The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
MORGAN'S RAID,
And the Experiences OF the 9th Pennsylvania
Cavalry.


Cavalry.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Your paper is received weekly and read with
much interest. The story of the war told for
our boys and girls should be as near correct as
can be. notice that in your last paper John
H. Morgan's raid into Tennessee in July, 1862, is
described. Twas member of the I'd battalion,
9th Pennsylvania cavalry, commanded by Major
Thomas. j. Jourdan, stationed at Tompkins-
vile, Ky. Our forces numbered some 800
for duty, only $50. July 8, 1862, we were at
tackled at daylight by John ID. Morgan's
forces, numbering $500, with four pieces OF
artillery. They came in on three roads, sur
rounding us, but we held our ground until
about 9 o'clock, and then were compelled to
fall back, which we did by cutting through the
I'd Georgia infantry. We suffered loss of four
men killed, seven wounded, and thirteen taken
prisoners. Major Fosters horse was shot and
he was captured. Our wounded boys left be-
hind were made prisoners and paroied. When
they came up to us they reported thirty-two of
Morgan's men killed and ffty-six wounded
left in town, besides many wounded taken
away in their ambulanees. Lieutenant-C Colonel
Hunt, of the Cd Georgia infantry, was left
badly wounded and died three days after.
see Bates History" states that many were
killed and wounded, which judge is true.
One of our boys, when captured and taken
TO Morgan to be paroled, met in Morgan's
quartermaster on old schoolmate. They had
both been raised in Bellefonte Pa. Morgan
asked Joe Thomas how may men we had, and
when told would not believe it. He said they
had $500 men, and that if we had held our
ground a short time longer their forces would
have fallen back. ".You Dutch Pennsylvania"
said he, must have had your lives insured"
He gave Thomas an old horse to ride to Cove
City. Now, this is the true statement: When
Morgan left Tompkinsville he marched to Cove
City; from there to Glasgow, destroying what
stores there were at either place, which were but
few. Six companies of our regiment was station
ed at Clarkville and four at Springfield; he
did not care to strike any troops that he could
avoid, and steered clear of them. Now, as to
his operations at Lebanon, July ~: / went
into town with twenty men at 2 o'clock on the
morning of the 18TH Morgan's forces were not
there; they were expected but did not come.
We are tired of hearing of John II. Morgan's
bravery. We know all about it. We followed
him often enough to learn that if we let him
alone he would not disturb us. remember
that ON the morning of May 4, 1868, / had
charge of General Dumont's body-guard-the
18th Pennsylvania cavalry-with part of Nun
ford's kentucky cavalry. We attacked Nor
gan's forces at Lebanon, Tenn, at or before
daylight in the morning, and would have capt
ured them had it not been for Munfords cav
airy. They were dressed the same igray) as
Morgan's and we could not tell "t'other from
which" i noticed single rider leaving our
line, and it struck me that it might be Morgan
So with a squad of men / ran him thirteen
miles to huntsville, where he jumped off his
horse into boat and from the opposite side of
the river offered US 81, 900 If we would send
his mare over. 1t proved to be Morgan indeed.
We had missed him, but captured his mare
the black mare the ladies of Kentucky made
him present of. We considered the mare of
more value to US than his 81 900. Was this leav-
ing of his command the action of brave officer?
Mc-
LAUREL SPRINGS, PA. 9th Pa. Vol. Cav.
FROM ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE 9TH.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In his article on "Morgan's Raid" published
in your issue of June 5, Carleton" is mis-
taken, think, in stating that Morgan captured
four companies of our cavalry at Tompkins-
vile, KY, in July, 1862. l give you the facts
as / recall them. Major Jourdan at that time
had at Tompkinsville one battalion, consisting
Of four companies of the 9th Pennsylvania
cavalry, who had been doing good deal of
scouting in Tennessee and watching the guer-
rillas whose headquarters were at iSalina, and
when rumors of Morgan's presence in Ken
lucky began to be plentiful small parties were
sent out to scour the country. On July the
major moved the main portion of the command
out having met with any opposition worth
speaking Of We went to sleep, that night,
fully persuaded that there was an army of
liars in that country, but not of rebels.
| The next morning July 81, before sunrise, !
was about to feed my horse when up came to
the majors tent, at a gallop, cayalryman with
news that large rebel force was upon u.s. The
major, who was in his night clothes, called to
the bugler to sound Boots and Saddles" and
Immediately the camp was in state Of COM
motion. was mounted among the first and
had good opportunity to see the rebels form
| their line In road in front of the open field
in which our own line was drawn up. They
leFeled their guns and fired, and the Kentucky
gravel few, but they had aimed too low, and
We replied, firing at will. Presently they
| opened up on our left flank with mountain
howitzers and small harms, and it became evil
dent that their intention was to surround and
capture Us. We therefore, fell back, but in
good order, across an open field towards strip
Of woods. After we had crossed the fence.
company III was ordered back into the field to
form IN column and charge the hoWitzers but
1t had no sooner reformed than the order was
countermanded, and the company followed on
after the others, which had succeeded in brush
ing some rebels from the woods and gaining
the Burkesville road. Once on the road the
retreat became race, but certainly was no
surrender OF any organized body. am salts
| fed that our losses did not exceed 100 men.
and these were mostly the sick and those who
had lost their horses and couldn't get away.
Of course, the rebels got our mules and wagons.
should be glad to hear from some of the off,
GERS or men of the old command.
A. b. STRAW,
ANsoNyILLE, Pa. Co. NJ, 9th Pa Cav.
They Loved Pie. Not Wisely, But Too Well.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE: