Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-27
From the Louisville Democrat.
How John Morgan Got His Three
Hnntref Horses

John Morgan is as good at playing a joke
sometimes as he is at horse stealing, and the fol
lowing incident will prove that on this occasion
he did "A little of both at the same time. During
his celebrated tour through Indiana, he, with
about three hundred and fifty guerrillaS, took oc.
casion to pay a visit To a little town hard by,
while the main body were marching on" Dash
ing suddenly into the little burg he found
about three hundred home guards, each having a
good horse tied to the fences, the men standing
about in groups awaiting orders from their aged
Captain. who looked as il he had seen the shady
side of some sixty years. The 'Hoosier boys"
looked at the men with astonishment. while the
captain went up to one of the party and asked:
Whose company is thisI"
"Wolford's cavalry, " said the Reb.
"Whatl Kentucky boys! We're glad to see
you boysl Wharf, Wolford?"
"There he sits" said a ragged. rough Reb.,
pointing TO Morgan, who was sitting sideways
upon his horse.
The Captain walked up to wolford Jas he and
all ~thought) and saluted him:
Captain, how are your
"BulIyl How are yOu7 What are you going
to do with all these men and borsesf"
Morgan looked about.
"Well, you see. that ID horse thieving
John Morgan is in this part of the country with
a parcel Of cut throats and thieves, and between
you and /, If he comes up this way, Captain,
wen 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, good naturally.
Eff our horses would stand FIRE we'd be all
right"
Wont they standf"
mo. Captain Wolford, 'spose while you're
restin' you and your company put your saddles
ON our horses and go through a little evolution or
two, by way Of a lesson to our boys. I'm told
you're a boss on the drill, and the only man Nor
gan is afraid Of" WoIford las il were) alighted
and ordered "his boys to dismount, as he wan
ted to show the Hoosier boys how TO give Morgan
a warm reception should he chance to paw 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 the fences
and place their saddles upon the backs of their
fresh horses, which was soon done, and the men
we're in their saddles, drawn up in a 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 that they would stand fire ever after
ward.
The old Captain advanced. and walking up to
Wolford as he thought said: captain are you
all right now3" 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. "Now
Captain. | am ready if you and your gallant men
wish to witness an evolution which you perhaps
have never seen. form a line on each side Of the
road and watch us closely as we pass" The
Captain did as he was directed. A lot Of ladies
were present on the occasion, and all was rs
silent as a maiden's sigh.
Are you readyf"
"AIl right, Wolford, (" shouted the Captain.
Forward" shouted Morgan, as the whole col.
umn rushed through the crowd with lightning
speed. amid the shouts and huzzss of every one
present-some leading a horse or two as they
went. leaving their frail tenements Of horsehesh
tied to the fences, TO be provided for by the citi-
zens. IL soon became whispered about that it
was John Morgan and bis gang. and there is not
a man in the town who will Gown up" that he
was quilted out OF a horse. The company dis
banded that night. though the Captain holds the
horses as prisoners Of war. and awaits ar ex-
change. - t..l