Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-31
How Morgan Was Killed.


Morgan made his last ralu INTO
Kentucky in 1864. He started in the
latter part of May, and for several
months committed his acts Of law
lcssness without molestation of any
account. But in the latter part of
August he committed an act that led
to his death. The Federals had made
an attempt on some of his troops sta
toned at East Tennessee, which led
him to believe that some one was
carrying information TO the enemy.
While stopping at Greenville, the
home of the late Pres. johnson, and
the place where he was killed a few
days later, he revoked the parole of a
wounded union officer, who was a
member of Gen. Gillem's staff. The
officer was stopping at the house OF
Mrs. Williams, who was an ardent
sympathizer with the South. She
had a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lucy
Williams, who was fierce hater of
the South and a devoted friend of the
Union. This woman was in the hab-
it of carrying news TO the Union SOL
diers at Bulls Gap, some twenty
miles away, where Gen. Gillem's
command was stationed. The cap
tured officer, while under parole, had
written a letter to Gen. Gillem, CIV
ing the number, condition and posi-
ton of Morgau's forces, This letter
he addressed to Mrs. Lucy Williams
and placed it in the family Bible.
Here one of MOrgan's officers discov-
cred it. John Morgan at once sent
the authcrto Lynchburg as prison.
er of war, in spite of the indignant
protest of Mrs. Lucy Williams. From
that hour she resolved to compass
MorgaD's death or capture.
September 3, 1864, Morgan put his
forces in motion, his objective point
being TO capture or drive out the
Union forces in Bulls Gap. His
command numbering about l,500,
reached Greenville about 4 in the
afternoon. Here Morgan resolved
TO camp during the night. The
troops campcd on all sides of the
town, and pickets were carefully sta
toned on all the roads TO prevent
surprise. Morgan and his staff es-
tabiished headquarters in. the town
at the house of the elder Mrs. Will
liams. They retired to rest early.
During the night, the younger Mrs.
Williams left the house and passed
out through the Confederate lines.
She discovered an important road,
that, by some oversight, had not been
picketed. She rode swiftly to Bulls
Gap and notified Gen. Gillem of Nor
gan's whereabouts. He detailed an
advance guard of about 100 Tennes-
secans to 90 to Greenville at once un-
der Mrs. Williams guidance, and
surprise Morgan, while he followed
with the main body to assail the reb-
els in force. The Tennesseeans reach
ed the outposts early in the morning
and succeeded in passing them on the
neglected road, and dashed into the
town without being discovered.
They knew where their game was
under cover, and they proceeded at
once to Mrs. Williams residence.
From this point, Capt. F. 7. John.
son thus details MOrgan's death;
81 was with Gen. John W. Morgan
when he was killed at Greenville
Tenn. l was all orderly on the staff
and a mere boy. We camped a
Greenville and were stopping at Tho
house of Mrs. Williams, one of Whose
family betrayed us 10 the Federals
Five or six of us were sleeping on thu
second floor, when we were awaken
ed by firing in thestreets. Mrs. Viii
liams yelled, "The Yankees are com
ing" | ran into Gen. Morgan
room. He had been lying on the bee
with only part OF his clothes off. Hi
pistols were always at hand, and h,
was up, dressed and armed in an in
slant. An officer was sent down I,
inspect, and returned in an instan
and reported that the streets wef,
full of Federal cavalry, and there wa
but little chance of escape, except b,
the back way. 1t was resolved tt
make the effort, because the genera
believed it was only dash of the en-
envy, and his troops would soon rally
TO the rescue. AS we came dowi
stairs the cavalry-men began thun
dering at the front door. We raj
out the back door into the garden
Capt. Rogers and myself kept nea
TO Gen. Morgan. The garden wa
quite large and contained an arboI
and number of trees and grape
vines. We crowded down in the
vines and soon discovered by the din
light of the early dawn that troops
had been picketed around the garden
and escape was impossible. We got
little distance apart so as to avoid
attracting attention. The troops were
yelling and firing, and small detach-
ment of our men entered the town
but were driven back; but Morgan
never said a word.
The soldiers had already entered
the garden, and we could not speak
without being heard. saw it was
useless to try to escape, and as they
approached. / stood up and surren-
dcred, hoping to call attention from
Gen. Morgan. / was not fired at. /
saw a man approaching Gen. Morgan
with his gun ready to fire. The gen.
cral stood up and was evidently
about to surrender himself, when the
soldier fred and shot him through