The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-14
they dashed on, regardless Of all obstruc-
tons in their path, and soon approached the

they dashed on, regardless Of all obstruc-
tons in their path, and soon approached the
road.
"As they passed the foot of hill within
. short distance of the road, Lieut.. Boynton
discovered two men ON the brow Of the hill
waving . white flag. Fearing that it was .
ruse of Morgan's to halt the column at that
point to gain time, he ordered Lieut.. Abbey,
| 9Th Mich, with six men, to ascend the hill
| and ascertain their purpose, while the COM
mand dashed on to gain the road.
Another flag of truce was soon discovered,
the bearers of which were shouting, Don't
shoot! Don't shoot! We surrender"
Notwithstanding the flag of truce was re-
| ceived by Maj. Rue, he ordered the COM
mand to form in line battle on each side
Of the road, ready to fight if the rebel Gen.
era! attempted treachery; and Lieut.. Boyn-
tons detachment was the first in line, ready
for work if it was required. But John
Morgan had given up the contest without
the firing Of gun at that point. He saw
that it was folly for him to attempt fur
Their resistance, as Maj. Rue had cut him off
from his only line OF retreat, and that there
was no chance Of escape
Lieut.. Abbey soon joined the command
who proved to be rebel Major on Morgan's
staff, and Captain of the Ohio State Militia
who had been captured the same day by
Morgan's men, and to whom Morgan claimed
to have surrendered his command few
minutes before Maj. Rue came up.
The bearers Of the second flag of truce
were Major and two other officers of Nor
gan's staff with the rank of Captain. The
Major gave up his sword to Maj. Rue, who
had taken his position in the road on the
right of the 9Th Mich. detachment, accom-
panied by Lieut.. Boynton and two or three
officers Of other detachments. The guidon
of Co. L, 9Th Mich, foated triumphantly
over the heads of the rebel officers, and be-
meath it the terms of surrender were made
John j. Ebbit, Of Co. L, had the honor of
being color-bearer on that important occa-
sion. Being . fnll-blooded son of the
Emerald Isle, he felt the importance of his
position, and took particular pains to -four
ish the flag in the faces of those who had
basely deserted it and become traitors to
their country.
1t was claimed by the rebel officers that
Morgan had surrendered to the militia Cap
tain on the condition that his command
should be paroled, the officers retaining their
side-arms and private property. Maj. Rue
would not recognize an agreement made by
a militia Captain without command and
prisoner in the hands of the enemy at the
time. He instructed the staff officer to say
to Gen. Morgan that his surrender must be
unconditional, with the exception that Off
GERS should be allowed to retain their eide
arms. but even this condition should be sub
ject to the approval of Gen. Shackelferd.
He directed him also to say to Gen. Morgan
that if these terms were not accepted In q
few minutes he would open fire on him, and
for this purpose had his command in readi-
ness.
"The rebel command was dismounted in
the road, and within 10 rods of the line of
Union troops. 1t would have been impossi-
BILE for them to escape even if they had been
so disposed, and Morgan quickly accepted
the terms offered by Mai. Rue. The Major
ordered them to remain in their position,
without being disarmed, until Gen. Sheckel-
ford came up. In short time Gen. Shackel-
ford and staff ION which was Lieut.. John E.
Rabbit, 9th Mich, arrived, and after brief
consultation the terms made by Maj. Rue
were approved. The rebel command was
soon formed in line in the road, mounted,
and then disarmed, when it was placed un-
der guard and marched to Salineville, where
CDelr horses were TAKEN IEOU Lne1u. Ne4C
morning the officers and men were sent un-
der guard by rail to Cincinnati and thence
to Camp Chase Ohio"
Only one correction of importance need be
made to the above account, and that is, Maj.
Rue did not consent to Morgan's surrender
with the honors of war, the officers of Nor
gan's command to retain their side-arms.
Gen. 6hackelferd, however, permitted it.
When Morgan and the captured Confederates
were taken through Cincinnati to Camp
Chase, Ohio. Gen. Burnside, who was in COM
mand Of the Army of the Ohio, revoked the
order. The rebel officers side-arms were
taken from them. Morgan was sent to the
Ohio penitentiary, and treated the same as a
convict; his hair was cropped close to his
scalp and prisoners striped suit put on
him. He afterward escaped from prison,
got through the lines, was given another
rebel command, and again took the field. At
Greenville, East Tenn, the 10th Mich. Cav.
attacked his forces one night, surrounding
his Headquarters, and, in Morgan's attempt
to escape, he was sho and instantly killed.
IN. s. BoYNToN, Major, 9Th Mich. Cav,
Port Huron, Mich.