The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-02-02
Death of John Morgan Narration of
an eve Witness.

EedjtOr Of the Press and Times
In the face of the most convincing evil
dence to the contrary, which has been re-
peatedly published, and we'll authenticated,
the rebels still presist in the effort to estab-
lish the false assertion that John III. Morgan
was murdered after surrendering himself to
the Federal forces at Greenville, Tenn, in
September, 1864, The following are the
facts In the case, as detailed by an eye wit
ness, and which can be authenticated by the
authority of numerous responsible persons
Gen. A. CsGillem, with a small brigade
of Fest Tennessee Union soldiers, having
been sent to operate in upper East Tennessee,
in the fall of 1854 established his head
quarters at Bulls Gap, on the 81 of Septem-
| Der, preparatory to an advance movement.
At night intelligence was received that
force of rebels, numbering from three to i've
hundred, had encamped on the road between
| GreenviIle and Bulls Gap, three miles from
! the former place The General at once de-
| termined to send n regiment in rear of this
1 detachment, to intercept their retreat, while
| he moved the main body of his brigade up
/ the main road, to attack them in front. lie
| accordingly at, ii o'clock p. N, instructed
Lieutenant Colonel William II. Ingerton,
| commanding 9th Tenn. Cav, to move his
regiment in the direction of Grecnville by
way os the Arnett road which intersects
! the main GreenVille road near that town
| The night being very dark and stormy and,
! the condition Of the road almost impossible,
| it was with difficulty that Colonel lngerton
succeeded IN reaching the main Greenville
| road one mile below that town at daylight
in the morning, that being the time fixed
upon by General Gillem to commence the
attack Colonel Ingerton formed his regi-
ment in line to await the rebel force which
he expected to be driven upon him. The
sound of the cannon soon announced that
/ the attack had begun below. At this critical
! iuncture Col IngeTtOn was astOnished to
| learn that j Olin H. Morgan with q force num-
! bering from two to three thousand men was
near notwithstanding at the same time
that Morgan and staff were at the house of
/ Mrs Williams while his troops were en-
camped about one-fourth of milo distant
| off College Hill Col Ingerton, notwith-
standing his hazardous position, determined
to attempt the capture of Morgan and staff,
and thus effect ut once his own escape and
the CONSERVATION of the enemy. Accord
ingly he dispatched two companies into town,
commanded respectively, by Capts. G. c..
Wilcox and s. E. Northington-the squad
ron being in charge of the former Captain,
with instructions to bring out the body oil
John Morgan, dead or alive. This officer
dashed into town, and finding that the rebels
had not yet received the alarm, Immediately
surrounded the premises Of Mrs Williams,
placing sentinels at regular intervals around
the lot which has an area of about three
4 acres. Morgan and staff being in the house,
and not having received the alarm until they
were effectuallys surrounded, in attempting
to escape all fen into the hands of our sol
diers, excepting the General, who finding no
means of egress, attempted to conceal him
self in cluster of grape vines near by.
He was soon discovered, however, and again
attempted to fee, Needless of the challenge
lie ft-v holt
l-he was shot by Andrew Campbell, private
Company g, 18th Tennessee Cavalry, the
ball passing directly through his body.
Raising his hands and exclaiming - Oh,
Godr' he fell to the ground and Immediately
expired.
In the mean time, Morgans command on
College Hill had become thoroughly alarmed
and hastily forming in line, opened their ar.
tilleTy and commenced furious charge to
save their leader Captain Wilcox, taking
with him the body of John Morgan, and the
prisoners captured, fell back gradually to-
wards his regiment. During this time, Gen.
Gillem, with the main body of his brigade,
had attacked and routed the force below
town. Col IDgerton hearing the fight going
on in town, and becoming alarmed for the
safety of the small force sent in there, after
capturing the advance guard Of the rebel
force which was being driven from below,
/ withdrew from their front to 90 TO the assis-
lance of Wilcox, who was at this time re-
treating from town. The rebel force from
below thus succeeded In making their way
around the town, and Joined their main
command On College Hill. Gen Gillem hay
ing By this time come up with his main force,
a sharp fight took place In and beyond the
+ town, resulting in a complete defeat of the
j rebels with the loss of two hundred and fifty
prisoners, three pieces of artillery and q
/ number Of wagons, horses, etc. The body
1 Of John Morgan was turned over to MS staff
+ officers. who dressed him and sent him
through the lines to his friends. The staff
/ officers were transported to Bulls Gap in am
balances. They expressed much pleasure
ho kind treatment received from their
tors, and stated that John Morgan did
+ - surrender, and that be had determined
never to surrender under any eircumstan-
ces
i These are the facts, rs they actually oc-
cured and as the faithful historian will re-