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representatives of that great commonwealth were chosen by the “Legislative council”
to seats in the “Congress” at
Richmond.
1 The
people had nothing to do with the matter, and the ridiculous farce did not end here.
All through the war, disloyal Kentuckians pretended to represent their noble old State in the supreme council of the conspirators, where they were chosen only, a great portion of that time, by the few
Kentuckians in the military service of
Jefferson Davis.
While these political events in
Kentucky were in progress, military movements in that quarter.were assuming very important features.
General Johnston concentrated troops at
Bowling Green, and
General Hardee was called from
Southeastern Missouri, to supersede
General Buckner in command there.
The forces under
General Polk at
Columbus were strengthened, and
Zollicoffer, having secured the important position of
Cumberland Gap, proceeded to occupy the rich mineral and agricultural districts around the upper waters of the
Cumberland River.
He issued a proclamation
to the people of
Southeastern Kentucky, declaring, in the set phrases used by all the instruments of the conspirators, when about to plant the heel of military despotism upon a community, that he came as their “liberator from the
Lincoln despotism” and the ravages of “Northern hordes,” who were “attempting the subjugation of a sister Southern State.”
In the mean time,
General Buell had organized a large force at
Louisville, with which he was enabled to strengthen various advanced posts, and throw
forward, along the line of the railway toward
Bowling Green, about forty thousand men, under
General Alexander McD.
McCook. As this strong body advanced, the vanguard of the
Confederates, under
General Hindman (late member of Congress from
Arkansas), fell back to the southern bank of the
Green River, at Mumfordsville, where that stream was spanned by one of the most costly iron bridges in the country.
3 This was partially destroyed, in order to impede the march of their pursuers.
The latter soon constructed a temporary one.
For this purpose, a greater portion of
Colonel August Willich's German regiment (the Thirty-second Indiana), forming
McCook's vanguard, were thrown across the river, where they were attacked,
at Rowlett Station, by a regiment of mounted Texas Rangers, under
Colonel Terry, supported by two
