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


Forrest and Morgan we're both
cavalry generals, and both were
"raiders'-in fact both had many
things in common. Both practiced
that unique innova tiou i'll warfare
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 ana
rte away to other victories before
recruits could arrive to reinforce
the surprised Federals. AS raiders
thew respect the enemy continually
and terribly, SO 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,
sternLess, with some consequential
roughness. His great passion was
to whip the enemy. and 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 matter of course
scorLed the FAINT of heart, and
summarily had all deserters shot
sometimes, it was said, without
iudgc OF jury"-in other words,
with court-mariial.
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 moment the
stern General was overcome, His
hands trembled, and tear rolled
doy n 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"
*x*
Gen. Morgan, known the nation
over as Morgan the Raider" was,
until the beginning of the war, a
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
oers of his command still
still living are ever ready to extol
his prowess his kind benevolence.
He was a man of fine physique
Of more than the average height,
and stately. His soldiers admired
nim much for his grace in the sad
1le. He had deep blue eyes, that
bespoke great sympathy for bis
'ellow-patriots. There was this
thing about John H.
Morgan: he was a soldier with
grace and chivalry as we'll as yalor.
Gen. Morgan had many thrilling
experiences. Among these was
lis raid in Ohio Ia venture which
,e beforehand had deprecated)
md capture. imprisonment at
Columbus, and his remarkable
'scape by the assistance of his
ellow-captive, Capt. Thos Hines,
vhom Morgan nicknamed Count
# Monte Cristo," because of his
in the exploit. Hines was
brickmason, and by his skill
ffecte an outlet unler the wall
hroue which he Morgan and sew
raj ler Confederates escaped.
'hey Immediately took a train
nd, singularly enough, Morgan
7as seated beside a Federal Major.
The latter remarked, as they passed
he military prison; "There is
7here the great Morgan is
Imprisoned" The General added: |!