Kelion Franklin Peddicord of Quirk's Scouts, Morgan's Kentucky Cavalry, C. S. A.

by India W. P. Logan

One of the General’s aides brought us orders to move on Glasgow immediately, so as to ascertain what the difficulty was, and the whereabouts and number of the enemy, and report on the matter. On reaching Glasgow without adventure the company was dismounted to fight near the outskirts of the town, and we marched into the town in battle line, under the supposition that the enemy was still there. I had command, while Captain Quirk went in advance, as a lookout.

Just as we entered the city square several pistol shots, fired in rapid succession, were heard, and we, thinking the “Model Tom” was in danger, advanced to the rescue. But before we could reach him he had captured two Yankee cavalrymen, belonging to the force that had passed through the town, and known as “stragglers.” Finding “all quiet along the Potomac” a courier was dispatched to the General. We had received orders some time before to advance by the upper pike and strike the Yankee line of communication, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, north of Green River bridge. The others were to proceed on the same line south of the bridge, and north of the Cave City. I was a member of the latter party.

Leaving the sleeping inhabitants of Glasgow guarded by Morpheus and Morgan, we marched silently through the city. The brigades arrived a little later, and we went into camp for the rest of the night.

This was “the night before Christmas,” and during our march that night “Tom” and I stopped at several parties long enough to enjoy a dance with some of the girls, very much to their surprise—and gratification, they said. They had not the remotest idea that Morgan was near. But we danced our set, though the whole country was alive with the enemy, and the object for which we had been sent was handsomely accomplished.

Then taking a road leading from the lower pike to the upper, near the Bear Wallow, we reached it before the other party of scouts came up, we having gone two sides of the “angle” and they but one. This delay was caused by the collision which they had, during the night, with the forces marching through Glasgow, as I have already related. Soon after we reached the pike and placed our pickets out, the other portion of scouts came up and related their midnight adventures with the Michigan cavalry. Then our entire force was reformed, and we began our march forward.

Before we had proceeded far a courier from the General, then several miles in our rear, reached us, with orders for us to return with the information we had gained; also orders for the scouts that had intercepted us to go forward at a double-quick, if they had not yet accomplished the object for which they had been sent. As they had not accomplished it, the Captain again detached them and sent them forward.

When about a mile in advance of us they ran into a picket of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and one of them was sent back to inform Tom. His response was decisive and to the point. It was a command, “Attention, scouts! Double quick! Forward!” The scouts answered by clapping spurs to their horses, and were off like a shot, flying up the pike at a break-neck pace. Coming up with the rest of the company just after they had captured several pickets, and ordering them to fall in our rear, on we went to the charge, for the enemy was in sight, straight ahead, and in line of battle.

It seemed almost a suicidal act for fifty men to charge a regiment of five hundred men, yet the scouts charged and engaged them right gallantly. But there were, at the time, four companies placed in ambush, two on each side of the pike, and within rifle range. We did not observe this, and forming our line parallel to the line opposing, we commenced firing, hotly and rapidly. The force in ambush then advanced, attacking us in the flank, much to our surprise and discomfiture. As soon as our position was discovered a counter-march was ordered, and we withdrew out of this trap, for it was nothing more. Reforming our line, the command was given, “Right wheel, double-quick! Forward, march!” and on we flew.

Meanwhile, the Yanks had become excited. The line in front had stood fast, while the right and left flank, in trying to surround us, had advanced to the pike, a hundred yards in advance of the line, which had remained stationary. This being their condition at the time we charged them, right into their midst, yelling like Comanches, we routed them, and we stampeded and demoralized the first, or main line, by literally running over them. Turning short left, off of the pike in the direction of Woodsonville, near Green River Bridge, we pursued them, capturing, killing and wounding some fifteen or more, and getting spoils of all kinds. We pursued them about three miles, and returned to the pike in time to meet the General and take the advance.

In this encounter several scouts were wounded, though the wounds were not severe enough to entice them from their saddles. Captain Tom received two shots in the back of his head, but he would not permit the wounds to be dressed by a surgeon, though the General requested it. Upon receiving the praise and smiles of our commander for the gallantry displayed in the skirmish, and turning our prisoners over to the provost marshal, we went rapidly to the advance, and reached Green River at sun-down.