The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-05-16
Morgan in a Snap.
We take the letter below from the


SPARTA, Tenn, May 9Th, 1862.
EDITOR REGISTER Having an opportu-
nifty to transmit you hasty letter, will
endeavor, in few words to give you
report of our expedition and its sad ter
minaiion.
We left Corinth on the Goth of April,
and crossed the Tennessee river on the
Goth and 9th, arrived at Lawrenceburg
on the 3lst, learned the Federals were in
possession of Pulaski, and on MAY day"
we had frolio with them, i'm which we
took 200 and "a officers, including Gen.
MitchelPs son. killed Is and lost nome
The country had become alarmed, and
troops were sent to the Tennessee river
to cut us off. We continued on the next
morning, and encamped 10 miles from
Shelbyville that night. Marched the Sd
and encamped within miles of Murfrees-
boro' at night. At dawn on the 4th our
pickets and the Federal pickets had an
engagement. We passed around the
place, and crossed the Nashville and
Murfreesboro' pike to Smyrna, where we
tore up the railroad track and cut the tel
egraph wire, attached battery and re-
ceived a dispatch that was being trans
mitted to Colonel S. Mathews, command
ing at Nashville. relative 10 our being in
the vicinity, and the cavalry that had
been sent in pursuit of us. Col. Morgan
answered it in Colonel Mathews name,
and ordered the cavalry to Shelbyville,
saying that it was about to be attacked
by Gen. Price. We arrived at Lebanon
at night on the 4th, the men and horses
being greatly fatigued, and considered
that we had eluded pursuit for the pres
ent.
AT dawn on the 5th our pickets were
driven in, and before our men could get
to horse, the enemy was upon us in over
whelming numbers. Col. Morgan and
Lieut.. Col. Wood, (of West Adams regi-
mept, after most desperate efforts, sue
.ceeded in getting the men collected and
the most desperate fight ensued that is
on record, but all of no avail, Our small
force of $50 men, though the bravest OF
the brave, were surrounded by legions,
estimated and since known TO be 1000
strong. Colonel Morgan charged through
them with about 100 men, and took the
road leading to Carthage, which is on the
Cumberland river 20 miles distant. Col.
Wood and men were driven 10 the Col
lege, where they fought until IL o'clock,
refusing to surrender, although they were
wen aware that they were cut off from all
passes OF escape. and that artillery would
he brought to bear on them in short
time, until their ammunition gave out.
and the citizens had begged them to give
up, for the Federals were about to burn
the town.
Col. Morgan arrived at this place with
40 men the next day. arrived A hours
later with 81, and our men have been
coming at all hours since. We have now
here something over loo, and are expect
ing more.
Gen. Dumot, Col. Woolford, ard
Pennsylvania Colonel were taken prison.
ers early in the action in town, and as
soon as they made known their rank,
their swords were restored to them again
by our gallant Colonel NJ.
The tight was kept up the whole dis.
lance from Lebanon to Carthage. and a
volley OF so guns were fred at Colonel
Morgan as he climbed the bank after
crossing the river.
The account is necessarily very imper.
perfect in its most interesting details, for
the time that was allotted for writing be-
fore the leaving of the gentleman who is
to be the bearer is 80 short that it ex-
cludes all of a particular character.
In haste, GORDON E. NILES,
Refugee, Editor and Publisher of the
Lockport, N: Y, Daily Adv & Dem.
P. S.-Col. Morgan and men are in
good health and spirits, but greatly ia
tigued. and it will not be but short time
before the Yankees will hear from us
again.