Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-01
MORGAN AND THE WAR.
A Manly Defense By an Ex-Fed-
eral Soldier,

John Morgan was nothing but {
desperate Of the very worst type, and
his commsnd was composed OF the
most cold blooded bushwhackers, muir.
deEsrs and sssassins to be found in
the South. His raid was a cowardly
one, and the deeds committed at his
order, and by his men, shocked and
sickeued the entire country. There
was nothing brave or manly or soldier
~ connected with his predatory in
cursions into the North. He selected
the quietest parts of the country, fol-
lowed roads he was least likely to meet
with armed resistance, and attacked
only defenseless villages and isolated
farm houses. His objects were pillage,
robbery, rape, murder and arson, and
he and his men carried them out until
their UNANIMOUSLY cowardly career
was checked on the banks of the
Ohio.
If there is anything in John Nor
gan's record of bushwhacker. MUIR
derer and incendiary that can be re
mem bered with pleasure now we have
failed to discover it. The desperadoes
who executed his devilish commands
may be filed with happy recollections
Of their bloody raid through Ohio, hut
the people who respected the cause for
which those men pretended to fight
must feel ashamed that they are now
allowed to glorify the memory OF one
of the most damnable exploits of the
civil war.
Referring to the above, Colonel Me-
Gowan, who was born in Ohio, was a
gallant Federal officer in the late We +
and is now editor in chief of the
Chattanooga Times, replies as fol-
lows.
This is an amazing exhibition OF
vicious ignorance 1t passes belief
that any man so ignorant as this edi-
tor, can find employment on a reputa
BILE newspaper.
The writer of this was with the
Federal troops which followed Nor
gan's command from the time il
crossed Cumberland river on the I'd
Of July, until it was headed of, broken
up and the bulk Of it captured at But
fngton, Ohio, on Sunday, July 10,
1863.
On that trip Morgan was checked at
Green river bridge, in Southern Ken
lucky, by Colonel o. M. Moore, who
was stationed there with battalion OF
his Twenty>fifth Michigan infantry.
Morgan made desperate effort to dis
lodge Moore and capture his COM
mand, in which he lost about 200 men.
On the next day, or the next but one,
Morgan's advance struck the fortified
town of Lebanon, manned by Colonel
Charlie Hanson, commanding the
TwentySffth Kentucky infantry.
Hanson's command was short of am
munitiop, but they fought desperately
until the last round was fired, and
then they surrendered at discretion,
and we're paroled.
In his raid Morgan was as consid
crate of the rights OF the people of
Ohio and Indiana as any raiders on
either side were, under like circum-
stances.
Those who say his men we're mere
| despeFadoss, who avoided any chance
to fight, certainly werp not acquainted
with those men in their Oapaeity al
soldiers.
The charges of murder, cruelty auG
the like, will be given the lie by every
Federal who fell into Morgan's hands
as a prisoner. He was generous anC
OODsiderate toward enemies he cap
tured.
The nonsense about his predatory
invasion" Of the North Is, in some
| features of it, complimentary to Nor
gan strategic ability and shrewdness
and the rest Of it is untrue as well a
foolish.
Morgan's raid changed the Who'll,
aspect and results. OF military opera
tions In Kentucky and Tennessee il
the summer and fall Of 1853. Blu
for his divertiDg and delaying Burn
sides movement upon Knoxville ant
the line of the East Tennessee, Vir
| GINA and Georgia railroad, that com
mander, with 2gQ00 .nen, would hav
Joined Rosecrans TIRES weeks befor
the battle of Chickamsuga Was fought
| Ask the surviving officers OF Burn
sides and HoGecran's armies whethe
Morgan's ineursion was . mere pillsg
ing performance, and they will laugl
at the question and the qnestioner.
We have yet TO hear Of any cruelt
being prOcticed pursuant to Morgan
order. OF course be had cruel, COW
ardly men under him, who mlsbehave
badly on some occasions, but neve
by his orders that any one has ye
proven.
In the Wintsr Of 1928 Morga
captured Colonel Bob Stewart, q th
Second Indiana CaValry,at Hartseill,
Tenn, through fearful bungling an
cowardiee of Stewards superior. Th
brave fellow was SO chagrined that b
,, sat down. covered his face with hi
J hands and wept bitter tears. Som
Confederate soldiers standing nea
jeered at their Inundated enemy
Stewart sprang to his feet, whippe
! out bis sword and, announcing Ii
! ability to whip q large contingent
: the Confederacg, was about to sa
. into Q score of men who were full
) armed. Morgan came up at this poin
y inquired into the affair and reprove
|, the men for haunting prisoner, too
= Stewart by the arm, led him to b
G quarters, gave him supper and lodgir
ana SsSS morning sent him parole
prisoner, under escort, to report
General Paine, commanding FEEDER
J. forces at Lebanon, this State.
II Was that fba at of . .s.-.