The Placer herald., 1866-05-12
DEATH OF GEN. J.H. MORGAN.
BY AN EYE WITNNSS.
An Authentic Account of that Event---He
is Shot Twenty Minutes after he had Sur-
rendered TO the Federal Troops.

Gen. J. II. Morgan, l have concluded to
send you few memorandas Of that and its
accompanying events. | accompanied the
expedition into Tennessee made for the pur~
pose Of driving back Gen. Gi'em's brigade
Of Federal cavalry. We were at Greenville
early in the evening of the Sd of Septem.
Der, 1864. Greenville is distant from Bulls
Gap (Gen. Gillem's position) nineteen miles
The General established his headquarters al
the house Of Mrs. Williams, in the town
of Greenville. His own brigade was sent
on the road leading to RodgerviIle, to
point three miles from Greenvlle, for the
purpose Of getting forage, and detachment
of Tennessee cavalry, 600 strong, was or
dered under Col. Bradford. to encamp on
the road leading TO Bulls Gap, and to picket
toe road leading towards the enemy. This
force was not increased because large
number of horses could not be foraged in
that direction. The country between Green
vile and the Gap is hily, and Wild and
very poor. Gen. GiIlem stated afterwards
that he received information of the status
oil affairs about Greenvile at half-past nine
OF that night. lie Immediately moved his
command in the direction of Greenvile
when about five miles from town he halted
and sent detachment through the woods,
and succeeded in getting on the flank Of
Bradfords command; he drove him (Brad'
ford) back from the road, leaving it open to
Greenville. A detachment Of four com
panes of the 18th Tennessee Cavalry was
then sent forward to charge the town.
They met with 30 resistance. TIE square
on which Mrs. WIS house is situated Uhe
house and grounds occupy the square) was
surrounded Immediately; officers of the
staff being aroused by the courers, 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 Oft, he concealed himself among some
grape vines. lie had no weapon at all,
Captain Rogers having one of his pistols,
and Mr.. Johnson, A. A. G.'s clerk, the other.
While the officers of his staff and couriers
were together under guard within twenty
yards of his concealment, he necessarily
heard the questions asked them ard the
threats made against them. The questions
asked were as to his whereabouts-the
threats to make them tell his place of con
cealmeut.
Seeing that there was no hope of success,
ful concealnent, he came out and surrend
cred to Capt. Wilcox. Company G., 18th
Tennessee Cavalry. lie had already both
Of Gen. Ms pistols in his possession This
Captain sat on bis horse Che and fifteen or
twenty others had ridden into the garden
having broken down the plank fence to get
ln) and conversed with the General and us
tor some time-about ten or twenty minutes;
he then rode off. In few minutes after
he LETT 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 riie) was
within two feet of Morgan's breast when it
was discharged; his clothing and his body
were blackened with powder. This man
then dismounted and threw the Generals
body across his horse, in front of the saddle,
and rode about town shouting, Heres
your horse thief" When Gen. Gilem gave
Us permission to 60 and attend to Gen. Ms .
body, we found it lying in the road, about
one mile from the place where he had been s
shot. II was so covered with mud that we
could scarcely recognize it. The ball struck $
the center of the breast, about three or four ,
inches below its junction with the neck,
and came out behind the left hip bone lie 8
met his death as he met bis foes thousand !
times before, there was no shrinkipg-not +
a culver of nerve-tbough he saw murder
IN that brawny feIons eye. Kentucky will 6
yet be proud of John Morgan-of his gal q
ant, dashing life and fearless death. And y
n the "Iand Of sun and flowers" long will f.
lis deeds be the theme of ''song and story" ii
The man who shot him was named Camp i,
'ell, of Company g., 18th Tennessee Cavalry. c
lie was promoted to Lieutenancy for his n
rdUcry on this occasion. =
At Knoxville the staff officers were locked !,
p in iron cages, in Jail, whose windows a.
lad neither glass nor sash. They bad 81
ether change of clothing nor overcoats
or blankets. These had all been taken
rom them. They were permitted to 90 into
he prison yard in the day time, and they had J
dead line there. I
we found at Knoxville several officers
nd men of Morgan's command, who bad O
een taken two weeks before us. They told I
IS that the soldiers who captured them said "
hat they had orders not to take Gen. Nor Il
an alive. +,
After this it was rumored that the soldiers n
i Gen. Morgan's command refused to take 81
s prisoners of war men belonging to the 81
9th Tennessee Cavalry. Gen. Gilem sent Il
communication, under flag of truce, to a
len. Breckenridge on this subject, CONF b,
laining that some members of the 18th CT
ad been killed, and stating that he sup Sc
osed that it was done in retaliation for the h,
murder of Gen. Morgan. He M
tated that Gen. Morgan had been killed in to
air fight, and inclosed a copy Of note pl
ON Capt Rogers, of Gen Ms staff, in 10
nswer to one from him inquirng into cir. nc
umstances Of Gen. Morgan's death. (Rog W
rs was then a prisoner in Gen. Gilem's pl
ands.) or