The Dickinson press., 1888-08-11

AN'0' Kentucky from
south to north in five days, his men living Oh
tho fat of the land. In his rapid march he
only paused long enough to burn tho bridges
over streams behind him, thus delaying his
pursuers as long as possible. Ho had another
advantage, in that he took all the fresh horses
he needed us he went, leaving worn out,
sorry hacks behind. When tho horses of the
Union troops became exhausted there were
for them only the broken down animals Nor
gan's men had left.
Rapidly as the raider chief Travelled, he
took care to send messenger ahead to pro
vide for his crossing at the Ohio river Tho
messenger, Capt. Taylor, had with him thirty
or forty men, armed to the teeth When he
reached Brandenburg, the point of crossing,
little packet steamer the j Combs, came
pulling up tho river, on her way to Louis
vile, forty miles above. All unsuspicious of
danger, she landed ut the Bradcnburg wharf
rs usual Instantly Morgan's men took pos
session of the Combs to press her into service
as ferlyhoat large steamer, tho Alice
Dean, came up shortly after and shared the
same fate. Thus. with two boats ready full
steam on, Taylor waited for his chief
John Morgan ard his cavalry reached
Brundenburg OH the morning OF July g. But
by this time the state of Indiana, OH whose
soil Morgan would set foot when he crossed
Brandenburg, was thoroughly aroused Her
wal governor" Oliver Ferry Morton, wa:
then ut the head of affairs. Capt. Hines, OF
Morgan's men, had crossed the river ahead
of his chief and had done some foragin. and
destroying. enough to arouse the state
Governor Morton at once made active
preparations to receive the invader.
When, therefore, Morgan crosse! the rvcr
at Brandcnburs he found citizens and state
militia arminu themselves with all speed
Foes were around him, and a foe, relentless
and untiring, was steadily creeping up behind
nim, coming closer and more close.
Morgan crossed part of his men into Indi
ana. Warning had been sent TO Louisville,
and jl.st in the midst of the ferrying over II
gunboat steamed down the river upon the
scene. Two regiments OF Morgan's men were
on the Indiana side, without their horses
The rest with Morgan and all the horses,
sore yet on the Kentucky side.
Tho 2un!,ont began Smelling the hills on
both sides OF the river Morgan brought up
mis- PARROT guns and fired into the gunboat
His men were protected behind the ridges
Morgan was intensely excited. Unless he
could cross with the rest of his mon his fate
vas already sealed Every quarter Of an
hours delay added to his peril.
An hour Morgan and the gunboat played
ut firing harmless shots at each other Then
the gunboat backed out and steamed up the
river Morgan brcathed again.
With all speed he resumed the ferrying ns
soon as the gunboat was ought Of sight. The
moment the crossing was accomplished he
burned the unlucky steamers that had served
him in such good stead and hurried on np
through Indiana, slightly northward, then
eastward. He had added to his numbers by
recruiting as he Travelled, and he now entered
southern Indiana with 10 cannon and 1000
horsemcn. Cen Hobson, hot on his track,
reached the river bank at Brandenburg just
in time to behold the dying cmbers of TIL"
steamers llpon the IndIano shore