The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1864-11-19

General John Morgan came tc his deaths
On Saturday, the Sd inst, accompanied by
the brigades of Giltner, Hodges and Smith,
and detachment of Vaughn's, with four
pieces of artillery, General Morgan and his
staff approached the town of Greenville, Ten
nessee. Scouts had brought the informa-
ton that the enemy were not nearer than
Bulls Gap, sixteen miles distant, and, in ad-
ditlon, guard had been sent into the village
TO recOnnoitre. Upon the report Of the en-
tire absence of theenemy, Cassel's battalion
commanded by Capt. J. NJ. Clarke, together
with the four guns, were posted some three
or four hundred yards from the court house,
when Gen. Morgan and his staff entered and
established headquarters at the residence of
Mrs. DR.. Williams, near the centre of the
town. Shortly after the advent of the guard
in town, young Mrs. Williams, (daughter-in
law of the lady at whose house Gen. Morgan
had his headquarters). disappeared; scout
was sent for her but could not find her, and
as she returned with the enemy next morn
ing, it appears she had ridden all the way to
Bulls Gap and had given information of
Morgan's Whereabouts and the strength Of
his guard. .s3 aAa
Precaution had been taken to prevent the
egress of persons who might convey inforEa-
1ion to the enemy, and all the roads and
avenues were picketed. After visiting the
camps and seeing that the pickets had been
duly posted, Gen. Morgan and his Staff, at a
late hour of the night, retired to rest. Being
greatly fatigued, they slept very soundly, and
were startled from their slumbers about six
o'clock on Sunday morning, by the elder.
Mrs. Williams, who Informed them that the.
Yankees had surrounded the house. The
General and his staff at once sprang from.
their beds, armed themselves and rushed out
at the opposite door to that at which the
Yankees were laundering.
On the side of the house where they es-
capped, there is a very large yard and garden,
with good deal of foliage and vineyard.
These, together with the basement of the old
hotel at the southwestern extremity of the
grounds, enabled them to conceal themselves
for time, but the Yankees by this time be-
gan to appear so thick and fast around them
that concealment became hopeless, and they
rushed out to try to fight their way through,
in the hope of succor and assistance from
the battalion so near at hand. The officers
with General Morgan were Major Gassett,
and Captains Withers, Rogers and Clay, and
a young gentleman by the name of Johnson,
a clerk in the Office Of the Adjutant-G General
At this time they were all, except Withers
and Clay, in the basement of the old hotel,
by Mrs. Fry, (wife Of the notorious
bushwhacker and murderer, now in our pos
\ ,h0.s oil fho kh.-l
Yankees, informing them of the hiding place
of the rebels.
Seeing escape almost hopeless. General
Morgan directed Major Gassett to examine
and see If there was any chance of escape
from the front of the basement into the |
street. Major Gassett looked, and replied
that there was chance, but it Was desper-
ate one, which Gen. Morgan did not hear, as
at that instant the Yankees charged up TO
the fence separating the hotel from Mrs.
grounds, when the General,
with Major Gassett, Captain Rogers and
Mr.. johnson sprang out ia the direction ofI
the vineyard, when the two latter were cap
tured and the General killed. The latter
had just fred his pistol, and was in the act
of firing again, when he fell. Captains
Withers and Clay had not been able to get
out of the house, and had concealed them
selves in or near ii. Major Gassett, in the
sought shelter in the basement
and vineyard alternately, but could not elude |
the vigilance of Mrs. Fry, who was all the
time directing attention to his whereabouts.
Being the only rebel left--Withers and Clay
having been discovered and betrayed by q /
Gassett's ingenuity was put to
work to avoid capture.
Mrs. Fry knew he was in the basement,
and the Yankees were as thick around him |
as snakes in harvest. After passing to and
ire several times between the basement and |
the garden, all the time under fire, he finally |
took shelter in the former, and at an auspi-
cious moment sprang into the street, gave
MRS. Fry parting blessing in his exit,
horse hitched near by, and made
his escape. A great many shots were fred
by the Yankees, but the only one that took
effect was that which killed General Morgan,
piercing his right breast and ranging through
diagonally. Withers, Rogers, Clay and
Johnson are now, we presume, in Yankee
prison, and Major Gassett is again on duty
with his command.
The General was determined never to sur
render, and told members of bis staff they
must not give up. He was heard to say,
" they have got us sure" when he drew his
pistol and commenced firing.
After General Morgan had been killed,
he unfeeling brutes who murdered him
rhreu his lifelesS bodv across horse and