October 1861
Basil Duke came to Will’s tent. Duke was the newly elected first lieutenant of the second Kentucky Cavalry, CSA. James West was now second lieutenant, and Morgan was captain. They were regular army now, not a militia.
“Yes, sir! What is it, sir?”
“We’ve found some horses. The captain hopes to persuade the command to give us more. It’s driving him crazy to have a cavalry unit without enough horses for each man. Some of the commanders think cavalry is only good for picket duty. We intend to show them otherwise. The captain ordered me to pick a few men that can ride and shoot. We know that there are Federal messengers and scouts in the area. We want to teach them that this is Kentucky land, not for Federals. What do you say? It’s night duty, using surprise. You’ll still have to drill tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good, then report to the quartermaster and draw your mount. We leave in half an hour.”
Will checked his ammunition and his bayonet. Mounted, he didn’t expect to use it, but he thought being prepared was best. He went and got saddled up. His mount was a dapple gray mare, probably some Arabian in it, with the small head. The large hindquarters promised speed. Will saw Captain Morgan and the others. He mounted and joined the group.
Morgan briefed them. “I’ve gotten permission to scout, to try and find Federals, especially messengers, and intercept dispatches along with anything else we can get them to tell us. Duke and I will lead. Will, I want you in the rear. The rest of you spread out in a single line behind Duke and me, about ten feet apart. Go quiet. If you have to shoot, aim to wound or unhorse them. Remember, the goal is information, and dead Federals don’t talk. Of course, don’t let them shoot you—if you must kill them, so be it. I aim to show what a cavalry unit can do. Any questions?”
“No, sir!” they all said in unison.
The group set out in the growing darkness, traveling as quietly as horsemen can through woods and rough country, occasionally breaking the line to dodge fallen trees. They used hand signals to communicate whenever possible, rather than talking. Duke called a halt, and everyone stopped to listen. They were all tense, fingering their weapons.
Will heard the sound of horses approaching on their right, from the rear. He signaled those ahead, and the troop turned to face the oncoming horsemen. Duke signaled their right and left flankers to move slowly ahead, so that the horsemen would walk into a trap.
Will quietly dismounted and tied his horse. He was now near the front of his company, since they reversed. He intended to have a clear shot and make sure the horsemen did not escape. He was nervous. He’d never pointed a gun at a human being before. But he was determined to justify Morgan’s faith in him.
The moon came out from behind a cloud. Will could see the blue uniform and brass buttons of the horsemen. At the same instant, they saw their peril.
“It’s a trap!” yelled one, pulling a revolver from a holster.
Will fired quickly, striking the one with the revolver in the leg, and sent his horse rearing skyward. The revolver shot went wild, and the man fell backward off the horse, hitting the ground heavily. The rest of the Rifles encircled the remaining horsemen, revolvers, swords, and bayonets at the ready. He dropped his reins and quickly surrendered.
Will began to shake—he’d just fired on another man and wounded him.
Other ones of the company dismounted and surrounded the wounded man. Morgan spoke gently to him.
“You’ve done your duty, son. No one can call you a coward. We mean you no further harm. We just want your dispatches and whatever you can tell us about the Federals around here.” Turning to one of the other men, Morgan ordered, “Adams, see to his leg. Patch him up. Then check his horse. If the horse is ridable, take him back with us. Otherwise, put him down.”
They gave him water, and talked quietly with those they had captured. John Adams found the dispatches on each of the horses and gave them to Morgan. Soon all mounted again, prisoners riding in front. Will saw that the Federal soldier just had a flesh wound. By great good fortune, the ball struck first a saddle skirt, then a rib of the horse after wounding the soldier. Even the horse would recover.
When they arrived back at camp, Will accepted congratulations, but felt both elated and troubled by the night’s events. The intelligence they recovered about troop movements was valuable. Will tumbled into his tent and caught two or three hours sleep before reveille wakened him for drill. Archie was shaking him.
“Better get up! No tolerance for sluggards in the regular army,” Archie said, hurrying off toward the makeshift parade ground.
Will groaned and wished for coffee.
This pattern repeated for several nights. Others made captures. Two of their company were wounded. Then one evening, Morgan came to Will’s tent.
“Will, you’ve been doing a great job. I want to let you know—headquarters has decided our unit is making a difference. Tonight, I want you to rest and get some well-deserved sleep. We’ll rotate and give some of the other men experience. Tomorrow, see Duke—he’ll have a surprise for you.
“Yes, sir!” Will grinned. “Could you take Archie out tonight, sir? He snores somethin’ fierce!”
Morgan grinned back. “Don’t see why not.”
Will wondered what surprise the morning would bring.
✳ ✳ ✳
Will felt heat and smelled smoke. His eyes flew open to see flames traveling down a length of paper toward him, threatening to catch his tent on fire. He jumped up, knocking the pole loose that supported the tent. It crashed down around him. There was loud laughter, and then water drenched everything.
Will emerged spluttering and ready to fight.
“What’s going on?” he demanded angrily. “Can’t a fella get some sleep?”
It was full daylight, past time for normal reveille.
“Aww, mama’s baby needs his beauty sleep! Here that, Jesse?” said Ben Drake. “We just thought we’d warm up the morning for you.”
To one side, Will saw Archie standing with a bucket, which had doused the fire. He took in the situation, quickly deciding he could be angry and make things worse, or he could join in the joke.
“Guess you did, at that, Ben. Since you made the fire, where’s the breakfast? It’s the least they can do, eh, Archie?”
The tension broke and they all laughed together.
“Eggs and bacon comin’ up, Crump. We, uh, helped a farmer that had too much last night.”
Tom Logwood came over and helped Will pick up the tent and his belongings. “We decided to let you sleep, wake up the rest of the company quietly. As soon as you’ve had breakfast, you’re to report to Duke.”
Will soon felt better with some coffee, eggs, salt pork and bacon inside him. He dressed carefully and reported to headquarters.
“Private Crump, reporting as ordered.” He stood stiffly at attention.
“At ease, Private. I have some news I think you’ll like. First, the regiment has been allotted new horses. The commanders think our little nightly forays have yielded worthwhile results and want to encourage our activity as cavalry. The horses are ones judged too small, old, or tired for hauling wagons and artillery. Still, there are some strong, fast ones in the group. I’ve seen to it that you’ll get a Morgan gelding, Toby, about fifteen hands. He’s yours, so take care of him. You won’t have to draw random mounts for assignments anymore.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“You’ve earned it—but you’ll probably get more assignments because of it. Second, I’d like you to test a new type of rifle we’re trying out. If it works well for you, you can keep it as well. But it will change your assignments, so that you do more escort and long range shooting. In future engagements, we’ll be up against artillery. The Whitworth rifle, in the right hands, can shoot up to two thousand yards. Your job would be to take out the Federal artillery soldiers. Do you think you can do that? It’s very important, and will save lives in our company.”
Will felt troubled about shooting men who were no direct threat to himself, but answered with only slight hesitation, “Yes, sir!”
“Good man. Last, the men have decided to vote you Corporal. You’ll learn from Tom about your extra duties. That’s all.”
“Yes, sir!” Will was elated with his promotion. The other men must feel he was doing well.
✳ ✳ ✳
December 1861
A few days later, just after reveille, Will received a summons from James West, the second lieutenant.
“Corporal Crump, reporting as ordered, sir.” Will stood at attention and waited.
“Congratulations on your promotion, Crump. We’re doing a daytime scout. Captain Morgan requested you for the mission—but it’s completely volunteer. If you’d rather not go, you don’t have to.”
“Sir, with respect, I should go.”
“Excellent. There will be a few volunteers from the Tennessee cavalry as well. Be ready in half an hour.”
Will went to tend his horse and inspect his gear. A few minutes later, he saddled up and joined the group of about fifty who were heading out on patrol. For the first hour, they saw and heard little. Under other circumstances, Will would have thought they were just a group of friends out for a ride in the crisp November morning. Will stayed near the rear of the group, as he usually did on these scouting expeditions. The scabbards on his saddle held the old Springfield on one side, and his new Whitworth rifle and scope on the other side. Morgan and Duke were at the front.
Suddenly the command was whispered down the line to halt. Someone spotted Federals on the road. Everyone dismounted and moved into the thickets at the side of the road. A few men in the front gathered the horses. Will went with them further to the rear, and then mounted a small rise where he had cover, but a good view of the road near the Nolin River.
Morgan, alone, moved forward about one hundred yards in front of his troops, to a little house at the side of the road, and went inside. The Federals kept coming down the road, their bayonets reflecting the sun. Morgan slipped out of the house and back to the main body. Will put his scope on the mounted Federal officer, but just as he was about to fire, Morgan stepped out into the road in full view and shot the officer with his pistol.
The Federals were greatly confused and surprised. Morgan was able to get back to cover, and the Federals likewise retreated. Taking Morgan’s volley as permission to open fire, Will and the eight or so others with him opened fire on the Federal troops. A few dropped, but most made it to the safety of the little house Morgan had come from, or a knoll with downed trees. There was no coordination, no plan of attack. For the next ten to fifteen minutes, both sides fired spontaneously, each man following his own orders. Morgan and one or two others crept closer to the Federal lines and killed several men. Will saw through his scope a Federal rise and take aim at Morgan, so he quickly guessed the range and fired. The Federal dropped, shot in the chest. In another few minutes, the rest of the company retreated to Will’s position. They heard from scouts that Federal reinforcements were coming, and others were attempting to encircle them. Morgan ordered everyone to horse, and they escaped.
✳ ✳ ✳
Will had bad dreams that night. He woke in a cold sweat. The temperature outside the tent was freezing. He and Archie had a small fire pot that kept a few coals burning without producing much smoke. They kept that inside the tent, with a bucket of water just outside. It wasn’t much, but with the tent flaps tied together, blankets, and heat from their bodies, it kept them from freezing. In his dream, the Federal soldier fell repeatedly. Before morning, the dream changed and it was Morgan falling, as Will failed to shoot in time. He wondered if the Federal soldier had family, maybe a wife and children. He shoved the thought aside, thinking how the company would suffer if Morgan were not there to rally them.
Christmas was around the corner. Will had heard nothing from his family. He wondered what was happening to them. He wondered if his father and Joe might be in a Union tent on some hillside, perhaps not that far away. He resolved to attend church the next day and confess. He rationalized, thinking that King David from the Bible was a man of war who killed hundreds in battle—yet didn’t the Bible also say that David was a man after God’s own heart, a friend of God? Hadn’t he gotten on this course by following God’s command to take vows seriously, and not to lie?
In the next few days, a new group from Shelbyville and another from Louisville joined Morgan’s command. With so many now reporting to him, Will saw him less frequently, though he always seemed to retain a particular affection for those who were original members of the Rifles. Will worked with some of the newer men on shooting and riding.
The next morning at assembly, Duke addressed the command.
“Men, the Federals have occupied Green River, where we were a few weeks back. We are ordered to Bell’s Tavern, to support a group of Texans that got themselves in trouble. Also, the Federals are rebuilding the Bacon Creek railroad bridge to move supplies to their troops. Captain Morgan is looking for a few volunteers to help blow the bridge. Anyone interested, step forward.”
Will and about ten others stepped forward.
“Volunteers, report to Captain Morgan with your horses in two hours. Draw four days rations from the quartermaster. The rest of you we leave in three hours for Bell’s Tavern. We want to be ready to attack tomorrow morning. Whoever has a horse can ride it; the rest of you will have to march or ride one of the wagons if there’s room. We’ll be traveling all night. Dismissed.”
In gathering twilight, Will and the others followed Morgan to Bacon Creek. Reports said there was a large camp of Federals nearby, so surprise and secrecy were paramount. They split the group, with two riding in the front, two riding in the rear, and the rest of them bunched in two columns of fours. Whenever the front riders thought it safe, they proceeded at a trot. Will was glad that he had the Morgan horse, whose stamina at a trot made it possible for him to go for miles at a time. Will’s rear end was not faring as well as the horse, and he had a feeling he’d be quite sore the next day. From Bowling Green, it took them nearly fifteen hours riding to get near the bridge, with a few hours stop for rest and food. Morgan cautioned them against fires and needless chatter. They found a ravine about a mile from the bridge and rested there until dark. Some of the men played cards; others gathered black walnuts and persimmons. Will sat at a distance from the rest, reading his Bible by the failing light. He thought of the coming fight and read Psalm 144, “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.”
As the moon rose, the men mounted and rode closer to the bridge. They dismounted again about a hundred yards away. Making their way down to the edge of the creek, they gathered dry wood and kindling. Will and one other sharpshooter stationed themselves in trees back from the creek, with orders to pick off any Federals who ventured from the guardhouse near the bridge in an attempt to stop the burning. Soon the men had a roaring blaze going. They relaxed on the creek bank roasting food, playing cards, and generally being unconcerned about a possible Federal attack. Two men came out of the guardhouse. Will fired, purposely hitting the ground just in front of the first man. He quickly reloaded, keeping his already loaded Springfield nearby in case the man tried to run. The dirt kicked up behind the other man as his comrade fired. Two other Confederates rushed to the entrance to the bridge, rifles aimed, urging the men to surrender. The men laid down, hands behind their heads. Ben Drake and Jesse quickly took them prisoner and hustled them to Captain Morgan. Will came down from his tree and walked close to where Morgan was questioning the men.
“How many Federals in your camp?”
“About two hundred in the stockade. Another brigade to the north,” answered the man, obviously scared.
“Which units?” queried Morgan, testing him.
“Ninety-first Illinois. Please, sir, I got a wife just had a baby. I want to live to see my son.”
Morgan patted the prisoner’s shoulder. “Don’t fear. You will see him, as far as it depends upon me. Tell the truth, answer my questions, and you’ll be set free.”
Will listened as Morgan questioned him further, then appearing to be satisfied, he said, “Go back to your commander. Tell him not to bother rebuilding this bridge. As many times as he builds it, I will torch it. Tell him further that within a week, I will burn him out of Woodsonville.”
Morgan then dispatched men to burn the stockade a half mile from the bridge, and others to set fires and bend the rails all along the line. Will went with the stockade group, to discourage Federal resistance with his long gun.
✳ ✳ ✳
Two weeks later, as they sat in camp at Bell’s Tavern, two things happened to raise Will’s spirits. First, Archie came into camp with a copy of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, which showed a woodcut of the Bacon Bridge, charred and in ruins, with one Federal soldier looking on.
“Will! Look! We’re famous!” said Archie. “This here picture been printed in all the newspapers up North. They’ve heard of Morgan now!”
Will grinned. “We did a lot of good, with hardly anyone hurt. Maybe the Yankees will give up and go home!”
“By the way, this came for you,” said Archie, handing him a weather-stained letter.
Will opened it and found a letter from his parents, mostly in his mother’s handwriting. His hopes soared.
December 10, 1861
Dear Will,
I do not know if this will reach you. I’ve given it to a neighbor who says he has contacts among the Confederate troops. Your father is leaving soon to join his unit at Camp Hobson, a unit formed by your old boss, the storekeeper. I understand Dr. Simpson, Jenny’s uncle, will be in the same unit. May God keep you from each other, so that you do not face one another across a battlefield. Hiram, we hear, has joined the Third Ohio cavalry. All the men here are joining one side or the other. I’m not a very good farmer, so it will be a lean winter I’m afraid, while I learn. Only Lydia will be here with me, soon.
Albinia has gotten into trouble. She was arrested and imprisoned for two years for helping escaped slaves. I do not know what will become of her. The slave she was helping belonged to the Clays, so we cannot depend on them for any influence.
With Hiram off fighting, Julia has assumed much of the responsibility for their shipping company, trying to keep it out of war. I fear like many others, she will soon be forced to take sides.
Son, I know you are trying to follow God. I beg you, please come home as soon as ever you can. We need you. I love you, and nothing will change that.
Will recognized another few lines in his father’s hand.
Will, I know we don’t see eye to eye. But I forgive you for leaving, and you are always welcome back home. Remember, God is the only one worth following—not a man, a state, or a country. God uses men to accomplish His aims. Make sure to follow Him, and somehow, we’ll all come out well. Pray for us all. Christmas won’t be the same without you.
Love, Ma and Pa
Will folded the letter, putting it inside his Bible, and wept, filled with both relief and sorrow. Relief came from knowing his parents forgave him. Sorrow filled him when he thought of Albinia’s arrest, his father in the Federal army, and the home he had left.