The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-09-23
MORGAN'S CAPTURE.
The story A. Told nv Sen. shackie.
ford.

| tOFN.
From paper read by Gen. James NJ Shack
loford, AT the request of Fhrragut post q. A.
r., in Evansville, Ind, we take the following
account Of the capture OF Morgan, the Confed-
crate raider:
Morgan and his men had gone 10 the left,
between the two roads My advance had
taken the road TO the right The column was
ordered on the road the enemy was ON. As
We approached Morgan's men started to run.
/ They were ordered to halt, and, refusing TO
do SO, We're fired upon just at that moment
a tlag of truce came, the bearer stating that
Gen. Morgan wished a personal interview
with me- caused the firing 10 cease, and
moved around 10 where General Morgan
and his staff were sitting on their horses IN
the road On approaching him l SAID
Gen. Morgan, / am glad 10 see YOU lie
replied: 4 have no doubt of 1t; and am
id sorry cannot return the compliment
Morgan aud his staff, and also Col Clarke and
other officers of his command, were ordered TO
ride forward with Col Woolford and myself
and stati, while the other prisoners were be-
ing disarmod. Morgan stated 10 me, III the
presence of Col Wolford and others, that he
had become thoroughly satisfied that escape
from my command was impossible; that he
himself might have escaped by deserving his
men, but he rcpellcd the thought He also
said that he cared nothing FOR the militia; that
he could, with the command he then had, whip
all the militia in the state of Ohio;
that on the Thursday before one OF his
advance had returned 10 the head OF
his column, and reported the militia in
line of battle in front in such numbers
that neither end Of the line could be seen He
said he rode Mp IN sight OF the line and found
al least 2,HOO militia, with two pieces Of arnl-
lery, in his front: that he got the whitest
handkerchief that he could tnd-the hand
kerchiets all being dirty-tied 1t 20 stick, and
sent an officer down with il 10 tell them that II
they would get out of his way he would NOT
modest them, but if they elected TO remain IN
his front he would crush the whole of them;
that the reply sent back was: Give us time,
and we will withdraw The time was given,
and he said that within twenty minutes not
single mlltiaman was TO be seem they had not
only gone. but they did not stand on the order
of their going Yet, said he, since crossing
the Ohio river have found every man, woman
and child my enemy, every hilltop telegraph
and every bush an ambush.
After riding back two miles we halted ana
dismounted to wait until the prisoners, who
were being dsarmed, should be brought up.
ON going into the house by the roadside, Gen.
Morgan called DR. Steele, Col Clarke, and
three or four Of his staff into an adjoining
room. He then asked me 10 come in also.
Having no idea what he wanted, and wishing to
have some one of my own command to hear
what might take place between Morgan and
myself. | asked Col Wolford to attend the
interview On our entering the room,
Morgan informed me that he had sur
rendered to the militia captain and
that the captain had paroled him and his
men, and he wished TO know If | would recoS-
nize the parole lrepled Gen. Morgan, We
have been in our saddles for thirty days and
nights in pursuit of You. We have met and
defeated YOU a number of times aud captured
the whole of your command except the rem
nant captured with yourself lou have ac-
knowledged in the presence of Col Nolford,
that your capture was inevitable; that you
yourself might have escaped, but you would
not desert your men; that we were on the
field. part of the advance had gone to your
right and another part 20 your left, and
the main column was moving rapidly on
your rear: you have acknowledged that
all the militia in the state Of Ohio could not
have formed serious impeachment IN
your way: that with this part of your COM
mand YOU could whip the whole of them.
And now Won claim 10 have surrendered your
self and some 100 of your men TO a single mi
litia captain that you had as a prisoner. Such
a suggestion is absurd and ridiculous, and
shall not entertain II for moment He then
demanded TO be placed back on the field as l
found him. replied by saying; 1 could put
you back on the field as ! found you, and
crush You and your command, But shall
not do 50. On the contrary, | shall deliver
you and your men to Ma. Gen Burnside, at
Cincinnati, to be dealt with as he may deem
proper He then said: You are the captor
and am the captive to-day; the fortunes OF
war may change, and you may fall INTO my
hands replied; IF so, you treat me in like
manner as have and shall treat you, and
that will be all shall ask or desire
The interview ended, and the other prison.
| ers having been brought up we again mounted
| our horses and moved off in the direction OF
the railroad Gen Morgan and myself were
| riding at the head of the column. We had rid
| den but short distance when he became talk
alive, and gave a thrillingly interesting sc-
| count of his raid de was riding fine Lex
| ington mare that his friends in Kentucky had
presented him with; the saddle was silver
| mounted and costly He said he wished me TO
| have the mare, saddle and bride. | thanked
| him. and said that | could not take them, but
| should present his wish in the matter to
| Gen Burnside, and if he should see proper
| TO carry it out, | should certainly bo
| pleased On reaching the railroad I
met telegram from General Burn
| side directing me To take locomotive and car
and with sufficient guard bring General Nor
gan and his staff to Cincinnati. At Wellsville,
| where we remi.ned on the night of the 26th,
| Major General Brooks met US and gave us a
| large banquet On the next day | took the
locomotive and ear with my staff and guard
and General Morgan and his staff and came to
! Cincinnati Never before nor since have
witnessed such scenes of excitement as We
found at every station, town, and city on the
road from Wellsville to Cincinnati The
crowds were simply immense, and at every
! place we stopped men, women, and children
| went into the car to see the great raider. At
| Cincinnati il seemed as though the whole pop
ulation of the city had assembled around the
depot, and the yells that rose from the multi
tude as the locomotive and car ran in were
'deep-mouthed thunder General Burn
side had taken the precaution, however, to
have two companies of regulars form hollow
square, with the depot in the centre They
opened their ranks to let the locomotive and
car run in; then the two companies took
charge of the prisoners and marched them on
70 prison.
gHat, That A'nSt 1(k0