Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-08-11
THE MORGAN RAID.
JOURNAL OF Ell. COL. ALsroN, GEN. MOE
CANS GRIEF OF STAFF.

CANS CHIEF OF STAFF.
The sutioned is copied from the Kentucky
seLoyalist.,' of July II. The ssLoyalist,o we
think, is published in Lexington, KY. That
paper says;
We have obtained the journal of Lieut.. Col.
Alston, Morgan's Chief OF Staff, who was cap
tured BY our pickets of the 5th and brought to
the city ON the 7th inst. The journal is complete
from the morning of the 1st to noon of the Sth,
at which time he was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio.
JuLY 1sr, l863.-On the banks of the Cum ber-
land. The river very high. No boats. Gen.
NJ. obliged to build a number of boats, which he
accomplished with very little delay, and COM
menced crossing at sundown.
July 2D.-Bucksyille. Had great difficulty in
making the horses swim, but by united and sys-
tematic exertions succeeded in getting the en-
tire command of - regiments over by 10 A..
NJ, though the command was very much scatter
ed st III o'clock scouts came into BucEsyiile
and reported the enemy advancing and within
four miles of the town. 1t was supposed to be
only small scouting party, and portion of Col.
Dies Morgan's command was sent out to make
a reconnaissance. The report OF the scouts OF
the enemy advancing proved to be corrected,
and message was received from Col. Ward that
he was attacked. Col. Grisby was sent to rem
force him, and succeeded in driving the Yankees
back, in great confusion, upon their reinforce
ment. Ny regiment lost two mortaliy wounded
and two others slightly. Five of the Yankees
we're known to be killed and number wounded,
with about Is prisoners. No tidings heard Of
the Cd brigade until dark, when they arrived
and reported that Col. Johnson, commanding,
had experienced great difficulty in crossing, and
that in addition to the pIecipitous banks and ab-
sence of all boats or other means of transporta-
tlon, the enemy were lowering on the river and
harassing him as far as they could. He was,
however, quite successful in driving him back.
Yesterday, a young man, calling himself Charles
Rogers. dressed in full Confederate uniform,
came into our lines and expressed desire to
join our command. / suspicioned BIN, and af-
ter few questions, was convinced that he was
spy. / threatened TO shoot him, when he con-
fessed he had been lying, and that his name was
Simon Blitz-in fact he convicted himself of be-
ing a spy. What to do with him was the next
thing. hated to shoot him, although he de-
served it.
July 3D.-My regiment behaved very gallantly
la yesterdays fight with the enemy, frequently
having hand to hand encounters. To-day (3d)
we experienced the same difficulty in getting the
artillery on, and had TO press number of oxen
for the purpose. After two halts for the column
to close up, our advance proceeded to Columbia.
They were met by derachmerts from three regi-
ments (45th Ohio, I'd Ohio ard lst Kentucky
brief engagement followed, In which We drove
the enemy in great haste through the town, cap
turing six prisoners, killing two, among them
Capt Carter and wounding three Our loss
was two killed and two wounded, among them
Capt Cassel, most dashing and daring officer,
wounded in the thigh. Our men behaved badly
at Columbia, breaking open store and plunder-
ing it. ordered the men to return the goods
and made all the reparation in my power. These
outrages are very disgracefui, and are usually
perpetras ased by meE accompanying The army sim
ply for plunder, They are not worthy d--n,
and are disgrace to both armies. Passed .hro
Columbia and campe six miles from Green Riv.
er Bridge.
New MARKET, Ky., July 4th.-A day o.
gloom, deep gloom, to our entire command
How many who rose this morning full of en-.
thusiasm and hope, now sssleep the sleep thai
knows no waking The sun rose bright and
beautiful, tho air was cool and balmy, all nature
wore the appearance OF peace and harmony
While riding along, affected by the stiffness o
all around, Captain Magennis, with the Adju
tant- General, rode up and remarked, how dread
fui to reflect that we were marching on TO en-
gage in deadly strife, and how many poor fel
lows would pass into eternity before the setting
of yonder sun. have no doubt the poor fellow
was moved to these reflections by one of those
unaccountable presentiments which are SO otter
the harbingers of evil. Before dark he was
corpse) About sunrise we drove in the enc
my's pickets and were soon near the tortitica
tions, which had been erected to prevent ou
crossing. General Morgan sent in flag Of true,
and demanded the surrender, but the Colone
quietly remarked, ssif it was any other day h,
ln;ght consider the demand but the 4th Of Jul,
Was bad day to talk about surrender, and b.
must, therefore, declne,o This colonel is
gallant man, and the entire arrangement of hi
defence entities him to the highest credit TO
military skill. We would mark such a man il
our army for promotion. We attacked the plac
with two regiments sending the remainder of ou
force across at another ford. The place wa
IJudiclously chosen, and sklllfully defended, AM
the result was that we were repulsed with sever
loss-about twenty five killed and twenty woun
ded. Among the killed, as usual, were our bes
men and officers, including Col. Chenault, Maio
Brent, Capt Tribble, Lieuts Cowan, Ferguson
and another lieutenant, whose name do not re
lnember. Our march thus far has been very ia
|tigu:ng-bad roads, little rest or sleep, little
eat, and fight every day. Yet our men al
cheerful, even buovant; and TO see them pres.
ling along barefooted, hurrahing and singint
would cause one to appreciate what those Wi
are fighting in holy and just cause will endur
About O'Clock, as rode On about fsrty yars
in advance, heard the General exclalm som
thing in very exalted tone which could D.
understand ; and heard at the same time a repo
: fa pistol. / turned, and, Great God to n
horror, L saw Capt. Magennis falling from b
! orse, with the blood rushing out Of his mou