The mountain Democrat., 1863-09-26
Prom the Cincinnati Enquirer.
How John Morgan Got 400 Horses.

John Morgan is as good at playing a
joke sometimes as he is at horse stealing,
and the following incident will prove that
on one occasion he did !itt,e of s,1ffSIs &C
the same time. During his celebrated
tour through Indiana, he, with about
three hundred and fifty guerrillas, took
occasion to pay a visit to a little town
hard by, while the main body were
marching on. DaShing suddenly into the
little burg, he found about three hundred
home guards, each having a good horse
tied to the fence, the men standing about
in groups, awaiting orders from their aged
Captain, who looked as if he had seen the
shady side of some sixty years. The
IIoosier boys looked at the men with as
tonshment. while the Captain went up to
one of the party and asked:
Whose company is thiS!'
Wolfori'S cavalry said the Reb.
What! Kentucky boys! We're glad
to see you, boys. Where's Wolford?'
There he sits, SAID a ragged, rough
Reb, pointing to Morgan, who was sitting
sideways on his horse.
The Captain walked up to WOlfnrd, Gas
he and all thoughO, and saluted him:
Captain. how are you?'
Bully! How are your What are
you going to do with all these men and
horses -
We'll, you see, that damned horse
thieving John Morgan is in this part Of
the country with parcel of cut-throats
and thieves, and between you and me, il
he comes up this way, Captain, veil give
him the best we've got in the shop
He's hard to catch; we've been after
him for fourteen days, and can't see him
at ALL said Morgan.
Ef our horses would stand fire, wei
be all right
Won't they stand?'
NO. Captain Wolfort, 'spose while
you're restin' you and your company put
your saddles on our horses and go thro'
little evolution or two, by way Of les
son to our boys. I'm told you're hoss
on the drill, and the only man Morgan is
afraid of
'Wollord' alighted and ordered his
boys to dismount, as he wanted to show
the Iloosier boys how to give Morgan a
warm reception should he chance to pay
them visit. This delighted the Hoosier
boys, SO they went to work and assisted
the men to tie their old, weary, worn out
bones to tie fences and place their saddles
upon the backs Of their fresh horses,
which having been done, the men were
soon in their saddles. drawn up in line
and ready for the word. The boys were
highly elated at the idea of having their
pet horses trained for them by Wolford
and his men, and more so to think they
would stand fire ever afterward.
The old Captain advanced, and walking
up to Morgan, said: Captain, are you all
right now?' Morgan rode up one side of
the column and down the other, when he
moved to the front, took off his hat, and
said Now, Captain, I'm ready if you
and your gallant men wish to witness an
evolution which perhaps you have never
seen, form line on each side of the road
and watch US closely as we pass A lot
Of ladies' were present on the occasion,
and all was as silent as a maiden's sigh.
Are you ready ? asked Morgan.
AN right, Wolford, shouted the old
Captain.
Forward shouted Morgan, and the
whole column rushed through the crowd
with lightning speed, amid the shouts and
huzZaS of every one preSent-Some lead
ing a horse or two as they went, leaving
their fail tenements Of horse flesh tied to
the fences, to be provided for by the citi
zens. 1t was soon whispered about that
it was John Morgan and his gang. There
is not a man in the town who will own u[
that he was guled out of horse. The
company diSbandcd that night, though
the Captain holds the horses as prisoner,
of war, and awaits an exchange.