The National tribune., 1894-07-05
CUNNING FOR MORGAN.
A Night of Trepidation for Some Ohio Ma
tiOnal Guard Bows

interested in the description of Morgan's
raid, as it brought back memories of the
days of my boyhood's excitement.
At that time I was serving an apprentice
ship to master, assisting him in the service
of my country in turning the rolls necessary
for the production of the sheathing of the
sides of the gunboats and also the turret
plates for the Mississippi squadron.
Almost every workman employed was
sworn into the National Guard service for
five years, but none of them were compelled
to do service away from home, unless on ac-
count of the many raids of the bushwhack-
ers who terrorized that section of the coun-
try, the principal ones being Kirby Smith,
Jenkins, and Morgan.
Many of the workmen on the sheath
ing of the gunboats belonged to the Goth
battalion, National Guards of Ohio. I be-
longed to Co. c. Not long before the close
| of the war the battalion was ordered to
Charleston, W. Va, to take charge of the
Government stores there. The Regulars be-
| ing thus relieved were sent to the front, and
| it is said that whilst there Co. G 80 hated
| the sympathizers there that they made it
| extremely warm for them, and were as glad
| to see them leave the town as were the Rich
| mOnd people when the war closed.
In reading the description of the raid it
| brought back to my mind the excitement of
the days as the news came of the progress of
MOrgan's recklessness as he travelled north
ward through Indiana and Ohio. As he
drew near to our town, Portsmouth, it was
expected he would attempt to cross on the
Scioto Bar, where there was only about Is
inches depth of water. Everybody was at
a fever heat, but cooled somewhat on the
arrival of about dozen light-draft Ohio
River gunboats, which anchored in front of
the town, and a number of transports carry
ing Hanson's Corps, and then there appeared
Judah's cavalry later in the day, who, after
being fed by the citizens in their saddles,
started out northward, as we supposed, to
intercept Morgan's men.
About suppertime our battalion was
ordered out to march northward and assist
in intercepting MOrgan's command. After
having tramped in that direction about IL
miles we were halted for the night and
having nothing but blankets to protect us.
took to the thicket of bushes which inter-
vened between the Columbus pike and
creek which ran parallel with it.
Another company was camped across the
creek on an elevation of about 200 feet above
us, and one other company each were sta
toned as an advance and rear-guard. The
company on the elevation was composed of
young fellows accustomed to but store work
and fine grub, while we fellows on the level
were lron-wOrkers and used to substantial
food.
We had gone into camp for the night aw-
full hungry, for in the excitement to fall in
many had not waited for square meal and
now would eat anything if it could be found.
But as our company would be exposed to
humiliation from Morgan if surprised, we
were put under the greatest discipline by
our officers, and no one would have known
there was anything but pawpaws in those
bushes. The company on the rise would
have been good target for the bushwhack-
ers, for they had large fires burning at this
time for purposes we did not know, but for
what we found out, and adopted their ideas
later. Well, we were doing our best to get
nap when we heard shots from the outside
picket, and soon after the bugle-calI to fall
IN. AT the same time there came the tramp
tramp, tramp of horses hoofs as they changed
on the boards of bridge which crossed the
creek aboHt quarter of mile below, and
excitement was running high among Co. G,
for we were completely in the power of the
raiders, who we believed must exterminate
every man Of us if we did not exterminate
them.
~ 90 Dub ~ 6uDlI6 Will a
shadow, on account of the heavy timber
which was about the surrounding country,
and we could not discern the advancing
column before they were nearly upon us.
But we were ordered to form line across
the pike from fence On one side to creek
on the other, which was supposed to be four
deep, and to stay there and stop the enemy.
The line was formed; some places it must
have been dozen thick, at others only the
one man front. AS the column drew nigh
we were ordered to aim, but not to fire until
told. The wait was only q minute or So
but it seemed about an hour.
Fortunate for all, we did not fire. for it
was found to be none other than Judahs
cavalry, who had, as l said before, took
northern direction but had to change their
route on account of farmers having cut down
large trees across the path to prevent Nor
gan from coming in their direction
1t was wonder the greenies of Co. c did
not fire On them in their excitement
When the members Of Co. G turned into
the bushes the fellows on the elevation sent
out several of their number into a farmers
chicken coop, and, it is said, paid for big
lot of what they carried away from there.
They were busy in the creek cleaning the
fowls when the pickets gave the alarm.
1hoSe fellows got 80 scared that they drop
ped their chickens into the creek and took
to their heels up the steep hill. At the same
time some of Co. went for the creek also
and were not particular, either, of finding a
shallow place in their hurry to get over
When the alarm was over our fellows slid
down the hill quickly, to be in line before
being dismissed again, and in crossing the
creek discovered the chickens, gobbled them
up before the other fellows returned, and
brought them into camp
Judah's cavalry had not gone out that
road more than half an hour when they re-
turned and announced they could not get
out into the country where Morgan would
pass on account Of obstruction of trees So
knowing we were in no danger whatever
in camping there, and under representations
to the commanding officers that we were
nearly frozen with the night air. got his per-
mission to build bonfire in the middle of
the road, where we cooked the captured
chickens on the points of our bayonets.-
JOSEPH HALL, Wheeling, w. Va.
NO IMPUTATION AT ALL.