Skirmish near Tompkinsville, KY,

5fish

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Skirmish near Tompkinsville, KY, June 6th. 1862...


On the 3d of June, the Third Battalion marched from Lebanon, Tennessee, to Tompkinsville, Kentucky, and on the 6th Captain Hugh M'Cullough was warmly engaged at Moore's Hill, defeating Colonel Hamilton, who had a largely superior force, with a loss of the leader, Captain M'Cullough, and four men kiiled, and ten badly wounded. Captain M'Cullough, a brave and competent officer, was shot through the stomach, while leading his men to the charge.


The Ninth then marched to Tompkinsville, Kentucky where on June 6th. Capt. Hugh McCullough and I company defeated a Rebel force. Capt. McCullogh was shot in the stomach and killed during the battle.

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I found the OR...

GLASGOW, KY., June 6, 1862.

SIR: I have just received information from Lieutenant Longsdorf, Company I, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, that Captain McCullough was this morning attacked by Hamilton, Morgan, and Co. with about 200 men; that they drove the enemy before them, but that Captain McCullough and 4 men were badly wounded. After the fight the lieutenant retired to Tompkinsville, where he is now awaiting re-enforcements. I marched with my whole command-two companies of the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry-to his relief, and will push the enemy to the wall, if possible. Would it not be well for Colonel Williams, at Bowling Green, to send two companies toward Tompkinsville to re-enforce me if I need them? Major Brown, who is here, will write more fully.

Yours, truly,

THOS. J. JORDAN,

Major, Commanding Post.

Brig. Gen. J. T. BOYLE.


HEADQUARTERS, Tompkinsville, Ky., June 11, 1862.

GENERAL: Agreeably to instructions [handed me at Scottsville during my march to Glassgow] from Colonel Duffield, commanding forces in Kentucky, I dispatched Capt. Hugh W. McCullough, with Company I, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, upon a scout, directing him to divide his command into two parties-the one to be commanded by himself, and the other by Lieutenant Longsdorf-and to move by different routes, along and near the Tennessee line, toward Tompkinsville, and to form a junction of the two commands at or near Jamestown, and to rejoin my command at Glasgow within four days.

In conformity to my orders, the captain and lieutenant marched to perform the duties assigned them on the evening of June 4, and formed the junction as directed in my order on the following day, and immediately marched toward Centerville, in the direction of Tompkinsville and Celina, and on the night of the 5th encamped on the farm of a Mr. Moore, about 8 miles from and to the south of Tompkinsville.

On the morning of the 6th, just as they were about leaving camp, his pickets were driven in by a party of men under the command of Captain Hamilton, Lieutenant McMillan, with McHenry's men, and Captain Eaton, numbering in all about 125 men. They were drawn up in a deep wood and protected by the bushes and trees. Captain McCullough at once formed his men and boldly charged the enemy. They were met by a discharge of double-barreled shot-guns loaded with ball and buck-shot; but no one was killed or wounded by this discharge. They continued to advance till stopped by the thick bushes, when they opened upon the enemy at 15 paces distance with their Colt's revolvers. Immediately after the action began Captain McCullough was mortally wounded, and in about four hours died. The command devolved upon Lieutenant Longsdorf, and within fifteen minutes he entirely routed the enemy, scattering them in every direction, pursuing them for about half a mile, when he was met by a professed Union man, who informed him that re-enforcements were reaching the enemy, and forming in the rear of a brick church, some 2 miles in his front. This information determined him [as his force was reduced to 50 men] to fall back upon and defend Tompkinsville till information could reach me and I could re-enforce him.

On the information reaching me at Glasgow, about 8 o'clock on Friday night, I at once marched for Tompkinsville [27 miles], which I reached at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning, and with Lieutenant Longsdorf's command marched upon Bennett's Ferry for the purpose of crossing the Cumberland River and driving the enemy from their strongholds at and near Celina. Upon approaching the ferry I found that the late rains had raised the river and that the fording was impassable and that the flat-boats were upon the opposite side. Seeing some persons upon the opposite bank, I called over, asking that the boats be brought to the side I occupied. I was at once replied to by a volley from a party concealed in the bushes on the opposite bank. Having but few carbines and no ammunition to spare in a useless contest, I withdrew my men and determined to march for Tompkinsville, where I could support my command till the river would fall or I be able to pass it at some other ferry. I encamped that night near the field of battle of the previous day, when I received a dispatch from Colonel Williams, stating that he was at Tompkinsville with six companies, and to join him in the morning at McMillen's Ferry, on Turkey Neck Bend. I reached the ferry about 10 o'clock, having marched 14 miles, over the most broken country, on sheep and cow paths, when I found Colonel Williams. I at once, by his direction, marched my forces about 2 miles down the river, where we got a large boat, and by 6 o'clock in the evening my whole command was across the river, where I went into camp for the night with Colonel Williams' command.

In the action on the morning of the 6th Captain McCullough was the only man killed and 3 are very badly wounded and 2 slightly. the 3 badly wounded men are now at a house, where they are carefully attended, near the battle-field. Lieutenant Longsdorf captured 2 horses and 4 shot-guns and 4 pistols, left by the enemy on their retreat.

On the morning of the 10th, by command of Colonel Williams, I took the two companies and proceeded from Celina to Bennett's Ferry, for the purpose of crossing the river at that point. While at the ferry I captured and destroyed 20 boxes of army bread, 10 barrels of the same, 2 barrels of sugar, 100 bags of wheat, and 23 hogsheads of tobacco, which I destroyed by throwing them into the river. They are the remainder of the property captured some two months ago by the rebels from the steamboat John A. Fisher while passing that point on her way to Nashville.

By command of Colonel Williams I have just dispatched an officer to Glasgow to bring my wagons, tents, &c., to this place, where I am to remain with my command till further orders.

Yours, truly,

THOS. J. JORDAN,

Major, Comdg. Third Battalion Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
 
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