Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-10
THE TRUE VERSION.
Who Betrayed General MOrgan?-
An Account of His TrearherOus
Surprise and Brutal Murder.
From tha Savannah Naval

which appeared in a Memphis paper
under the signature of General Alvin
G. Gillem, U. S. A.-which purported
TO be true version Of the manner in
which General John II. Morgan was
killed, and the statement made by your
efficient correspondent, whom | suspect
to be an old and respected friend, in
your issue OF the 24th inst, compels me,
very reluctantly, to appear in print to
refute wilful Misrepresentation on the
part of the former, and an unintentional
mistake of my worthy comrade. | had
Intended soon after the war, and sew
eral times since, TO publish statement
OF what happened under my personal
observation on that eventful 4th Of Sep
tember, the desire of our command, but
cautious friends advised against any re-
opening Of dead issues to incite fresh
| animosities which our model (2) accept
| lthe-situationists declared would delay
the day of the Prodigals return into the
bosom of this glorious Union" The
letter in the Memphis Appeal determin-
ed my course, and | had already COM
menced reply, when your correspond
ent's notice of the circumstance causes
me to hastily lay before your readers,
and all who love our dear South and
the glorious cause so manfully sustained,
as succinct statement as | can posi-
bly, make of the true events of the
mournful day.
To anticipate: On the morning Of the
I'd Of September, 1864, ! received orders
from General Morgan, then at Abingdon,
Va, to have the command ready for i'm
mediate movement. AT that ';imeit con-
sisted of the old brigade under com
mand of Col ID. Howard Smith; the sec
ond brigade under command or Col IL. l..
Giltner; and detachment Of General
Vaughns brigade (the latter composed
of stragglers, men reporting from leave
OF absence, etc, their brigade being abb
sent with General Early in Maryland)
under command Of Col. William +. Brad
ford-the whole force numbering, as well
as can recolleet, thirteen hundred men.
We were stationed at Carter station, on
the East Tennessee and Virginia rail-
road, about thirty miles from Greenville.
Later in the day orders came for the
force to move next morning early on
Greenville, and on the Sd General Nor
gan, with Mai. w. G. Gassett, G.. M. ,
Capt. Henry Clay, Acting Aid-de-Camp,
Capt. James Rogers, Acting Inspector
General, and l.. G. Johnson clerk in
my office, arrived on the train, and we
Immediately proceeded to Jonesboro, at
that time the terminus of the road. We
here met the command, and advanced
in regular marching order on Greenville.
Not having an opportunity on the
train of discussing his plans, the General
invited me to ride forward with him. and
we rode beyond our advanced videttes.
demonstrated against this as dangerous,
but the General said that he desired to
converse with me quietly. He seemed
to have foreboding of evil, for he re-
marked upon my suggestion that we
might be captured, they will never take
me alive--they have sworn to kill me il
they ever catch me again" We still
rode in advance, and entered Greenville
fully fifteen minutes before our advance
guard.
The General, after directing me as to
the disposition of the troops, established
his headquarters at the house of Mrs.
Williams, but Immediately sent for de-
tail of lieutenant and ten men and
upon going up to the house, | learned
upon my arrival Mrs. Williams, daugh-
ter-in-law of our hostess, had suddenly
taken her departure, for the ostensible
purpose of getting some ''watermelons.
To those who know that smile when
he was angry, refer to whether the
General suspected treachery or no.
His reply to me was that "he wished the
men to assist Mrs. Williams in bringing
back her watermelons, and that they
must 20 until they found her" When
alone he told me his suspicious that Mrs
Williams had gone to give information
to the enemy-"but that was nothing, as
thousand Of our noble girls had brough;
us news, but must prevent If possible,
the enemy getting wind Of our approach.
The scouting party returned unsuccessful
after a dilligent search, and reported
that she had not been TO the farm, to
which the elder Mrs W. had said she had
gone.
In the disposition of the division Col.
Bradford was placed ON the extreme left.
his left resting on the Noliehuky river,
and his line extending in a semi-circle
until it touched Col. Giltnee's left, and
! the latter in the same manner to the left
of Col. Smith, thus forming two-tbirds OF
a circle around Greenville, fronting the
enemy's position, and about two miles
from the town. / intimated the propri-
ety of placing Col Smith in Bradford s
position, as the force of the latter was
without regular organization, but the
General said that he intended his men
should lead the charge in the morning,
and that he desired they should be re-
lieyed from all duty.
A written order was dispatched to
Colonel Bradford 70 select his best Off
Ger and fifty picked men as seopnhng
party. with instructions to advenoe to-
ward Bull Gap until they struck the en-
emy's position, and to feel hls picket
until the command arrived the next
morning. Captain Clay and Major
Gassett were ordered to ride over the
picket line. and see that every road and
by-path we're properly guarded, and at
! eleven O'clock D IN. they reported that
ali instructions had been fully executed,
After issuing orders for the command
1 to rendezvous on the Bulls Gap road al
daylight the next morning the General
retired. He occupied a front room
alone. At daylight on the morning O.
the Ath / was awakened by the sentine
on tuty, and went into the General
, room % awaken him. pEoR inaEiry
finding that il was raining, be INSTRUCTED
NC to coHptermapd the order for imme
date mogemement, and hEing seven
o clock as the hour Alter Fe
ceiving reports from the different brigade
. commanders, returned TO bed, aud wai
awakened by the heavy firing around the
house. Fastening into the General
+; Toosa J fonnd that he had gone out, and
on Searching foEnj biz in the garden
A description Of the grounds siil bey
; ter enable your readers to fully under
stand subsequent events. The enclos
ure occupied just one block, and there
{ fore Ees sqrTounded by four streets; on
the northern SIDE, anl Occupying almost
|, the whole space, stood the hopse--a lars
/ substantial brick, fronting south; 70 The
right and southwark were the stables
! and still further, and REACHING to the