Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-26
COLONEL MORGAN AT LEBANON.
Far Particular Of Ehe CgpIsye.


F"H Particular Of He Capture.
Correspondence Of the Louisville Journall'
LEBANON, KY, July 15-Now that things
are somewhat quiet in and near Lebanon, ] have
concluded to give you q fair and impartial his
tory of events that rave trauspired since the
coming aud going Of the far-famed acting BHg-
Gen. J. H. Morgan, G. S. A.
On Friday, the 18th, it was reported here
about noon, that Gen. Morgan had attacked and
routed the Federal forces in Southern Keufucky,
and that he was making his way to Lexington
through Lebanon. Shortly after a disp4ich OF
this character was received, it was currently and
correctly reported, that the general, with q large
force, was about twenty miles south~es; #
Lebanon, near the little village of "Piucn En-
and that he would take Lebanon on that Or
day. night. ,
Lieutenant-CoL A. 7. Johnston, in comm md
at this place, immediately sent runners 10 the
Home Guards to hold themselves in Teadinsss
for any emergency, and prepared Capt. Barth's
company, under Capt. BIS immediate charge,
for offensive operations. Late in the evening
ten OF twelve soldiers, members Of Capt Barb .
company, 18th Kentucky, were sent 20 Now
MaTket-distance six miles from Lebanon"
guard toe bridge across Rolling Fork at that
point. The men were under charge Of lst Lieut.
Cstlin, and were joined by some fifteen Home
Guards. Night came, and enforcement were
anxiously looked for from Louisville and other
points. It was known that Morgan's force was
large and in good fighting trim. The Lebanon
Home Guard, Capt. MeTrimee, met and sent
pickets out on the roads leading into LebahOr.
The entire force under Col. Johnston, a thsl-past
ten o'clock, was near forty soldiers and forty
Home Guards-in all eighty men.
At half past eleven, as far as lean guess news
came that Morgan had reached New Market
bridge, and that the guard there had fired on the
enemy, driving them back. Col Johnston or
dered a soldier, whose name 1 forgot, and MI.
Hastings, with Lieut. Fidler, who had vOlUn-
teered as aid TO Col. Johnston, to 90 to New
Market, see what was being done, and report
Immediately. These gentlemen hurried forward,
and, on going up q hill near New Market, sud-
denly met the advance of Morgan's brigade,
were ordered to halt, and, upon failure to do
this, were fred upon. Some twenty shots were
fred, but fortunately neither of the gentlemen
were injured. Lieut.. FidleY, being on a SOW
horse, was taken prisoner his horse, saddle,
and bride, with a splendid navy pistol, were
taken from him.
Hastings reported to the officer in command
that Morgan was advancing With overwhelming
numbers. The I-sutenant-colonel gave orders
for no firing to be done, if the enemy was so
much our superior in numbers. Whom Nor
gsn's advance reached our pickets il was fred
Oh, and Immediately q sharp little skirmish be-
gan, which the whole body Of soldiers soon par-
ticipsted in-the pickets having been compelled
to fall back on the main body. Our soldiers
were soon compelled to skeedaddle by over
whelming numbers, and they fed in every di-
T]ec5ion, leaving two men on the field dead
Whether the enemy suffered any loss or not 1
cannot say. ] saw several Of their wounded
who were badly hurt. The men killed on our
side were Moses Ricketts,, an excellent citizen,
honest, upright, well thought of by every one,
a grocery keeper; indeed, one Of Lebauon's
best citizens and Nr. Dyke, a peaceable, quiet,
kind, upright, respected man. Lebanon Ia
ments their loss very much. How terrible IS
war! The desolator of homes, and the great
enemy of happiness!
LieUtenaut-Co Colonel Johnston and eighteen
pTivstes Of the 2Ssh Kentucky were taken prison
ers, and s6mg eight or nine citizens connected
with the Home Guards. Morgan took possess
sion Of Lebanon, which be found almost de-
populated, the citizens having 1sd to the coun-
Try for protection. He gave orders that private
property should be respected, and threatened
any one with death who should disobey orders.
His men quarteTed themselves where they best
liked, ate when they pleased, and fed their
horses on the corn and grain of all. They were
not guilty of prUfering pay for anything. !
believe did see them offer Confederate scrip
when there was a possibility Of getting good
money in change.
When day came, Morgan proclaimed that he
was going to divide the United States commis-
ssry stores here among the poor Of the town,
and destroyed only the ordnance in store. Bat
when he promised this he is suspected Of having
told q big bully, devilishIooking b~lsckguard,
whisky bloat, unmerciful, degenersted puppy
an Englishmsn, named Gel. st Leger CreG-
velle, the same immaculate Parsonage wHo d,
sired TO hang all unionists, burn down the e. m
modiOus depot here, ard set or fire our c. u e
house, insuring the entire destruction # ol~
town-to burn down the depots OF tie UuiJ-d
States goods. 1 notice that only prominent
rebels were so fortunate as 70 get any Of tie
spoils. Our soldiers are compelling these ie-
lows to disgOrge. In the government depo-,
were sugar, coffee, -four, bread, etc, etc and
the destruction was immense; guns were b~ul
double by hard ticks over rocks, powder. cart
and caps were thrown into the creek Il
Is estimated that the government lost near Si0J.-
OO0-perhaps mere. The commodiou5 hospital
near town, with sick soldiers clothing, va,
burned to the ground, and the sick turned cat
of doors. Fortunately their number was fee
wagon yard, wagons, a~mbulances, etc
destroyed.