New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-20
IHE KILLING or JOHN MORGAN
CONTINUATION OF THE CONTROVERSY.
THE KENTUCKY BELIEF THAT HE WAS MURDERED
AFTER sURRENDER-THE FACTS.
IRY TELEGRAPH To TUE rRIBUSEI

THE BELIEF hE WAS MOl'DhhhD
AFTER sURRENDER-TIE FACTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TUE rRGBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-The controversy
over the question as to whether John Morgan
murdered by the Union troops after he had surrendered
continues TO agate Kenucky. In a Cincinnati dispatch
TO The Louisville COureTJOurndl Major C. A Withers,
formerly OF MOrgan staff denies that he ever wrote to
Woody that Morgan killed before he surrendered,
and declares repeatedly written and stated
to the contrary" Major Wthers also states that IT was
by courtesy Colonel Brownlow that he and Captain
j. Rogers enabled to get possession Of MOrgans
body and prepare 1t for burial. Captain Rogers was
General Morgans Assistant and TO him
Lieutenant French OF General Gem's stan, addressed
letter September s. 1864. stating that report had
been started that Morgan shot after his surrender
and asking IL 1t was true.
In HIS reply Captain Rogers said; 81 was with Gen
eral NJ when he left Mrs. williamss He handed one
of his pistols and said that he wished to assist him in
making his escape. 1 told him it almost useless
and entirely surrounded. He replied, saying
that must do Il II possible. We were concealed in a
clump Of bushes when a soldier rode up the fence.
wearing brown jeans jacket We, naturally suppos
ing him to be a Confederate soldier came out Of the
bushes General NJ. stepping at the time through
the fence. The soldier demanded surrender much TO
our surprise Captain Wilcox, Of the Federal Army.
with other soldiers rode up. l. with Mr. johnson,
fastened toward him. Looking back in the direction
OF General NJ saw him throw up his hands, exclaim-
iug oh. God nothing more OF him until he was
brought to the street dead am satisfied johnson and
myself fred after surrendered, but by men
far from that 1t must have been impossible for
them 10 know that prisoners asked Captain
Wilcox to leave a soldier with me, after had surren
bred, for ny own safety. which be did
We were possibly fired upon almost every direc
ton. but from such distance that am satisfied the
men did it innocently. l. however, do not condemn
them for firing after surrendered, under the
circumstances II General Morgan surrendered before
being shot, do not know it,"
In General Gflem's official report of September 8,
1864 to Andrew Johnson, tken Military Governor Of
Tennessee. the following account Of Morgan's death i
given: upon Lieutenant Colonel lngcrtOns arrival
near Greenve ne learned that General Morgan and his
stan, had arrived the previous evening had head
ongrers nj Ara Wilams's in town. Colonel Incerton
detached a squadron under Captain wilcox OF tn 18th
Tennessee Cavalry TO surround the house ana capture
General Morgan aud his stan and escort who were un
aware of the presence OF the Federal troops uuul
awakened by the report OF tner own artillery when
tam Wilcox's squadron they made
their appearance III the street. General Morgan's
headGuarters we're surrounded, and be shot 10y Pr
Yate Andrew Campbell, OF Company G, 18th Tennessee
Cavalry, while ne was e1deayorng to MAKE MS escape
ton. captured" This report has never been puD-
lished.
In his History Of MorGan's Cavalry General Basil
Duke says: General Morgan killed IN the garden
shot through the heart II IS not known whether ne
surrendered was offering Resistance HIS friends nave
always believed that he WAS murder ter bis surrcn-
der. Certain representations by parties VINO Killed him.
their runlauy character and the brutality with when
they treated his body induced the belisi" Tuis was
written several we after the occurrence. The state
ment OF Captain Rogers eyewitness. writ, the
day after Morgan was Killed the L0utSriHe Courier
Journal of Thursdal contains ano ner account o; Nor
cams DEATH also purpOrtng 10 he the statement of
ey witness-a Mr. Mason al GreenyLe Tenn. Accord
lag to this account Morgan was alone when lie
killed hldns uedeE grape'i4e' S!anuihS at VINO"
of the motel which he keeps, Mr. Mason plntel out 1e
spot and said: "a Mrs. Thompson from this winoow
saw him. hollered the soldiers, There he 49, hid
ing under the grapevine, and Morgan made a start to
run again just soldier sped anu snot MIN. saw II
from the Olner window"