Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-09-20

]
Houston saw in the young soldier the
germ of future greatness, and before he
was eighteen years of age, intrusted him
as captain, with the defense Of Galveston
city and the adjoining coast.
At the conclusion of the Texan war;
Young Morgan returned to the West, and
chose Ohio as his residence. Being
poor, he obtained situation as assistant
| in the County Clerks Office of Knox
county, sufficient for his bare support,
while his evenings or leisure hours were
devoted to the study of law. When, in
May, 1916, by the acts of the Republic
of Mexico, state of war existed between
that Republic and the United States,
young Morgan enlisted as private in a
company raised in Mount Vernon, to
offer its service to the Government
Anxious to lose no time, and to bring
the company into the field with as many
advantages as possible, Morgan took upon
himself to drill the men until the rolls
of the company were filed. This he
did so much to the satisfaction of the
men that, although it was well under
stood that certain leading politicians had
formed "ring" for the monopoly of the
offices, Morgan was elected captain by
acclamation of the company. Repairing
with his company to Camp Washington,
near Cincinnati, where the regiment was
formed, the admirable drill of his men
secured him attention, and he was elected
Colonel of the Second Regiment of Ohio
Volunteers, and proceeded to Mexico.
Deeming that an adverse influence
kept his regiment from participating in
the bloody battle of Monterey, Col. Nor
gan had an interview with Gen. Taylor.
who cheerfully gave him his promise that
the Second Ohio should participate in the
next battle. Four companies Of his reg
ment were stationed at Cimoyo, with the
colonel, guarding the defenses; the re-
mainder, under the lieutenant colonel, al
a pointsome miles distant. At1Oo'clock
at night courier from Gen. Taylor an
nouuced an order to join the army, thcr
cxpectinc battle at some point beyond
/ Monterey, and at midnight Morgan
command was er-routc to participate
/ The lieutenant colonel had orders t.
evacuate his post and to join the regi
ment with his command at the town o
/ Moricr, near Monterey, travelling On
road which joined that upon which Nor
gan was travelling, near the former place
Before the dawn of day the command
passed the outposts of body Of tw,
thousand cavalry, under the command o
Gen. Urea, and as the sun rose it passet
a spot where three days before larg
train had been captured by Urea, ant
| the guard and teamsters murdered thei
bodies denuded of their clothing an,
shockingly mutilatod, we're fostering il
the hot sun. Inthe midst of this terribl
sight word came that the enemy, emerg
ing from the chaparel, were preparing fo
a charge. Morgan's command we're 500
in order Of battle, and as the enemy ap
preached we're received with a well di
rected volley, and then almost with th
quickness of thought formedintO squar
to receive the charge Of cavaly. N
effort of Corrales or his men could breaI
through that stern cbeU5aur de .frige Q
bayonets, and they were forced to retir
in order to gather their dispersed host
to renew the battle. The column move
on, and again and again they we're force
to resist the impetutous charge Of Con
rales' men, marching under burnin
sun, without scarce hope of resucul
and without water to allay their burnin
thirst. Shortly after midday, two Of hi
men, one of them an American name
Stewart, the other a Mexican, volunteere
to take horses and run the gauntlet
the hope of reaching Lieutenant Colon,
Irwin's command, and thus procure
reinforcement. During the lulI of til
battle, the ranks opened and these horst
men dashed out. Turning point of Ii
road they received the fire of lar2
body of Mexican cavalry, and were see
r to reel in their saddles. Atthatmomel
= another charge was made, and when r,
}, pulsed and Morgan's charge moved on
the point where the men were fred upol
f blood was found, and other evidence ";
f had that they had been killed and the
bodies dragged into the chaParal al
f there robbed. Thus reft of hoTs Il
/ gallant command resolved to sell the
f lives as dearly as possible. Onwal
j they moved, still at intervals forming
h a hollow square to resist the charge. 4
+ about 8 o'clock in the afternoon, afar c
was seen a column Of men approsehin
= and soon it was discovered that they hs
cannon. All supposed them to be reil
forcement fer the enemy, and then Il
/, last hope forsOok the gallant band. o.
ward in their front still moved the a,
yancing column, with loud cheers chee
Y the command of Urea prepared to NAL
. a final and a desperate charge. II
troops in front had BY this time adganc,