The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-08-14
tgh From the Louisville Democrat.
How Morgan got Three Hundred Horse

5n From the Louisville Democrat.
How Morgan got Three Hundred Horses
John Morgan is as good at playing joke
sometimes as he is at horse-stealing, and the fol
lowing incident will prove that on this occasion
he did little of both at the same time: Dur
ing his celebrated tour through Indiana he, witt
about three hundred and fifty guerillas, took
occasion to pay a visit to little town hard by
while the main body were fsmarching on
Dashing suddenlyinto the little ssburg,' he found
about three hundred home guards, each having
a good horse tied to the fences-the men stand
ing about in groups, awaiting orders from theil
aged captain, who looked as if he had seen the
shady side of some sixty years. The Hoosiel
boys looked at the men with astonishment, while
the captain went up to one of the men and
asked:
"Whose company is this?"
"Wolford's cavalry" said the reb.
"Whatl Kentucky boys! We're glad to SEE
you, boys. Whar's Wolford?" ?"
'There he sits,' said ragged, rough reb,
pointing to Morgan, who was sitting sideways
upon his horse
The captain walked up to Wolford Gas be and
all thoughD and saluted him: a
sCaptain, how are you2"
''Bullyl How are you? What are you going
to do with all these men and horses ?" Morgan
looked about.
"Well, you see that d-d horse-thieving John
Morgan is in this part of the country with a
passel of cut-throats and thieves, and between
you and |. if he comes up this way, captain,
we'll give him the best we've got in the shop"
"He's hard to catch; we've been after him
fourteen days and can't see him at ALL" said
Morgan good humoredly.
s'Ef our horses would stand fire we'd be all
right"
"Won't they stand7'
"No, Captain Wolford 'spose while you're
restin' you and your company put your saddles
on our horses and 60 through little evolution
or two, by way of a lesson to our boys. I'm
told you're hoss on the drill"
And the only man Morgan is afraid of, VOL
ford (as it werel, alighted and ordered "his boys
to dismount, as he wanted to show the Hoosier
boys how to give Morgan a warm reception if
he should chance to pay them visit. This de-
lighted the Hoosier boys, SO they went to work
and assisted the men to tie their old, weary,
worn-out bones to the fences and place their
saddles upon the backs of their fresh horses,
which was soon done, and the men were in their
saddles, drawn upin line andready for the word.
The boys were highly elated at the idea Of hav-
ing their ''pet horses" trained for them by VOL
ford and his men, and more so to think they
would stand fire ever afterwards.
The old captain advanced, and walking up to
Wolford, (as he thought) said: "Captain are
you all right nova" Wolford rode up one side
of the column and down the other, when he
moved to the front, took off his hat, paused and
said, Snow, captain, am ready if you and
your gallant men wish to witness an evolution
which you perhaps have never seen, form line
on each side of the road, and watch us closely
as we pass" The captain did as he was di-
rected. A lot of ladies were present on the oc-
casion, and all were as silent as maiden's sigh.
care you ready" aeas
"All right, Wolford," shouted the captain.
. 'kor,cardF' shouted Morgan, as the column
rushed through the crowd with lightning speed,
amid the shouts and huzzas of every one pres
ent--some leading horse or two as they went,
leaving their frail tenements Of horse flesh tied
to the fences, to be provided for by the citizens.
1t soon became whispered about that it was John
Morgan and his gang, and there is not man
in the town who will Gown up" that he was
gulled out of a horse. The company disband-
ed that night, though the captain holds the hor-
scs as prisoners of war, and awaits an exchange!