The National tribune., 1899-07-20
THE I'D KY.'S SERVICE.
Some Dealings With John Morgan That Were Interesting
II Vexatious.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: During
certain period in 1862, after reaching the
Gap, the Gibraltar of Kentucky, we spent
our time in drilling and picket duty
BraggS army followed us from TazeWell
went up Powell's Valley, and came through
into Kentucky by way of another gap that
the Government had neglected to guard
Pretty soon our ratiOnS became scarce
Our Gen. Morgan saw he would have to
evacuate the Gap and strike through to the
North to get supplies, as the rebel forces
were between us and Lexington, our depot
Of supplies.
One evening in the month of August
1862, our Colonel and some officers informed
us that we must get ready to march through
Kentucky and gain some point on the Ohio
River, where communications with our
supplies could be reached. Accordingly,
about l o'clock, we left our Sibley tents on
the hillside and our sick folks to the enemy IS
mercy, and, amid flying dust and tramping
of many men, bid adieu to our Notifications
and took up line of march.
We left behind us the finest water coun-
try in the world-cool springs on both
sides OF the mountain, and one spring was
large enough to run fan overshoot mill
| whose capacity ran saWmill, cornmill,
| wheat-mill and perhaps could have blown
a furnace if there had been one handy.
Our march was one of toll and privatiOns.
RationS were scarce, as it required fine
lou Ol pTOFlSlOiIS 10 IteO lZ,OoO Hitl, ana III
an enemy's country. The dry season was
on us, and water was scarce, and what we
did get was warm and unwholeSOme.
recollect one night, being on water hunt
with some comrades, we descended an
| almost perpendicular cliff. We found the
water and came off all right except Stephen
Wooton, who fell and broke his leg. Our
feet became very sore about the time We
reached Grayson, Ky.
John Morgan, with a troop of Confeder-
ate cavalry, haraSsed our rear and front,
and one day captured two privateS of Co. ID,
Devlin and James, That was just before
we reached West Liberty. They were
paroled the nextmorning, after bivouacking
| in a log the previous night.
The next day the Johnnies had fight
with our rear guard. 1t was jokingly said,
John Morgan was George Morgan's rear
guard coming through, for he was in the
advance of George Morgan or in his rear
the rear guard, consisting of Co. c
| and Co. ID, 22d KY. Morgan made a
dash for our beef cattle, and shot fellow,
| who made a most miserable lamentation.
Maj. Cook concluded that he would go back
| to the wounded mans assistance, so we
faced about and started down the road.
Presently John Morgan';s :nen put in their
| appearance, riding up the road several
abreast. Capt. Scott threw us across the
road, disputing Morgans advance, but
Morgan came leisurely along.
Capt. Scott gave orders to fire. Seeing
that Morgan aimed to stampede us, he then
sounded retreat. We went as fast as our
| legs could carry us, for we were tired of the
JohnnieS' presence, they being too close
for comfort. The firing soon brought the
brigade to our assistance. Morgan al
once fell back, after firing volley at oul
retreating forms.
We all came off very well excepting
Sergt Danner, whose gun burst The
day following John Morgan was in the ad
vance. Fosters battery sheled him heav.
lily. and caused him to move off on a forced
march towards Grayson. We reached
Grayson without tmuchditficulty, and found
a great many Of our friends and quite lot