Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-10-17
THE GUERRILLA MORGAN.

THE GUERRILLA MORGAN.
"He went into the rebellion con amore, and
pursues it with high enjoyment He is about
thirty five years of age, six feet in hight, well
made for strength and agility, and is perfect
ly master of himself; has light complexion,
sandy hair, and generally wearsa moustache,
and a little beard on his chin. His eyes are
keen, blush gray in color, and when,a rest,
have a sleepy look, but he sees every one and
every thing around him, although apparent
y unobservant. He il an admirable horse
man and good shot. As leader Of BAT.
tallion Of cavalry, he has no superior in the
rebel ranks. His command of his men is
supreme. While tfey admire his generosity
and manliness, sharing with them all the
hardships of the field they fear his more
than Napoleonic severity for any departure
from enjoined duty. His men narrate of him
thus-that upon one occasion, when engag-
ing in a battle, he directed che of his troop
crs to perform hazardous mission in the
face of the enemy. The man did not move
Morgan asked, in short quick words:
DO you understand my orders?'
Yes, captain, but cannot obey
Then, good by said Morgan, and in a
moment the cavalryman fell dead from his
saddle. Turning to his men, he added, such
be the fate of every man disobeying orders
in the face of an enemy
No man ever hesitated after that to obey
any command.
But Morgan is not without generosity to n
foe. Federal cavalryman related to me,
since my escape, an unusual act for an cne-
my. Losing the command of his wounded
horse, which, goaded by pain, plunged wildly
on, he was borne into the midst Of Morgan's
force. Don't shoot him cried Morgan to a
dozen of his men who raised their pistols -
Give him chance for his life The pistols
were lowered and the man sent back TO his
own lines unharmed. Few men have appear
ed on either side in this contest who combine
dash and caution, intrepidity and calmness,
boldneSs of plan with self.possesson in exc
cution, as does Morgan. The feat reported
of him in Nashville shortly after the rebel
army retreated through it, illustrates this>-
Coming into the city full Of Federal soldiers
IN the garb of farmer with load Of meal,
he generously gives it to the commissary de
partment, saying in an undertonc that there
are some Union men out where he lives, but
they have to be careful to dodge the rebel
cavalry, and he wishes to show his love for
the cause by this little donation. Going to
st. Cloud to dine he sits at the same table
with General McCook, since cruelty murder
ed, and is pointed out to tho Federal Office.
as the Union man who had made the gener-
Gus gift. He is persuaded to take the value
OF 1t in gold, and then, in private interview,
tells the Federal officer that a band of Nor
gan's cavalry is camping near him, and if one
or two hundred cavalry will come down there
tomorrow he will show them how to take
Morgan. The cavalry so, and are taken by
Morgan. 80 the story goes. An equally
successful feat it was to step into the telegraph
| Office in Gallatin, Tennessee, at later date,
| as he did, dressed as a Federal officer, and
there learn from the operator the time when
| the down, train would be in, and arrest it, Sc
curing many thousands of dollars without
loss Of men or time. Another anecdote of his
daring and cool recklessness is this Riding
up to picket post near Nashville, dressed in
full Federal uniform, he Sharply reproved the
sentinel on duty for not calling out the guard
to salute the officer of the day, as he snnounr
ced himself to be. The sentinel stammerc1
out as an excuse, that he did not know him
to be the officer of the day Morgan ordered
him to give up his arms because Of this breach
of duty, and the man obeycd. He then call
cd out the remaining six men of the guard,
including the Lieutenant who was in charge,
and put them under arrest, ordering them to
pile their arms, which they did. He then
marched them down the road short distance
where his own men were concealed, and Sc
cured all of them, and their arms and horses,
without resistance,
In an engagement Morgan is perfectly cool,
and yet his face and action are as if surcharg-
cd with electricity. He has the quckness of
tiger and the strength Of two ordinary men.
One cause Of success is found in the charac-
ter OF his chargers. lie has only the floetcst
and most enduring horses; and when one
falls he soon finds another by hook or by
crook. His business in his recent raid into
Kentucky (July 2Sth) seemed to have been
mainly to gather up the best boodsd horses,
in which that State abounds."