The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-08-06
From the Cleveland Herald, July 9th.
CAPTURE Of John Morgan.


From the Cleveland Herald, July 9th.
Capture of John Morgan.
Hou ii soas Dons.-A Great Fright.
"A Little Fight, asda Grand Flight
John Succunabs to Relsnttess rate.
BY the arrival of the Cleveland q
Pittsburg train this morning we are
placed in possession of the particulars
OF the closing scenes of John Morgan g
great steepie chase through the Hoosier
and Buckeye States, gallop, before
which the world famous ride of John
GiIpin, that - :
vi credit and renown"
must forever sink into insignifcanoe.
We have already mentioned the fight
that took place at Springfield, between
Steubenyille and Salinsville, on Satur-
day evening. That fight was in reality
blundcring attack of one portion of
our own force upon another portion of
the same. A plan had been laid for
the capture of Morgan's entire band.
The militia were stationed on a hill
overlooking a road which Morgan was
expected to traverse, and the cavalry
and other regular forces were to occupy
positions that would have enabled them
to surprise and " bag" the entire rebel
command. As the 9th Michigan Cav
airy, under Major Way, were moving
along the road to take up the position
assigned them, they were mistaken by
the militia for the rebels, and were
fred into. This of course compelled
the Cavalry to fall back, and before
the error could be retriyed, Morgan
and his forces had escaped.
Gen. Brooks, commanding the de-
partment, had gone to Wellsville and
established his headquarters in the
Cleveland and Pittsburg depot, where
he was assisted by the managing Off
GERS of the road, who had placed the
transportation and telegraphic resour-
ces OF the road at his disposal. Find
ing that there was a probability that
Morgan would cross the road in the
vicinity of Salineville, train of cars
was sent up the road about six o'clock
Sunday morning with a regiment of six
months Pennsylvania Infantry, under
command of Col. Gallagher, 9th Mich
| igan Cavalry. These were disem-
barked at Salineville, and marched TO
point about two miles distant, where
the rebels were expected to cross.
The infantry were posted on some
rising ground commanding the road,
with orders TO prevent Morgan's pas
sage.
At this time the utmost alarm exist
ed among the people of Salineville.
The houses were closed, doors and
windows looked and barred, and
women and children stampedipg into
the country with whatever portable
property could be carried along. The
men who had weapons and courage,
turned ont to resist the progress of the
dreaded rebel, whilst all the others fed
with the wemen aud children.
In a short time the expected rebels
made their appearance coming round a
bend in the road. On catching sight
OF the infantry they halted, and turqsed
their horses heads in another direction.
Before they could GET out of the trap
they found themselves in, Major Way,
with two hundred and fifty men Of the
9tl Michigan Cavalry, dashed among
them anil commenced cutting right and
left. TIE rebels made but a brief re-
sistance. 4 few shots were fred BY
them, and then the whole party broke
in utter confusion. The scene that fol-
lowed was almost ludicrous, aud could
only be matched by the previous STAN
pede at Burlington Island. Men dis
mounted, threw down their arms and
begged for quarter, whilst. others gal
Hoped around wildly in search of place
of escape, and were I" brought to iime'
by a pistol shot or sabre stroke. -
Morgan himself was riding in car
riage drawn by two white horses.
Maj Way saw him, and galloping up,
reached for him. Morgan jumped out
at the other side Of the carriage, seized
a horse, and galloped off as fast as
horsefesh, spurred by frightened heels,
could carry him. About a couple of
hundred of bis men succeeded in break
ing away and following their fugitive
leader. In the buggy thus hastily
evacuated by Morgan. were found
his rations," consisting of loaf of
bread, some hard-boiled eggs, and
bottles f whisky.
The number killed in this fight was
much less than at first reported. The
number of killed rebels was set down
as from twenty to thirty, but this must
be over-rated, as we cannot learn of
more than six or seven dead bodies
having been found. There was con-
siderable number of wounded, and
about two hupdredo prisoners taken,
together with horses and arms. A
special train was sent to WellsvilIe in
the, afternoon with about two hundred
and fifty prisoners captured in the fight
or picked up in the neighborhood after
wards. 0grs .-.. -s.4s
A few of our cavalry were wounded,
two or three seriously. Lieut.. Fisks
was shot through the breast. His
wounds is danserous, and he has tele-
graPhed for his wife to come. from