The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-11-15
THE LATE SENATOR MORTON.
An Episode of His Career-How He Be
came .sGoYerrnr s,f X q nt1clcvm
[From the Cincinnati Commercial.

An Episode of His Career-How He Be
came Governor of Kentucky
[From the Cincinnati Commercially
When, in April, the attack upon Sum-
ter had startled the North, and the Pres
ident issued his call for $4,000 troops
Indiana's quota being fixed at six regi-
ments OF $50 men each-Gov. Morton
issued proclamation which, in eight
days, rallied over IL, 900 men to the de-
Tense of the national flag. In fact. on
the very morning, April Is, before re-
ceiving the Presidents message, Gov.
Morton sent dispatch to Mr.. Lincoln
rendering 10000 men from Indiana to
defend the nation and uphold the author
ity of the United States, thus securing
to his State the honor of being the first
to proffer troops to the General Govern
ment. Indiana's quota of six regiments
was rapidly filed, and her Governor,
foreseelng the future need, offered six
additional regiments without regard to
length Of service, and pledging his word
to organize them in six days, if accepted.
The first six regiments marched prompt
| ~ forward to the field, attracting admi-
ration and surprise at the perfection of
their equipment; and Gov. Morton's
efficiency was held up as an incentive for
other State Executives to follow in near
! " all the Northwestern States. Hardly
had these first troops reached the field
before the ever thoughtful Governor
sent agents to follow their footsteps, at
tend to their wants, and see that all
their little needs were supplied while in
health, and that they were properly
cared for when sick. With Gov. Nor
ton, indeed, may be said to have origi-
mated the plan of sending State agents
to visit and care for troops in the field
and throughout the war his agents uni
fornaly distanced those of all other
States. A few days after, the Governor
rendered an additional six regiments to
the President. His message to the
Legislature, which he had called in ex-
ira session, was full of determined and
lofty patriotism. Laying aside all party
prejudices, he required only loyalty and
capacity as the necessary qualifications
for positions of influence and SO great.
indeed, was the iberality shown by him
to the Democracy as to arouse the jeal-
ousy Of the Republicans, who criticised
his course with much severity during
this special session.
Meanwhile, the neighboring State OF
Kentucky was in very precarious state.
It's Governor, Magoffin, assumed for il
the position Of armed neutrality, and
sought for this policy the corporation
OF neighboring States. Gov. Morton,
however, was not deceived by this spe-
cious plea of neutrality. He firmly re-
lected all propositions to that effect from
Gov. Magoffin and, DESTROYS of keeping
Kentucky {" in the Union" he dispatched
thither numbers Of his own secret agents.
by whom he was promptly advised Of
the plans and operations Of the seces-
s1onlsts In every part of that State.
On the 10th of September, 1861, Gov
Morton received from one of these agents
information Of Zollicofer's advance into
Kentucky, to a point some fourteen
miles beyond the Tennessee line, and Of
a corresponding advance by Buckner's
force toward Louisville. The Governor
promptly countermanded an expedition
under Gen. Rousseau, which was just
starting for ST. Louis, and ordered the
force to cross the Ohio into Kentucky
at the same time Fastening every avaiIa-
BILE man in Indiana, to the defense of
Louisville, the safety of which was thus
assured beyond a doubt.
Fully convinced that Kentucky's neu-
traity was at an end, and that her soil
was actually invaded by the Confeder-
ates, Gov. Morton withdrew his secret
agents and, appealing to his State for
help to rescue that State from the enc
my, sent forward regiment after regi-
ment into Kentucky, and before many
months had passed the Federals held
Bowling Green, Zollicoffer was killed,
his troops defeated at Mill Spring, and
the soil of Kentucky cleared. This con-
duct endeared the Governor to the Union
lists of Kentucky, who virtually adopted
him as their Governor.