The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-05-25
The Killing of John H. Morgan


ELIzABETHToS. TENN. May 5, 1866.
EDIroRs .UyroN FLAG.-I noticed in the
Era of q recent date, communication copied
from the Atlanta Intcligmcer, respecting the
death and capture Of Gen. John H. Morgan of
the Confederate States Army, which is base
fabrication, and in which myself and the
brave boys that led upon that occasion are
implicated and charged with uncivilized ard
inhuman treatment towards prisoners ofwar.
cannot refrain from vindicating myself
and men upon the occasion, and denounce
the author ofthe same as a base caluminHtor,
devoid Of all honor and principle and not
worthy to occupy the most Gsmal cell in our
State or National prisons. The facts in the
case are simply these.
In the month of September, 1868, General
Gillem's command was stationed at Bulls
Gap, Tennessee, and General Morgan was
encamped in, around and beyOnd, ,Greeneyille,
Tennessee, and on the night of the 3rd Of
Sept. 1868, boy whom the enemy had cap
tured and who had effected bis escape came
to our camp and informed General Gillem
that General Morgan intended to attack HIM
the next morning. whereupon Colonel lnger-
ton was despatched with the 18th Tennessee
Volunteer Cavalry, to cut Off the enemy at
Greereyille, Tennessee, aud after marching
all night came within one and half miles of
Grecneyille, where be halted and formed bis
command in line Of battle, during the tine
that said command was in line Of battle, Col.
Ingerton, Adjutant Scott and myself captur-
ed dispatch bearer who was bearing dis
patches from the rebel commandant at Blue
Sprngs-said dispatch was directed to Gen
eral John II. Morgan, widow Williams res
idence, Greeneyile, Tennessee. was order
ed at once with Company G, 18th Tenn. Cav,
to proceed to Greeneyille, and II possible,
capture General Morgan and staff. | imme-
diately proceeded to Greeneyille and upon
entering the town had my command
80 arranged as to surround the premises Of
the NluOW IMAM IeslutuCc Hihuoul hOloS
or difficulty. Having surrounded the prem
ises ordered Sergt. Wilcox with seven men
to search the house, and on searching the
house the entire staf was found and made
prisoners, and during the search Gen. Nor
gan by some means made bis escape into the
garden, without the notice Of the guard. AZ
ter having searched the house minutely and
not finding the General, | ordered Sergt.
Wilcox and one man to explore the lot, and
upon entering the same they discovered some
person crawling out Of ditch, whereupon
Sergt Wilcox discharged bis piece at him
and the Gre was returned, whe' eupon be ran
and In entering a cluster Of grape vines, Pres.
CampbeH, who was an outside sentinel dis
charged bis piece At him, it taking effect, en-
teriug at the left hip ringing along tn spinal
column and coming ont at the left nipple.
was about twenty steps outside Of the prem
ises when the boys exclaimed that they bad
killed some person. Immediately tore down
the fence and rode in and found SeTg,. win.
cox, Campbell and Birehfeld looking at him
ordered them to turn him over and search
him. Upon his person was iounda letter ad-
dressed to General Morgan, Gfeeneyille.
rode TO the fence where had tho entire siad
urd,, guard, sud informed NJ. Clay A. A. q