E 509 • K42 Copy 1 ooocooc>Dcococ©oe©c»ococx>coo©oo^ COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. REPORT OF MILITARY BOARD. 1861. REPORT MILITAEY BOAED KENTUCKY, MADE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1861. FRANKFOET, KY.: PRINTED AT THE YEOMAN OFFICE. JNO. B. MAJOR, STATE PRINTER, - 1861. /O 2 fit 31 ^Mfl MILITARY REPORT. Frankfort, September 3d, 1861. Hon. John F. Fisk, Speaker of the Senate: The undersigned Commissioners, appointed by an act of the Gen- eral Assembly, entitled " An act for the regulation of the Militia and to provide for the arming of the State," approved May 24th, 1861, submit the following report : At as early a period after the passage of the act above referred to, and the attendance of the Commissioners who lived remotely from the seat of government could be procured, the Board was organized by the appointment of Governor Magoffin as its President, and Philip Swigert Secretary, when they proceeded in the discharge of the high and responsible duties assigned them by the representatives of the people. To enable the Commissioners to carry into effect the object of the law, their earliest attention was directed to the procurement of means, by way of loans from the " banks of issue in this State," and they therefore appointed committees, composed of members of the com- mission, to confer with the banks and ascertain whether loans could be obtained at such times as the funds might be wanting, on the terms and for the objects indicated in the law, which resulted in but very limited success; and as the Commissioners were restricted in their negotiations for loans "to the banks of issue in this State," no appli- cations have been made elsewhere. The Northern Bank, Farmers' Bank, Bank of Kentucky, and Bank of Louisville, in reply to applications made them for loans, state, that they "decline for the present," and assign their reasons for such declension. The Southern Bank of Kentucky expressed a willingness to furnish their pro rata of the amount which the law authorized the Commis- sioners to borrow, upon condition that the other banks would furnish their pro rata. From the Commercial Bank, People's Bank, and Bank of Ashland, no direct reply has been received. The Southern Bank of Kentucky had, previous to the passage of the law creating this Board, advanced to the Governor, by way of loan, $60,000 ; the Bank of Louisville and the Commercial Bank had advanced, in like manner, the sum often thousand dollars each, in the aggregate, $80,000, which they were willing should be transferred to the Commissioners for the purpose and on the terms stated in the law, which was accepted, and bonds were executed to them respect- ively, bearing date May 1st, 1861, payable ten years after date, the interest payable semi-annually at the office of the Treasurer of this State. 4 MILITARY REPORT. No provision having been made for th*e payment of either the princi- pal or interest of this loan, we would respectfully suggest to the Legisla- ture the propriety of such provision. From the amount thus transferred to the Commissioners, a deduction of $22,440 52 was made on a settle- ment with the Governor for disbursements made by him in the pur- chase of arms and munitions of war. These disbursements of the Governor were approved, in order to carry into effect the law direct- ing them "to ratify the contracts for the purchase of arms heretofore made by the Governor of this Commonwealth, and pay for the same." There remained in the hands of the Governor the sum of $57,559 48, which he caused to be deposited in the treasury to the credit of "Com- missioners Military Board." Various other expenditures have been made by the Inspector-Gen- eral, with the sanction of the Governor, in the purchase of camp equi- page, equipments, ammunition, and training the " State Guard" in encampments, a part of which has been paid, and the balance sus- pended for want of proper vouchers and other contingencies, amount- ing in all to sixteen thousand five hundred and ninety-four dollars and thirty-eight cents, which, deducted from the sum of $57,559 48, leaves in the treasury subject to draft the sum of forty thousand nine hundred and sixty-five dollars and ten cents. The encampments of " State Guard" companys, by battalion or regiment, for "training," which had been conducted to some extent without the concurrence of the Commissioners, were found to be preju- dicial to the public interest, as officers and men, who were trained in those encampments at the expense of the State, abandoned their " State Guard" organization, had left, and were continuing to leave, with the avowed intention of uniting themselves with the Confederate army. To correct the abuse thus practiced on the liberality and patriotism of the State, the Commissioners adopted the following resolution: " Whereas, It has come to the knowledge of members of this Board that numbers of the Active Militia who have been in training, are leaving and going to the Confederate States to take up arms against the Government of the United States; therefore, " Resolved, That no more money will be appropriated at present for the purpose of training men who may at any moment abandon the service of the State to join others in hostility to the State of Kentucky and the Government of the United States." In the execution of that part of the law requiring the Commission- ers to make an " equal distribution" of the public arms between the "State Guard" and the "Home Guard" companys, a difference of opinion arose as to the construction of the law. The opinion of the Attorney General was asked as to whether the arms in the hands of the State Guard, at the passage of the Home Guard law, were to be considered in making the distribution equally between the Home and State Guards. This opinion is filed with this report. With a view to carry out the law in accordance with this opinion, the following resolution was passed : " Resolved, That no more of the arms now in the arsenal be distri- buted to the State Guard, and that the Governor be requested to call MILITARY REPORT. 5 in as many arms now distributed to the State Guard as will enable the Board to distribute equally between the State Guard and Home Guard, all the arms belonging to the State." A few only of these arms have been received, and the Board have consequently been unable to make the equal distribution contemplated by law. The following statement will show the "Home Guard" companies to whom arms have been awarded by the Commissioners, and a con- densed statement from the report of the Quartermaster-General, show- ing the number of companies and arms distributed to "State Guard" companies in the same counties, by order of the Inspector-General, with the approbation of the Governor : FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Ballard county Two companies infantry 88 McCracken county One company cavalry, pistols 88 Caldwell county One company infantry 44 Union county One company infantry 44 Muskets and rifles 176 Pistols b8 Aggregate 264 STATE GUARDS. Union county One company infantry. Union county One company artillery. McCracken county One company infantry, 102 rifles. McCracken county One company artillery, 2 12-pounder brass howit- zers, 4 b'-pounder bnas cannon. Hickman county One company infantry, U)U muskets. Graves county One company infantry, fifty muskets, sixty cav- alry swords. Marshall county One company infantry. Muskets and rifles , 302 Pistols and swords 60 Cannon 7 Aggregate 369 SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Christian county Two companies infantry 88 Christian county _ _- One company cavalry, pistols 88 Henderson county One company infantry 44 Muhlenburg county Two companies infantry 88 McLean county One company infantry 44 Hancock county One company infantry 44 Hancock county One company cavalry, pistols 88 Breckinridge county One company infantry 44 Butler county One company infantry 44 Muskets and rifles 396 Pistols _. 176 Aggregate . 572 MILITARY REPORT. STATE GUARDS.* Daviess county.... - One company infantry, fifty muskets. Henderson county ..- One comparfy infantry, sixty rifles. Henderson county * One company cavalry, 100 pistols, 57 saberSi 1 6-pounder brass cannon. Ohio county ... One company infantry, sixty muskets. Hancock county ...One company infantry; fifty rifles. Muskets and rifles - 220 Pistols -. - - 100 Sabers _- 67 Cannon . . -~ *- — 1 378 THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Todd county- One company infantry 44 Logan county... One company infantry 44 Logan county . One company cavalry, pistols- — ....... 88 Simpson county . One company infantry 44 Warren county. .-_..-.. -One company infantry 44 Barren county . ...Three companies infantry 132 Hart, county .... . Two companies infantry 88 Monroe county One company infantry 44 Allen county .....One company infantry 44 Rifles and muskets— 484 Cavalry pistols . 88 Aggregate . . . — — 572 STATE GUARDS. Warren county. . . Two companies infantry, 50 rifles, 60 muskets. Warren county . . .... One 6-pounder brass cannon. Simpson county One company infantry, sixty muskets. Barren county . . Three companies, 140 muskets. Logan county . ...One company infantry, sixty muskets. Rifles and muskets.. 310 Pistols - Cannon . .. . . .... * Aggregate .... . — 30l FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Clinton county. ... One company cavalry, pistols ... 88 Cumberland county. . One company infantry 44 Wayne county . One company infantry ...... 44 Russell county., ...... One company infantry . 44 Pulaski county ..... Two companies infantry 88 Lincoln county. . One company infantry . 44 Green county .. . a .. ... One company infantry ... 44 Adair county . . One company infantry ... 44 Rifles and muskets « ....... . .... . 352 Pistols _ _. 88 Aggregate * . a .. i4 ».^......a.... ... - 440 MILITARY REPORT. 7 STATE GUARDS. Green county..- One company infantry, sixty rifles. Green county -_. One 6-pounder brass cannon. Adair county . . One company infantry, 60 muskets, 6 swords. Clinton county , One company infantry, forty muskets. Pulaski county - One company infantry, forty muskets. Rifles and muskets . 200 Pistols — - «. — . - -- Cannon . . — - 1 Aggregate . 201 FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Meade county . . Two companies infantry, muskets^ 88 Meade county One company cavalry, pistols 88 Hardin county . --.One company infantry, muskets 44 Larue county One company infantry 44 Marion county . .- . One company infantry 44 Nelson county . One company infantry ... 44 Mercer county . One company infantry 44 Mercer county , On,e company cavalry, pistols 88 Anderson county- . . ......One company infantry, muskets 44 Spencer county One company cavalry, pistols b8 Rifles and muskets .... .-._. 352 Pistols _ - _ 264 STATE GUARDS. Nelson county One company infantry, 80 rifles. Hardin county Three companies infantry, 130 muskets. Washington county . . Two companies infantry, 120 muskets. Marion county One company infantry, 50 carbines. Spencer county . , . One company cavalry, 100 pistols, 52 sabers, 80 muskets. Bullitt county One company infantry, 50 rifles. Mercer county.. . . One company cavalry, 60 pistols, 60 sabers. Anderson county . Oue company infantry, 50 rifles. Rifles and muskets 560 Pistols - — 160 Cannon . ... Sabers ._ - — 112 Aggregate . 832 SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Garrard county Two companies cavalry, pistols..... 176 Madison county . ... One company infantry, muskets ._ 44 Lincoln county One company infantry - 44 Knox county One company infantry 44 Estill county ... One company infantry.. . _. 44 Clay county One company infantry .... 44 Muskets and rifles ._..... — — 220 Pistols __ . 176 Aggregate . ... ..... ...... .... 396 STATE GUARDS. Madison county « .. . One company cavalrv, 80 pistols, 40 sabers. Pistols ." -_. 80 Sabers «. . 40 Aggregate ....... ...... . ..........----* - 120 MILITARY REPORT. SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Henry county Two companies infantry.. Shelby county Two companies infantry 88 Muskets and rifles . 176 STATE GUARDS. Shelby county Two companies infantry, 160 muskets. Henry county One company infantry, 50 muskets. Jefferson county 960 muskets, 50 rifles, 50 pistols, 50 sabers. Rifles and muskets } 1220 Pistols __ 50 Sabers 50 Aggregate __ 1320 EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Fayette county .. Three companies infantry 132 Franklin county One company infantry 44 Jessamine county One company infantry 44 Nicholas county One company infantry 44 Muskets and rifles 264 Pistols Aggregate 864 STATE GUARDS. Bourbon county Eighty rifles. Scott county Sixty muskets, four swords. Woodford county One company infantry. Franklin county Two companies infantry. Fayette county. \ 256 rifles, 60 muskets, 94 swords, 1 6-pounder j y £ brass cannon. Harrison county _ Eighty rifles and 130 muskets. Muskets and rifles 756 Pistols Sabers 98 Cannon •_ 1 Aggregate _ _ _ 855 NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Bath county Two companies infantry 88 Boyd county One company infantry 44 Muskets and rifles 132 STATE GUARDS. Greenup county 120 muskets. Montgomery county Fifty muskets. Muskets .- _ _ 170 TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. HOME GUARDS. Carroll county Two companies infantry. Owen county One company infantry 44 Gallatin county . One company infantry 44 Grant county One company infantry 44 Bracken county Two companies infantry 88 Muskets and rifles „ -. 308 MILITARY REPORT. » STATE GUARDS. Campbell county Forty muskets, 2 6-pounder brass cannon. Trimble county 105 muskets sixty rifles. Kenton county 60 muskets, 40 rifles, 50 Colt's pistols, 50 sabers. Boone county' Forty muskets. «. £ 60 rifles, 40 muskets, 1 12-pounder brass can- Mason county _ j aon? j 6 „ pou£lder brass cannon , 1 sword. Carroll county . Ninety muskets, sixty rifles. Owen county 70 carbines, 70 swords, 50 musket*. Pendleton county. Sixty muskets. Muskets and rifles 815 Pistols _ - 50 Sabers _ ._ - 125 Cannon 4 Aggregate — - - - 989 No part of the loan obtained by the Commissioners has been ex- pended in the purchase of arms, (excepting those made by the Gov- ernor,) because it was found, on examination, that the ammunition required to bear a just proportion to the ordnance and small arms owned by the State, together with the cost of constructing a powder magazine for the safe deposit of powder and fixed ammunition, here- tofore kept at the State Arsenal at much risk and hazard, and other incidental expenditures, would probably exhaust the amount subject to their control. Nor has any money been expended in erecting suitable buildings and purchasing the necessary machinery for the manufacture of either arms or powder, (a contingency contemplated in the law,) because, upon investigation, it was found that even if the Commissioners had the means to manufacture, it would be much cheaper to purchase. At an early period after the organization of the Commissioners, they were advised by the Governor that six pieces of brass cannon, which had been sent from Frankfort to Colonel Tilghman for the use of a "State Guard" company at Paducah, and about nine hundred mus- kets, which had been repaired and rifled at the United States Armory in St. Louis, at the expense of this State, and shipped for Louisville, had been landed at Paducah. These arms, both cannon and muskets, in charge of Colonel Tilghman, had been sent by him to Mayfield, Graves county, on the railroad to Tennessee, distant only about twen- ty-six miles from the State line, as was alleged, for safe-keeping. On the receipt of this information, and believirg that the arms were in no condition of safety, the Commissioners, on the 14th June, adopted the following resolution : " Resolved, That the President be authorized and directed to dis- tribute to the companies of the 1st and 2d districts, to whom arms have been allotted out of the arms in charge of Colonel Tilghman at Paducah and Mayfield, and cause the remainder not required for that purpose to be brought, with as much dispatch as possible, to the Arsenal at Frankfort." At a subsequent meeting of the Commissioners, 9th July, it was found that, in consequence of the failure to execute this order by Col. Tilghman, (the agent appointed by the President,) and believing that the arms so near the Tennessee line were in danger of being seized 2 10 MILITABT BEPOKT. and forcibly removed by lawless person*, they adopted the following resolution : "Resolved, That Col. G. T.Wood be authorized and requested to proceed to Paducah and Mayfield and distribute the arms to the com- panies of the 1st and 2d districts to whom arms have been allotted ; and in the event that he finds it inconvenient to distribute them, he is to have them forwarded to the Arsenal at Frankfort." Col. Wood, on his arrival at Paducah, in the discharge of the duty imposed by this resolution, ascertained that the cannon and muskets had been forcibly seized and taken off by the combined efforts of indi- viduals from Fulton county, Ky., and the camp at Union City, Ten- nessee. He was informed that four hundred of the muskets had been distributed to the citizens of Fulton county, and that the remaining muskets and the cannon had been taken to the camp at Union City, Tennessee. For a detailed statement of this transaction reference is made to the report of Col. Wood, marked A, and the accompanying documents B, C, and D, herewith submitted. On the receipt of Col. Wood's report the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That the President be directed to address respectful let- ters to the Governor of Tennessee and the commanding officer at Union City, setting forth the facts connected with the seizure and removal of gix pieces of brass ordnance and a number of small arms from May- field, Ky., to Union City, Tenn., accompanying the application with a copy of such documents in the possession of the Board as may be necessary to a correct understanding of the case, and that he send a special agent for the purpose of delivering the documents, receiving the arms, and have them brought to the State Arsenal." Before any agent had proceeded to Tennessee in conformity with this resolution, Mr. Lannom, from Columbus, Ky., arrived in Frank- fort, and informed the President and one of the Commissioners that the cannon and muskets which had been taken to Union City had been sent, at his request, under guard, by order of the commanding officer at that city, to a point some two or three miles within the limits of this State, where they were guarded by our own citizens. Mr. Lannom further stated that at public meetings held in Fulton and Hickman counties, he had been appointed to proceed to Frankfort to propose to the Commissioners that the citizens of these counties would give bond and security as " Home Guard" companies for the arms distributed in Fulton county at the time of their seizure at Mayfield, as well as for those returned from the camp at Union City. Mr. Lannom at the same time expressed a doubt whether the citizens of those two counties would permit any removal of these arms from their vicinity, if their proposition was rejected. The President and the Commissioners present, the Board not being in session, informed Mr. Lannom that they could not grant the request of their citizens, stating at ihe same time to him that the Board had already allotted to the 1st district a full proportion of the public arms. The President, with a view to regain possession and secure the four hundred muskets distributed to the citizens of Fulton county at the MILITARY REPORT. 11 time of their seizure at Mayfield, as well as those reported by Mr. Lan- nom to have been returned from Union City, requested Dr. Johnson, of Paducah, to appoint some competent and discreet lawyer to insti- tute suits against every individual in whose hands any of these guns might be found. It has just been made known to the Commissioners that all the mus- kets which had been returned to Kentucky from Union City, Tennes- see, which were said to be guarded by our own citizens, h^ive been taken off, but by whom, what their destination, or whether they will ever be recovered, remains to be seen. The Governor informed the Commissioners, very soon after their organization, that there was a quantity of powder purchased by his order for use of the State lying in Russellville; when, on the 14th June, they adopted the following resolution : " Resolved, That the President be authorized and directed to cause the powder now lying in a freight car in Russellville to be transferred to the powder magazine at Frankfort with as little delay as possible ; the quantity reported to be 260 large and 264 small kegs." In the execution of this order, our associate Commissioner, Dr. Pey- ton, on his "individual responsibility," retained forty kegs, of which he informed the Secretary, stating that it was safely stored away, &c, when, on the 31st July, the following resolution was adopted. " Resolved, That the Secretary request Doctor Peyton to forward the 40 kegs of powder retained by him to Frankfort, to be made up into fixed ammunition." This order has not been complied with. The balance of the powder was received in Frankfort, accompanied with a bill for freight and charges, which had accumulated to an amount equal to one half its original cost. There are no small arms in the arsenal, either infantry or cavalry, for distribution; but workmen are constantly employed in repairing those on hand which were unfit for distribution, and those the Com- missioners have had collected from disbanded companies in different parts of the State. There are in the State Arsenal in Frankfort thirty-three pieces of ordnance of the following description: 18 brass 6-pounders, on carriages. 4 brass 6-pounders, not mounted. 1 hi ass 12-pound howitzer, mounted. 1 brass 4-pounder, British trophy, mounted. 6 iron 6 pounders, mounted. 1 10 inch mortar, frame. 2 brass 6-pounders, Mexican trophies, not mounted, (in penitentiary house,) and 3 caissons complete. 19 barrels and 2 boxes canister grape, 6 and 12 pound shot. In the powder magazine there are six hundred and one kegs of pow- der, and one hundred and seventeen boxes of fixed ammunition, con- taining one hundred and seventeen thousand 54-58 and 69 calibre 12 MILITARY REPORT. ball cartridges, and forty-eight thousand percussion caps, subject to the disposition of the Legislature. No ammunition has been distributed by the Commissioners. All of which is respectfully submitted. B. MAGOFFIN, Pres% P. DUDLEY, G. T. WOOD, SAM'L GILL. attorney general s opinion. Attorney General's Office, ) Frankfort, July 10, 1861. \ To the Military Board of Commissioners : Gentlemen : In response to the resolution of your Board of yester- day's date, asking my opinion " as to whether or not the Commission- ers are to regard the guns in the hands of the State Guard at the time of the passage of the act organizing the Military Board as being subject to distribution equally among the State Guard and Home Guard,' : I have to say, it is my opinion that the first clause in the sixth section of the act constituting the Board, (May 24th, 1861,) which is in these words : " The arms and munitions of war which now belong to the State of Kentucky, and all that may be purchased or procured under the authority herein given, shall be subject to the control and disposition of said Board under the provisions of this act," places under the control and disposition of the Board, all the arms and munitions of war which, at the passage of the act, did belong to the State. The expression in the act " which now belong to the State of Kentucky," is broad enough to embrace, and, in my opinion, does embrace, the arms of the State which were then in the hands of the members of the State Guard, These arms did then, and do now, " belong to the State of Kentucky," and were then, and if the act of 24th May, 1861, had not passed, w r ould be now subject to the control of the Commander-in-Chief. (See 1st Sess. Acts, 1859-60, p. 153, sec. 16.) But the control of the Military Board is to be " under the provis- ions" of the act of 24th May, 1861, which, in my opinion, contemplates an equal division of the arms of the State which may at any time be actually distributed, so that there will be an equal number in the hands of the State Guard and in the hands of the Home Guard. Respectfully, A. J. JAMES, Attorney General. [A.] Frankfort, July 30, 1861. To His Excellency, B. Magoffin, President of Military Board: Sir: In compliance with a resolution of the Board " requesting and authorizing the undersigned to proceed to Paducah and Mayfield and MILITARY REPORT. 13 distribute the arms to the companies of the 1st and 2d districts, to whom arms have been allotted, and in the event he finds it inconve- nient to deliver them, he is to have them forwarded to the Arsenal at Frankfort," would state that he went to Mayfield with the object in view of discharging the duties assigned him by the resolution ; that he ascertained that the arms had been taken from Mayfield to the State line, where a division of the arms took place. From the best and most reliable information that could be obtained, 400 of the mus- kets were taken into Fulton county and distributed ; that 500 muskets (or about that number) and the six pieces of cannon were carried to " Camp Brown," at Union City, in the State of Tennessee. For a full, accurate, and detailed account of the facts and circumstances at- tending the taking, carrying off, and the division and distribution of the arms, the Board are referred to a communication from the Hon. A. R. Boon, Judge of the Graves county court, to the undersigned, dated at Mayfield, July 24th, 1861 ; a communication from Judge Boon, of May- field, and Dr. J. M. Johnson, and A. P. Thompson, Esq.. of Paducah, of date July 22d, 1861, to Brigadier General B. F. Cheatham, commanding forces at " Camp Brown," at Union City, in the State of Tennessee; a communication from the Hon. R. K. Williams and others to the un- dersigned, dated at Mayfield, July 25, 1861; a communication from Ervin Anderson, Clerk of the Graves circuit court, dated at Mayfield, July 25, 1861. Also, a letter from R. B. Alexander, dated July 23, 1861, to Judge Boon, in which he says: "Our committee met to-day and decided that you have the guns at Union City, and take them to Mayfield, or any place you may choose;" saying nothing about the 400 muskets in the hands of the citizens of Fulton county, leaving it to be inferred, most clearly, that the people of that county design to retain possession of the arms in their hands. From these facts, I decided not to go in pursuit of the arms to Fulton county, nor to Union City, in Tennessee. Believing not only from the foregoing statement of facts, in the various papers and letters referred to in this communication, but from the concurrent testimony of the citizens of Paducah and Mayfield, (with whom I conversed,) that I could not obtain possession of the arms in Fulton county ; and if the guns in Tennessee should, on my application, be delivered to me, yet such is the excited state of the public mind, (that although no personal vio- lence would have been offered to me,) I would not have been permit- ted to bring the arms from the district. For these reasons I went no further than Mayfield in pursuit of the arms ; added to which, a new state of case had arisen since the passage of the resolution requesting me to go to Paducah and Mayfield to distribute arms, &c. : four hun- dred of the muskets seized had been carried to the county of Fulton, five hundred muskets and the six pieces of cannon carried to a military camp in the State of Tennessee, and were in possession of the troops of that State, or the troops of the Confederate States. Entirely a new state of case having arisen since the action of the Board; consid- ering the peculiarly delicate attitude of Kentucky towards the Federal Government, the State of Tennessee, and the Confederate States ; believing, as I do, that we are in constant danger of collision; know- 14 MILITARY REPORT. ing, if our soil be invaded, and the neutrality of Kentucky violated, the most fearful consequences may follow, I decided to take no further steps toward recovering the arms, but to submit to the Board, for their consideration and decision, the whole matter. I am, very respectfully, G. T. WOOD. The several letters referred to in this communication are filed as parts hereof. G. T. W. [B.] Mayfield, Ey., July 24, 1861. Colonel George T. Wood: Sir: In answer to your inquiries relative to the seizure and carry- ing away of the arms belonging to the State, which were in my cus- tody, I will make the following statements : On Friday, the 19th instant, I learned that Captain King, of Union City, Tennessee, had passed this place on the cars with a company of men in the direction of Paducah ; and learning that there existed in the minds of many persons some apprehension as to the object of his visit, on Saturday morning, in company with Mr. Ervin Anderson, of this place, I went to Paducah for the purpose of conferring with Captain King as to whether or not he had any design upon the arms which I had in my possession. After 1 reached Paducah, an interview was sought and obtained with Captain King by many of the citizens of Paducah, as well as Mr. Anderson and myself; we learned that Captain King did contemplate seizing the arms at Mayfield; but being remonstrated with, not only by myself, but by all who were present at the meeting, Captain King gave me his word that he would not molest the guns. Having this assurance from him, I felt no more uneasiness in reference to them. Captain K. and his company of soldiers, accordingly, that evening, left Paducah for Union City, as I believed. I came on the cars with them as far as this place, they con- tinuing on. So confident was I that he had abandoned the idea of making any effort to get possession of the arms, that I did not increase the guard over the guns to more than the usual number, feeling that the arms were perfectly secure. But to my great disappointment, and extreme mortification and regret, nearly, if not quite all of Captain K's. company, in connection with citizens of Fulton, and perhaps some from Tennessee, returned to this place on the cars, about 12 or 1 o'clock at night, and forcibly seized and carried away all the arms. I made no resistance, because, at the time they arrived, I think there were but four or five persons guarding the arms, while the company numbered from 125 to 150 men. 1 knew that resistance would be fruitless, hence I could only try to influence these persons from thus acting by what I could say to them. On Sunday evening, in company with Col. A. P. Thompson and Dr. John M. Johnson, of Paducah, I went to Union City. I found MILITARY REPORT, 15 that the six pieces of cannon, and perhaps five hundred of the small arms, were there; and I learned (and have no doubt but such is the fact) that four hundred of the muskets had been given into the posses- sion of citizens of Fulton county. I, in conjunction with Messrs. Thompson and Johnson, sought and obtained an interview with Col. Travis, who was at the time in command at Union City, in the absence of General Cheatham, Cemmande-in-Chief of the forces there. I told him the facts, when he very promptly told me, that he nor the authorities there approved of the act, but most emphatically con- demned the whole thing, and he very promptly told me that he would deliver the guns, &c, back into my possession, if I desired them, at the State line. Upon reflection, it was agreed between Coi. Thomp- son, Dr. Johnson, and myself, that it would be unsafe to do so then, from certain statements made by citizens of Fulton county, believing, as we did, that in ail probability they might again be seized — we not having a force sufficient to take care of them. We, therefore, applied to Col. T., to ascertain whether he would not keep the arms there until the authorities of the State of Kentucky should require them, he giving us the assurance that whenever called for by the authorities, they should be surrendered up. He very politely consented to do so, but said he would much prefer that we would see Gen. Cheatham, who was then absent, and stated that he had no doubt General C. would ratify his acts in the premises; hence our note to General Cheatham, a copj r of which you have in your possession, an answer to which I hope will be received in a day or two, I hope this explanation will be satisfactory to you, so far as my action in the premises are concerned. If, however, there are any other points which you desire to have explained, I shall take great pleasure in complying with your request. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. R. BOON. Union City, Tennessee, July 22, 1861. To Brigadier Genera/, B. F. Cheatham, commanding forces Camp Boone : Sir : On Friday last, the 19th inst.,Capt. H. C. King of your command arrived at Paducab., Ky., by an early morning train, and proceeded to the city arsenal with his company, and proceeded to occupy the arse- nal,, which usually contains about one hundred and twenty rifles and muskets, intending, as we are informed, to seize them; but the mayor of the city had taken the precaution the day before to remove the arms from the arsenal to the garret of the store-room of C. Dailey & Co., merchants. Capfc. King learned in the progress of the day that the arms were in the custody of C Daifey &, Co., and early the next morning repaired to their store and demanded the guns from the clerk, who refused to sur- render them, whereupon they were taken by force, having under his command a iile of soldiers for that purpose. The arms to the number 16 MILITARY REPORT. of forty were seized and taken ; but upon being remonstrated with, surrendered them up again to the authorities. Capt. King further stated that he intended to seize nine hundred rifle muskets and six cannon then at May field, which were the property of the State of Kentucky, and in the custody of one of the under- signed, (A. R. Boon;) but upon the citizens of Mayfield and Paducah objecting to his doing so, he pledged his word that he would not remove the arms, and left on Saturday evening by rail for your camp. Upon arriving at Fulton Station, at the State line between Kentucky and Tennessee, he was met by a number of citizens from Kentucky and Tennessee, and most, if not all, of his command returned with a num- ber of citizens, leaving Capt. King at said station, however, with the train at midnight, and proceeded to take nine hundred muskets, with the six cannon and baggage wagons, &c, and putting them on the train took them to Fulton Station, from which they were removed on Sunday morning, and five hundred of the muskets were brought to your camp, as well as the six brass cannon. We also learn that four hun- dred muskets were given up to citizens of Fulton county. So far as the undersigned know or believe, the most friendly rela- tions exist, and have ever existed, between the citizens of the two States, and we find great difficulty in solving the motives which could have prompted such a wanton trespass upon the property, as well as a violation of the sovereignty, of the State. The undersigned would respectfully ask whether they are to regard this as the act of the Confederate States, the State of Tennessee, or a company of soldiers and others, and whose recklessness may tend to* destroy the amicable relations so long existing between us, and whether you will return the arms and make such other reparation as the cir- cumstances of the case demand ? We have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servants, A- R. BOON, A.. P. THOMPSON,, JNQ. M. JOHNSON. Mayfuslb, Ky., July 25, 186*1. The following are the material facts, so far as we know or have reliable information, relative to the seizure of the State arr%s at ihis place. On Saturday, the 13th instant, Captain H. C. King, who has a company of Kentuckians now in the service of the Confederated States, at Union City, went down on the cars to Paducah, returned to this place by the evening train, and remained over here until Monday evening. On Saturday evening, he was observed in private talk on several occasions with Southern Rights men, some of whom is said to have, advocated the forcible seizure of the arms. This aroused suspicion, and a night watch was kept. During the night s some twenty or more per- MILITARY REPORT. 17 sons from the country were ascertained to be in the suburbs of town towards Pryorsburg, which is a depot on the railroad some six miles from here toward Union City. There were four wagons and teams which had come near the town ; but the detection had caused these to return. These were ascertained to belong to Jonathan Pryor, Wm. Pryor, Jonathan Richards, and Milton Sexon. Capt. A. R. Boon, in whose custody these arms had been placed, was absent on Saturday and until the afternoon of Sunday. Before his return Sunday morning, Capt. J. J. Lane, who had a company of Union Home Guard and had applied for arms, heard that his guns had been ordered, and had been captured. Thereupon, he gathered up some thirty of his company and came to town with shot guns, and such private arms as he could command. He and his company remained until Cap- tain Boon arrived, offered their services to Capt. Boon if required ; if not, they would return, as their guns had not been captured, if allowed to him, of which he had no notice. Previous to this, Judge Williams had determined to issue a writ directed to the sheriff, requiring him to summons good responsible men of all parties to protect these arms, and had also written to a company of Home Guards at Milburn, to whom guns had been allotted, that it was their duty to protect the property of the State equally with the State Guards, and that he hoped they would discharge their duty, and sent it to them. When Capt. Boon arrived, seeing the excitement and fearing a conflict between the parties, he declined the services of Capt. Lane's company, and in an interview with Judge Williams and other Union men, pledged the defense of the remnant of his company of State Guard ; and if there was not sufficient, he would call on the citizens of town indiscriminately to aid ; and that he desired no help from either party from the country, as he feared the consequences. This was agreed to by the parties. Before this persons belonging to the Southern Rights party had gone out to the country in different directions to secure the attendance of friends, and had rallied, as we are informed, several hundred ; but gen- tlemen of this party went out and prevented their coming to town. About 2 o'clock at night, Captain Pugh, with some thirty of his company from neighborhood of Milburn, arrived at Judge Williams' house, some half mile on their road before reaching town. Judge Wil- liams informed them of the arrangement, and they returned to their homes without going into town. On Friday, 19th instant, Captain King, with his company, which had never been armed, went on the cars to Paducah, there seized the arsenal, and such guns as they could find. Saturday morning Captain Boon and Ervin Anderson went down to Paducah to see Capt. King, there having grown up a general apprehension of his having designs on the arms here ; and in an interview with these gentlemen, and other prominent citizens of Paducah, Captain King restored back the arms seized there, and gave his pledge that the arms here should not be molested by himself or company. King and his company returned by the Saturday evening's train as far as the State line ; but his com- pany, with a part of the Illinois company, and several gentlemen from 3 18 MILITARY REPORT. Fulton county, Ky., seized the train and arrived at May field about midnight, having posted guards for several miles on the road, especial- ly at the bridges, seized the arsenal, captured the muskets, ammuni- tion, and cannon, and took them off on the train, leaving here about 3 o'clock, A. M. At the State line the muskets were partitioned, about 400 being left with the Fulton county men, whilst 500 muskets and the cannon were carried on to Union City. Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, from Union City, was along with these men. The number of men are variously estimated at from 150 to 300, all unarmed until they got there, so far as is known. During the week, men from the Union City camp, in squads of three, have taken about seventy swords, or sabres, allotted to Captain Haydon's horse company, said company having disbanded, and the officers and most of the men having gone to Clarksville, or Camp Boone, and these arms having been left in the possession of Haydon. & Logan, merchants at Baltimore, Ky. R. K. WILLIAMS, WM. BEADLES, RICHARD NEEL, JAS. N. BEADLES, S. E. LANDER. To Col. Wood, Com. Mil. Board, Ky. P. S. It would perhaps be proper for us to say to you that there is evidently a strong and determined feeling in this county against those arms being taken to Frankfort, even should you recover them ; and that, in our opinion, force would be resorted to to prevent. We have heard prominent Secessionists assert this. These arms have already been the source of so much irritation, that we do not desire they should be brought here ; nor do we feel, in justice to any of the peo- ple of the counties of the Purchase, could they be carried to either of them; therefore, it seems to us, that you could now accomplish little good by getting possession, whilst a resort to force would probably be Ruperinduced by your doing so. R. K. WILLIAMS, WM. BEADLES, RICHARD NEEL, JAS. N. BEADLES, S. E. LANDER. [D.] Mayfxelb, Ky., July 25, 1861. Colonel Wood: Previous to Sunday morning, the 14th, several persons had made inquiry of me about the guns in Mayfield which belonged to the State; "whether they were safe, and what resistance, if any, would be made if an effort should be made to take them from Mayfield ? My reply MILITARY REPORT. J^ 19 to all such inquiries was, that the guns belonged to the State ; that they were in no danger from Cairo men or from Union men ; and that an effort to take them would be resisted, to what extent I did not know ; that whilst my wishes and feelings were with the Confederate States, and that if such wrong was perpetrated, I desired that it should come from the North. In every instance, as far as I was capa- ble of judging, my views were acquiesced in. On Sunday morning I learned that an effort had been made to take the guns by State Rights men, but without success. Capt. H. C. King, who was in town, was, by public opinion, connected with the move. He remained in Mayfield until Monday evening; left by rt.il for Union City; on Friday morning, saw him at depot near our town — his company with him ; asked him what was up ; he replied that yesterday was pay day, and that his men were out on furlough for two or three days. I asked him if they had their arms with them ; he replied that they did not. In the evening it was generally believed that Captain King and his men would return and take the guns by force ; but when the cars came, a report prevailed that he had taken the guns in Paducah, and would come out the next evening and take them in Mayfield ; near sundown Captain Boon asked me to go with him to Paducah, and aid him and that of others in their efforts to induce Captain King to abandon his purpose. We went to Paducah ; had a consultation with Captain and about twenty of the prominent citizens of Paducah, including some Union men ; the result of which was, that Captain King surrendered the guns he had taken, and promised not to disturb those at Mayfield. Capt. King came out in the cars and passed Mayfield with his men at midnight, and was sent for by Capt. Boon. The messengers (two negro boys) told me the town was full of armed men. When I arrived I found a large number of Capt. King's men, in connection with some who professed to be from Fulton county, engaged in taking the guns from the armory. No resistance by force was made, nor do I believe that such resistance would have resulted to the advantage of the com- munity. I endeavored, by persuasion, to induce an abandonment of the enterprise, but without success. I will state, that on Sunday evening, after the first raid, a young man, whose father is a Union man, carne up from Pryorsburg, and said that he was told there that three hundred men would come to Mayfield from that point that evening for the purpose of taking the guns. I proposed to Capt. Boon immediately upon hearing this that I would go down and try and get them not to come. He said that was right ; that he would get some person to go with me. He asked Esq. Galloway ; he had been from home near a week, and preferred not to go. He then asked L. B. Holifield to go with me. We went to Wm. Pryor's, in immediate neighborhood of Pryorsburg, and learning that no effort of the kind was then contemplated from that quarter, we returned home. I will state also that Capt. Boon and I visited Paducah on the 17th of this month, with the view of making some arrangements in reference to the guns. The citizens were opposed to their going there. Lieutenant Shields was absent. Gov. Magoffin, upon being advised of the state of affairs here by telegraph, replied, and informed us that our - 20 > \ MILITARY REPORT. Col. Wood would, in a few days, visit JVJayfield, and to obey the laws. Capt. Boon had. the guns guarded every night after the first raid until they were taken.' After Capt. King pledged himself not to disturb the guns, I felt satisfied that no further effort would be made to take the guns; but in this I was disappointed. Yours truly, ERVIN ANDERSON. My impression is, that the people of western Kentucky are unwil- ling that the State arms referred to within should be carried to the upper end of the State. Whilst they would offer no violence to Col. Wood, yet they would, I think, resist their removal from western Ken- tucky. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 760 120 5 l i