Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-01-05

thin line. The Coniedcratcs he'd
their position maHfully, however,
and the garrison Of the church pour
ing in II calling fire on tl'eir Hank,
the cnomy's first regiment was ro-
pulsed, Only for a short Zine,
however, could the little force hope
to contend against such overwhGlm.
ing odds. The Federal commander
sent one regiment to flank and di.
vert the fire of the mon in the
church, and massing his remaining
three regiments, he broke Morgan's
line, and put him and his men to
flight, capturing, after severe
fight, most Of the men in the
church.
"We'll have to ride for life, now
said Morgan, patting the neck Of
his noble bay mare, "and lucky is
the man who has the fastest and
best-winded horse" A ride for
life il was. indeed, for the Federal
leader, finding to his great NORTH
cation that Morgan was not in the
church, gave orders to "pursue him
to the last grasp"
The horses of the Federals we're
fresh having just been taken from
the surrounding country farms to
mount the expedition, while the an.
imals in Morgan's command had
been used all through the raid into
Kentucky. Fully alive to this,
Morgan gave his men orders to sim
gly take to the woods whenever
their horses commenced giving out.
His troopers took his advice, and
falling out, took to the woods and
escaped, while Morgan himselfrode
in the rear with Henry rife &c
shooter) stopping to fire on his pur.
suers every now and then. He had
great confidence in his mare, and
did not have the least fear of being
caught. At length his men dwin-
died down to eighteen in number
the rest having taken to the woods.
The Fcderals, however, had recog-
nized Morgan, and kept after him,
determined to capture or kill him.
On swept the pursued and pursu-
ers, until a large creek, swollen by
recent rains, was reached, and it
now looked as if Morgan and his
brave little remnant who had strug-
glcd so gallantly to escape would
bo taken. Not so, however; Nor
gan's star was not to sink here. A
small fiat was found on the bank,
and all the men, except Morgan, dis
mounted and embarked. Here
Morgans noble nature shone out
like the sun from behind q cloud.
Five Of the enemy's troopers were
close at hand and Morgan seeing
that himsclfand men would be sub
iccted to a point blank fire before
they could get the fiat any distance
from the bank, he ordered his men
to push off without him, while he
turned his mare and charged the
five Federal cavalrymen like q
thunderhot. They were so astoun-
ded by his sudden attack that be-
fore they had time to fire he had
ridden one down and shot two more,
the remaining two taking to their
heels in alright. Before any more
could arrive, Morgan bad swan the
river, cut loose the fiat and sent it
floating down the stream and re-
Joined his men, who were now afoot.
The enemy could not cross without
some conveyance, and the Contedc-
rates, after trudging several miles,
lay down at night tired and worn
out, whilst the indomitable Morgan,
who seemed never to get weary,
stood picket for them all night--be'
ing the only mounted man among
them.
Suffice it to say, that not being n.
Bile to cross, the Federals returned
to Lebanon, having been led on a
wild goose chase with no good re-
suits. ,,
A week later, being reinforced,
and with nearly all his old com
mand under him, Morgan surround
ed and captured Lebanon, with n
small Federal garrison, and with it
the renegade Browning, who was
court -martialed and shot in the
presence of the whole command.