Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-28
IFUm the Plain Dcalcr.l ~ ..r.
Our Nominee for Governor
GEN. GEO. W. MORGAN, IT
''. I'D '' OF KNOX COUNTY. -hI
A Soldier OF Three Wars, an Accom-
pIished Diplomat, n Glorious
Gentleman, and n True, I'm
wavering Democrat A .
.. sketch of His Varied ~ -..,i.
.. Of, Career.
OF KNOX COUNTY.

full unanimity, selected as the standard
bearer of the Democracy of Ohio, General
GEORGE w. MORGAN, of Knox county.
Familiar as we are with his varied career,
and knowing his antecedents so well, we
have briefly sketched some of the most i'm
portant incidents in the life of the man
nominated by the representatives of 200 600
Democrats to lead the column in the great
political struggle of 1861. .o.. -,
General Morgan, although identified with
the history of Ohio for nearly a quarter of
century, is native of Pennsylvania. He
was born in Washington county, in that
State, in the year 1920, and comes lineallY,
on both sides OF his family, from revolu-
tionary stock his paternal grandfather
having filled the post Of Colonel in Wash
ington's army, and his mother being a
daughter Of Colonel Duane, of the Phtla-
delphia aurora the well-known organ Of
Jetlerson's administration. \. .
In early childhood General Morgan had
the good fortune to live in q community
blessed with good schools; and after ac-
quiring the advantages to be obtained in
them, he entered the college located in his
native town to avail himself of the oppor-
tunities for acquiring q liberal education.
But, while yet mere boy, not yet sixteen
wears of age, General Morgan, fired with
sympathy for the Texans in their struggle
for independence, abandoned the class
room, and as private soldier Joined a vol
unteer company, raised and taken out by
his brother in aid OF that people. Within
few months after he had entered that SER
vice, ,GgReral Sam. Houston rendered young
Morgan I'd Lieutenants commission in the
regular, army of Texas. For his skill in
suppressing mutiny on Galveston Island,
he was, promoted, before the close OF the first
year, to 1stLieutenancy, and at the age of
eighteen years he held Captains commits
sion in the regular service of the infant
Republic. Seeing little probability Of any
further fighting between Mexico and Tex
as, the young emigrant soldier returned to
his home, and for the next few years devot-
ed his efforts to making up lost time in his
studies. ... .
General Morgan is by education law
yer, and at the outbreak of the Mexican
war, was in the first years OF promising
practice at the bar of Mt. Vernon, Knox
county. -,.., p,
At the first summons for volunteers, he
enrolled his name as private in a company
raised at his home He was elected its first
Captain; and on reaching Camp Washing
ton, the excellent drill and discipline of his
company led to his election as Colonel of
the regiment I'D Ohio) to which it was at
tached. At the expiration of the term of
enlistment of this regiment, Morgan was
met on his way home by a commission as
signing. him to the command of the 10th u.
S. Infantry, one Of the new regular regi-
ments. This new appointment transferred
him from Taylor's army on the Rio Grande
to Scott's line from VeraI Cruz to Mexico
Overtaking the main army at Puebla, he
participated in the perilsi attendant on its
advance on Mexico, until at Cherubusco, he
was seriously wounded whilst leading a
charge on the enemy's works. For gallant
ry in this and other engagements. he re-
ceived the brevet of Brigadier General. %
On the termination of the war with
Mexico, General Morgan returned to Mt.
Vernon, and, with renewed ardor and suc-
cess, resumed the practice of hisprofession
until his health. which had been seriously
affected by the exposure Of military life,
gave way to such an extent as rendered O
voyage atsea and change of climate desira-
BILE. Informed of General Morgan's inten-
ton, President Pierce (who had served
with. him in Mexico) gladly availed him.
self of the Generals sojourn on the Med,
iterranean to place the American Consulate
atJ Marseilles under his care; and in
one or two years afterwards whilst
still absent, from the country, he was
selected, on the unanimous recommends
tion of the Ohio delegation in Congress, to
represent his country as its Minister at the
Court of Portugal. In 1861, having
been relieved from that position to make
way for supporter of Mr.. Lincoln's cleo
tion, General Morgan returned to the
United States, and Immediately rendered
his services to put stop to armed rebellion
and maintain the Union. After remaining
a brief period with his family, from whom
he had been separated several years, he ac-
cepted commission as Brigadier General
that had been rendered him, and was imme-
diately assigned to the command of an in
dependent division, composed of four bri-
gades Of Infantry, four, batteries of artillery,
and one battalion Of cavalry. With this
force, equally to the delight and surprise of
both army and people, he captured Cum
I berland Gap, holding it firmly in his grasp
until the invasion and occupation of Ken
tucky by Bragg and Kirby Smith had cut
was, feared, an easy prey to the opposing
! forces BY which he was surrounded. The
| skill and gallantry with which that noble
! little army was delivered by its leader from
the fate Which seemed inevitable, caused
flash of Joy all over the land, and were the
subject of high eulogy by the public press
without distinction of party. In the fol-
lowing winter General Sherman, in organ
izing an army at Memphis for his projected
assault on VlcksDurg, placed General Nor
gan at the head OF one of its divisions; and
in the bloodystruggle. of Chickasaw Bluffs
the brunt that fearful tight was allotted to
the heroic division ot Morgan. ioss N 9a1
70 Soon, afterwards, ron Sherman. turning
over his command to General McC Clellan,
the entire army which had fought at Chick
asaw Bluffs was, massed into two army
corps, Sherman being assigned to the COM
mand of one of them and Morgan Of the
other. Under the lead of these two officers,
the assauItjng army returned up the river,
and at Arkansas Post; in one Of the sharp
est and best conducted battles of the war,
succeeded IN, the capture, of Fort Hindman
and its entire garrison Of 5000. Returning
with the army to heyicinity of Vicksburg,
In the region Of Milliken'sl Bend, General
Morgan's health was not sufficient to resist
the malarious influences which rendered
that region q graveyard to SO many of our
heroic soldiers. \ After an Intellectual strug-
gle of weeks to arrest the encroachments of
disease, rhe came North, by, medical di-
rection, and falling in the subsequent three
months to regain his health, he surrendered