The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-17
ABOUT RAIDER MORGAN.
A Michigan Cavalryaian's Story Of tho Bun
ington Island Affair.

raid as narrated by Maj. hue, Oh tno 0.n
Ky. Cav. I do not, desire to take single
laurel from so brave . man, entitled to
great share in the victory over Morgan on
July 26, 1863, but I beg to differ with MN
in regard to his details of the battle on July
10 near Burlington Island.
He says: "After fighting an hour, the regl-
ments in the center,p referring to the LIST,
Sd, and 9Th KY. Cav, were ordered to
charge upon the enemy. With drawn saDers
cleaning in the bright sunlight, and with
shout that filled the face OF the enemy with
terror. they dashed across the field, and into
the woods, driving the foe pell-mell IN every
direction"
Comrade Rue was not I" in it there on the
10TH but was detained at or near Cinclnnati
with detachment of cavalry, which included
about IS men from the 9Th Mich, under
Lieut.. N S. Boynton. These remained there
until the evening of the Odd, when MAJ.
Rue, receiving orders from Gen. BURNSIDE,
started out by rail to intercept Morgan, VINO
had with him about 500 of his command,
SHE'D off from his main force on the night OF
the 10Th, and who struck out in northerly
course, crossing the road in the rear OF on.
brigade that night after we had passed
Chester. Our brigade ian improvised one,.
consisting of the 9Th and 9th Mich. Cav.
and Battery L, 18th Mich, had been on the
9Th day of July near Danville, KY, placed
under command of Col. w. p. Sanders, OF
the 9Th KY. Cav.
At midnight of the the 18th the 9th and
9th Mich Cav, with section of the battery
under Lieut.. Roys, together with portion
of the I'd and 7th Ohio Cav, halted at the
summit of the wooded hills, about SIX miles
from the Ohio River. After resting an hour
we quietly mounted and started down to-
ward the Ohio Just at break of day came In
sight of the valley, over which dense fog
was hanging. Soon we heard the sound OF
firing from the guns on the little gunpoat
Moose, which had run up the river IN the
fog and struck the enemy as they were
endeavoring to escape across the river.
Then, as our column reached the valley,
the I'd and 7th Ohio were dismounted ana
deployed as skirmishers. The battery was
placed in position and opened hre. Ooi.
Sanders then ordered the 9Th and 9TH TO
charge. The 9th being in front that morning
took the lead, and were soon in large held
actively engaged, succeeding in driving the
enemy up the valley into and across deep
gorge or ravine which divided the field from
a large tract of rough woodland, and as the
9th followed in close order across the meadow,
received its first vOlley from the enemy.
Down the rough and ragged gorge we
rushed, passing some of the 9th, who, IN the
ravine, had corralled number of prisoners.
As up the opposite bank we climbed, and
through the woods, we saw many dead ana
wounded of the enemy, the result OF the
9th's Rifles This regiment was then In
command of Col. Ackef, Majs. Gallager
and Brockway. and the stl, by Lieut.
Col. G. s. Wormer,, Majs. Edgerly, Coats
and Mix. On, on, through the woods,
down into and across ravines we dashed,
| part of the time dismounted, as we APP
| preached and engaged the enemy at differ
ent points, After this exciting and rough
| chase we succeeded in bringing them to bay
Just before that we crossed our last ra-
vine dismounted. Climbing the steep bank
opposite my company 20, my men became
badly "blowed," and while hating to get
our wind, who should / see coming up on
my left but Col. Sanders our brigade COM
mander, who, observing us, shouted: Come
on. Michigan men," His saber flashed in
the rays of the morning sun.
Next was heard the voice Of our Major,
.Rally on the center!" As Co. g, owing
to the rough ground over which it had
to march, being little behind the main
| column. came into action on the right
| of CO. A, Just as the enemy had opened fire
upon us.
This engagement lasted about 30 minutes,
| when, on the enemy's ceasing to fire, our
horses were ordered up for further pursuit.
mounted, Co. G having advanced to the
| right front. / heard q voice from out the
deep Forest in front of us: "A flag Of truce!
| We surrender"
This being repeated, shouted the words
back to our Major. He Immediately sent
ont an escort, which brought in Capt. Thos.
H. Hines, of the 1st KY. Confederate Cav
Terms of surrender were soon agreed upon,
and while a guard was sent out to escort the
prisoners in Capt. Hines looking over our
small force, exlaimed: Is this all the men
you had firing upon us?"
Yes, sir" replied our Major.
"What kind of guns do you use?" said
l Hines
"The Spencer repeating rifle" replied
the Major. u
"That accounts for it," said Hines. II
thought q whole division was firing on US"
AS the prisoners were escorted in, the line
passing by my company, which was 'front.'
ing with arms at order, an officer among
them handed me his revolver, saying.
captain, give this to yOu," and passed
on. This revolver I have yet in my pos
session.
In closing this article I desire to refer to
Gen. Basil w. Dukes account of the raid, as
published in Vol Al, pages All and Az, OF
the Century Magazine. In reference to the
engagement and surrender on the 10th he
says:
1.-THE Chester road enters the Valley OF
the Ohio at point about equidistant from
either end. AS the 9th KY. fell back, that
it might be aligned on the 9th KY. tCon-
federate) Cav. across the southern end OF the
Valley, into which Judahs whole force was
now pouring. it was charged by the 9th and
9th Mich. and detachment of the 9th Ind.
A part Of the 9Th KY. was cut off by this
charge, the guns we had taken were re.
captured, and our PARROTS also fell into the
hands of the enemy"
Further on, in closing, he says:
Perceiving that the only avenue of escape
was through narrow gorge, general rush
was made for it. The Michigan regiments
dashed into the mass of fngitives; 700 were
captured 300 swanTgth River. Lieut.
VIM. H. CLARK, communicating Co. G, Stf
Mich. Cav.
*Gen. VIM. P. Sanders was killed before
Knoxville, East Tenn, on Nov. 10, 1868
while in command of . division, to which thu
writer belonged, in resisting the advance o
Gen. Longstreets forces; being MORALLY
wounded while riding along the line en-
couraging his command. He died tina
, night, and Gen. Burnside wept at the loss o
. . so brave and efficient an officer.
-l---I---