Morgan, John Hunt (1825-1864) to John Cabell Breckinridge
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04534 Author/Creator: Morgan, John Hunt (1825-1864) Place Written: Decatur, Georgia Type: Letter signed Date: 13 February 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 24.2 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
Confederate General Morgan expresses approval that Breckinridge will take charge of a Department in South Western Virginia. Writes "am satisfied that you will get recruits from our Old State," (possibly referring to Kentucky, though Morgan was not born there). Reports that his soldiers "are all, as you are aware, fine soldiers, and very anxious to go into Kentucky where they can certainly serve The Confederacy best, as they will, by the invasion of that State, withdraw ten times their number from the Federal Army at Chattanooga..." Relates that the railroad from Danville, Kentucky to Knoxville, Tennessee, will be completed during the summer of 1864. Discusses railroad lines between other cities. Discusses capturing Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, and destroying horses belonging to the United States Government. Hopes Breckenridge will get an order from James Seddon, the Confederate Secretary of War, regarding his command (possibly to invade Kentucky). Complains that his own men do not have horses, and that no commands of large size in the Confederacy can obtain horses. Docketed 25 February by Breckenridge, who writes "Receivd since I saw Gen Bragg this morning and respectfully referred to him, with request to return it tomorrow..." Another docket mentions General James Longstreet.
Decatur Ga Feby 13 1864.
My Dear General,
I am truly happy to learn, that you are to take charge of a Department in South Western Virginia; am Satisfied that you will get recruits from our old State. My command out of prison, number eighteen hundred effective men - one thousand mounted, the rest without horses.
They are all, as you are aware, fine Soldiers, and very anxious to go into Kentucky where they can certainly serve the Confederacy best, as they will, by the invasion of that State, withdraw ten times their number from the Federal Army at Chattanooga.
The Rail Road from Danville to Knoxville, will be completed this Summer, and it will afford great facility for transportation to the enemy.
An active Cavalry force thrown into that Country, can retard, if not prevent the early completion of that road. The Rail Road from Covington to Chattanooga, has now been made the Same gauge and Cars leaving the former place run through to Chattanooga. The Rail Road bridges from Covington to Lexington, can easily be distroyed by a small force thrown into the blue grass region,
Another point is Frankfort, the capital of the [2] State, that can be easily taken, and the Rail Road bridge over the Kentucky river, can be distroyed, that will require months to replace, besides the prestige of taking the Capital. The State has in it at present, nearly fifty thousand horses belonging to the United States Government, the greater portion Cavalry and the rest artilery, that were placed in the corn growing region of Kentucky to be put in Condition for the Spring Campaigne
A Successful expedition into the State at an early date, could distroy nearly all the horses and return to your Department without any great danger.
With all these advantages, without taking into consideration personal feelings, I hope you will get an Order from the Secretary of War, to have my command ordered to your Department.
Another and a most important reason is, that in a short time I can, from that point, mount my men who are now without horses, and which is certainly a very important consideration to our Government, as horses are impos[inserted: s]ible to be obtained for a command of any size.
Very Truly Yours
Jno, H, Morgan
Brig, Genl.
To Major Gen John C Breckinridge
Richmond
Va
[docket]
Letter from Brig Gen
John H Morgan to Maj
Gen Breckinridge
Feb 13t 1864
Received since I saw
Gen Bragg this morning
and respectfully
referred to him, with
request to return it
tomorrow -.
John C Breckinridge
Maj Gen
Feb 25
1864,
Adjt Genl to give
order to join Genl
Longstreet -
Sent copy to Gen
Bragg at his request
April 10th 1864
JCB.
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