of this opportunity to visit their friends. At Louisville there was a great pressure upon the commanding officers for furloughs. A few were granted but it was out of the question to grant all request of this kind. It would have simply amounted to a temporary disbanding of the army and giving up the city to the rebels. However, those who were very anxious to go home did not stand on the formality of a furlough; they simply went, both officers and men. It was a risky thing to do, but most of them were fortunate enough to get back to their Regiments in time to avoid any serious consequences to themselves.
As it has been stated, we arrived in Louisville at 3 o’clock on the morning of September 26th, in advance of Buell’s army. It was a cold frosty night, the men were all thinly clad and suffered from the cold. We halted on a vacant lot on Broad street, near the center of the city. There were several old frame buildings near at hand, and it was not long until this combustible material was doing patriotic service in warming the tired soldiers, and boiling coffee for their refreshment. It was cause of great astonishment to the Louisvillians, this invasion of their city at that hour of the night, and this appropriation of their property, without leave or license. But our ragged and fatigued veterans were not in the most amiable mood just then, and were not inclined to stand on ceremony.
Our entry into Louisville at this time and in this fashion, also occasioned something of a surprise to the Regiments of new troops which were guarding the city. Some of these new troops thought the rebels were coming sure, and the “long roll” was sounded in several camps, calling the soldiers into line of battle to resist the invasion. Their alarm is not to be wondered at, taking everything into consideration. For several days the city had been in a state of feverish excitement on account of the approach of the rebel army. For some time after leaving Mumfordsville, as we have stated, Bragg’s army was ahead of Buell, and there was a probability that Bragg would reach Louisville first. He could have easily done so, but for some reason he chose to switch off to Bardstown. Then, another reason why the fresh troops might be excused for being alarmed at our visit on that cool September night, was because our general appearance was very much like what they would imagine the rebels would be. We were ragged and dusty, and only a few of our men had a coat or blouse of any kind. In the mater of appearance of our attire we might easily be mistaken for a rebel army, or an army of beggars.
Next day we were moved to an open space outside of the city, not far from the place we first camped on Kentucky soil. We had a chance to rest here for a few days, but we had no change of clothes and no opportunity to draw new clothes. Our knapsacks and extra clothing had been left with the wagon train at Bowling Green. We could wash and make a more presentable appearance, however, and this we did. It is remarkable what a change can be effected, even on a ragged soldier, with a little soap and water, and an inclination to use them