Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-29
r.
In Sight OfTheir Army, Captured
by Seven COn1ederates.
Southern Historical Society Papers.l

THE following incident is sont US by Cap
tain J. IL. Carter, Of LexingtOn, KY, who got
1t at the time from the participants and other
eys-witnesses, and YOuches for its accuracy.
We should be glad to receive and publish
many well authenticated incidents of the
proves Of our gallant "boys in gray"
During the retreat of the confeder-
ate army from Kentucky (Bragg's in
vasionl, in the fall Of 1862, Colonel
Basil w. Dukes regiment of Morgan's
cavalry was left, by order of General
Kirby, at Falmouth to guard the roads
and watch the approach Of the fed
erals, then advancing in large num-
bers from Cincinnati, Ohio, into the
state, the COvington and Georgetown
turnpike being their center line Of
march. When they had reached a
point about one mile from
Walton, Boone county, and camped
for the night, Duke left Falmouth
about midnight, and by a hard ride
reached the turnpike, about equidis-
tant from Walton and the federal en-
campment just as day broke. The
advance vidette here reported a fed
eral picket post of ten men in sight.
These were captured by a small force.
under Lieutenant Messic, going round
and in their rear. Duke then ordered
Sergeant Will Hays, Of COyingtoD,
Kentucky, TO select six men from the
famous Advance Guard" and pro-
coed down the pike, find the enemy,
and ascertain his position and strength.
Hays chose Ash Welsh, of Cynthiana.
Kentucky; Joseph M. Jones, of Paris,
Kentucky Thomas Franks, of Holly
Springs, Mississippi Frank Riggs,
Hughes Conradt and Chaplin Bartlett,
of Covington, Kentucky, and at
once commenced the dangerous
mission. Each man felt the respon-
sibiIity resting upon him, and nerved
himself for the worst. The turn
pike here was emarkablycrooked and
on one side was sheltered by a thick
growth of small trees, vines and weeds
Reaching a point about a quarter of a
mile from the starting place, and in
rounding a turn in the road, our little
squad found themselves plump into a
picket stand ofsixty- nine infaDtrymen.
In a moment every man OF both par
ties had his gun cooked and leveled.
The seven confederates were all young
and hot .blooded and had under the
lead Of Morgan and Duke, faced many
forms OF danger, but never before
were the odds against them 50 great as
now, aud their mettle was to be put
to the highest test. With the eve ola
soldier, each one realized the perilous
position he and his comrades occupied.
Hays at once, in a ringing tone de-
mande an immediat surrender, say
ing that a regiment of John Morgan's
cavalry was near at hand, Git was one
quarter of a mile distant), and that il
q shot was fred not a federal
should escape alive. The officer
"a lieutenant = seemed Devil
dered to think that sever
men should ride boldlyiu into sixty nine
ofhis men and make such a demand
and especially when not more thar
FIVE hundred yards away the entir,
federal army was drawn up as if read
to march, their guns and arms glisten
ing in the bright October sun, the
just rising over the eastern hills. Blu
the manner in which the demand wa
made, the bearing of each of the con
federates-eaeh ready TO kill hi
man. at the word fre-together wit
the magical name Of Morgan, com
bined to and did save them. The off
Ger at once surrendered his swor
to Jones-who happened to be immC
diately in his front with his gun draw
on him-and Hays at once placed tn
prisoners in position and ordered
double-quick back to his regiment
As the march began a federal infanI
ry regiment was rapidly advancing
the rescue of their picket comrade,
but a turn in the road hi
them from view, and they di
not follow further. The sigt
was a novel one, even for war time !
seven c~onfederates driving sixty-nin
armed federals before them as prison
ers. Duke, with a company was 500
met, coming to ascertain the sitaatio
Of his little squad. He was profus
in his compliments to his men fo
their achievement. The federals wei
Michiganders, and the lieutenant
name was Clarke. In his history
Morgan and His Men, Duke brief
refers to the affair, but does not giN
the names Of the participants. h
uses this language: This exploit wa
erhaps. never paralleled during til
war The facts we're reported
General Morgan, and each Of the seve
men, privates at hat time, were afte.
wards commissioned as officers f