Buntly, G. W. (fl. 1862-1864) to William Buntly
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04190.01 Author/Creator: Buntly, G. W. (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 January 1862 Pagination: Order a Copy
Discusses the military situation in the areas of Bowling Green and Nashville.
[Partial]
To: Brother William and Family Bowling Green, Kentucky
From: G. W. Buntly January 21st, 1862
There were a little fight at Fort Henry not very far from Nashville and it is reported here that there will be a general attack in a few days and I understand that there are three regiments ordered from this place to Nashville and it is thought that there will be twenty-five more regiments ordered to that place in a few days, it is also reported here that the enemy are taken the right and left of this place that is gone round this place on the right and left and have reached Cumberland River as above and below Nashville and are intending to meet at that place and to bombard the town and take the place and cut us off from a retreat to Tennessee and then attack us on the Northern side of this encampment and put us to flight and on our retreat they will have a sufficient force at Nashville to stop us there on our retreat so in that way they think that we will have to surrender as prisoners and fight someway through from all the Northern reports they have got the scheme well laid so that they be certain to drive us off of Kentucky soil and it looks like they will carry all their plans out without any trouble. They claim to have the best fighting men and for a sample of their fighting there was 3 thousand of them crossed Green River last Friday in order to drive a few pickets away from this side of the river and when they crossed there were about 24 of our pickets in sight and they left there and collected the rest of their picket guards which were about 4 thousand in all, they were all Cavalry marched up in front of the enemy in line of battle and the enemy skittered back on there own side of the river without firing a gun. We have about 100 thousand troops here and I think we can hold this place with a great deal less force than what we have against us. We are well fortified all round this place and they have but one way to come in to make an attack and all our batterys are constructed so that we can sweep them on both sides.
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