The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
HOW THEY WERE TAKEN IN.
Morgan's Attack on Lebanon, as Remem-
bered by a Goth Ky. Man.

bered by a goth Ky. Man.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Gen. Nor
gan a tackled the Goth Ky. at Lebanon, KY,
early Sunday morning, July 5, 1863, with a
large force The goth left their camp in
the open field, and took shelter in the depot
near by, which was brick building. The
Doth had no loopholes in the depot, as Com
rade Munbrun was informed, and do not
remem Der of any bales of cotton, sacks of
oats and corn being there, that could be
used for breastworks. / think there were
some hogsheads OF tobacco used to plug up
the large door through which the engine
passed.
AS TO Morgau's artillery, it was large
enough to demollsh single brick wall,
such the depot was, as every old goth boy
vino was there on that hot July day can
testify; TOR the depot was struck time and
time again by shot from Morgans guns.
We neld him off from early morning until
1 o'clocl p. M, when he got complete pos
session of the town. aud had captured the
company on provost duty in town and sur
rounded the depot.
A company led by Capt. Tom Morgan "a
brother of the GeneraD charged down the
street upon the depot The Captain, with
several of his men, was killed while making
the charge. After the surrender, Gen. Nor
gan came into the depot, caught Col. Hanson
by the beard with one hand, and, with a
revolver in the other. acted as if he would
shoot Col. Hanson. He cried:
"You have killed Brother Toni"
Col. Hanson and Gen. Morgan were old
acquaintance, both having lived in Lexing-
ton, KY.
Col. Hanson said:
John, you can kill me, but you can't
scare me-"
Gen. Morgan then let 90 the Colonel and
said:
Charles when you 60 home, if it is any
source of qualification to you, tell mother
you have killed Brother Tom"
The first thing MOrgans men did was to
go through us IN true James boy style, di-
vesting us of watches, money, knives, and
everything worth having. The regiment
had been paid off few days before. Lieut..
Hale, Co d. had new hat, under the lining
of which he put his money. Johnny Reb
took the hat, and put his old, fopped-down,
greasy butternut on the Lieu tenants head.
Whether he ever found the money l cannot
say; but the Lieutenant lost it all the same.
The depot was burned, with several ada
cent buildings, as well as our tents and
camp outfit. We were marched out into an
open field and formed as on dress parade,
minus our arms it being the intention 10
parole us then and there; but the fellows
who were to reinforce US, and should have
been there the night before, or early that
morning, came up and commenced throwing
an occasional shell in the direction OF the
town.
Then Morgan started us on the double
quick for Springfield, nine miles distant.
lax and hnt %har Al a,,d
dusty almost to suffocation. Soon alter we
started kind Providence sent blessing in
the shape of thunderstorm. The rain fell
in torrents; the dust was converted into
mud. Had it not been for the rain certainly
many would have persisted on the way.
Two poor fellows who fell by the wayside
found no good Samaritan pass that way, but
were killed, one being run over by an artil-
lery wagon, the other knocked in the head
with the butts of muskets in the hands of
Morgan's men. When we reached SPRING
field we were paroled, and the Johnuies
went on their way rejoicing.
AS to the charge that Col. Hanson was
persuaded to surrender to keep Morgan from
burning the town, don't believe In it. |
WAS in the depot. Col Hanson was 10 the
depot all the time with his men, and there
was no communication with the outside
world. The citizens lay low that day, and
Col Hanson was as brave soldier as ever
commanded a regiment.
And now, comrades, let's give three rous-
ing cheers for our standard bearer, The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and let Us rally
around the ballot box and vote as we shot,
and not vote TO undo what we marched and
fought for years to do.-E. IL. WHEELER,
M. D., Co. d, Goth KY.