New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-02
JOHN MORGAN ONCE MORE

THE CONTROVERSY OVER HIS DEATH
A CONFEDERATE STORY - THE STORY OF THE
WOMAN WHO CAUSED MoRGAN's DEATH.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-The controversy over
the question how the rebel cavalry leader John Morgan
died, continues to rage in the Kentucky newspaper
contribution to The Louisville 0urierJounai
Captain John j. McAfee, formerly otMorgan's command
tells how Morgan, painfully wounded as he was.
breathing and suffering with tho crimson
stream triekling from hs wounds" was thrown
across o horse and borne through the streets
Of Greenyille "wth bis blanched face turned the
light. running his fingers through his hair, while
eyes lifted in their SPECIFICS agony to heaven
Captain McAfee does not assert that he witnessed this
for he made his first appearance the next FORE
noon, bearing flag of truce to obtain Morgan's reJ
MAINS which were delivered to him. All other accounts
agree that Morgan shot dead in his tracks.
Captain McAfee falls into another error. however, IN
which he has the company OF all who have written on
the Confederate side He tells the old story that 1t was
young Mrs. Williams who betrayed" Morgan. In q
quiet street OF Washington and In very modest housa
lives Mrs. Sarah E. Thompson formerly Of Greenvlle,
Tenn. To TRIBUNE correspondent this evening MIRA
Thompson told the following story;
"Iam the woman who sent to the Union forces under
General Gilen the intelligence that Morgan and hia
command were in Greenville. was q widow then. Ny
husband who was Union soldier, having been muir.
dered by Morgan's sometime before, while he was
prisoner In their hands. was living then at Main and
Railroad sts in Greenyille. One afternoon j
was busy baking light bread and making tomato butter
when John Morgan and his men rode into town
lie dlsmounted my door. came to the porch,
sat down and made himself home He tilted back biz
chair and sat there hour more, smoking his Pipe
and talking to me in his boastful way.
MORGAN MAKING SPORT OF A WOMAN.
"He knew 1 was Union woman and he tantalized me
by telling what great things he was going 10 do aud
advising me to hunt up a husband on the Rebel sde
Among other things he said he going to take Knors
Vile and hold it. told him he would strike a snag be-
fore he ever got to Knoxville. After while he went
over 10 Mrs wilams's house, which stood on cross
street. her yard, in which were many grape vines adj
joining NINE As he had gone walked over to
a little frame house, which was occupied by s0mq
coored people and which overlooked the promises Of
Mrs. Williams colored woman lived there who had
done some work for I said TO her. 'Milly
If you will watch Morgan until come back Will give
you this and handed her ive-d0llar note. She prom.
ised, and went back home aud got my bonnet ana
started Man-st. had not gone far before met
man whom had known from childhood, and asked
him to pass through the pickets, so could go ana
find my COW. He went to the picket post with me and
ordered the guard TO pass me out ana
backand then he pointed to some cat
tie on hill and asked II mine not among them !
told him my red mully COW and walked on
When got the top OF the hill threw sck at the
cow and sine started the other sue aud followed.
As soou "a got out OF sht OF the guard, went int
Davis's cornheld and through ~ 70 MS mouse told
Mrs. Davis wanted horse and she let me nave one
rode OF through tue fields the direction OF BulPs
Gap, where tue Union forces lay Alter riding soma
miles found boy, Wilcox by name and sent him on
with the news 20 General Gillem was told Afterwards
that would believe the boy. out some OF his ON
declared that they were going after Morgan any
how: 40 General concluded to try IT, came BACK
to Greenvle with our troops Inc advance dashed
into town and searched Mrs. Williamss house wthous
finding Morgan. When came up they were mad ana
declared that they been fooled agau; but as soon
A.. Mly saw she cried ont that Morgan was IN ne
yard. hiding among the vines tod tne men t1ssH t
they would tear down the fence ana cnaFge "Out"
insure them Morgan's body.
MORGAN KILLED WHILE FIRING HIS PISTOL
Just then he discovered. He had revolver
{ and fired on men, and they fired on Nun.
Then he was killed and his boiy taken by man on
horseback and carried OF by tnat te sops1hs ih
o ,SaF m aeS' re tire On out town
came down there and made me a prisoner III my owa
house aud set two men 10 guard me. they Ioiu w
tley would hang me the day from the same nno
IRON which Fry one of men, had been halged-
They did not have much time TO threaten me- however
for charged back into the town anu hSh ~
one OF my guards shot through the Feet ana DOH
were captured
IDENTIFYING MoRGAN's BODY.
After awhile an ambulance came along With Morgaas
body General Gillem stopped the ambulance, RODE up
10 nv door aud asked me II knew Morgan told Dim
that I did; that my husband and had
ulaved cards with Glasgow KY i've years oeore
and euchred him. And now added, Il have neipea
TO euchre him again. identified the boiy, and 1t wa"
then taken TO Mrs. Wtuamss house and prepared iof
burial went with troops to Balls Gap wAea they
returned that afternoon" 49,. ,,o..-v IA
Mrs. fhompson is now employed In the Treasury Ne.
partment aud has in possession letters IRON
johnson and Others, tIiylng 10 inc services VIM" ~
rendered 10 the Union cause during the war