The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-09-27
FAIRFAX STATION. Sent. II. 1861

TO Col. Taughn, Sd Tenn. Rcg't, Az Brigaclc.
We the undersigned, Sergeant of the
guard, and two prvates of the guard, for
I'D Tenn. Vols, for the 18th inst, make
the following report and statement:
Having been ordered by you to arrest
two men who were intoxicated and act
ing improperly at or lear house three
fourths of a mile from the encampment
of Sd Tenn. Vols. we proceeded to that
neighborhood and arrested one of the
men. John Duncan, a private in Co. az"
Sd Tenn. Vols. We had started back to
camp when we met VIM. Thomas, n pri-
vate Of Co. az" Sd Tenn. Vols. Thorn
as stopped the guard and prisoner, and
against the orders of the Sergeant of the
guard gave the prisoner drink of wins
key or some other intoxicating liquor
Thomas then pulled out pistol and gave
IL to the prisoner, and told the prisoner
that he had a friend by him. and to go
where he pleased. Prisoner and Thomas
then started off together in opposite di-
rection from camps pushing aside the
bayoncts of the guard and breaking
through the guard. The guard followed
them both short distance until they
were nearly opposite to Col. Vaughn and
Maj. Morgan's quarters, when one Of the
Sullu ". L. W llSOll, Idtl III anu
Maj. Morgan that the two men, Thomas
and Duncan, had broke through the
guard, that Thomas had given Duncan a
pistol, that Duncan had drawn the pistol
on the guard and swore he would die be-
fore he would be arrested. Maj. Morgan
proceeded with the guard and ordered
the two men, Thomas and Duncan, to
halt, which they refused to do. The
Major and guard ran and overlook the
men. Before the Major came up Duncan
handed the pistol back TO Thomas. The
Major ordered Thomas several times to
give the pistol to the guard which Thorn
as refused to do. and said he would die
before he would be arrested or give up
the pistol. Major Morgan then ordered
the guard to arrest Thomas and disarm
him. But Thomas drew the pistol and
said: "Wasl Morgan, (meanng the Ma
jor,) I know you, but will die before
give up this pistol and will shoot the
man who attempts to take it. Major
Morgan had taker n gun from the hands
of one of the guard, was cool and collect
ed, and demonstrated with the two men,
Thomas and Duncan, and told them that
they had better return to camps. Thorn
as and Duncan both replied that they
would not come until they got ready
Thomas who still had the pistol in his
hani, commenced cooking the pistol,
placed one foot behind the other, sand
held the pistol pointed towards Maj. Nor
gan. AT that instant Major Morgan, who
was about ten feet from Thomas, raised
his gun rapidly and fired at Thomas
The ball and buckshot struck Thomas on
his right side and lower part of the alb
domen, and passed through his body
Thomas is still living this morning of the
18th inst, but is very dangerously wound
ed. The undersigned believe that if
3faj. Morgan had not fred at the precise
instant OF time he did, that Thomas
would have shot Maj. Morgan. We ex-
ahmed Thomas pistol Immediately af-
terwards-it was loaded and had caps on
it. The pistol in Thomas hand was a
five shooter.
Attest JOHN j. REESE.
1t. Col. Sd Reg't Tenn. Vols.
his
WILLIAM X RIDLEY, (Co. d.
mark.
&. f. WILSON, (Co. d.
,.. his
G. w. X THOMAS, (Co.)
mark.