Much of his military service had
been in the West, and he felt most identified with it. On the 10th of
September, 1861, he was assigned to command our Department of the West,
which included the States of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, the Indian
country, and the western part of Mississippi.
General Johnston, on his arrival at Nashville, found that he lacked not
only men, but the munitions of war and the means of obtaining them. Men
were ready to be enlisted, but the arms and equipments had nearly all
been required to fit out the first levies. Immediately on his survey of
the situation, he determined to occupy Bowling Green in Kentucky, and
ordered Brigadier-General S. B. Buckner, with five thousand men, to take
possession of the position. This invasion of Kentucky was an act of
self-defense rendered necessary by the action of the government of
Kentucky, and by the evidences of intended movements of the forces of
the United States. It was not possible to withdraw the troops from
Columbus in the west, nor from Cumberland Ford in the east, to which
General Felix K. Zollicoffer had advanced with four thousand men. A
compliance with the demands of Kentucky would have opened the frontiers
of Tennessee and the Mississippi River to the enemy; besides, it was
essential to the defense of Tennessee.
East of Columbus, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Hopkinsville were
garrisoned with small bodies of troops; and the territory between
Columbus and Bowling Green was occupied by moving detachments which
caused the supposition that a large military force was present and
contemplated an advance.
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