James H. G. Bush to John W. Finnell

KYR-0001-027-0046.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-027-0046

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1862-1863

Item Location

R2-74 to R2-78

Place of Creation

Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

3 October 1862

Dates Mentioned

1862-10-03

1862-09-30

1862-10-01

James H. G. Bush to John W. Finnell, 3 October 1862, Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1862-1863, R2-74 to R2-78, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-027-0046, (accessed December 22, 2024).

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Maysville KyOctober 3^rd 1862,
General J W Finnell

Dear Sir I hasten to say, I sent you a letter by Quartermaster Rickets of the 14th Ky Vol Cavalry.

And as He has returned without having brought any further instruction Concerning the consolidation and organization of the 14^th Ky Cavalry, Since that time we have lost some by death -- Captured by the enemy and desertions, So that We now lack about Seventy men, of having the number requisite for a Battallion -- Counting Finnells Company as being full, He Having been elected & commissioned. heretofore Please send me instructions How to proceed as we have not enough to make a Major's command Cant you send us 70 recruits to fill up the quota. Do send us 2 or 3 Six pound cannon or some Mountain Howitzers, Our Boys in, Spite of all are greatly demoralized without some more efficient commander they cannot be controlled they are a perfect Mob stragling out of camp Hoaring & drinking &c &c officers afraid of them as they are elective
Genl W H Wadsworth has been trying his hand at Cincinatti with Genl Wright but it is no go -- He did send Lieut Col Wilson the commander of this posts, two gun-boats (the Same that fled from Augusta when Duke attacked that town last Saturday,)

There have ~~been~~ enough able bodied young men passed through here and gone to the state of Ohio, for safety to make Two full Regiments but they could not be prevailed upon to take arms and, help us to drive the enemy out of Ky, We have about 60 or 70 good men that we are subsisting for their services, they work well and are quite willing. We appear to be rather a graceless set here and utterly unworthy of help -- or this point is too insignificant to need protection, You have had many rumors. concerning the Augusta & Brooksville fights, no doubt; But I must give my version -- On Saturday last a messenger informed me that 60 Men had took Flemingsburgh -- our Mounted men about 85 all told were on many of them on Scout, duty, L^t Co^l Wilson requested me to take what mounted force I could raise & go to
Flemingsburgh ^Seventeen miles^ and feel of the enemy -- I raised 63 men and marched from camp at ¹/₂ past two O'clock P. M. for Flemingsburgh in dust from 2 to 4 inches deep, We got to Flemingsburgh at 7 O'clock -- it commenced raining and was very dark I ordered a halt and led a reconnoisance found no enemy in two Miles of the place East or South, I fed and got Supper having first picketed the town closely.

at ³/₄ past 11 O'clock P M I received by special messenger an order from L^t Co^l Wilson, requiring me to March my command to Germantown a distance of 29 Miles. as there was then a fight going on at Augusta and Co^l Marshall & Gen^l Wadsworth were mooveing all the foot troops at Maysville to reinforce at Germantown Lt Co^lWilson having gone to Ripley for the troop at that place, I was to be at Germantown at 7 O'clock A, M. and I got there a 3 minutes before the time amid the shouts of our boys -- We got a cup of coffee fed & watered our Jaded Horses & in 20' were on the March we heard that Duke was, at Brookville arresting & paroling Citizens, Co^l Wilson ordered the Cavalry to double Quick to the Head of the column & look out for
the enemy -- we plied the spur and were soon in position passing the Ohio 44th and the 14^th Ky Cavalry that were not mounted and some Ohio Volunteers under Col Edwards. When within 2 Miles of Brooksville we met a woman bare headed and bare footed crying go fast go fast they are there yet and got the men in the Court-House I sent Gen^l Wadsworth and L^t Col Wilson word that we had a chance & where I was &c The messenger returned with an order from Lt Co^l Wilson to flank the road & proceed cautiously & He would soon bring up the infantry & artilery. --

When in less than ¹/₂ mile of the town but in plain view I Halted and formed the cavalry in a ravine densely covered with timbers ordered a dismount proceeded alone on foot under cover of a hedge of bushes to a point commanding a fine view of Brooksville I supposed our advance had been discovered as the Rebels were forming a line on the Augusta road -- I sent this word to Co^l Wilson -- who was marching very rapidly and in 3 minutes his advance came up Gen^l Wadsworth was ordered to deploy the infantry and form them into a line of Battle this was done in a trice Co^l Willson & Gen^l Wadsworth ^& Col C. A. Marshall^ went forward to examine the ground --

I was ordered to Send forward a squad of Cavalry covered by the fences and Hill to see the exact position of the enemy I throwed forward 30 men to make this reconnoisance, and found the enemy in full retreat, I communicatied this fact to Co^l Wilson and He ordered a charge We darted in; iIt Would have pleased you to see how willingly 30 fellows pushed forward to attack over 600 well drilled Cavalry We had not gone far when I found seven of the boys were going at full speed on a nearer road I ordered a halt intending to keep my hand full of men to-gether charge up to the rear Guard empty our guns and return to the left flank -- but it was too-late They were thundering away -- It only remained for us to change our course and by a flank movement go to their support, The firing commenced When our van Guard got up to the Court House when the balance of the Cavalry was from 300 to 400 yards off the enemy's was a cross fire and whistled throug our cavalry only killing one Man -- Private Carrington of Capt McKee's company.
3 of our boys were in front flying after some retreating rebels, at this Juncture Baz Duke with 16 or 18 Men fell upon our boys in their rear but their shots failed,. they were hurrying off our boys whom they had captured but one of them ~~whiled~~ wheeled his horse & made his escape, with little Bob Trumbo -- (a son of Hon^lA. Trumbo of Bath) at my side I proceeded with 2 other's M^rFred Berbower & an other I did not know we pressed upon Baz Duke & party so closely we cut off one of their Men and took him prisoner we fired upon the rear Guard twice they returned the fire once -- We then found that the main body of cavalry had halted I sent M^r Beerbower back to enquire the cause & the other man to inform Co^l Wilson that they were close at hand. He ordered up the Artilery and commenced shelling the enemy they replied with their little swivel once only- We captured 4 Horses two guns and one prisoner and paroled for Co^l Duke about 35 citizens -- We then marched to Augusta and took boat & arrived at Maysville at 9 O'clock P.M We had marched our cavalry
more than 70 Miles besides skirmishing &c all praise is due to L^t Co^l Wilson who exposed himself to the fire of the enemy and was as courageous and asnd as ~~cool~~ cool as on dress parde also Gen Wadsworth He seemed to be delighted at the prospect of a battle all parties have full confidence in him. The officers and men all behaved well as far as I could see --

For several days past the enemy have been threatening an attack on this place and the vigilance of the Post commander Liet Co^l Wilson for his energy untiring and indefatiguable exertions both by night and day are worthy of all praise He executed his plans in an admirable manner on the 30 Sept He ordered a complete reconnoisance of all the roads &c at 4 O'clock PM our pickets under Mr Campbell were driven in ^two being captured^ I mounted my horse & with 30 Men followed the Cavalry of Holladay & Bob Stoner 5 Miles finding they had fallen back upon their reinforcements I returned, ^at night^ our whole force slept on their arms Guarding every entrance to this city -- On the 1^st OctoberMajor Smith with 20 men was ordered to find the enemy & if Practable feel him --

about 4 miles from the City on the Flemingsburgh pike the Major came up to the enemy -- He charged and fired upon him the firing was kept up at long range until the major had expended 3 rounds at the enemy, when the ^enemy^ retreated in haste carrying off his wounded one man, ^wound^ in the arm Bully for the Major. The enemy was 230 strong -- there were from 300 to 600 in the vicinity -- sShow this to Governor Robinson I will do the best I can in your matters do write soon

as ever your friend
Jas H G Bush

P. S. The conduct of Rob^t Trumbo ~~& M~~ a private in Capt M^cKee's company -- and Maj Smith is certainly deserving especial praise & I hope you will also commend Mr Smart the man who escaped from the rebels at Brooksville after he was taken prisoner to his excellency Gov Robinson and at least send a letter praiseing their conduct in a deserving manner

J H G Bush

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