Confederate General Kirby Smith and Braxton Bragg believed that Kentucky's neutrality had given it no guarantees from the Union and the Confederate raid there would bring Kentucky into the Confederacy.
The success of Confederate Colonel John Morgan raid's into Kentucky in July of 1862 brought many Kentuckians to enlist into the Confederate army. Morgan was successful in his raids into Union held positions in Kentucky. This encouraged the South to invade Kentucky.
Union General Don Carlos Buell had an advantage over the Confederates that raided Kentucky in September of 1862. As long as Buell held Nashville and the supply line offered by his control the railroad that led back to Louisville, Confederate generals Bragg and Smith had no direct lines of supply. They would soon need to retreat to keep their armies fed. The Confederate hopes of recruiting Kentuckians into the Confederate army failed and their mission was for all practical purposes over.
At the same time Colonel Morgan was conducting raids in Kentucky, Confederate Colonel Nathan B. Forrest, was undertaking similar operations in Tennessee. Forrest had more troops, 1,400, and his raids were taking place on Confederate soil. On July 14, 1862, he launched a raid on Murfreesboro, Tennessee. After fierce fighting the Union garrison surrendered. Before retreating he tried to knock out supply routes that the Union was using. This included rail links, bridges and telegraph lines.
The Holly Springs Raid, conducted by Confederate cavalry under General Earl Van Dorn in December 1862, involved approximately 1,500 soldiers. The raid aimed to disrupt Union supply lines and communication by targeting the Union supply depot in Holly Springs, Mississippi. The operation was successful, leading to significant losses for the Union forces stationed there.
Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith graduated from West Point in 1845. Smith was ranked 25th in a graduating class of cadets numbering 41. Smith was instrumental in Confederate battles in the Western Theater. He and General Braxton Bragg led a raid into Kentucky in 1862. Kirby served in the Confederate victory at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky.
As part of the overall Confederate strategy in late 1862, there was a coordinated attempt by Rebel armies to make raids into Northern territory. General Lee raided Maryland unsuccessfully and to a certain degree, General Braxton Bragg's raid into Kentucky faired a bit better.Bragg was criticized militarily but hailed politically when he took the time on October 2, 1862 to attend the inauguration of Kentucky's secessionist governor Richard Hawes at Frankfort. In the meantime, Union General Buell was making ready his advance from Louisville. Bragg did lose valuable time by making this stopover, however, there was attached to Bragg's visit significant political and technical values attached to the visit. On a theoretical basis, the Confederacy saw Kentucky as a new Confederate state. It would be a plus to make a Confederate appearance at the inauguration. Even while Kentucky remained a "neutral" slave holding border state, Bragg hoped to win over as mant citizens as he could for recruiting volunteers for the South. This was a detour worth taking except for the fact that Bragg's attention was taken away from General Buell's presence and advance from Louisville.
Confederate General Kirby Smith had been part of the two pronged raid strategy created by generals Bragg and Lee with Jefferson Davis' complete approval. Kirby was able to control central Kentucky in September of 1862. The position of his forces was so close to Cincinnati that the city was in a panic. Union General Lew Wallace took over the city and declared martial law as there was a fear that Confederate loyalists might take over the city.
Confederate General Samuel Garland received his military education at VMI. He graduated on July 4, 1849. He ranked third in a class of 24. He was killed in action during the raid into Maryland in 1862. He was 32 years old.
The Confederates under General Edmund Kirby Smith win at Richmond, Kentucky on August 30, 1862. 4,000 Federals surrender. This battle was the result of the two pronged raid into the North. The second prong was Robert E. Lee's raid into Maryland. With Richmond out of the way, generals Smith and Bragg march northward.
Morgan's Raid was a long raid led by Confederate Captain John Morgan. It began in Tennessee, continued up through Kentucky, Indiana, and then east into Ohio. The purpose of the raid was to spread fear and terror in the hearts of the northern population. Morgan's Raiders created havoc all through these states until they were finally stopped and Morgan was captured in Columbiana County, Ohio.
While Confederates were conducting raids in Kentucky in the Summer of 1862, Tennessee was not neglected. On July 14, 1862, Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest raided Murfreesboro, Tennessee with 1,400 troops. A Federal garrison there surrendered and Forrest destroyed nearby bridges, railway lines and telegraph lines before retreating. The raids conducted by Forrest and Morgan hampered the Union's war efforts in the Western Theater.