The Placer herald., 1858-11-20

Quartermaster's department. During the
next eight years there are only occasional
notices of his career. In the autumn of 1855
and the winter and spring of the ensuing
year, he was engaged in transporting sup
plies to the Virginia troops on the from
tier. This was dangerous employment
He was constantly exposed to the lurking
foe, and two or three times narrowly escaped
being killed.
"In the spring of 1856, he was sent with
wagon-load of stores to Fort Chiswel, one
of the posts which had been established
along the Virginia frontier, and situated on
the head waters of New River. While at
this place terrible disaster befell him. A
British lieutenant, taking offence at some
thing which Morgan had said or done, abused
him in violent terms, and at length struck
him with the fiat of his sword. Morgan's
indomitabe spirit could not brook this out
rage. Forthwith clenching his fist, he struck
the officer so heavy blow as to extend him
senseless on the ground. This was regarded
as an offence so grave against military law
as to call for summary and exemplary pun
ishment A drum-head court martial SEN
fenced Morgan to receive five hundred lashes
Being Immediately stripped and tied up he
received all at once the allotted number of
ashes, save one. When the terrible punish
ment was over, it is said that the flesh on
his back hung down in tags. None but one
possessing unusual powers of endurance, and
an iron constitution, could have survived an
act of cruelty so extraordinary, even in the
British army of that day. But he soon re-
covered from its effects. The officer sensible
upon reflection that he had been in the
wrong and regretting the consequences
which had followed, afterwards made Nor
gan a public apology. This was a slight
atonement for so deep an injury; yet it was
deemed sufficient by Morgan, who, from that
moment, magnanimously discharged his
mind of all resentment toward the anthor
of his sufferings and disgrace"
His zeal and coursg ge in the warfare with
the Indians attracted the attention of Wash
ington, with whom his acquaintance COM
menced at about this period. He was now
about twenty-three years of age His ap-
pearance was imposing and evidenced re-
markable strength and activity. He was
upward of six feet in height; his form was
muscular, massive, and symmetrical, and his
whole ali that of & military commander.
Returning to civilized society in Frederick
his morals were found to partake of the free
dom of the camy. He had become addicted
to drinking and gaming, though the strength
of his head prevented him from falling into
habits of intoxication. He was thrown into
bad company, and led to engage in numer-
l /. 1. M 10 .bo
ed the desire to rise above condition of
dependence. He continued to be industri
Gus and saving. Even amid the wild orgies
which filled up large portion of his time,
he never lost sight Of this higher aim. His
faults were evidently those of an impulsive,
and not of vicious disposition AS his BIZ
ographer observes, "they were the results,
not Of an innate depravity of heart, but of a
defective education and bad associations, op-
Grating on a mind as yet uniformed and preg
nant with the widest impulses" AS he ad
vanced in years, he became sensible of the
folly of his conduct, and before he had reach
ed the age of twenty y-seven, his habits were
entirely reformed.
After the peace between France and Eng
land Morgan devoted himself to the cultiva-
ton of his farm and the tranquil enjoyment
of domestic happiness. BY his military
grants he had acquired a considerable guam
tity of valuable land His agricultural pur-
suits were successful. He began to be re-
garded among his neighbors as aman of sub
stance. His wife was woman of rare ex-
celence of character, and exerted happy
influence upon his own.
fI >ft tI,oD 1l,,t,o
ary war, Morgan was selected as the captain
of one of the rifle companies, which were
raised in the State of Virginia. In about a
fortnight after the battle Of Bunker Hill, he
started from Winchester at the head of his
company, and in twenty-one days reached
Boston, having travelled a distance of six
hundred miles without losing man by sick
ness or desertion on the route. For six weeks
he remained inactive at the encampment in
Cambridge. The inglorious repose was in
tolerable both to Morgan and his men, aud
at length an opportunity was presented for
more exciting service. This was the expedi-
ton to Canada, on which he was placed at
his own earnest request. During this cam
paign, he was enabled to display his military
qualities OH broader field Of action, and to
assert new claims to the applause Of his coun-
trymen. The outfit of his company for the
march was in keeping with the free-and easy
character of volunteer soldiers.
"His men were armed, each with rifle, a
tomahawk, and long knife. They were
dressed with flannel shirts, cloth or buckskin
breeches, buckskin leggins, and moccassins.
Over these clothes they wore hunting shirts,
made, for the most part, Of brown linen,
some of buckskin, and few of linsey wolsey.
These shirts were confined to the waist by
BELTS in which they carried their knives and
tomahawks. Morgan's company wore caps,