Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-24

homes against such lawless outrage. This
vas the case in Frankfort, and several individ-
ual cases. men Of standing and influence, came
under my notice There is, therefore, no need
10 appreheHd rising in the State against the
Government. A few who have nothing to lose,
animated by hope Of plumber, and regardless Of
remote consequences, viii join in this raid upon
their neighboTs. Bad men are found every
where, ready to join in any enterprise that prom
ises spolistiOn.
STILL if one has a cancer in the body, he
should be expeditions in destroying it. If un-
disturbed, it will spread, and ultimate in death.
Ii John Morgan is allowed to remain in central
kentucky, attack town after town, defeat their
defenders in detail, capture citizens, plunder
houses, burn bridges, rob banks. steal horses
and the like, he may become formidable. In its
military character, his raid is contemplate
and in its dash and daring, it is admirable But
there is all the difference between them that
there was b'tween D0niphan's march and the
exploits of the Mexican guerrillss Morgan is
rolling stone," but he gathers more 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, and hurl destruction
into the happy valley. What Morgan has com
menced Gs a raid, may become a revolution, and
it will, unless he is checked.
What is being done to put an end to this
miserable business, do you ask Very little, it
seems to an observer, as it 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 towrs,
for feur 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 pursue, rout and
dispense his gang, are squatted down on the
hills about Frankfort and Lexington, John slips
between, destroys bridges, and interrupts COM
munications. Why, when at Versailles, his
men were SO tagged ont that they slept in the
streets, with their horses brides on their arms,
was not movement made simultaneously from
Frankfort, Lexington and NichOlasville? At
the first named place were the c55h Ohio, Col.
Sewers, the Ssh Indiana battalion, Col M0hen,
two or three pieces ef artillery, quite body OF
irregular troops, and mounted men sufficient for
scouting and hanking purposes Brig General
Ward was at Lexington with force Of not less
than 500 men, probably , 600, and there were
300 at NichOlosvilie, irregular troops It is true
but men in earnest in defense Of their property.
TIE distance to march was not over ii miles,
and cars might have been employed, if -neces-
sary, to transport troops a portion of the way.
Il was proposed, aud might have been success
fully executed Monday night. But while it was
being cussed and discussed, the hours slipped
away, and it was found 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 Morgan had left his en-
campnent on Z9b. Wards farm from which be
took q large number of blooded horses, had
moved north, and occupied Midway Station,
tearing up the track on the Lexington and Lou
isYill9 road It does seem that the bridges on
the road might have been saved, by posting in
fantry in position to defend them. But there
was such a tenacity to the defensive system,
that it was not done. It was deemed more i'm
portaEt to endure al interruption Of communi-
cations than 70 risk the safety of a town. The
place to fight Morgan was at the city gates be-
sides, who could think of marching infantry un-
der such q sun Then TUmor had Morgan ali the
while close upon Frankfort or Lexington. The
protean genius of horse thieves was everywhere,
and it seemed as though a Morgan lurked be-
hind every fence corner. Marvellous stories
were told of how he had visited the cities as a
spy, sometimes dressed ss sn old woman, aud
sometimes IS a rustic, with vegetables for the
market and John, who IS a good deal of 8
qIack as well as a soldier, understands tho ad-
vantage thus given him, and keeps his marvellous
adventures circulating, adding such details as
fasten theal upon the credulty of the people
who, in their excitement, would not be surprised
if John should turn up, some day, with the
hoofs and horns Of old Nick, and tail at least
thirty feet long.
When I left Frankfort, cavalry, artillery and
were pouring into the city by every
train. Brig-Gen Clay Smith had arrived to
take command, and Gsshe is said to be man of
spirit, with daring and dash in his composition,
and military capacity, perhaps something may
happen. There are regular and irregular troops
in and about Lexington and Frankfort to eat up
John and his thieves, and not furnish half ra-
tions at that 1t will be blistering shame if he
is allowed to escape, after having Plundered and
despoiled the fairest portion of Kentucky.
The people are willing to second the enter
prise Of a military chieftain. AL they want is
direction. Companies of mounted men were
being raised, horses impressed, and every means
taken to outfit an expedition formidable in its
and wifi in its movements. Bat
there is SO much waiting, so much preparation,
so much desire to make " big thing" of it,
that by the time the Federals are ready to move,
Morgan viii be on lis retreat, and hundred or
two hundred miles from there.
VIII he make a dash at Covington, Newport,
and CINCINNATI 2 If he finds them defenseess
yes if the risks are not too great in his rear.
He will be his own judge of that. He does not
intend to provoke combat, and will avoid it, if
possible. When he can pOunee upon a small
body of men with safety, he will do it, and he
knows where such bodies are stationed, for his
spies are everywhere. He viii not stay long in
Central Kentucky sfor he cannot afford to do it.
Armed forests ere springing up around him thick
as the Lincoln Greens in Sherwood forest lie
will either attempt retreat by the way he came.
or make for Virginia, through the eastern coun-
ties of Kentucky. He may be caught, but the
chances are, if the Encouragement, irresOlu-
ton, and indecsion of the past few days is con-
tnued he will escape unharmed as he en-
tered the State. The responsibility of such an
event must rest with whoever undertakes the
enterprise Of his capture and the general man
agement of the military expedition set on foot
for that DurDose