Civil War soldiers in Taylorsville
Civil War soldiers in Taylorsville
By Tom Watson
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
When the Civil War and Taylorsville are discussed in the same context,
this scribe usually recalls the fight at what is now called "Wakefield" and the mortal
wound received by Confederate guerrilla William Quantrill.
But there were many instances of troop movements in Spencer County and especially prior to the
Battle of Perryville, Oct.8, 1862. In fact, thousands of Union troops camped twice in the
Taylorsville area before heading on to Bloomfield for two days of camping on what is now Jerry
Bruckheimer's farm, then they continued to Perryville.
Union Captain John Belt Taylor with his sons after the Civil War. Taylor had dinner at Vaucluse
when
Union troops camped at Taylorsville on their way to Perryville. The first Spencer County campsite
was in the bottoms below Withrow Hill, then, the next day, the 21,000 Yankees camped on the hills
around Taylorsville with at least 1,000 on Black's Hill overlooking town. You can imagine they
were on every hill around town and the knoll as well.
Capt. John Belt Taylor, 30, of Frankfort, visited Vaucluse (known in recent years as the Knox
Brown
place) during the stay and had dinner with his friends, the Yoder Poignand family. We throw that
in
because Taylor's diary is a wonderful source of information about the Union troops in
Taylorsville.
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Union Captain John Belt
Taylor with his sons after the Civil War. Taylor had dinner at Vaucluse when Union
troops camped at Taylorsville on their way to Perryville.
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An entry in his diary dated Oct. 4, 1862, is quite interesting because
it
could explain the deaths of 18 Confederate soldiers a few miles south of Taylorsville.
It says: "Various rumors in camp this morning, all bearing upon Confederate Gen. (Braxton)
Bragg's proximity to our advance. The cavalry sent out reconnoitering from Taylorsville
yesterday (Oct. 2, 1862) and skirmished with the enemy's rear guard."
It is perhaps the 18 Confederates buried behind a house in the Wakefield area who died in this
skirmishing.
Even before the march to Perryville there were soldiers in Taylorsville and Spencer County. Here
are
some interesting official reports from the War of the Rebellion Records kept in the National
Archives.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KENTUCKY,
Lexington, Ky., September 11, 1862.
General D. LEADBETTER, commanding Forces en route for Frankfort :
GENERAL: Instead of proceeding to Georgetown, as previously directed, the general commanding
orders
that you will for the present, with your brigade and that of Colonel Davis, take post at
Frankfort,
Ky. A courier from Colonel Starnes, who has just arrived from Tay1orsville, reports that yesterday
evening the enemy were in some force at that place. They are said to be eight regiments of
infantry
and to have come from Bloomfield. The general thinks the report exaggerated, and leaves it to your
discretion what course to pursue with regard to that force. He wishes you to have the country well
examined in front of Frankfort and frequent reports sent him as to the movements of the enemy. You
are authorized to call upon any cavalry within your vicinity to aid you in obeying the above
instructions.
Very respectfully,
JNO. PEGRAM,
Chief of Staff.
HDQRS. RIGHT WING, ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Crozier's House, near Bardstown, Ky., Sept. 23, 1862.
Brigadier-General FORREST:
GENERAL: I am instructed by Major-General Polk to say that you will post your brigade at High
Grove,
on the Louisville turnpike, about 12 miles from this place. Establish a picket guard at
Taylorsville, to the right of your position, and also on the Shepherdsville road, to your left
about
12 miles. Keep constantly in communication with these pickets by couriers, and report promptly to
these headquarters any movements of the enemy. You must press down on the Louisville and Bardstown
Railroad as far up toward Louisville as you can and destroy the bridges and culverts. Do this as
promptly as possible.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE WILLIAMSON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near High Grove, Ky., September 27, 1862.
Maj. GEORGE WILLIAMSON,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Right Wing, Army of the Miss.:
MAJOR: Below I give you the disposition of the cavalry brigade under my command: One hundred and
sixty men under Capt. [M. L.] Evans, [Company C, Eighth Texas Cavalry], at Taylorsville; three
companies under Capt. [C. H.] Ingles, [Fourth Tennessee Cavalry], at Salt River, on the Louisville
and Bardstown pike; 10 men to guard the mills at Bloomfield; 10 men to guard the mills at
Fairfield;
four companies under Maj. [C. A.] Whaley [Second Georgia Cavalry], at New Haven; two companies
guarding wagon train under orders from Colonel O'Bannon; one company with engineer corps under
orders from General Polk; 13 men gone to Danville with condemned horses; three companies sent
yesterday to General Bragg for special service; six companies at Sears' Mill, on
Shepherdsville
road, [and] one company on police duty. I have now on camp at this place only about 40 of the
Second
Georgia and 200 of the Rangers, besides four partially armed companies. You will see, major, that,
occupying the extreme outpost of the army, this force is too small and is also a fragmentary
command, which is generally worthless. I have not men in camp to relieve those on duty. Major
Whaley
has been ordered to report to me, but has not yet arrived. General Bragg ordered me to make a
report
of the forces under me, which is impossible until I can get the command more in hand. Commanders
of
regiments with their adjutants are absent on outpost and are themselves separated from the bulk of
their respective commands. I have three companies of Kentuckians on picket. Major Caldwell has six
companies of Kentuckians under Colonel Wheeler. Could you not order him to report to me in order
that I might be re-enforced and also that the Kentuckians might be together? Colonel Lay's
regiment could supply Major Caldwell's place to Colonel Wheeler. General Forrest told me that
Colonel Lay's regiment was picketing the Shepherdsville road, which I find to be a mistake. I
shall use every exertion to have discipline and prevent straggling. I was called on yesterday and
last night for thirteen companies. I have made this statement in order that you may be apprised of
my condition and ability to respond to future calls. Taylorsville is a very important and distant
outpost and should be more strongly guarded, but I have not the men to send there. I would not now
have 300 men to defend this camp if attacked.
As General Bragg ordered me to make a report I should be pleased if the substance of this was
communicated to him as my apology.
Respectfully, yours,
JNO. A. WHARTON,
Colonel, Commanding Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS,
Bardstown, Ky., October 3, 1862--2.30 a.m.
Colonel WHEELER, Commanding Cavalry :
COLONEL: Send an additional force of cavalry on the Shepherdsville road. A division of the enemy
it
is said occupied that place yesterday. Send as much cavalry as you can spare. There ought to be
250
at least on that road. It is also reported that the enemy has occupied Taylorsville.
With high respect, your obedient servant,
W. J. HARDEE,
Major-general.
LOUISVILLE, October 1, 1862.
General THOMAS:
If nothing should have occurred to render a change in our dispositions necessary the troops will
continue the march to-morrow as follows: The column on the Shelbyville pike will go to
Shelbyville.
The column on the Taylorsville pike will continue on that pike to Plum Creek, which will be near
where the pike forks, one branch going to Taylorsville and the other to Shelbyville.
The column on the Bardstown pike will go to Floyd's Fork and prepare the banks to cross. The
Mechanics will also at once go to work to bridge the creek with all dispatch.
The leading division on the Shepherdsville road will go near to Shepherdsville. The other two
divisions will turn off on the road going to Mount Washington, and halt at the first water on that
road. They win push forward an advance guard and prepare the banks of Floyd's Fork for
crossing.
The cavalry will push well in advance of the columns and clear the way. They must keep the country
thoroughly under watch for 6 or 8 miles in advance of the columns. The roads must be repaired
where
they require it. I shall be on the Bardstown road to-morrow, but wish you to remain with that
column
unless I get up in time for you to turn off.
D.C. BUELL.
FRANKFORT, KY., October 10, 1862.
Major-General BUELL:
General Sill went from here to Lawrenceburg and had a skirmish there with the enemy's pickets,
and then, as near as I can learn, bore southwesterly, perhaps toward Taylorsville, Bloomfield, or
Springfield, the enemy's pickets hanging upon his rear and harassing him. On yesterday the
cannonading was distinctly heard, and I presume there is no doubt of the fact, though I have no
certain intelligence as to the particulars, and cannot inform you where he was last evening. I
have
not seen him since he left Shelbyville, and he left no word for me at Frankfort when he left, nor
has he sent me any messenger.
When I drove the enemy from Frankfort he retreated out the Versailles road, where his main force
was
camped, a few miles from town. I was compelled to take my main force across the river to fight him
and to give pursuit, and after the pursuit was found to be unavailing to station my artillery on
that road.
The best position for artillery is found upon the north side of the river. I have now two brigades
on the south side. I will do as you direct, but state the fact and my opinion as to position for
your information, and ask your instruction in the premises.
I have my troops all out of town.
E. DUMONT,
Brigadier-General.
Hope you liked this week's column. Stay in touch. Phone 502 252-9991, email
apwriternews@yahoo,com, write Tom Watson, 5225 Little Union Rd., Taylorsville, Ky., 40071. Send
your
information, pictures and ideas. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide back issues or columns.
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