The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-10-24
MORGAN'S LAST RAID.
Some of the Incidents Relating to His Sud
den Death at Greenville, Tenn.

Some of the Incidents Relating to His Sud-
den Death at Greenville, Tenn.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / want to
give you story told me by Maj. III. Z.
Light, of Rochester, n Y, who served dur
ing the war in the 10Th Mich. Cav. He COM
manded company on the organization and
muster of the 10th, but long before his term
of service had expired WAS in command of
the I'd battalion, and in 1865 was in full COM
mand of the regiment, being the senior Off
Ger.
The Major is decidedly pleasing CONVEX
sationalist, and relates many thrilling incl
dents while in the Army of the Cumber-
land. in which his command served much of
its time. Gen. Trowbridge. of Detroit, was
the first commander of the 10th Cav, he SAID
IT was this command, consisting OF the 10th
Mich. and 9th and 18th Tenn, that sur
rounded GreenvilIe, Tenn, Sept. 4, 1864, and
killed and captured Gen. John Morgan and
most of his command. Morgan had decided
to surprise Stoneman'ss troops, who were
only a few miles away, but refugee woman
whose husband had been killed by the
rebels, came on horseback - miles that
night and gave the Union General the de-
sired information concerning Morgan's plans.
Stoueman's command was called together
by Z" boots and saddles, ''and after
going for +" Greenville, where they arrived
just in the "gray Of day" The Johnnes
were cooking breakfast, and did not expect
their visitors, but the Yankees charged down
into the village, captured most of the rebels,
ate their prepared meal, then hunted up
Morgan and his staff who were quartered in
a large residenc. owned by a MIS- Williams.
The East Tennesseeans, Union regiment,
4 =. l. H.
rebel General and other officers of his staff
were aware of 1T.
When Morgan came out of the house it
was onto a large veranda on the rear side.
1t was several feet TO the ground. He had
been awakened hastily, and after rubbing
his eyes and stretching himselfat full length
he quickly scanned the 81 uation, and jumped
to the ground and ran TO a high fence, with
view of making his escape. He was con-
fronted by native patriot, however, who
ordered him to halt, but the General
paid no attention to the command. and the
soldier fired, the ball passing through Nor
gans heart. He fell dead in his tracks.
Morgan was dressed III blue pants red shirt,
and had on bran-new pair of long-legged
boots. He wore no hat, not having had any
time to prepare his early morning toilet.
His body was properly laid ont, his staff was
paroled, and Maj. Light says the funeral took
place Immediately after the Union forces re-
tired from the place. Morgan had fine ply
sique, and, as the Major puts it, made a hand
some corpse; but this was his last raid. He
had terrOrized the North, had succeeded in
crossing the Ohio River into the Buckeye
State, with his command, but was soon cap
tured and put in the penitentiary of that
State. He made his escape shortly after
ward, however and had succeeded in again
joining his daring raiders. He was I'M
doubtedly the greatest plunderer and par
tizan General of the C0nlederacy, and
the loyal people of the North rejoiced ex
ceedingly upon hearing that he had been
killed.
Maj. Light was also at Knoxville soon
after the siege had been raised and Burnside
had repulsed Longstreet. He says Burn
side was every inch hero, and that his
troops we're of the "true-blue" stripe.
At one time during the siege two ears of
corn, pint of middlings, and cup of coffee
were days rations. Just before the siege
was raised the General had several hundred
mules killed in order to save the corn for
the troops, and some Of the boys skinned
the hides from the animals, using the same
for sandals their shoes having worn out. |
Such suffering had never before, nor has it
since, been experienced by Northern troops.
East Tennessee was mainly loyal to the
North, being the home of PEARSON" Brown |
low, the great Southern editor-patriot- |
a man who was fearless, and whose loyalty |
to the General Government was never ques. |
toned. Maj. Light remained in the serv-
ice until August, 1865, and was discharged |
at Memphis.-H. O. FIFIELD, 1st Mimi,
Menominee, Mich. lc