The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-08-12
OFFICIAL REPORT OF MORGAN'S
EXPEDITION INTO KENTUCKY
Headquarters Morgan's Command,
Knoxville, Tenn, July 30, 1862.

mand, consisting of my own regiment, the Georgia
regiment OF partizan Rangers commanded by Col
A. A. Hunt, and Maj. Gano's Texas Squadron, to
which was attached two companies of Tennessee
cavalry, in the direction of Glawgow, which place
| / reached at II O'Clock that night.
! There were but few troops in the town, who
! fed at our approach. The commissary stores,
clothing, &c, together with large supply of medi-
cal stores found in lasgow, were burned, and the
guns were distributed among my command-about
! 200 of which were unarmed when left Knoxville.
| From Glasgow, l proceeded along the main
Lexington Road to Barren River, hating for a
time near Cave City-my object being to induce
the belief that intended destroying the railroad
| bridge between Bowling Green and Woodsonvie
l caused wires, connecting with portable battery
that carried with me, to be attached to the tel
egraph line near Horse Cave, and intercepted a
number of dispatches.
At Barren River, | detached three companies,
under Capt Jack Allen, to move forward rapidly
and destroy the Salt River Bridge, that the troops
along the line Of railroad might be prevented
| from returning to Louisville.
| On the following morning, [ moved off towards
! Lebanon, distant thIty-fve miles from Barren
River. At eleven O'Clock at night, l reached the
! bridge over Rolling Fork, six miles from Labanon.
The enemy had received information of my APP
proach from their spies, and my advance guard
| was fired upon at the bridge. Alter short fight,
the force at the bridge was dispersed, and the
| planks which had been torn up having been re-
placed, the command moved forward to Lebanon
| About two miles from the town, skrmish COM
menced between two companies that L caused to
dismount and deploy and force Of the enemy
posted upon the road, which was soon ended by
| its dispersion and capture. Lieut.. Col. A. Y.
johnson, commanding the troops in the town, sur
rendered, and | entered the place. The priso-
! bor =
! | took immediate possession of the telegraph
and intercepted despatch to Col. johnson, IN
forming him that Col. Owens, with the Goth
indiana regiment, had been sent to his assistance;
so / at despatched a company of Texan
Hangers, under Major Gano, to destroy the rail
road bridge on the Lebanon Branch, which he
successfully accomplished in. time to prevent the
arrival of the troops | burned two long build
ings full of commissary stores consisting of up
wards Of five hundred sacks Of coffee and large
amount Of all other supplies in bulk, marked tor
the army at Cumberland Gap also destroyed
| very large amount Of clothing, boots, &c. l
burned the hospital buildings, which appeared to
have been recently erected and fitted up, to-
gether with about thirty five wagons and fifty
three ambulances. [ found in the place
large store of medicines, FIVE thousand stand Of
arms with accoutrements, about two thousand
sabres, and an immense quantity of ammunition,
command, aud loaded one wagon with them to be
given to the recruits that | expected to join me.
also loaded one wagon with ammunition. The
remainder of the arms, ammunition and the
hospital aud medical stores destroyed.
While in Lebanon, ascertaned from telegraph
dispatches that l intercepted, that the force
which had been started from Lebanon junction to
reinforce Lieut.. Col. johnson, had met and
driven back the force under Capt. Jack Allen,
l. -
accomplishing the purpose for which he had been
detached.
l proceeded from Lebanon on the following
day through Springfield to Macksvlle, at which
point | was attacked by the Home Guards. Two
of my men were taken prisoners, and one severely
wounded. | remained at Macksvie that night to
recover the prisoners, which did the next morn
ing. l then left for Harrodsburg, capturing
Fedora! Captain aud Lieutenant on the road;
reached Harrodsburg at 123 o'clock, and found
that the Home Guard Of that portion of country
had fed to Lexington. A force was also sta
toned on the bridge where the Lexington road
crossed the Kentucky river. My reception at
this place very encouraging. The whole
population appeared to turn out and vie with each
other as to who should show us most attention.
| left Harrodsburg at o'clock the same even
ing, and moved to Lawrenceburg, twenty miles
distant, threatening Frankfort in order to draw off
the troops from Georgetown. Remained there
until the return of my courier from Frankfort,
who brought the information that there a
force In Frankfort of two or three thousand men,
consisting of Home Guards collected from the
adjacent countless and few regular troops
From Lawrenceburg l proceeded to Shrykes'
Ferry, on the Kentucky River, raised the boat
which had been sunkcn, and crossed that evening,
reached Versailles at 7 o'clock | found this
place abandoned by its defenders, who had fed to
Lexington; remained there that night, and
the next morning marched towards Georgetown.
While at Versailles took about 800 Government
horses and mules.
| passed through Midway on the road to
Georgetown, and was informed, just before reach
ing the place, that from Frankfort was
nearly due, with two ,giments Of Federals. |
tore up the track ano. posted the howitzers to
command it, and formed my command along the
line Of the road; but the train was warned Of our
presence, and returned to Frankfort. Having
taken possession o. the telegraph Office, I inter
cepted despatch asking if the road was clear,
and if it would be safe to start the train from
Lexington. l replied to send the train, and made
preparations to receive it but it was also turned
back aud esca ,ed.
I reached Georgetown, twelve miles from
Lexington, that evening. Just before entering
the town, was informed that small force of
Home Guards had mustered to oppose US. | sent
them word to surrender their arms and they
should not be molosted; but they fed. The
DeOnle Of Georrefovn also welcomed us With