The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-14


"Our arms-the Spencer rif1e-proved, as
before, terror to the rebels. They thought
us in much greater force than we were. when
each man could pour seven shots into them
SO rapidly. This is the first instance during
the war, l think. where the proportion of
killed was greater than the wounded. As
far as reports have come in it is at least three
killed to one wounded, and this fact is owing
to the terrible execution of our rifles.
We remain here short time to gather
up captured property, arms, ETC., and then
expect to be ordered back to Hickman.
capt. S. Wells, Lieut.. Tubbs and Lieut..
W. B. Smith represent nay command on Col.
Saunders's staff.
Very respectfully,
&c. S. WoRMER, Colonel COM
manding 9Th Mich. Cav"
Following is an account Of the capture of
Morgan and the remnant of his command
after the battle of Burlington Island, page
$50, Michigan in the War;:
after the defeat of the rebel Gen. Morgan
at BURLINGTON Island, in which the 9Th Mich.
Cav. took prominent part, the regiment was
ordered to Covington, KY, arriving there on
the 31st of July. 1t had not completed its
work with Morgan, but on the contrary
portion of it was most conspicuously engaged
in his final defeat and capture.
while the command in pursuit Of Nor
gan was on its way up the Ohio River on
steamers, and on reaching Cincinnati, Lieut..
N. s. Boynton afterwards Major with q
detachment of IS men, including Lieuts
John E. Rabbit, j. M. Wells and A. L. Abbey,
from Co.'S F, L, M and C, 9Th Mich. Cav,
were ordered on shore for the purpose Of
scouting in the adjacent country to discover
the whereabouts of Morgan. This detach-
ment remained in the neighborhood of Gin
cinnati, doing picket duty, and was not in the
engagement at Burlington Island.
"On the 22d of July orders were received
in the camp of this detachment from Gen.
Burnside for all the cavalry in and around
Cincinnati to be in readiness to move
promptly when ordered, end it was soon
chase after Morgan. who had slipped through
the fingers of the Union troops at Burlington
Island.
About 325 cavalrymen from various COM
mands, principally from Kentucky regi-
ments including Lieut.. Boynton's detach-
ment of the 9Th Mich, were placed in COM
mand Of Maj. Rue, 9th KY. Cav.
"On the evening of the Odd the command
started by rail to Columbus, O., where it
took the GAINESVILLE Railroad to Steubenville,
or any other point on the Ohio River where
Morgan might be reached. The command,
on arriving at Steubenville, patfoled the
river by rail between Wheeling and that
point, and on the morning of the 25th dis
embarked at Martins Ferry, where Mai.
Way, with battalion of the 9th Mich. Cav,
which composed portion of the command,
| moved in the direction of St. Evansville.
"In the afternoon Maj. ue'scommand took
the cars for Wellsville, as information had been
received that Morgan ives making his way
northward to cross above. At about p. m.
he reached Shanghai Station and disem-
barked, when he Immediately moved in the
direction of Knoxville, about six miles dis
tant. On arriving there he proceeded four
miles on the road to Hammondsville, biv-
ouacking there for the night. At daylight
next morning, the 26th, the column was in
motion. reaching Hammondsville at q. N.
Gen. Shackelford was found at this place
with a cavalry command, and to whom Maj.
Rue reported.
at was soon ascertained that the enemy
was moving in the direction of Salineville.
The column was soon in rapid motion to-
ward that point, Lieut.. Boynton, with his
detachment, taking the advance. Arriving
at Salineville, it was found that Maj. Way.
with the battalion of the 9th Mich, had
forced Morgan into an engagement, defeat
ing him and taking over 300 prisoners, kill
ing % and wounding A. Still, Morgan, with
about 400 of his raiders, had escaped, and
were pushing eastward.
ut was now evident that force would
have to be sent by some route, get in his adj
vance and cut him of, or he would eventu-
ally escape. For this purpose Maj. Rue,
with his command, was sent by circuitous
route to the right to endeavor to reach q
point on the road over which Morgan was
rapidly retreating Dashing off in gallant
style, with reliable guides, Maj. Rue pro-
ceeded on the designated route, Gen. Shack
| elford pressing rapidly on Morgan's rear.
Lieut.. Boynton, who had the advance of
Rue's command. determined to keep it, if
/, possible. although other detachments were
attempting to pass him. To prevent this he
formed his command into column of pla-
toons, and consequently filled mp the road.
For several miles Maj. Rue swept on, first at
a gallop, then at trot, and then, in order to
| give his horses breath before the ANTICIPATED
attack, walked about mile, then forward
at gallop, changing direction to the left
through fields, woods, and lanes, at times
leaping logs, fences, bitches, lodging tree
| and bush.
'An open field was soon reached, and an
| open space through the woods was dis.
covered to the right which afforded a view
of the road over which Morgan was retreat
ing, and about mile distant from Maj. Rue'e
command. Soon the head of the rebel col
umn came in sight, when, quickly discover.
ing the object of the Union troops, they
made desperate attempt to pass the poin,
which Rues command was aiming to reach,
pushing their horses under whip and spur
at full speed down the road. Now came
the exciting chase. Maj. Rue was shor!
| distance in their advance
"fForward!' was repeated the whole
length of the column. There 20 the rebels
boys! there 90 the rebels!' passed swiftly
from mouth to mouth, and CLEAN of salts
faction Lit up the countenances of the mer
as they saw the rebel column in the dis
lance. As if by magic, saben were nm
sheathed, pistols drawn, and, with q firm
grasp on their weapons and q determination
! expressed in their features to win o. die