| Nashville |
| September 18, 1861 |
| |
| [Hon. L. P. Walker |
| Secretary of War] |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Your dispatch did not reach me, but I
had gone ahead on my own individual responsibility to concert action
between the Southern-rights men of all the counties upon the {Louisville
&} Nashville
railroad. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday runners were going to all of
the true men urging them to come with whatever arms they could
procure to Elizabethtown
to-day, and in addition the commanding officer of the militia called
out his forces, but we took good care not to notify any but true
men. Hardin is Lincoln's birthplace, so the blow will come appropriately. I left there
yesterday to bring General Buckner's family to this place, and will
return in the morning. The telegraph will apprise you of the advance
before this reaches you, but you need have no fears of the feeling
in Kentucky, now that the forward movement has commenced. At my request the
principal farmers of Hardin
County
assembled together on Monday, and agreed to contribute enough
subsistence for an army of 5,000 men for a month. They said the
Confederate Government might take their whole crop if they wanted
it. I gave the selected quartermaster money to defray the necessary
expenses of a camp, and was satisfied from the enthusiasm displayed
that the yeomanry of the State will respond zealously to the
movement now made. The Confederate forces have possessed Bowling Green, and doubtless are now at Munfordville. We have nearly all the
rolling-stock of the road, and no movement could be made from the
city of Louisville
of any magnitude against us unless some accident happens to prevent
our moving rapidly on. I confidently expect to see my own house
before Sunday. Unfortunately, my furniture is scattered along the
road, a great portion of it being in the trains seized by our
people. I shall see the thing through now, even if I go it alone on
my own hook, but I should prefer to have an official position. If I
can get a commission, with orders to report to General Buckner, I
can make myself serviceable, and should like to be chief of
ordnance, which I understand all about. If a position is given to me
I would be extremely obliged if you would telegraph me the order to
report to General Buckner, and send it to me here, care of Colonel
Stevenson. We shall have some hard fighting, I expect, in the State,
as we have three strong States right opposite; but I have no fears
of the result. Whatever turns up, now my family is safe here, is a
matter of little consequence. I should gladly see my possessions in Louisville
blazing, if necessary to aid in roasting Prentice, Guthrie, and
Harney. |
| Yours, truly, |
| Blanton Duncan |
|