But what Morgan's command learned was anything but satisfactory. Kirby
Smith had advanced to within six miles of Covington, there halted, and at
last fallen back. Bragg, instead of marching direct to Louisville, had
turned aside to Bardstown, allowing Buell's army to enter the city of
Louisville unopposed. There Buell had been joined by twenty thousand fresh
troops. Clothing and refitting his men, he had turned, and was now
marching on Bardstown. A great battle might be fought any day. In fact, it
was reported that Bragg had already abandoned Bardstown and was marching
in the direction of Danville or Harrodsburg.

"I don't like it at all," said Morgan. "Our generals have already let the
golden opportunity pass. But there is still hope. With the armies of Bragg
and Smith united, they should be strong enough to give battle and crush
Buell."

So good was the dinner and so animated the discussion, that it was late in
the afternoon when they arose from the table. As they came out Morgan
suddenly stopped and said, "Hark!"

Away in the northwest, in the direction of Perryville, the dull heavy
booming of cannon was heard. They listened and the dull roar, like distant
thunder, was continuous.

"A battle is being fought," they said, in low tones; "May God favor the
right!"

At Perryville the forces of Buell and Bragg had met, and were engaged in
deadly strife. Until nightfall the heavy dull roar was heard, and then it
died away. Which army had been victorious? They could not tell.

After the battle of Perryville, Buell, fully expecting that Bragg would
fight a decisive battle for the possession of the state, remained inactive
for three days for the purpose of concentrating his army. It was fatal to
all his hopes, for Bragg had already decided to leave the state, and he
utilized the three days in getting away with his immense trains. He had
been grievously disappointed in the hope that his army would be largely
recruited, and that at least twenty thousand Kentuckians would flock to
his standard. But Kentucky had already been well drained of men,
furnishing troops by thousands for both sides.

From one point of view, the invasion of Kentucky by the Confederates had
been a magnificent success. A loss of at least twenty thousand had been
inflicted on the Federal armies, while the loss of the Confederate army
had not been over one-third of that number. In addition to that, the
immense stores gathered and taken South were of