The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-08-12
HOW JOHN MORGAN GOT HIS
THREE HUNDRED 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 this occasion he did little of both at
the same time. During his celebrated
Vi through Indiana, he, with about three
hundred and fifty guerrillas, took occasion
to pay a visit to 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 good horse tied to
the fences, 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
''Hoosier boys" looked at the men with
astonishment, while the Captain went up
to one of the party and asked:
"Whose company is this?"
"W Wolford's cavalry" said the ,Reb.
"What! Kentucky boysl We're glad to
see you boysl Whar's Wolford?''
There he SITS" said ragged, rough
Reb. pointing to Morgan, who was sitting
sideways on his horse.
The Captain walked up to Wolford Gas
he and all thoughD and saluted him:
"Captain, how are you"
"Buliyl How are you? What are you
going to do with all these men and
horsess"
Morgan looked about.
"Well, you see, that damned horse
thieving John Morgan is in this part of
the country with q parcel of cut throats
and thieves, and between you and I, if he
comes up this way, Captain, we'll give him
the best we've got in the shop"
Giles hard to catch; we've been after
him for fourteen days and can't see him
atall, )" said Morgan, good naturedly.
'sff our horses would stand fire, we'd
be all right"
.Won't they stand?"
''No 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 les
son to our boys. Tn told you're hoss
on the drill, and the only man Morgan is
afraid Of Wolford Gas it were) alighted
and ordered ''his boys to dismount, as he
wanted to show the Hoosier boys how to
give Morgan warm reception should he
chance to pay them visit This delight
ed 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
up in line and ready for the word. The
boys were highly elated at the idea Of hav-
ing their ''pet horses trained for them
by Wolford and his men, and more SO to
think that they would stand FIRE ever af-
terward.
The old Captain advanced, and walking
up to Wolford Gas he thought,) said Cap
tain, are you all right now?' 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 as 81
lent as maiden's sigh.
''Are you ready?"
"AA flGnt, HoHord, saouteo the cap
tain
"Forward,' shouted Morgan, as the
whole column rushed through the crowd
with lightning speed, amid the shouts and
huzzas of every one present-some lead
ing horse or two as they went, leaving
their frail tenements of horsefesh tied to
the fences, to be provided for by the citi-
zens. 1t soon became whispered about
that it was John Morgan and his gang,
and there is not man in the town who
will "own up" that he was gulled out of
horse. The company disbanded that
night, though the Captain holds the horses
as prisoners Of war, and awaits an ex-
change.
L