The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-20
Death Of Confederate Hero-The
Story OF the Captain Of Morgnn's
Scents.


Death Of Confederate Hero-The
Story Of the Captain Of Morgnn's
Scouts.
lI.cAington tKy.l Correspondence of the Louisville
Courier-JouInal
Tom Quirk was born at Tralee. county
Kerry, Ireland, january l, 1Si1, and died in
this city this morning at O'Clock Of con-
sumption. at the age of fourteen he landed
in this country without money and without
friends. After struggling along for while
he came to this city, where he resided up to
the time Of his death, entering the army with
General Morgan from here.
When the war was commenced Qulrk was
one Of the first to enlist in defence Of the
South. In september, 1861 he left the city Of
Lexington 4 private in Company A, then led
by Captain John II. Morgan. During the
career Of that gallant officer Quirk was under
his command; by GOODNESS and gallant con-
duct winning his way to the command of the
seouts-a position which Morgan often said
he had rather have than his own.
A short sketch of bis rrcord as a soldier
viii be read with interest by many of his old
comrades and by the public at large. From
the time sthe Old Squadron" left Lexing-
ton, in September, 1861, until April Of the
when be was promoted to the position Of
sergeant on the battlefield of Lebanon, Tenn.
In this position he served until August, at
which time the command was at Hartsville,
Tenn. Sergeant Quirk, with forty men. rode
down to Galatin and boldly attacked re-
giment of Federal infantry, drove them
from the town into Il train OF cars, and
followed the,p on horseback four miles
down the railroad. On his return to harts-
willie he was promoted to lieutenancy
and transferred from old "A to new COM
pany. In November. 1862, for gallantry upon
various battlc.ticlds. and for GOODNESS aud SOL
dicrlv bearing he was again made the reclpl-
cnt Of distinguished honor1 hy Morgan. The
command were then fighting at Black Shop,
near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and during
the fight General Morgan rode down tue
lines and ordered Lieutenant Quirk to come
TO the front. Without dreaming the cause
of the order, Tom. as he was famlilary
known, rode forward. and Morgan, then and
there before the entire command, promoted
him to a captaincy aud put him in command
| of those famous scouts SO infinitely valuable
| to Morgan during the remainder of the war.
| At the battle Of Bear WalIow, in Barren
county, Captain Quirk was wounded twice
| in the head, having first though, with his
own pistol, in close combat, caused two Of
his enemies to "bite the dust"
Recovering from THESE wounds he re-
ioincd his command and remained with It,,
doing woman service. When Morgan started
on his "Ohio raid" Quirk with his men
took the advance, and kept it until after the
/ Cumberland was crossed, when, by an net of
| daring on bis part, he was again severely
wounded, and deferred from participating
in lliat memorable affair. The troops had
reached Marrowbone" creek, the scouts
in advance when Quirk espicd a lot OF
''bluc-coats ahead, and, leaving his men,
| "aIopcd forward some three hundred yards
! in advance, and to within twenty steps Of a
| regiment Of infantry in battle-ne. His rnr-
pose was to have shot for himself; but just
as lie drew his pistol rollcy was fired at
him and his piStol-arm broken. Without
seeming in the slightest moved or concerned
| on account of his wound, he rode back to
his men and resumed command, Insisting
upon bring permitted to accompany them
on the march. To this proposition
however, General Morgan, approaching
his services. would not listen, pre-.
lerrmy TO lose him for awhile rather than run
the risk of losing him forever. In that Skin
mish the Federals reported twenty y.seven
killed and wounded, aud Morgan's meu say
that Quirk. individually, did most of the tir-
| iDg on the Confederate side. General Nor
gan after the fight had the scouts sent back,
and with his army pushed on. Two days
aiterward Quirk was captured in bed by q
Federal scout and paroied. Five months
elapsed before he was exchanged, and dur
| ing that time many stirring events had
| transpired. The sketch of his life thus fal
given covers the years '62 and 'G3. In 'Gi
| he WAS with Morgan in his Kentucky raid
fighting and materially assisting in the cap
ture Of Lexington, Cynthana, and othcl
places. In the battle Of Cynthiana he dis
tinguished himself by bis bravery ant
won the admiration OF the entire army
| Had he desired it he could have easil,
| moved onward in the scale of rank, but 81
well did lie love his men and the eXcitin!
| life of a scout that he was content to remain
Il captain,and serve his country and his Gene
ru in that capacity. As IN officer he WA
| devoted to his men. never losing an oppor
tunity 10 show that devotion, always pro
yidng for them whatever they needed thu
he could, and in one instance committing al
act which places upon his army record tn
only blot it wears. The army was at tn
time in the mountains of Kentucky, clmpct
near some small town. Quirk, having SOM
money, rode into town, and contracted witt
one OF the merchants for the purchase of Ger
| tain supplies for his men. A short TIM
afterward he returned to the store and fount
a guard over it. He demanded admittance
which was refused, and not having tim'
! to procure pass, he gave his nam
and rank, and in company with th
owner of the store forced the guart
and procured his supplies. Charges wer
| preferred upon this by the officer to who's,
command the guard belonged, "red-tap'
gentry" tried him undera court-martial, ant
he was cashered. In avery sborl time after
ward, at the earnest solicitation of Generals
Morgan and Breckenridge, he was relnstated
said this was blot upon his record. Whii,
strictly speaking it was in that it was yio
lation of army regulations, yet the attendan
circumstances made it in the eyes of his mcl
ANYTHING but blot. 1t is needless to sa,
that his reinstatement Was hailed with JOY
by the whole command. Qutrk was unde
arrest at the time Of Morgan's DEATH and ole
soldiers who served with the one and under
the other do not hesitate to say that had th'
intrepid commander Of scouts been in Green
Vile his Genera. .wouldinot have been killed
He was one Of the six men who rode int
Greenyille and brought the dead body out
As an example of the bravery of the man
lie, me relate an incident that occurred, an(
by which as gallant soldier as ever drew
sabre was saved: At Rolling Fork, ky., du
ring the Christmas raid of '62, Colonel Che
was then coloneD Basil Duke was sho
through the head and very badly wounded
The command had before this crossed the
river, leaving Duke with only half dozer
men on the enemy's side. Quirk. seeing this
turned his horse, plunged into the river
swan across, and, placing the wounded Colo.
mel before him on the horse, returned to his
own side In appearance (;ntaiu Quirb