Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-04-07
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
Two Conf ederate Generals, For
rest and Morgan.
BY "KNAPsACK.

cavalry generals, ana notn "eio
"raiders"-in fact both had many
things in common. Both practiced
that unique innova tiou in warfare
originated by Forrest himself
which was to rush with the cavalry
upon some weaker body OF the
enemy, hastily dismount and fight
as infantry, whip the enemy, parole
the prisoners, and then mount and
rte away to other victories before
recruits could arrive to reinforce
the surprised Federals. AS raiders
they respect the enemy continually
and terribly, go that both names
became proverbial and a terror,
not only to large bodies Of cavalry
and infantry, but also to the
ahomeguards" and bushwhackers." "
However, there was great dlsslml-
I I WIS W u" = ITesu.or uoUorniIuoGIuH auu
sternness, with some consequential
roughness. His great passion was
to whip the enemy. end what was
not relevant to that-what did not
make directly for that-he held in
light esteem. He accepted courage
in his soldiery as d matter of course
scorLed the FAINT of heart, and
sumn,arily had all deserters shot
sometimes, it was said, without
judgc OF jury'-in other words,
with t court-martial.
As to his personal appearance,
he vas something over six feet
tall, but of medium weight; rather
sinewy, with a desperate looking
mien, and withal careless as to his
attire-that is, what refined society
would call uncouth. Nevertheless,
he was as brave as a lion. One day
some ladies of Mississippi who had
been sewing garments for the boys
in gray, feeling deep admiration
for this brave man, presented him
with a pair of silver spurs made
of their own thimbles. A little
patriotic speech was made along
with the gift. For a moment the
stern General was overcome. His
hands trembled, and a tear rolled
down his cheek as he said, with
fervor; "I'll wear 'em, and if the
enemy gets 'em it will be when my
heels are cold on the ground"
~
Gen. Morgan, known the nation |
over as Morgan the Raider" was,
until the beginning of the war, a
gentleman of the blue grass region
of Kentucky. He was the owner
of fine race horses-thoroughbred.
His residence was at Lexington,
to this day the great center of
culture, education and aristocracy
in that State.
AS commander he was kind
and good to those who served under
him, as constituting his ramous
Moreover he led them in such
true soldierly style, that the mem
hers of his command still
still living are ever ready to extol
his prowess his kind benevolence.
He was man of fine physique ]
of more than the average height,
and stately. His soldiers admired
him much for his grace in the sad
die. He had deep blue eyes, that
bespoke great sympathy for his
fellow-patriots. There was this
thing about John H.
Morgan: he was soldier with
grace and chivalry as well as yalor.
Gen. Morgan had many thrilling
Among these was
his raid in Ohio "a venture which ..
be beforehand had deprecated
and capture. imprisonment at Z
Columbus, and his remarkable :
escape by the assistance of his =
Capt. Thos Hines, :,
whom Morgan nicknamsd Count :
If Monte Cristo," because of his Z
in the exploit. Hines was
/ brickmason, and by bis skill
'ffecte an outlet unler the wall
hroug which he Morgan s.nd sew f
raj ler Confederates escaped. a
They Immediately took train G
md, singularly enough, Morgan "
vas seated beside a Federal Major. o
The latter remarked, as they passed n
he military prison; "There is "
where the great Morgan is "