Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-02-03
Gen. John q. Morgan.

' HA' AAN NJ -AS~A- =
Gen. John q. Morgan.
The following brief narrative Of the ex-
ploits of this gallant officer, which we copy
from the Guardian, was prepared by Capt.
Castleman, Of Morgan command.
In the mouth Of October, 1861, Capt.
j. H. Morgan made his escape from Lex.
ington, KY, surrounded and. carefully
watched by Federal troops, aud succeeded
in reaching the Confederate lines, during
our occupation of Bowling Green, KY
At Green river he organized company Of
cavalry,-most of whom bad accompanied
him in running the guantlet from Lexing.
top. Their deeds of yalor under their a.
droit leader are familiar to the people
throughout the aConfederacy Capt. Nor.
gan afterwards had an acquisition.toshis
command Of three companies, aud with
them he operated with great distinction till
after the battle Of Shiloh, when he was
commissioned to raise regiment. Having
organized six companies at Knoxville, dur.
ing the month Of June, 1882 all necessary
arrangements being made, ,lhe. left his camp
on the 4th July, and with little body Of
less than 800 men penetrated the territory
Of the enemy, to within 40 miles of Gin
oinnati, making four successful fights, des-
troying4ten millions of u. s. property, and
in the latter part of the month returning
safely to Sparta, Tenn, after raising four
additional companies to complete his regi-
ment and thus ending the most brilliant
raid recorded in the annals of war After
resting safeW4 days at Sparta, Col. Morgan
made forced march of more than seventy
miles in II hors, attacked and captured
Gallatin, Tenn, with a strong garrison Of
infantry, together with all .their.supplies,
and on the following day destroyed the
tunnel at Gallatin and 30 miles of railroad
Two days after be was attacked by brig.
ade of cavaly Under Gen: johnson, Of the
Federal army, composed'of picked men Sc
leeted for; the purpose. Asseyere fight of
six hours resulted in, the surrender Of Gen.
Johnson with bis command. The opinion
expressed by disinterested and competent
judges, is, that no cavalry fight during the
war compares with that Of Morgan'sz zregi.
sment at GalIatin. After q series Of en-.
gagements at Gallntin,s Hartsyille, and in
the vicinity of Nashville, all of which re-.
suited successfully, Col. Morgan moved in
the latter Part of August into Kentucky.
aud joined Gen. Kirby Smith at Lexington.
Up to this time Col. Morgap's command
had never dawn any pay from the Govern
ment, and with the exception Of 45 horses
and equipments and go stand Of arms, had
never used dollar of public property, de-.
pending entirely upon captures made
While at Lexington, Col. Morgan, raised 9
regiments Of cavalry, composed Of the best
sons of Kentucky, which rendered through
out the campaign, the most Invaluable ser,
vices Upon the evacuationof the State
by the Confederate army, he aidedin COW
ering the retreat till reaching {" Big Hill"
from which point hs returned, most upsx.
pectedly to the enemy, through the centre
Of the State, captured Lexington With its
garrison, just after they had succeeded in
making themselves comfortable. Moving
westward he captured and destroyed the
Federal army train with supplies at Bards-
town, and subsequently marching through
Western Kentucky, returned early in the
month of November to Gallatin, Tennessee.
Remaining there several DAYS he proved Q
great annoyance to the advancing colunns
of the enemy, and afterwards rejoined the
army at Murfreesboro, in connexion with
which he rendered most efficient service.
On the 9th. of December he succeeded in
permission to 20 into the enemy's
lines, and on the night of the same day
marched with 1000 men so miles through
snow and sleet, crossed the Cumberland
river, and on the morning of the 7th at
tackled large brigade of Federals within 5
mile of a corps of the enemy. After fight
of less than an hour in duration, he killed,
wounded and captured the entire body,
numbering more than double that of his
command, and with chem battery of artil-
lery and all their supplies. Without unne-
cessary loss Ct time he carried off every
prisoner, gun, and all his captured proper
ty, and riding the prisoners behind his cav
airy, recrossed the Cumberland and safely
returned to our lines, eluding without loss
the heavy columns of the enemy in pursuit.
This brilliant achievement, equslled per-
haps by none other of the war, elected
from the General commanding and from
President Dayis, who was then visiting the
The army at Murfreesboro, the highest en-
comiums. Upon his return to Murfreesbo-
70 he was rendered long merited commits.
sion as Brigadier General.
On the 22d of December with his divis.
ion, then 1000 strong, be left Alexandria,
Tenn, and started upon raid into Ken
lucky, and after number of spirited en-
all resulting successfully, he
the Federal lines to the outskirts !
If Louisville, after the utter humiliation of
he Louisville and Nashville Rail Road for
more than 10 miles, and the destruction Of
millions of Government property. But for
he sudden rise in the Cumberland river,