The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-24

accessions from Owen county, one Of the
most pestilent holes in the State, but
there is no general rising. Five hundred
would be liberal estimate Of the mum
Der Of recruits he has received up to this
moment. That Morgan was disappointed
in this, there can be no doubt. He OPEN
ly said as much in Versailles, and his
rascally outlaws were more expressive
in their feelings and cursed the Union
men Of Kentucky without, stint To one
that has risen TO aid him. score has ris-
en- against him. The intelligent men Of
Kentucky are fred at the insult. The
idea Of a horse theying and plunderiug
gang Of scoundrels marching throughout
the entire State with impunity, is some
thing they cannot tolerate with patience.
Even the quasi secessionists openly dis
approve OF the raid, and have offered their
services in defense Of their cities and
homes against such a lawlcss outrage.
This was the case in Frankfort, and sew
eral individual cases Of men of standing
and influence, came under my notice.
! There is, therefore, no need TO appre-
| bend a rising in the State against the
Government. A few who have nothing
TO lose animated by hope Of plumber, and
regardless of remote consequences, will
join in this raid upon their neighbors.
Bad men are found everywhere, ready to
join in any enterprise that promises spoli-
| alton.
Still, il one has a cancer in the body,
| he should be expeditions in destroying it.
If undisturbed, it will spread and ulti-
mate in death. If John Morgan is allow
| ed to remain in Central Kentucky, attack
| town after town, defeat their defenders in
detail, capture citizens, plumber houses,
burn bridges, rob banks, steal horses and
the like, he may become formidable. In
its military character, his raid is con-
| temptible; and in its dash and daring, it
is admirable. But there is all the differ
encc between thcIn that there was between
DOniphan's march and the exploits of the
Mexican guerrillas. Morgan is trolling
stone" but he gathers moss as he goes,
Notwithstanding the prOverb. 1t takes
but little handful of snow, under the
proper conditions, TO make an avalanche
that shall crush forests in its path aud
hurl destruction into the happy valley.
What Morgan has commenced as a raid
may become a revolution, and it will, I'm
less he is checked.
What is being done to put an end to
this miserable business, do you ask?
Very little, il seems to an observer, as il
should be done. A defensive policy is
adopted. That is what Morgan wants.
If he can keep the forces that should be
pursuing him busy defending towns, for
fear he might slip in at the back door, he
gains everything and risks nothing. And
that is what is being done in Kentucky.
While forces sufficient, if massed, to pur-
sue, rout and dispense his gang are squat
ted down on the hills about Frankfort
and Lexington, John slips between, de-
strOys bridges, aud interrupts Communi-
cation. Why, when at Versailles his
men 80 tagged out that they slept in the
streets, with their horses brides on their
arms, was not a movement made simulta-
neously from Frankfort, Lexington, and
Nicholasvillc? At the first named place
was the S5th Ohio, Col Sewers; the 55th
Indiana battalion, Col Mohen; two OF
three pieces Of artillery; quite a number
of irregular troops, and mounted mer
sufficient for scouting and flanking pur.
poses, Brig. Gen. Ward was at Loxing.
ton with force of not less than l,5OC
} men, probably 1000, and there were BOO
at olasvillc-irrcgular troops, it. i,
true, but men in earnest in delcuse o
their property. The distance 90 march
was not over II miles, and cars nigh
have been employed, if necessary, t,
, transport troops a portion of the way
twas proposed, and might have beer
/ successfully executed Monday night. But
while it was being cussed and discussed
the hours slipped away, and it was fount
too late to undertake the enterprise.
. A golden opportunity to put Morgan
, on the defensive had passed. Next day
we were not surprised to hear that Nor
{ gan had left his encampmcnt on ZeE
% Ward farm, from which ne took a larg
F., number of blOoded horses, had move
q North, aud occupied Midway Station
e tearing up the track on the Lexington
G and Louisville road It docs seem tina
\ the bridges on the road might have beer
2 saved, by posting infantry in position
n defend them. But there was such ten
a aclty TO the defensive system that it wa
c not done. 1t was deemed more impor
l. tant to endure an interruption of com
# muniCatiOn than to risk the safety of tn
10 town. The place to fight Morgan was a
e the city gates; beside, who could thin
o Of marching infantry under such a SUI
Then rumor had Morgan all the Will
l. close upon Frankfort or Lexington. Tn
10 prOtean genius of horse thieves was every
v where, aud it seemed as though MOrga
Y lurkcd beRnd every tense corner. Maj
V vellous stories We're told Of how he ha
g visited the cities as spy, sometime
N dressed as an old woman, and Sometimes
g. a rustic with vegetables for the market
t. and John, who is a good deal of a quaC
j. as we'll as a soldier, understands the ad
rs vantage thus given him, and keeps b
l. marvellous adventures circulating, ado
ID ing such details as fasten them upon Il
Id credulity Of the people who, in their el
if citement, would not be surprised if job
l. should turn up some day, with the hoOi
IN and horns of old Nick, and tail at lea
thirty feet long,
is When left Frankfor, cavalry, artillel
lie and infantry were pouring into the eli
r. by every train. Brig Gen. Clay Smi
ar had arrived to take command, and as
49, is said TO be a man Of spirit, with dariI
IN and dash in his composition, and millt
nd ry capacity, perhaps something may ha
le, pen. There are regular and irregul
To troops in and about Lexington and Fran
,s, fort to eat up John and his thieves, al
G. not furnish half rations at that II vi
if be a blistering shame if he is allowed
ly escape, after having plundered and de
of poiled the fairest portion Of Kentuok
i'm The people are willing TO second {
en- enterprise of a military chieltain. a
re- they want is direction. Companies
ey mounted men were being raised, hor'
a- impressed. and eyorY means taken 10 OF