Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-21
Death Of Gen. Morgan.

Inc Aolnguoo TFghaGn gives the following &C.
count of the manner Of Gen. Morgan's death, re-
ceived from an eyewitness:
He did not fall in battle and if the defeat of his
command as has been published in the Lynchburg
and Richmond papers, on Saturday, the Sd inst,
accompanied by the brgades of Giltner, Hodges
and Smith, and = detachmsnt:of Vaughan's, with
four pieces Of artillery, Gen. Morgan and his staff
approached the town of 'Greenville, Tenn. Scouts
had brought the information that the enemy we're
not nearer tLan Bulls Gap, 16 miles distant, and
in addition, guard had bceu sent into the village
to reconnoitre Upon the report of the entire ab-
sence of the enemy, Cassels battalion, commanded
by Capt j. NJ. Clarke together with the four guns,
were posted some Or 4UU hundred yards from the
G. IL i, when Gen. Morgan and his Staff entered and
established headquarters at the residence of Mrs.
Dr. Williams near the centre Of the town. Saorlly
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,) disap-.
peared, . scout was sent for but could not find herr
and as she returned with the enemy next morning,
it appears she had ridden all the way to Bnrs Gap
and had given information OF Morgan's Whereabouts
and the strength Of the guard Precaution had
been takon tO'prevent the egress of persons who
might convey Information to the enemy and all the
roads and avenues were pckcted. After visiting
the camps and seeing that pickets had been duly
posted, Gen. Morgan and his STAFF, at late hour
of the night retired to rest Being greatly fatgued
they slept very soundly, and were startled from
their slumbers about 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 oncs sprang from their beds
armed themselves and rushed out at the opposite
door to that at which the Yankees we're laundering.
On the side of the house where they escaped there
is very large yard and garden with a great deal
of foliage and 3 vineyard. These, together with
the basement of the old hotel at the south western
extremity of the grounds, enabled them to conceal
themselves for ume but the Yankees by this time
began to appear so thick and fast around them,
that conceslmeIt became hopeless, and they rushed
out 70 attempt 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 Maj. Gasset, and Capts. Withers. Rogers and
Clay, and young gentleman by the name Of John
son. clerk in the office Of the Adjt. General At
this time they were all, except Wltners and Clay,
in the basement of the old hotel, occupied by Mrs.
Fry, (wiie Of the notorious bu.hwhacker murderer
now in our Possession who was all the time calling
to the Yankees, informing them OF the hiding place
of the "rebels" Seeing escape almost hopeless,
Gen. Morgan directed Maj. Gassett to examine and
See if there was any chance of escape from the
front Of the baaement into the street. Maj. G.
looked and replied that there was chance, but it
was desperate one, which Gen. Morgan did not
hear, as at that instant the Yankees charged I'D to
the fence separating the hotel from Mrs. Williams
grounds, when the General, with Mai. Gassett.
Capt Rogers and MI. johnson, sprang out in the
direction of the vlney ard when the two latter were
captured and the General killed. The latter hadiust
fired his pistol, and was in the act of firing again
when he fell Capts WitheTs and Clay had not
been able to get out of the house. and had conceal
ed themselves in or near it. Maj. Gassstt, in the
meantime, sought shelter in the basement and vine.
yard alternately, but could not elude the vigilance
of Mrs. Fry, who was all the time directing atten.
tion to his whereabouts. Being the only rebel
left-Withers and Clay having been discovered and
betrayed by negro-Msj. 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 hin as snakes in harvest After passing to
and fro several times between the basement ana the
garden, all the time under fire, he finally took shell
ter in the former, and at an auspicous moment
sprang into the street, gave Mrs. Fry parting bles.
sing in his exit, mounted horse hitched near by
and made bis escape. great many shots were
fired by the Yankees, but the only ono that took
effect was that which killed Gen. Morgan, piercing
bis right breast, and ranging through diagonally.
Withers, Rogers. Cay aud johnson are now. we
presume, in Yankee prison. and Mej. Gasset: is
again on duty with his command
The General was determined never to surrender,
and told members of his staff they must not give
up. lie was heard to say "they have got US sure,
when he drew his pistol and commenced firing.
After Gen. Morgan had been killed the unieeling
brutes who murdered him threw his hfeless body
ACROSS horse and paraded it through the streets,
as we have been informed His hody was subse-
quently sent through the lines by flag of truce