John Hunt Morgan in Kentucky

During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate forces sought control over Monroe County and especially Tompkinsville. The first part of 1862 saw an increased number of Confederates in the area. The Union, trying to maintain supremacy in this part of the state, sent four companies of the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry to Tompkinsville. They were led by Major Thomas Jefferson Jordan, had 230 soldiers, and contained a large supply train. Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan was launching his famous "First Kentucky Raid" and his first objective was the destruction of the Union forces in Tompkinsville. Morgan and his raiders left Celina, Tennessee on July 8th at 10:00 PM and marched all night to surprise his foe. The early morning of July 9, 1862, the peaceful little town of Tompkinsville was awakened by the thunder of cannon fire. At 5:00am the Confederate forces surprised and surrounded the Union garrison. The raiders positioned two cannons and fired into the camp, then carried it by a dashing charge. Within two hours the battle was over. The Confederates had captured the garrison and many Union soldiers, including Major Jordan. This, Morgan's first raid, yielded 20 wagons, 50 mules, 40 cavalry horses, supplies of sugar, coffee, etc. Union and Confederate reports contradict each other as to the tactics, number of troops, injuries, and fatalities of the battle. The following, official reports written by the commanding officers, best describe the battle. They are copied from War of the Rebellion, Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I Vol. XVI.

Colonel Morgan's official report, written immediately after the battle to Major General Edmund Kirby Smith, reads as follows:

Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan Reports of Col. John H. Morgan, Second Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate) commanding expedition. BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, Tompkinsville, Ky., July 9, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to report that I arrived with my command at the Cumberland River and passed the ford at about 2pm yesterday, 8th instant. My forces consisted of Colonel Hunt's Georgia regiment cavalry, my own regiment, and a squadron of Texas Rangers; we were joined at the river by two companies under Captains Hamilton and McMillin. I received information that the enemy had passed the Cumberland River at Celina the day of my arrival with about 180 men, but did not deem it right to attack that force, as I was aware that a considerable body of cavalry, about 380 or 400 strong, were stationed at this town, and I thought by rapid night march I might succeed in surprising them. I left the river at 10pm on the 8th instant, and at 5am this day I surprised the enemy, and having surrounded them, threw four shells into their camp, and then carried it by a dashing charge. The enemy fled, leaving about 22 dead and 30 to 40 wounded in our hands. We have 30 prisoners and my Texas squadron are still in pursuit of the fugitives. Among the prisoners is Major Jordan, their commander, and two lieutenants. The tents, stores, and camp equipage I have destroyed, but a valuable baggage train, consisting of some 20 wagons and 50 mules is in my possession; also some 40 cavalry horses, and supplies of sugar, coffee, etc. I did not lose a single man in killed, but have to regret that Colonel Hunt, while leading a brilliant charge, received a severe wound in the leg, which prevents his going on with the command. I also had three members of the Texas squadron wounded, but not seriously. Very respectfully, JOHN H. MORGAN, Colonel, Commanding.

Major Jordan, captured during the battle, wrote his official report of the battle to Brigadier General J. T. Boyle on December 29, 1862, while at Louisville, KY. It is more complete in battle detail. His report reads as follows:

Map of Morgan's First Kentucky Raid - July 1862 Reports of Maj. Thomas J. Jordan, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry (Union), of the capture of Tompkinsville. Louisville KY., December 29, 1862. SIR: On July 6, I was in command of the post at Tompkinsville, KY. having with me companies C, I, and M of the 9th Pennsylvania Calvary. During that day I was informed that a large body of the enemy were collecting at Celina, a little village on the south side of the Cumberland River, some 20 miles from me. About the same time I learned that Company E, of my regiment, was at Glasgow, KY, 27 miles north of me. I at once ordered that company to join me, which it did about noon of the 7th, thus making my command about 230 effective men. With this force I determined to attack Celina, and, if possible, capture or disperse the forces of the enemy at that point before they could be fully concentrated. At 8 o'clock on that night I moved from my camp with my whole command, leaving only a detachment of Company M to guard my tent and stores. I succeeded in crossing the Cumberland at a point 12 miles north of Celina, and at daylight on the morning of the 8th entered the place, but I was disappointed in not finding the enemy. I made every inquiry probable from the inhabitants, but all denied any knowledge of forces being either there or in the neighborhood. Thinking that I had been misled, but far from being satisfied, I marched back to my camp, at which I arrived about 8 o'clock in the evening. I at once ordered the usual pickets to be posted on all the roads leading to my position, and also an extra one far out on the Celina Road, so as to secure my camp against surprise during the night.

As day broke on the morning of the 9th revile was sounded, and in a few moments my men were busily engaged in feeding and cleaning their horses. My officers were all at their posts, when a faint discharge of firearms was heard far out on the Celina Road. I at once ordered the horses to be saddled, and in a few moments my pickets reported the enemy approaching in large force, and within a minute the head of Colonel Morgan's command began to deploy from the woods into an open field some 300 yards from me. I soon found that his force outnumbered mine by six to one, but as he showed no disposition to charge me, I deemed it not prudent to retreat. His command soon opened to the right and left in front of me, displaying two pieces of cannon in position, which at once opened upon me with shell. I replied with my carbines, and could distinctly see that we were doing good execution. Finding at the tenth round of the enemy that they were getting my range and seeing a movement from their right flank intended to gain my rear I gave the order to wheel and retreat. This movement was done with the precision of a parade, my men remaining perfectly cool and obedient to my orders. To gain the Burkesville Road it was necessary that my retreat should go through a deep woods in my rear. I had not entered it but a few yards when I was opened upon by a line of the enemy, consisting of two squadrons of Texas Rangers, who had been thrown in my rear. I at once ordered my men to charge the line, which they did in the most gallant style, literally overturning the Rangers and driving them from the field. The Burkesville Road being gained, my retreat was conducted in a most orderly manner, the enemy not pursuing us until we had gained some 2 miles, when, hearing firing in my rear, I deemed it proper for me to personally look to my rear guard, that I had placed under charge of Lt. Sullivan, of Company E. For this purpose I rode to the rear of my column and found that the firing proceeded from beyond a turn in the road some 200 yards behind my rear guard. Fearing that some of my men might have been separated from my command and were being attacked I rode back to the turn, so as to be able to see, when I discovered Lt. Sullivan in the act of being murdered by some 20 of the enemy, who had surrounded him.

I at once turned my horse for the purpose of rejoining my command, when I found two of the enemy already in the road before me and in a moment after they were increased to 6, thus entirely cutting me off from my men. I determined to try to force my way through them, with my pistol answering to their shot-guns, but I soon found that resistance would be a madness and surrendered myself as a prisoner of war. After I had surrendered I was fired upon at the distance of but a few feet, the charge, happily for me, missing its mark but blackening the side of my face with powder. The forces of Colonel Morgan on that occasion consisted of his own brigade, Colonel Hunt's (Fifth Georgia) regiment of cavalry, a regiment of Alabama cavalry, two squadrons of Texas Rangers, and the independent companies of Captains Bledsoe, Hamilton, McMillin, and Ferguson, numbering in all some 2,000 men, with two pieces of artillery. My loss was 4 killed (including Lt. Sullivan), 7 wounded, and 19 prisoners. I also lost my tents, wagons, mules, and personal baggage of my command. On the part of the enemy, I have been informed that 19 were killed or mortally wounded and 28 slightly. Colonel Hunt was mortally wounded and died at Tompkinsville. I cannot speak too highly of the coolness and bravery displayed by my officers and men. My orders were promptly obeyed and every one did his whole duty.
Respectfully Submitted. THOS. J. JORDAN, Major, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

Col. Thomas F. Berry, one of Morgan's Men, wrote another conflicting report of the Battle of Tompkinsville in his autobiography Four years with Morgan and Forrest. It states the following:
Continuing our march, we reached Tompkinsville, where we encountered a Federal force of 500 men under Colonel Jordan. We tried to surround them, only to find that they had been apprised of our approach, and were prepared to receive us. We opened on them. The battle did not last long. We captured the camp, 20 wagons, 60 prisoners, killed 46, wounded 109. Our loss was four killed. Colonel Hunt's leg was shattered, the wound causing death in a few days.

After the battle, Morgan's raiders marched on to Glasgow and continued north. In just twenty four days, Morgan and his raiders traveled over one thousand miles, captured seventeen towns, destroyed all of the government supplies and arms in them, and paroled nearly twelve hundred Union troops. Four months later, Morgan would return to Tompkinsville, newly married and promoted to brigadier general. This time he and his raiders were only camping here as they began their next Kentucky raid "The Christmas Raid, 1862-1863."