The National tribune., 1893-02-23
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
DEATH OF GEN. MORGAN.
Cant Soule Corrects Some Errors Found in
Mr.. ArneIFs Article.

An article appea red III The NATIONAL 4 RIB
INF of Oct. 20, 1892. written by hon. D Nj.
Arnell. in which he "corrects history" by CIV
ing civilians account of The killing of the
rebel Gen Morgan, in Greeneville. Tenn, Sept.
1864 It is rather remarkable that, after the
lanse of Is wears. aud after the publication OF
numerous articles written by participants IN
the affair. man making no claim OF ever hav-
ing worn a military uniform or having any
personal knowledge of the place or circum-
stances connected with the event should at
tempt TO correct what is universally conceded
10 be established history.
Mr. Arnell. as introductory. says: Many
statements partial aud partisan have been
made in relation to the matter; some wholly
untrue, others sensational others again vindic-
tive"
The gentleman may or may not have seen
the article over my signature in a June. 1891,
nnmlier of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and in
eluded that in his category OF untrue, partisan
or sensational accounts of the affair. i have
no knowledge of what happened at the council
of war spoken Of by Mr.. Arneil, between Gen.
Giilem and Coils. Miller, Browniow and 1nger-
ton. but I do know that certain things. stated,
never did take place. 1t would take a more
persuasive pen than Mr.. Arnell wields to con-
vince me that the scenes and incidents of the
late unpleassntness in which l Was an actor, if
not prominent one. have gone from me, and
in their place have been born warned, sensa-
Among the most vivid recollections of
nv life inscribed on the dag book pages of
NV memory are those connected with the
events of that TO ME, memorable night of Sept.
3, 1864
Referring to the said council of war. before
the plan of action was decided ufon- Mr.. Ar
nell states that Col. Miller urged tine night
march, as "Morgan's officers naturally would
get under cover TO keep out Of the rain during
the nights storm; that the pickets would be
badly posted and sleepy" Then Gen. Giiem
is reported to have said, per contra, that 1t
was impossible to act in such q Storm. have
a very distinct recollection that when officers
call sounded and / reported 10 regimental head
quarters at 1890, it was lovely Autumn night.
with nearly a half-moon in cloudess sky.
There was sufficient light TO show me plainly
that the camps of the 9th and 18th Tenn. Cav.
were deserted. notwithstanding the claim that
only the best mounted mel were taken ana the
balance left in an uadisturbed sumber.
When we broke into column at 1880, and
took the direct Greenevile road. accompanied
by the battery. there was heavy bank OF
clouds in the southwest, behind which the
moon soon sank, and not before o'clock did
the storm reach US. 1t was one of the worst
storms and darkest nights / have ever expe-
rienced IL would simply have been physi-
cal impassibiity TO have reached Greeneville
that night with our artillery without the aid
of occasional fires TO extricate our guns from
the bitches The rain and darkness continued
unabated till we struck the rebel outpost, SO
it would seem that by prophetic vision Gen.
Gillem and Col. Miller foresaw the approach
ing storm. under the friendly cover of which
Morgan lost his life and Gillem became
Brigadier.
Mr. Anell, it appears, in correcting history
gets his historical facts from eyewitness
prominent in command at the time, strictly
nonpartisan. and his history is strictly nom
sensational. He states from his moathpeces
that the command consisted of portion OF the
9Th and 18th Tenn. Cav, a skeleton battalion
of the 10th Mich. Cav, together with section
of artiliery-two pieces.
/ had the honor at the time TO command
company of the 10th Mich. Cav, and / know
what ! am saying when remark that Oh the
night in question the 10th was all presen. or
accounted Tor. from company to n, inclusive,
in the full panoply of war. had between 40
and so men in column, and presuming that the
other ii companies were equally strong, the
fighting strength the 10th was about 500 men,
armed with the Spencer repeating rife. In
regard 10 the strength OF the Tennessee regi-
ments ] can only judge by comparison, as we
had operated together for some time, and /
judged from their appearance in line that they
were equally as strong. especially the 18th, as
the 10Th Mich, and if any were left behind
when the regiments left Bulls Gap they failed
10 materialize.
What rontes the Tennessee troops took in
order TO reach Greeneville at the proper time
and place l have no means of knowing;
neither il it material, so long as they were on
schedule time when the curtain raised for the
final drama. Mr. Arne, in his history, says
that Col. Brownlow, with the 9Th Tenn, had
the advance: he captured the enemys vldet
asleep aud then encountered an outpost. Be-
fore Brownlow's men could see the whites Of
the eucmy's eyes" as commanded by Col.
CHI and
psndemonium broke loose. Then for few
hours came a succession of military mauavers
that passeih my comprehension.
il appears that in some manner not exactly
plain. especially TO unmilitary reader, a
gap was left down and the Michigan skele-
ton was sent 20 watch il. The dilatOry
"Michigans" didn't wake up in time, and the
enemy went pouring through The gap and left
the gap behind them. After charging up and
down the streets for an hour more, midst
the roaring Of guns and clashing of sabers,
Main street was found packed with the horses
of Horgan's escort Most of the horses had
their heads turned toward tie sidewalks and
tire men generally seemed TO be lying on the
ground or sleeping On the pOrches or in the
doOTwHys."
Evidently the michigan skeleton :" wasn't
IN If. it probably stuck in the gap. The
whole thing finally eliminated in the killing
OF Morgan, somehow, IN the yard Of Ars. Will
1ldUiS. EatHEtlC scenes followed. iDE- hllieF
lefS his blanket for the body TO be placed upon
aud ordered q strong guard 10 be posted about
At Then list of killed and wounded
and prisoners captured, ia which the Ach-
gan skeleton " is credited with one killed.
As have stated. tie 10th Mich. Cav, left a de-
serted camp AZ Bulls Gap at 1880 and was
caught in the storm about j o'clock. My
company 60 had the advance. Ny brother. in
charge OF the advance guard, caught the
enemy's vdet asleep under an improvised
shelter. and little further on, just at the
dawn Of the morning, encountered strong
outpost the summit of hill but short
distance out from Greeneyille. Two companies
were dismounted aud charged up the hill
The enemy broke and fed toward Grecnevile
with the mounted portion Of the 10th Mich
close on their heels. j, with my regiment
charged through the main street Of Grcenevlle
with ali the rebels in sight showing their backs
There might have been q shot fired in OF
about treeneSilIe before We struck the outpost
but ii there was ! never heard it neither did
one of nay regiment until the corrected his
tory OF Mr.. Arnel walked the echoes
] may be IN error in regard 10 nay opinion o.
the part tie Tennessee regiments took ia The
affair but did not man of them till
Eaw the two regiments debouch from ethel
side Of tie open plateau on the east OF Greene
vale. and right calamity they drove in the fee
ing fugiiipcs.
In regard TO the manner in which Morgan me
his death ! shall say nothing as ali the infor
NATION have comes from the lips of others
bat shall confne myself strictly TO what cam'
Il A -.