The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-09-06
- From. The Clexelarta -Plnin IDoalsrs- ~
OUR NOMINEE FOR GOVERN
OR.
GEN. GEO. W. MORGAN,
A Soldier of Three Wars---An
Accomplished DipIomast--A
Glorious Gentleman and
"a True UnwaverIDg
DemOcrat--A Sketch
of His Varied
Career.
OF KNOX COUNTY,

ful unanlmity, selected as the standard
bearer of the Democracy of Ohio, General
GEORGE W. MORGAN, of Know coan-
ty. Familiar as we are with his varied ea
rcer, and knowing his antecedents so well,
we have briefly sketched some Of the most
important incidents of the life Of the man
by representatives. Of 200,
Democrats to lead the column in the great
political struggle Of 1865. -.
General Morgan, although identified with
the history of OhiO for nearly quarter of
a century, is native of Pennsylvania. lie
was born in Washington county, in that
State, in the year 1920, and comes hneally,
on both sides of his family, from revolution
ary stock-his paternal grandfather having
filled the post OF, Colonel in Washington
army, and his mother being a daughter of
Col. Duane, Of the fhaddeiphid Aarord the
well-known organ Of Jefferson admins
tration. --..,'.. liz.
In early childhood General Morgan had
the good fortune to live in community
blessed with good schools; and after acquir-
ing the advantages to be obtained in them,
he entered the college located in his native
town to avail himself Of the opportunities
for acquiring a liberal education. But,
while yet mere boy, not yet sixteen years
of age, Gen raj Morgan, fred with sympa-
thy for the Texans in their struggle for in
dependence, abandoned the class room, and
as private soldier joined volunteer COM
pany, raised and taken out by his brother in
aid OF that people. Within few months
after he had entered that service General
Sam Houston rendered young Morgan I'd
Lieutenant's commission in the regular ar
my of Texas. For his skill in supressing
mutiny on Galveston Island, he was promo
ted, before the close of the first year, to a
lst Lieutenancy and at the age eighteen he
held Captain commission in the Repub-
ic Seeing little probability OF any further
fighting between Mexico and Texas, the
young emigrant soldier returned to his
home, and for the next few years devoted
his efforts to making up lost time in his
studies. ,..i..... -.,
General Morgan is by education a lawyer
and at the outbreak Of the Mexican war,
was in the first years Of practice at the bar
of Mt Vernon, Knox county.
AT the first summons for volunteers, he
enrolled bis pame as private in company
raised at his home. He was elected its first
Captain; and on reaching Camp Washing
ton, the excellent drill and discipline of his
CuHpaHy leu W MS CICCtluh do SoiouCl vi
the Regiment I'd Ohio) to which it was at
tacled. AT the expiration OF the term OF
enlistment Of this regiment, Morgan was
met on his way home by commission as
signing him to the command OF the 18TH L.
5. Infantry, one Of the new regular regl-
ments. This new appointment transferred
him from Taylor's army on the Rlo Grande
to Scott line from Vera Cruz to Mexico. ~
Overtaking the main army at Puebla, he
participated in the perils attendant ON its
advance on Mexico, until at Cherubusco,
he was seriously wounded whilst leading Il
charge on the enemy $ works. hnr gallant
ry in this and other engagements, he recciy-
ed the brcvet of Brgadier General. -.2
Ol the termination of the war with Mex
leo, General Morgan returned Mt. Vernon,
and, with renewed ardor and success, re-
sumed the practice Of his profession until
his, sheath, which had been seriously affected
by the exposure Of military life, gave way
to such an extent as rendered voyage at
SEA and change Of climate desirable In
formed of General hlorsan's intention
President Pierce (wiio had served with him
in yMexico) gladly ayailed himself of the
General soiourn on the Mediterranean tt
to place the American Consulate at Mar
settles under his care; and i'll one or two
years afterwards, whilst still absent fron
the country, he was elected, on the unani-
| imous Recommendation Of the Ohio delcgG
| ton in Congress to represent his country a
its Minister at the Court of Portugal. Ii
| 1861 having been relieved from that posi-
| ton to make way for supporter of Mr.
Lncon's election, General Morgan return
ed to the United States, and immcdiatcl.
tered his services to put a stop to armed re
bellion and maintain the Union. After re
manning brief period with his family, from
whom he had been separated several years
he accepted IL commission as Brigadicr Gen
eral that had been rendered him, and wa
immediately assigned to the command of al
Independent division, composed Of fou
bigades Of infantry, four batteries of artiI
lay, and one battalion Of cavalry. .Nitl
th S force equl lily to the surprise and dc
Light Of both army and people, he eapturet
Cumberland Gap, holding it firmly in hi
grasp until the invasion and occupation G
Kentucky by Bragg and Kirby Smith ha
cut him off from all supplies, and left him
as was feared, an easy prey to the opposin
forces y which he was surrounded Th
skill and gallantry with which that nobl
little army was delivered by its leader from
the fate which seemed inevitable, caused
flash Of Joy all over the land, and were the
sul,ject of high eulogy by the public pres
without distinction Of party In the follow
ing winter Gcueral Sherman, in organizin;
an army at Memphis for his projected a,
saut OH cksburgh, placed General Nor
gun at the head Of one Of It's divisions; an
in the bloody struggle of Chickasaw Bluff
the brunt Of that fearful fight was allotte
TO the heroic division of Morgan. r"
Soon afterwards, onSherman turning owe
his command to General Mcclellan, the et
tircly which had fought at Chickasaw Bluff
was massed into two army corps, Shcrnla
being assigned to the command Of one {
them and Morgan Of the other. Under til
lead Of these two officers, the assaulting al
my returned up the river, and ut Arkansa
Post, in one Of the sharpest and best cor
Quoted battles of the war, succeeded in til
capture of Fort ,Hindnmn and its entiI
| garrison of 5000 Returning with the al
my to the vicinity Of Nicksburg, in the II
, gion of Milliken's Bend, General Morgan
health was not sufficient to resist the mals
rious influences which rendered that rcgio
, a graveyard to 80 many of our heroic SO
diers. Alter an Intellectual struggle (
weeks to arrest the cncroachmcnts OF dis
case, he came North. by medical direction
:, and falling in the subsequent three month
! to regain his. health, he surrendered hi
! commission and passed the ensuing sun
! mer under medical Treatment at Bingham
ton, NewYork. During his service in th
field, it is a circumstance tcstifying unmi
} tekably to the confidence placed in his Ski
, ahd ability, that although lie held the ran
!. Eof Bfigadier General, his command was ,
no time less tlsn that of a full Major Gei
, lcral: iih 9hs B'ai hWc FaS % a3afa!' 10
But althougha soldier il. three wars Ii
not simply his military character that con
3 nfends General Morgan to admiration an
I confidence. Hen a gentleman Of Fiber,
! education, eStendd travel, large experiepe