William Sooy Smith
As we saw earlier, Sooy Smith reported the capture of Murfreesboro by Forrest’s cavalry, and offered his troops. Here his superior officer, “Bull” Nelson, confirms the report, and Smith reports sending reinforcements to retake the town. Of course, this is exactly what Forrest and Morgan were trying to achieve — diverting federal troops from their planned advance eastward on Chattanooga.
Major General D. C. BUELL, Huntsville, Ala.:General Nelson received the instructions and responded by telegraph last night. He has just come up by the cars from Murfreesborough and is here yet. His cavalry, sent by way of Lebanon, Tenn., had just passed though that town when the rebel cavalry, from 1,000 to 2,000 strong, entered the town. This is certain, and General Nelson desires you to know.
Respectfully,
W. H. SIDELL,
Major, U. S. Army, Actg. Asst. Adjt. General****************************************************************
TULLAHOMA, July 20, 1862.
Colonel J. B. FRY:I got the Fifty-first Ohio off yesterday to Murfreesborough; also the Eighth Kentucky and Standard’s battery. Colonel Haggard’s Fifth Kentucky Cavalry had a number of reconnoitering parties out. They returned yesterday except one company. He started to Murfreesborough this morning. The Thirty-fifth Indiana, one of the worst behaved regiments I have ever seen, got off in trains for Murfreesborough this morning. I will send the Twenty-fifth Kentucky as soon as the train returns.
I have used our limited transportation as actively as possible. We have but two trains engaged, in bad order. Shall I now distribute the Twenty-fourth Illinois in small parties along the line? I do not believe that the enemy is in any force at any point within 30 miles of the line of our railroad.W. S. SMITH.
Curious about Smith’s reference to 25th Kentucky. That regiment was consolidated with the 17th Kentucky infantry in April 1862.