The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-09-13


a charge, resisting every effort to break tn,
serried lime
A day or two before these scenes occurred
the great battle of Buena Vista was fought
and being the great battle, General Taylol
summoned up Morgans command neal
Morio, and thus one of the hardest battle,
of the Mexican war is palcd by that Of the
greater one that made General Taylor Pres
ident.
After the term of service o. the 2nd Ohio
had expired, Col. Morgan, in leading hi,
veterans home, was met by commission
appointing him to the command of one ot
the additional regiments raised by the Uni
ted States to serve during the war, and he
proceeded to SCOTS lines where he Joined
his new command, and participated in all
the battles of Mexico, until, at the battle
of Cherubusco, he was so severely wounded
while leading his command, as to incapaci.
tate him for further service.
On the day preceding the battle of Cher
ubusco, while the lingering and hard fought
field OF Contreras was in suspense, with the
signs of victory in favor OF the enemy, Col.
Morgan regiment was detached from its
division and ordered to perform a duty in
capturing position of the enemy, its pos
session by our troops being deemed an es-
sential to success. The position was taken
and held, and from that moment the victory
was secured. So much Importance was at
tached to the storming of the position OH
the Pednjal, by the Fifteenth Morgan S
reglment) that the great quarrel between
Gems. Scott and Pillow owed its origin to it
each of these Generals claiming to have
given the order for its execution-and upon
their establish ment Of the fact, claiming the
award of the honors of the day, as upon its
execution depended success or defeat
Whether Scott or Pillow gave the order, it
matters not at this moment. Morgan exc
cuted this movement, hazardous as it was,
with consumate skill, and to it is the fact
owing that Contreras was not Mexican VIC
tory. For his gallantry in Mexico Col Nor
gan was breyoted Brgadier General.
In order to the establishment of his
health, Gen. Morgan was appointed Consul
to Marseilles, in France, and upon the in
coming of Mr.. Buchanan's Administration
was transferred to Lisbon as Resident Min
lister of the United States to the Kingdom
of Portugal, where he remained until re-
moved by Mr.. Lincoln, and Mr.. Harvey of
this city was appointed in his place.
While in Portugal, an incident occurred
which made General Morgan the subject of
much conversation and of newspaper re-
mark. The Secretary of the American Le-
CATION, while bathing some distance from
land, was seized with cramp and was
drowning. Morgan saw his struggles, and.
guessing the cause. plunged in and reached
his friend just in time to seize him as he
was sinking. The drowning man caught
at his prcserver, and it was doubtful for the
moment whether either would he saved
BY an almost incredible effort, Morgan sue
ceeded in releasing himself from the grasp
of the dying man, and in holding his head
above water until assistance came, and both
were rescued. The daring of General Nor
gan. and his cool courage in saving his
friend, and the terrible risk he ran Of his
own life, made him hero with the Portu-
guese public, and their press teemed with
his praise.
Upon his return to the United States
from his long residence abroad, General
Morgan. believing that the war was for the
Union alone, and not to make dependent
colonies OF States or to interfere in the do
mestic institutions of States, accepted
Brigadier Generals commission, and was
put In charge Of that corps of the army
which captured and held Cumberland Gap.
There he was besieged-a very large force of
men surrounded him, and his provisions
failed. The authorities at Washington were
of his desperate situation, his
troops living on half rations, but no pro-
visions were sent him. They knew, as did
Morgan, the Importance of holding the pass
but day after day, the gallant commander
ard his men saw their provisions dwindle,
and their horses being without forage they
were killed and used to exc out the scanty
rations. And it was not until nearly the
last horse and mule were eaten, the army
for six days having no bread, that, with a
sad heart, he blew up the fortifcations and
blocking up the pass, evacuated the place,
and commenced a retreat to the Ohio river.
For seventeen days he pursued his onward
march, his men Subsisting alone on the corn
found in the few fields they passed. harrassed
each day by the enemy that were pressing
him on all sides, and fighting for his road
almost every step of the way. With but
small loss he gained the Ohio
1t Greenupsburgh. In the annals of the
ate war, for danger, and in the surrounding
of difficulties, and in its success, that march
stands among the mast successful of the
war.
General Morgan was with General Sher-
nan, as second in command, when the first
attempt to take Vicksburgh by storm was
made. He was also second in command at
he sanguinary battle of Arkansas Post, one
If the most brilliant affairs of the war, and |
n both of these fierce battles he acted a
part.
Failing in his endeavors to get Justice |
lone him while in command of Cumberland !
Jap, the Administration laying that blame
ipon the General which was alone caused |
~ the neglect of General Halleck to send |
N supplies, and failing to get either court |
f.inquiry or ,court-martiaI,. has health too
ailng, General Morgan resigned, his COM
nand and retired to private life This re-
Iolve was strengthened by the fact that |
bout this time the Administration gave I
igns of making the war not for the Union,
md the restoration of the forts and places
# the United States, but for the advance
nent of the negro race. As lifelong Dem
'crat, he had ever hsld the Constitution as
he supreme law Of the land As the gift
VI the States to the Union, he was unwilling
o see tnese States reft Of their reserved
lights and made dependencies upon the
ieneral Government, and their people, un-
Ter the plea of military necessity, without
aw and without crime, immured within po-
tical bastiles.
As the nominee of the Ohio Democracy,
or Governor OF the State General Morgan
Vill make gallant race, and we trust that
e will receive every Democratic and con-
ervative vote. He is worthy of it. |
WHEN General Schenck moves to exclude
n. L Il. - =