Notwithstanding Kentucky had been claiming to be neutral, she had not only allowed Federal soldiers to camp upon her soil, but her citizens were organizing and arming themselves to aid the Federal Government.
On the 10th instant General G. H. Thomas assumed command of a Federal brigade which had been previously assembled at Camp Dick Robinson, in Garrard County, Kentucky.
General U. S. Grant, with two regiments of infantry and four pieces of artillery, had taken possession of Paducah, Kentucky, as early as the 6th of September.
Owing to the menacing movements of the Federals down the Mississippi River, the Confederates (by order of General L. Polk, who was then in command of the Second Department) landed at Hickman, Kentucky, on the night of the third, and at Columbus about the 5th.
It had been, and was still, the policy of the Confederacy to respect the neutrality of Kentucky so long as the same was respected by the Federal Government, as the following dispatches will show:
Richmond, September 4, 1861.
General Polk, Memphis, Tennessee:
News has reached here that General Pillow has landed his troops at Hickman, Kentucky. Order their prompt withdrawal from Kentucky.
L. P. Walker, Secretary of War.
After explaining to the President that a previous movement of the Federals down the Mississippi River had been the cause of his ordering General Pillow into Kentucky, General Polk received the following dispatch:
Richmond, September 4, 1861.
General Polk:
The necessity justifies the action.
Jefferson Davis.
The following dispatches and replies will explain themselves:
Nashville, September 13, 1861.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis:
On the 4th instant I sent John Marshall, Andrew Ewing and Dr. Rowling as commissioners from Tennessee to Kentucky. They returned last night, and think it of the highest importance that our troops be withdrawn They say withdrawal secures to us majority in the State. If not withdrawn, overwhelming majority against us and a bloody contest. They think our withdrawal secures withdrawal of Federal troops and saves the State. They are able and reliable men. I submit their report for your consideration.
Isham G. Harris.
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Richmond, September 13, 1861.
Governor Harris, Nashville, Tennessee:
Movement to Columbus was reported to me as a defensive measure, rendered necessary by the descent of Federal troops. As a necessity it was sanctioned. If they can be safely withdrawn, it would conform to my declared policy of respect for the neutrality of Kentucky. General A. S. Johnston has been directed to confer with you at Nashville. Security to Tennessee and other parties of the Confederacy is the primary object. To this all else must give way.
Jefferson Davis.
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Knoxville, September 14, 1861.
Adjutant-General Cooper, [Richmond]:
Governor Harris and General Buckner telegraphed me if possible to arrest the movement of which I apprised you on the 10th. It is too late to arrest. To withdraw would be unfortunate, unless the Federal forces which menace us will agree to withdraw. I have informed Governor Maguffin (of Kentucky), through Governor Harris, I will withdraw on this condition.
F. K. Zollicoffer,
Brigadier-General.
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Richmond, September 14, 1861.
General Zollicoffer, Knoxville. Tennessee:
Your letter of the 10th received. The military consideration clearly indicates the forward movement which you propose. The political condition of Kentucky affects the determination of this question. Of that you are better informed than ourselves, and as you are supposed to have conferred with General A. S. Johnston, the matter is left to your discretion.
S. Cooper,
Adjutant and Inspector- General.
The following is an extract from a letter, dated Clarksville, September 15th, written by the Hon. G. A. Henry and addressed to President Davis:
The neutrality of Kentucky has been all the time a cloak to enable the Lincoln party there to hide their real designs to arm the friends of Lincoln and to disarm the Southern Rights party. We ought to strike now. A step backward would be fatal, in my opinion.
While at Knoxville our battalion was transferred from the State to the Confederate service.
Some of Allison’s Company, who went home from Camp McGinnis and Livingston, returned to camp at Knoxville on the 18th.
Having set out from Knoxville on the 17th, General Zollicoffer arrived at Cumberland Ford, or Camp Buckner, on the 19th, and on the same date he wrote to General A. S. Johnston, Columbus, Kentucky, thus:
An advance force set out last night [under Colonel J. A. Battle], about eight hundred strong, entered liarboursville, eighteen miles from here, about daylight, where they found about three hundred of the enemy, and a fight ensued, in which we killed twelve and took two prisoners. We lost one killed, Lieutenant Powell, of Colonel Cummings’ Regiment, one fatally wounded, and three slightly wounded. The enemy fled precipitately. The number of his wounded unknown.
