The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-04-14
BY AN EYE WITNESS.

To the Federal Troops.
.-. BY AN EYE WITNESS.
Happening to be present at the
death Of Gen John H. Morgan, says a
writer in the Columbus (Ohio,) Crisis,
/ have concluded to send you few
memoranda of that and it's accompany
ing events. accompanied the eXpedi-
ton into Tennessee, made for the pur-
pose Of driving back Gen. Gillem's
Brigade of Federal cavalry. We ar
rived at Greenville early in the even
ing of the Sd Of September, 1864.
Grecnville is distant from Bulls Gap
General Gillem's position,) nineteen
miles. Gen. Morgan established his
headquarters at the house Of Mrs.
Williams, in the town of Greenville.
His own brigade was sent on the
road leading to Rodgersvillc, to a
point three miles from Greenville, for
the purpose of getting forage, and
detachment of Tennessee cavalry, six
hundred strong, was ordered, under
Col. Bradford, to encamp on the road
leading to Bulls Gap, and to picket
the roads leading toward the enemy.
This force was not increased because
larger number Of horses could not be
foraged in that direction. The coun-
try between Greenville and the Gap is
hilly and wild, and very poor. Gen.
Gillem stated atterward that he re-
ceived information of the status of af-
fairs about Greenville at half past nine
Of that night. He Immediately moved
his command in the direction of Green
vile; when abont five miles from town,
he halted and sent q detachment
through the woods, and succeeded in
getting on the flank of Bradford's
command; he drove him Bradford, J
back from the road, leaving it open to
Greenvillc.
A detachment of four companies Of
the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry WAS
then sent forward to charge the town.
They met with no resistance. The
square on which Mrs. VS. house is sit
uated (the house and grounds occupy
the square,, was surrounded immedi
ately officers of the staff being aroused
by the ccuriers, Of whom there were
three or four at the front gate, rushed
out and were captured one by one.
Gen. Morgan attempted to escape
through the garden; finding exit in
that direction cut off, he concealed
among some grape vines. He
had no weapon at all, Captain Rogers
having one of his pistols, Mr.. Johnson,
A. A. G.'s clerk, the other. While the
officers Of his staff and couriers were
together under guard within twenty
yards from his place Of concealme 1t,
he necessarily heard the questions
asked them, and the threats made
against them.
The questions were as to his wherea-
bouts-the threats to make them tell
his place of concealment Seeing that
there was no hope of successful con
cealmcnt, he came out and surrendered
to Captain Wilcox, Co. g., Thirteenth
Tennessee Cavalry. He had already
both of Gen. Morgan's pistols in his
possession. This captain sat on his
horse, (he and fifteen or twenty others
had ridden into the garden, having bro
ken down the plank fence to get in,)
and conversed with the General and us
for some time-about ten or twenty
he then rode off. In few
minutes after he left, a man rode up
and presented his gun at Gen. Morgan
the General said: "For Gods sake
don't shoot mel am prisoner The
gun was fired and the General fell. The
muzzle of the gun Ia Colts army rifle,
was within two feet of Gen. Morgan's
breast when it was discharged; his
and his body were blackened
with powder. This man then dis
mounted and threw the Generals body
across his horse, in front of his saddle, |
md rode about town shouting, "here's
your horse thief" ..'
When Gen. Gillem gave us permis-
sion to 60 and attend to General Nor.
yan's body, we found it lying in the
'oad, about one mile from the place
where it had beon shot. 1t was 80 COW
,red with mud that VIC could scarcely
recognize it. The ball struck the cen
er of the breast, about three or four
inches bclew its junction with the neck,
md came out behind the left hip bone.
He met his death as he met his foes
thousand times before; there was no
'hrinking-not a quiver of nerve
.hough he saw murder in that brawny
'elon's eye. Kentucky will yet be
proud Of John Morgan-of his gal
ant, dashing life, and fearless death.
And in the " land Of sun and flowers"
ong will his death be the theme of
,ong and story.
The man who shot him was named
Of Co. G., Thirteenth Ten.
nessee Cavalry. He was promoted to
ls~..A~..-~., f~- a.