The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-20
NOW GEN. MORGAN Was KILLED.
A WONDER Full STORY
FACTS THAT HAVE PASSED INTO HlSTo-
EY DRAGGED UP AND REIN
VESTED WITH TRUTH.

FACTS THAT HAVE PASSED INTO HIsTo-
RY DRAGGED UP AND REIN
VESTED WITH TRUTH.
we take the folio VI in g from the
Memphis Appeal:
GREENyILLE, EAST TENNESSEE, }
August %, 1871. :
It WAS stated in a former letter that
occupied the apartment IN which
General John Morgan last rested. NOT
many weeks after his marvellous escape
from Northern prison he reassumed
tI,e command of his forces, and ad-
vauccd from Bristol toward Green
vile. He had often been entertained
at the elegant house of Mrs. Williams,
whose son was the owner of the place,
nbe mother having died year ago.
was then member OF Morgan's staff.
Major Williams was not with General
MORGAN when the latter left the brigade
encamnment, accompanied by Captain
Gessett, and preceded his troops and
entered the village. Williams follow
ed rapidly. He overlook Morgan just
as he entered Greenville. and soon
learned that the place had been occu-
pied, the preceding day, by proving
band of East Tennessee Federal mill
tia. The troops of Morgan were left
some miles away. 1t was late in the
afternoon, and Major Williams, after
an interview with his mother, stated to
Morgan that she protested against their
unprotected presence in the village
She said there were stragslers from
General Gillem's command in the place
at the time, and that if he remained
they would be attacked and captured,
or slain. Morgan insisted that there
was no danger. When at the supper
table Mrs. Williams again said that the
General and her son and Captain Gas
sett should return to their eneampment.
Miss n. N. Scott, at the same time a
member of the household, said, laugh
ingly, to Mrs. Williams, that if she per-
sisted in asking the gentlemen to leave
they might question the genuiueness OF
her hospitality. Mrs. Williams re-
piled that General Morgan and her son
were i'll great danger; that General
Gillem, with strong force, was at
Bulls Gap, eighteen miles distant
that General Morgan and her son were
recognized by many persons when they
rode through the village, and that the
place might be assailed at any mo-
ment. Morgan laughed at the sugges-
ton, and at an early hour retired. He
occupied a large apartment with Cap
tain Gassett, above stairs. just after
sunrise Morgan was aroused by Major
Williams, who Informed him that the
Federal forces were in the village, and
that they must fly for their lives
Williams had incurred the deadly en-
nifty of one or two men Of influence
that belonged to the Federal militia or
ganized il that vicinity, and was re-
solved not to be captured.
now ONE BECOMES FAMOUS IN HISTORY.
Before Morgan and his aides de-camp
reached Greenville,, between one and
two o'clock in the afternoon, another
Mrs. Williams, daughter-in-law OF
Morgan's hostess, left the residence OF
the latter for the purpose of going to a
farm belonging to the family, three
miles from Greenville. To this Mrs.
Williams was ascribed the honor (?) of
Morgan's betrayal. Gassett, as here
tofore recited, escaped and telegraphed
the story over the country of Morgan's
death, asserting that ne was betrayed
by the wife of young WILLIAMS, bro
tier of the Major, who conveyed the
information to General Gillem that
Morgan was at her mother Jaw
This younger Mrs. Williams, whose
maiden name was Rumbold, was, like
her husband, loyalist. She was fiat
tered by attentions bestowed by those
who were curious to see a woman of
whom it was said traversed the wild
country alone on horseback at night to
demonstrate her devotion to the old
flag. She'subsequently spent month
or two at the home of Colonel John
Williams, near Knoxville, and was the
sensation of the hour, when Knoxville
was filed with Federal soldiers. She
confessed to Colonel Williams that she
had no agency whatever in causing
Morgan's death, that he was not at
Greenville when she left the village,
and that she knew nothing of the ter
rible tragedy, or of Morgan's presence
in the place until she returned, after he
was slain.
TRUTH AND FALsEHoOD.
1t is an old adage that lie travels a
thousand miles while truth is putting
on its boots. The statement that Nor
gan was betrayed by this woman has
become historically true, and so utter
ly false, as many person who watch
cd its progress has little faith in any
history ofany war. Gassett's telegram
has traversed the globe, and now we