Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-02
A BRILLIANT DASH.
How the Guerrilla Chieftain, John Morgan, Was
Caught and Killed.


TCol. J. e. MCGOWAN in the Phil. Weekly Times]
About the time the brigade was con-
centrated, and as notes were being COM
pared with view to determine on some
plan of operations against Morgan, a
woman from Greenville, dripping with
rain and Oh horseback, was conducted to
the spot, apart, where the general and
his officers were consulting. Her name
was Bacon. She was an alleged widow,
formerly of Ohio. In reality she was an
adventures, an ex variety actress,
anxious to cause sensation, get herself
talked about among the officers of the
armies and mentioned inreport and news
papers. This woman correctly told Gill
lem the situation at Greenville.
Morgan was sleeping at the mansion
of Mrs. Williams in the edge of the
town and directly on the Bulls Gap
road, ''Dick Morgan's regiment was
in camp in field short distance west
of the town, and that side alone was
picketed Duke, with the main force,
lay nearly mile east of where Morgan
had retired for the night. This informa-
ton gained, Gillem at once ordered In
gerton to proceed to Greenville with his
tain Roberts, of the Tenth Michigan,
and Captain Wilcox, of the Thirteenth
Tennessee, we're sent in advance with
their companies, the main reconnoiter-
ing force taking a more leisurely pace
and making detour to the left, SO as to
get round Dick Morgan's pickets and
take his regiment in the rear. Wilcox,
who commanded the advance, when
within three-fourths of mile of the
village got glimpse of the confederate
reserve picket in the road. He pro-
posed to Roberts to make dash through
the line and into the town, with a view
of surrounding the house where Nor
gan was ID bed, capturing him and his
staff, and trust to luck to get out. Rob
erts was ready for any enterprise, and
closed eagerly with his superior's daring
proposition.
Forward! Trot Gallop Charge -
rang out on the air and on the ears of
the startled, astonished confederate SEN
tries. They were literally ridden over
by the dashing federals, and before
Dick Morgan's subor dinate, whom he
had left in command, got man in the
saddle the Williams house was sur
rounded by Wilcox's men. They shot
or captured the two or three guards,
picked up all the horses and an officer
or two in less time than it requires to
tell the story.
Morgan was wakened by the shooting
and tramping. He got on his breeches,
boots and hat, and in his shirt sleeves,
revolver in hand, ran down the long
sloping grounds, on the east front of
the house. Inthe northeast corner was
a ape-arbor. AS Morgan stopped to
pass under this in order to reach the
fence he was discovered by Andy Camp
bell, private in Company G, Thirteenth
Tennessee Cavalry, who fired on him.
The bullet took effect in Gen. Morgan's
right side, and ranging upward, on &C.
count of his stopping position, passed
out near the heart. He fell and died
instantly.
Meantime the balance of the officers
in and about the house, a few orderlies
and squad from Dick Morgan's COM
mand, were captured and rushed off to-
ward the eastern part of the town.
Campbell dismounted from bis horse,
took look at the man he killed, rec
ognized him-he was deserter from
Morgan's first communicated the
body, threw it over his saddle-bow, re-
mounted and road, away with his com
panions. They went pell-mell through
the town, fled to the right, passed out
to the Forth, bore to the right round
the high hill where the remains of An
drew johnson are buried, and though
pretty holly pursued by portion of
Dukes men they reached the Bulls
Gap road near the point where they
had charged the rebel picket half
hour before.