The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-08-14
Morgan,s Raid.

taken 0tace. 81.
i Morgan,s Raid.
A writer in the Enquirer, who was with
! Morgan's expedition, gives an interesting &C
count of it. We make some extracts.
july 9th-AWe marched on to Corydon;
fighting near there 1890 State militia. and
capturing 3,4OO of them. and dispensing the
remainder; then moving, without a halt,
through Salisbury and Palmyra to Salem-at
which point, telegraphing with our operator,
we first learned the station and numbers of
the enemy aroused for the discovered
that Indianapolis was running over with them
that New Albany contained IN 00O-that
5000 had just arrived at Mitchell, and in fact,
250G0 men were armed and ready to meet the
''b!oody invader" Remaining at Salem on
| ly long enough to destroy the railroad bridge
and track, we sent scout to the Ohio and
Mississippi road, near Seymour, to burn two
bridges, depot, and destroy the track for
two miles, which was effected in an incredi-
bic short time Then taking the road to
Lexington, after riding all night rsached that
point at daylight, capturing number of sup
plies and destroying during the night the de.
pot and track at Vienna, on the } Jacksonville
and Indianapolis Railroad. Leaving Lexing-
ton. passed ON North to the Ohio and Missis-
sippi Railroad, near Vernon, where finding
Gen. Manson with heavy force Of infantry,
we skirmished with him two hours rs a feint,
while the main command moved round the
town to Dupont, where squads wsre sent out
to cut the roads between Vernon and Sey-
,nour on the west, Vernon and Lawrenceburg
on the east, Vernon and Madison on the
south, and Vernon and Columbus on the
north. Not much brighter were the bonfres
and illuminations in celebration of the Vicks-
burg victory by the Yankees than eur counter
Examinations around Vernon. Many old la
dies were aroused from their sltMbers to re-
joice over the brilliant victories recently
achieved Surmises were various and many.
One old lady knew that the city Of Richmond
was on fire; another that Jeff Davis had been
killed; third that the Army of Virginia was
used up. Not one knew that Gen. John II.
was in 200 miles of them. Daylight brought
the news, and then for miles houses were
found vacant, loaves Of bread and buckets
Of pure, fresh water, with an7goccasional
sprinkle of Wines liquors and rsweetmeats
were thrust upon us. Terror was depicted
upon every countenance until brief CONVEX
ing upon women and children. Then their
natural affrontery would RETURN and their
walls of uncorked wrath would pour upon us
streams as muddy as if emanating from old
Abe's brain. From Vernon we proceeded to
Versailles, capturing 500 militiaa there and
gathering on the road. Near thisspoint Cap,
tain P, Presbyterian chaplain. and former
line officer in one Of our regiments, actuated
by laudable desire to change steeds, moved
ahead, thanking the advance and f0nning up.
on full company of State militia. Imita-
ting his commanders sdemeanor, he boldly
rode up to the company and enquired for the
captain. Being informed that there was
dispute as to who should lead them, he vol
unteered bis services, espatiating largely up.
on the part he had played as an Indiana cap
tain at Shiloh. and wa ssoon elected TO lead the
valiant Hoosiers against ''the invading rebs. 9.
Twenty minutes spent in drilling Inspired
complete confidence, and when the advance
guard Of Morgans command had passed with
out Capt. P. permitting the Hoosiers to fire,
he ordered them into the road and surrender
ed them to our command. Crestfallen. in
deed, were the Yanks; but Gen. NJ, treating
them kindly, returning to them their guns,
advised theSn to 60 home and not come hunt
ing such game again, as they had everything
to lose and nothing to gain by it.
Daily were we delayed by the annoying
cry of "axes to the 'front.'" a cry that warned
us of bushwhackers, ambuscades and block
AIDED roads. From the 18th to the 10Th every
hillside contained an enemy, and every ravine
a blockade. Dispirited and worn down we
reached the river at A. M. on the 10th, at a
ford above Pomeroy, think, called Portland.
At 4, two companies were thrown across the
river and were instantly opened upon by the
enemy, a scout of 800 men were sent down
the river half mile, who reported back that
they had found small force behind riaepits,
and asked permission of Gen. NJ. to charge.
He assented, and by FIVE we were notified that
COL Smith had successfully charged the pits,
capturing $50 prisoners. Another courier ar
irving about the same time reported that q
gunboat had approached near our battery and
on being fred upon had retired precipitately.
The writer here gives description Of the
battle of Burlington Island, heretofore pub
lished He escaped over the river into Vir.
ginia.)
We paroled, up to the 18th. pear 5000
Federals, they obligating themselves not to
take up arms during the war. We destroyed
thirty.four important bridges, destroying the
track in sixty places. Ourloss was by no means
slight; % commissioned officers killed, IS
wounded, and $50 men killed, wounded, and
captured. By the Federal accounts we killed
more than 200, wounded at least $50, and cap
tured, as before stated, near 1000. The
damage to railroads, steamboats,, and bridges,
added to the destruction Of public stores and
depots, cannot fall far short of $50, 900, 900.
We captured three pieces of artillery and one
"a FOUNDER at Lebanon, which we destroyed,
one, Parrot 8 inch gun, at Brandenburg,