New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-03-27
Daring Exploits of Capt. John II. Morgan
and his Fien.
,[From The Huafsvi,Ie Democrat.

r, from The HuatsviIe Dernocrat.1
we nave been furnished an interesting account
OF some OF the recent exploits of the gal
liant and intrepid cavalier, Capt. John n. Morgan
and his brave men, in the vicinity Of Nashville
His squadron belongs to Major. General Hardee a
command, and he was left In command of the nost
at Murireesboro', and to watch the movements of
the enemy.
On the 7th inst. in the afternoon, Capt. Morgan,
Lieut. Robt. Wood, (who accompanied him as
| an amateur) five of Capt NJ . men and ten Rang.
ers, went eighteen miles toward Nashville avoid
ing the pike, encamped that night, aud early the
next morning, entered the Federal lines under the
dlfecaon OF good gndes They we're forced to
pass within half q mile of camp of Federal
cavalry aud captured five men OF the 18th Ohio
hegimenttCo. SMITH wish their Enfield rifes. Con-
nnu,ig tner march toward Nashville, they took
position near the Lunatic Asylum commanding a.
ful view of the turapike. Soon a.train of wagons
With a guard appeared in sight; whereupon Col
ood, the captain and four of.his men, clad in e.
s. overcoats, rode up, stopped the train captured
tWenty-three prisoners, and cutting loesa the
| horses and mules from the wagens mounted the
prisoners on them and sent them back to our men
| IN the woods. This operation was repeated until
the prisoners numbered ninety-eight, including an
aid OF Gen. Dumont and several other officers
The prisoners were divided into three squads,
under separate guards and all started to return
MurffeesDoro'. Lieut.. Owens and ten men, having
sixty prisoners in charge, were attacked and pur-
sued by the 4th Regiment Ohio Cavalry. The pur-
suit continued fifteen miles, and the prisoners
having been abandoned, the Lieutenant and six of
u
horses from steep bank into the river and swim.
ming across. The enemy declined to emulate
their daring example. The other four men, to
avoid capture, turned into the woods and at last
| accounts, they had not been heard from. The
enemy fired several shots at the party but without
effect. Two officers among the prisoners resisted
| and were shot.
| Col. Wood and fourteen men, with ten prisoners.
went across the country, within mile of the Fed
eral cavalry and reached the vicinity Of Murfrees-
boro that night.
Capt. Morgan was returning, alone, towards
| Murfreesboro', and encountering picket of six
| men, captured them and their arms. This is said
| to have been accomplished in this manner. He
| discovered the picket in a house, and, having on
Federal uniform, or, perhaps, oyercoat, assumed
| a bold front and the confident air of a Federal
| officer, rode up to the picket and rebuking the
officer in command for not attending properly to
| his duty. ordered him to give up his arms, which
he did. He then directed him, under penalty of
death, to call out the men one by one and sur.
render their arms, which was done-and all sur
| rendered. One of Morgan's men named Spading,
Joined with fur other prisoners, came up with
Col Wood and his party next morning, and all re:
turned to Murireesboro, with thirty-eight prison
ers, who were sent to Salisbury, N. c., for con
fnement. ~
The fruits finally reaped from the expedition
were thirty.eight prisoners and a large number OF
horses, mules, pistols, sabres, harness, saddles
ETC., together with the knowledge that the whole
force OF the enemy was about IS 900, that they
had posted a regiment of cavalry about eight
miles from Nashville, on the Murfreesboro' pike,
and gave no indications of further advance.
| The above account is obtained from authen-
tic source. These and many previous exploits of
| Captain Morgan and his men indicate daring
bravery and patriotism worthy of the best days OF
| the revolution of l776 We are credibly informed
| that Gen. Hardee has urgently recommended him
| for promotion to a colonelncy He merits and
should receive it. We understand that he is son
OF Mr. Calvin Morgan, formerly of this CITY, late of
Lexington, Ky, and was born here. We feel
| proud of him a native of Huntsville.