ORs: (US) Report of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, October 4, 1862

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 16, Part 1, Page 1019

HEADQUARTERS, Bardstown,
October 4, 1862.

GENERAL:
Bardstown is in our possession, after a pretty sharp skirmish of our advance cavalry with Wharton’s brigade. I intended to have camped on Cox’s Creek, 4 miles from here, but the cavalry were drawn into a fight by the rebels, which made it necessary to send assistance, when the enemy retired and yielded the town. We have several hundred prisoners sick in hospital, all of whom I will have paroled to-morrow.

It is supposed by the citizens that the infantry of Wharton’s brigade has been cut off by the advance of our troops. I have disposed the troops so as to intercept them if possible, but I believe they have all escaped. The last of their infantry left this morning on the Springfield pike, and on another road, which the citizens call the Little Beech Fork road. A Dr. Cowan informed me that the adjutant of a Florida regiment told him that Bragg’s force consisted of sixty-five regiments, averaging 400 each, and that there was a great deal of sickness among them. The doctor is convinced that they are concentrating at Danville.

Bragg left here last Sunday morning for Danville and has not been. back since. Polk left here this morning.

Very respectfully,

GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General.

General BUELL.
P. S.—We have some sick officers prisoners. The loss sustained by our cavalry was about 20 killed and wounded and a great many missing.