March 25, 1863 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

The Union army believes it has detected a movement of the Confederate army to attack.  General Wood, still in command of Crittenden's 21st Corps, is sent the following dispatch:

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,

Murfreesborough, March 23, 1863 - 1:35 AM.

Brig. Gen. T. J. WOOD,

     Commanding Twenty-first Corps:

   GENERAL: A telegram has been received from Major-General Granger, stating that a large rebel force is advancing upon Franklin, and that he has learned from scouts and prisoners that this is a part of a movement along our whole front; that Morgan is to turn our left flank, while Van Dorn attempts Franklin.  It is impossible to say now how much credit is to be attached to these reports, but there is enough probability in them to demand great vigilance on our part.  It is supposed that these movements have more special reference to Kentucky than to this army; and it is not improbable that a considerable force may be moving around our left to enter that State.  The general commanding desires you to inform General Hazen of these reports, and direct him and all other commanders of your corps at a distance from camp to hold themselves in readiness for any possible emergency,

 J. A. GARFIELD, 

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

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 In Kentucky, as General Burnside arrives to take command of the Department of the Ohio, there are reports that rebel forces have captured the city of Danville, KY.  and it appears that an invasion of some kind is underway.  Union forces are scrambling to locate the points of attack and to respond.  Burnside has brought a division of troops with him that will soon be deployed into the forward areas in Kentucky.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XXIII, Chapter XXXV, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 158-174.
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 100-101.
• The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Shelby Foote, pp. 166-175. 
• This Terrible Sound, The Battle of Chickamauga,  Peter Cozzens, pp. 1-22.
  

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