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jj 13 luito umuc iapiu auu uiipaiaucicumarches, attacking where, least expected, outstripping pursuit and escaping capture so long. So alert had he become in pouncing upon the unwary, capturing stock and commissary supplies, that the old refrain of “John Morgan's got your mule” was heard in the Union army from the Potomac to the Mississippi.Had it not been for these exceptional advan-VII Wiiu UUJLL1tages be could not, with 2,500 men. have swept eh the great Statds of Indiana and Ohiointhrough the face of aostile population and a hundred thousand militia for over six hundred miles. Perhaps no other man than John Morgan would have attempted it. As it was, he acted in defiance of the express orders of General Bragg, who desired him to operate in the State of Kentucky, and, if possible, to capture the city of Louisvilie. 'vfcl. ■■ :|lIt was on the 10th day of June, 1863, thatGeneral Morgan announced to*his officers while at Alexandria, Tenn., his intention of matting a raid into Ohio. Three weeks prior to this announcement he had caused an examination of the fords of the upper Ohio with the expectation, or at least hope, of crossing the Ohio River to join General Lee, if the latter was successful in his invasion of Pennsylvania. These facts refute the idea once so prevalent that he crossed the Ohio River into Indiana to escape the pursuit of the Federal Cavalry under General Hobson. fjC'General Morgan’s command crossed the Ohio River into Indiana on the 7th day of July, 1863, and on the 13th entered the State of Ohio at Harrison. On the 19th occurred the battle of Buffington’s Island, where the Union forces under Generals Hobson and Judah, assistedby gun-boats, captured his artillery, his ablest General. Basil Duke, with other officers, andseven hundred prisoners. On .the 20th, Morgan, with over a thousand men, escaped from his environment to renew one of the mostlto-markabie raids or rides the world has known.It was at tiiis time that my personal participation in the Morgan raid began. It will be remembered that the Third Ohio Infantry had been captured in Colonel Strait’s raid inGeorgia, and while the Confederate authorities had exchanged the men, they refused to release the officers, but confined them in prison. The Third Ohio being without u commandingVJCiiciaimand to General Shackelford. Where is General Shackelford?” This announcement was the first intimation I had of the proximity of any other Union force than my own, and I replied, “I don’t know where General Shackelford is; this is not his command,” He hesitated a moment, and then said: “Won’t you stop firing?” I replied: “Is General Morgan with his command?” for having been deceived previously, I was apprehensive thet this announcement was another expedient to gaintime. He Answered, “Yes.” I then ordered my men to cease tiring, when, very much to my astonishment. Major Rue and a number of other officers of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry rode up to where the bearer of the flag of truce and myself were talking. I then ascertained for the first time that the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry of Shackelford’s command was in the vicinity. The Third Ohio had gained the enemy’s front without cooperation with any other force, and the Confederate chieftain finding himself hemmed in on all sides had announced his surrender, which included only four hundred men of the one thousand under his command when he crossed the Muskingum, the other six hundred having been either killed, disabled or captured.It has always been my conviction that Morgan’s surrender was made “to General Shackelford,” although he was not personally present, because he was a Kentucky officer, and although I do not object to this as an evidence of State pride, it seems but fair to Ohio and Ohio soldiers that the true history of the surrender should be impartially written, and that the statement of General Duke, that Morgan was captured by “troops from other States,” should be refuted. The temptaiion to claim the exclusive credit for the capture of so distinguished and renowned an officer as General Morgan was very great; and although the flag of truceannounced the surrender “to General Shackelford,” Major Rue telegraphed to General Burn-organ to-day at 2officer, the writer of this paper was detailed for that position. WLen Morgan with hisraiders entered the State of Ohio the regimentwas ordered to report at Parkersburg, Va. At this place, on the 20th day of July, 1863, my command, consisting of four hundred effective men, was furnished horses, and we began the pursuit of the Confederates immediately after they had crossed the Muskingum River at Eaglesport, above McConnellsville. The men I commanded were splendid soldiers, inured to fatigue and danger. Within six hours after we crossed the Muskingum we engaged the Confederate rear guard. Morgan sent in a flag of truce, and,requested time to consider terms of surrender. After waiting two hours I discovered that his whole force bad been withdrawn under cover of this ruse for delay. There was nothing for us to do but to try and regain the time we had lost, which we found a most difficult task to perform. The Confederates rode day and night. Knowing that they were being constantly weakened from the large number of stragglers we captured and disarmed, many of whom had fallen from their saddles exhausted, while others had crawled into the fields to sleep as soundly almost as though they were dead, I urged the pursuit as rapidly as the horses could carry us. Soon it was with the greatest difficulty - thatthe command could be kept mounted.Horses staggered and fell exhausted from the intense July heat and rapid gait at whichside, “/ captured John o’clock p.m.” It may have been forgotten by Major Rue that the surrender had been an* nounced to the commanding officer-of the Third Ohio Regiment before he appeared upon the scene, and yet in a matter of so much importance it is unfortunate that his memory Mrved him so poorly.At a farm-house a short distance from the place of capitulation, where Morgan and hisocers were taken to obtain dinner, he con versed with me unreservedly. He was apprehensive that the militia, with which the country swarmed, would attempt to kill him, and precautions were taken to insure his safety.These fears were well founded, for the squirrel hunters were not sticklers for the laws of war.we were goinThis necessitated more or lessdelay, but I gave orders to the men to take horses wherever found to replace those broken down. As Morgan had the advance we werecompelled to take tne animais he chose to leave behind, and he afforded us - little room to be fastidious. I had to draw the line somewhere, and so on one occasion I compelled one of the men to alight in the road when I discovered him astride of an emaciated old mare with a very young colt trotting at her side.He soon secured a much more warlike steed.Frequently we dismounted and prepared for action, only to discover that the enemy in front of us was an insignificant force thrownout to delay and check and then to surrender, while Morgan and the main body were making good their retreat.It would be impossible to describe the scenes of terror we witnessed throughout the country we traversed. The roads were full of broken-down and abandoned animals, saddles, house-A6bvMrWwneaiwbertwplyW■t.. lt;Xa li tand were vociferous in their denunciation of “the damned Kentucky horse-thief.”When I expressed to General Morgan my surprise that he should have attempted an invasion of Ohio with such desperate chances of success, he informed me that he sought by this movement to prevent General Burnside, who was organizing a force in Kentucky, from reinforcing General Rosecrans, who confrontedGeneral Bragg at Tullahoma. I said: “General Morgan, I am glad that the fortunes of war have made me one of your captors.” Smiling pleasantly he took a silk scarf out of his breast pocket, and in a tone of voice having theslightest tinge of irony, said: “Permit me,Captain, to present you with a souvenir of this pleasant occasion.” This scarf has been in my possession ever since the surrender, and although somewhat faded by age is in an excellent state of preservation.In personal appearance General Morgan was very handsome. At least six feet in height,compactly built, with brown hair and blue eyes, wearing no beard save his mustache,complexion bright and features finely cut, he was u4jr mild a mannered man as ever cut a throat or scuttled ship.”His tragic death at Greenville, Tenn., on the 4th day of September, 1864, isfamiliar to all. When 1 heard of it I could not help deploring the end of the dashing raider who led bis men so gallantly “into the jaws of death” north of the Ohio River.A friend of mine has recently told me of an amusing episode that occurred a short time since near Cynthiana, Ky., on the occasion of a reunion of the Morgan raiders. The old Confederates were having a high timer, singing theirsongs and recounting past experiences. Among their refrains was one with words something like these: “We’d give our blue-graas farms to ride that raid again.” A Kentucky Union man who was near by, a regular “crested jay-hawk of the mountain,” got angry at this sen-WSLAA a liWroalt;wwritI Aa ligoo reiitsat IA a liIB i milwilbuthenTo\I LIvamanlt;kc.Beeople in theirhold goods and debris. The efforts to saVe their valuables an to almost every expedient. Passing a vedP stock resortedtiment, and told the leading vocalist that he was “a d—d- liar,” and that if he kept on heto almost every expedient, massing a verypretty residence in Columbians County, which“And who are “Me! Me! Iwas deserted by its occupants, Morgan havingreceded usnot over an hour, I heard aoud neighing and the stamping of hoofs.would blow his brains out.you?” demanded the songster.am Clay of Bourbon, by G—d.” Our informant says that while he expected a shower of bullets not a shot was fired.Bending a sergeant to investigate the cause, he returned leading a handsome bay horse whichhe had discovered shut up in a room of the house. This expedient had saved the animal from capture by the rebels, but, alas! not from confiscation by us. Necessity knows no law, and this gallant steed did good service subse-London Athtmteum.—Nothing more sickening than the Indian wars of the United States is tobe fonnd in history.quently for the land that gave him birth.The Third Ohio Regiment did not stop toDsaxSks should remember that last season the supply of Corticelll or Florence 811k Mittens was exhausted the first week in Decemher. This will be the caee this season, and those who lay la their stocksearly will.rep the holiday harvest.wb8UST
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Sun, Nov 21, 1886
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Elyria P.
OH, USA 12 Aug 2022
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