December 24, 1862 (Wednesday): Those Rascals

General John Hunt Morgan

NASHVILLE, December 24, 1862.
Brigadier-General GRANGER,
Bowling Green:
    General Reynolds has the best evidence that Morgan crossed with about 3,000 cavalry or mounted infantry, and a few pieces of artillery. Their object will be to stampede everybody by stories of the magnitude of their force. Be on your guard on that score. Where is Bruce, and where is the Tennessee cavalry? We will catch and kill those rascals yet.


     W. S. ROSECRANS,
     Major-General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 20, Part 2, Page 222.

Confederate cavalry raids under Morgan and Forrest disrupted Union lines of communication, but were not of such force as to do permanent damage.  Rosecrans assessment of their intent appears to have been correct.  He began to look on these raids as an opportunity to move closer to Bragg's main body at Murfreesboro.