Tonight while looking for information on Confederate General Humphrey Marshall I stumbled across an old series of books called _The Rebellion Record_. One of the sections of one of the books contains poetry from the time. This is one of pieces originally published in the Louisville Journal on June 21, 1862.

Also, if anyone is interested, you can find this volume of the The Rebellion Record here.

WAR SONG
Dedicated to the Kentucky State Guard

Cheer, boys, cheer, we’ll march away to battle;
Cheer, boys, cheer, for our sweethearts and our wives;
Cheer, boys, cheer, we’ll nobly do our duty,
And give to Kentucky our hearts, our arms, our lives.

Bring forth the flag Kentucky’s noble standard;
Wave it on high till the winds shake each fold;
Proudly it floats, nobly waving in the vanguard -
Then cheer, boys, cheer, with a lusty, long, bold shout.

Cheer boys cheer &c

But though we march with heads all lowly bending,
Let us implore a blessing from on high,
Our cause is just, the right from wrong defending;
And the God of Battles will listen to our cry.

Cheer boys cheer &c

Though to our homes we never may return-
Ne’er press again our loved ones in our arms,
O’er our lone graves their faithful hearts will mourn;
Then cheer up, boys, cheer, such death hath no alarms.

Cheer boys cheer &c

Louisville Journal June 21

I arrived at Camp Nelson Friday afternoon to find most everything already setup. We were quite concerned about the USCT turnout through friday and on into Saturday morning but by the time of the fight we had about 60 military reenactors across all branches. THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is the largest turnout we’ve ever had.

We had in attendance Harold Oney(Colonel Cundiff), Wayne Fielder(Lieutenant McGuire), Taylor Seehorn(Lieutenant Bowman), Mike Eaton(QM Sgt Cox), Chad Woford, Mike Teeter, Ken Darnell, and Everett Hatton.

Ron Orange came out to support us and we were glad to have him. He served as Lt. Col. Brown from the Adjutant General’s Office(more on that later) on Saturday and as a Rifle on Sunday. The Kentucky Calvary Brigade had one calvaryman on the post as well. On such short notice we were THRILLED to have them out. Hope they go home and tell them about our little event…maybe we can infect some more of their people.

The 5th USCT once again made the long trip from the Great Lakes region. I wouldn’t know what to do without Clark, Lee, and their lads on the field with us at Camp Nelson. They help us make Camp Nelson what it should be and I look forward to more USCT joining us on the field out there.

The Kentucky Soldier’s Aide Society provided meals for all reenactors and, as usual, did an excellent job. We are always thankful and appreciative of their efforts and unwavering support of Camp Nelson.

While there was never any serious actions at Camp Nelson we understand the realities of reenacting. To make any reenactment grow we have to have something that draws spectators and that is the battles. With reenactor turnout low we have to work with what we get and I believe the two skirmishes we had were excellent.

What would Camp Nelson be without some kind of shenanigans however?

Beginning Saturday morning a flurry of telegraphs arrived on the post for QM Sgt Cox(Mike Eaton). Lt. Bowman(Taylor Seehorn) discovered all kinds of alleged illicit behavior ranging from selling of government stores to the worst of all possible behaviors, an inappropriate relationship with a young lady! One of the telegraphs found the attention of Lt. Colonel Brown so he decided to come to Camp Nelson via Lexington by train. He attended Church Sunday and promptly found QM Sgt. Cox. Sgt Cox was caught quite off guard by the sudden demands for a full inventory of stores, explanations of the telegraphs, and the repercussions of the possible charges that might be levied against him. Lt. Col. Brown suddenly noticed Lt. Bowman. “Lieutenant, do I know you? What’s your name Lieutenant!” shouted Lt. Col. Brown.

“Lieutenant Henry Bowman, Sir” at which point QM Sgt Cox said, “I know you! You were absent without leave from the 7th Kentucky!”

Lt. Bowman was the Adjutant of the 49th Kentucky. If he had deserted from the 7th Kentucky, how did he get this commission? Lt. Col. Brown had the solution, “Lieutenant, let me see your commission.” Of course, the Lieutenant had none(the reader will note that Lieutenant McGuire and Colonel Cundiff HAD their commissions on hand). Lt. Colonel Brown continued to question Lt. Bowman.

“Lieutenant, surely you know who signed your commission.”

“Yes sir, it was the Governor of Kentucky Sir.”

“And how might that be?” Lt. Col. Brown asked. Lt. Bowman had no answer.

“Could it be Governor Hawes?” I asked. Again, Lt. Bowman had no answer. Lt. Colonel Brown placed Lt. Bowman under arrest and called for a full Inquiry into the situation of both QM Sgt Cox and his questionable telegraphs and Lt. Bowman and his questionable commission. During the investigation, Lt. Col. Brown discovered the hand writing of the telegraphs and the handwriting of the other official papers of the post, completed by Lt. Bowman in his job as Adjutant and witnessed by Colonel Cundiff, were identical.

“Lt. Bowman, why are you transcribing telegraphs yourself? Who was the operator and why did you relieve him to take these telegraphs?” Lt. Bowman had no acceptable answer. At this point the Adjutant asked for Counsel,

“Sir, I must ask for Counsel!” Lt. Bowman asked

“Who would you like Lieutenant?” asked Colonel Cundiff

“I’ll take Anyone!” replied Lt. Bowman. (Why he would say this to Harold we will never know). Private Teeter(first time ever in the wool) was selected to serve as the Lieutenant’s Counsel. Somewhere on the post the sound of hammers could be heard and a call was made for new rope.

In a futile attempt to free himself, Lt. Bowman asked for his muster records to be produced in his defense. A telegraph was sent to Frankfort to gain any information on his military record. It was confirmed that Henry Bowman served in the 7th Kentucky. He was captured at Mt. Sterling KY and reported to Camp Chase for Parole in March of 1862. He never returned to his regiment and was dropped from the rolls for Desertion in September of 1862.

During a search of Lt. Bowman’s personal effects, ordered by Lt. Col. Brown in an attempt to find any missing Government Stores, a letter was found from a certain Private Jim Bowman. The letter referenced “leaving Camp Chase” and “returning to Murfressboro to continue to the Grand Cause”. Colonel Cundiff remembered something of a Jim Bowman and consulted the latest list of prisoners. Private Jim Bowman had recently been captured and sent to Camp Nelson. He served in the 5th Kentucky Vols CS. Private Bowman was produced and declared Henry was his brother and they had BOTH served in the 5th KY CS. This changed things for Mr. Henry Bowman. He was promptly charged with Spying to go along with the other charges of Desertion, Falsifying Official Correspondence and Impersonating an Officer.

There were many people that came to the aid of Lt. Bowman. When the charges warranted a Court Martial those witnesses would serve the defendant well. Unfortunately, with the addition of Treason and Sedition the need for a Court Martial was set aside in favor of a firing squad.

And so, the wheels of “Justice” continues to spin at Camp Nelson.

Many regiments can point to a particular day in their lives where the “Fun” began. Whether that was an important battle, the day their Colonel was killed/promoted/both, or the day they got their Regimental Colors…they all have “that day”.

The 7th Kentucky is no different and I would say that this day isn’t the day some of you folks might consider to be “the day”. Some might say it was the May 22nd 1863 General Assault on the works of Vicksburg. Others might say October 21st 1861 when the 7th(then officially called the 3rd) saw the elephant at Wildcat Mountain. Both of those dates hold a special place in the history of the 7th to be sure. I would wager, however, that August 20th 1862 is the day the real fun started.

General George W. Morgan said in his report of the evacuation of Cumberland Gap:

“In order to save the artillery, cavalry, and wagon horses from starvation, and for the further purpose of sending tried troops to re-enforce the column organizing at Lexington for our aid, I ordered 400 men of the Third Kentucky, under the gallant Colonel Garrard, to be mounted, and directed him to proceed, with Munday’s cavalry, to join the United States forces then en route for our relief.”

- GEORGE W. MORGAN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XVI/1 [S# 22][pg_992]

From our muster record transcription project we know these men were detailed on August 20th. These 400 men tend to get the glory because they ended up at Richmond:

I have neglected to state in the proper place that I was joined in the second engagement by a portion of the Third Kentucky Infantry, who had passed from General Morgan’s command at the Cumberland Gap with some Government horses. These men dismounted, hitched their horses, and did excellent service. I do not know the names of any of the accomplished officers who commanded this detachment, or I should gladly give them a place in this report.

-Brig. Gen. Mahlon D. Manson, U.S. Army, commanding First Brigade.
Report of Battle of Richmond, Ky., August 30, 1862

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XVI/1 [S# 22][pg_915]

and later at Perryville:

“General Terrill, assisted by some of the officers, succeeded in rallying about 200 men of the One hundred and fifth Ohio Volunteers and One hundred and twenty-third Illinois Volunteers at a fence about 100 yards in the rear of our first position. Here the conduct of some of the officers, I am sorry to report, was disgraceful. The Eightieth Illinois and Colonel Garrard’s detachment behaved well.”
–Report of Capt. William P. Anderson, U.S. Army, Assistant Adjutant-General, Thirty-third Brigade.
O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XVI/1 [S# 22][pg_1063]

These four hundred men saw some pretty intense action over a month and half. That is nothing compared to what the other 700 or so went through however:

On October 3 my column reached Greenupsburg, on the Ohio River. I had sent forward Captains Garber and Patterson to procure transportation for the passage of the river, which was effected in good order. Colonel Byrd, of the First Tennessee, forded the river with the trains of Baird and Carter. To avoid too lengthy a report many incidents of interest have been omitted.
It affords me great pleasure to speak of the admirable bearing of my entire command, officers and soldiers, during that most difficult and trying march of 219 miles It was worthy of all praise and receives my sincere gratitude. Especial credit is due to Brigadier-Generals Spears, Baird, and Carter, and to Colonel De Courcy; to Lieutenant-Colonel Gallup and Capts. W. F. Patterson, M. C. Garber, and G. M. Adams; to Lieut. W. P. Craighill and Lieutenant Burroughs, engineers; to Captain Foster, chief of artillery, and Lieutenant Burdick, acting ordnance officer, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Ridgell and Lieutenant Reeder, Third Kentucky Volunteers.

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XVI/1 [S# 22][pg_992]

Reports of Brig. Gen. George W. Morgan, U.S. Army, including operations August 16-October 3.

[full text of Gen. Morgan's report may be found here]

General Morgan’s report states operations began on August 16th. For the sake of being complete I’m sure that is the case. No one can argue that the real action began on and after August 20th when that first detachment from the Third Kentucky left for Lexington.

I believe the experience of both parties(Colonel Garrard’s Detachment of August 20th and the others under Lt. Col Ridgell) during the six week period beginning August 20th paved the way for the rest of their service.