Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-02-23
Col. VIM. A. Morgan.

following sketch of the late Col. VIM. A
Morgan, who died at his home near
Shepherdstown last week:
Among those who, by impulse as
well as by special invitation, went to
Winchester to pay his earnest tribute
of love and honor to the memory of
our beloved Ashby, was that gallant
and distinguished officer. Col Will
liam A. Morgan, of Jefferson county.
Upon several occasions. after the
death of General Ashby, he had been
assigned temporarily to the command
of the brigade; and how worthily he
discharged the responsible aud honor
able trust reposed in him, can be
Judged by the fact, that, when his ar
rival in their midst was known, the
officers of the brigade, then in council,
resolved, as a mark of their respect,
to receive him all standing.
All presenton that occasion will
remember his chivalric and soldierly
bearing, AS he entered the room TO re-
ceive the greeting of his former COM
rades-in-arms. He looked every inch
of soldier, and although his sword
had been laid aside in obedience to
circumstances, it was evident his arm
or had been buruished and ready for
use at the call of duty and honor,
His gallant service with the Laurel
(Ashby) Brigade, to say nothing of
his conspicuous heroism throughout
the whole of his military career, will.
| trust, Justify the extended notice Of
this officer, not only as n tribute to
his modesty and worth, but as debt
to history, and a qualification to his
many friends, of whom he is so Justly
the pride.
Col. Morgan was the oldest Of three
brothers, all of whom leaped INTO the
saddle at the first call of their State,
to protect her safety and honor. They
we're among the very first to reach
Harper's Ferry (only ten miles dis
tant to their home) where the bloody
fray began, and they all continued
faithful unto the end, never wavering
for an instant.
The one next younger than the
Colonel, Daniel, was buried the day
of the surrender at Appomatto1 (hav-
ing died two days before, of wounds
received on the retreat of the Confed-
crate forces from Petersburg ; and
thus by a remarkable coincidence, the
sun of his hope, and that of the Con-
federacy, for which he suffered mar
tyrdom, rose and set at the same time.
The two began the struggle togeth-
er; they remained faithful friends
throughout the terrific strife ) and
they both at last found their graves
on the same day and about the same
moment.
Col. Morgan began his career as
captain of the Shephert.town troop.
which was incorporated with the 1st
Regiment Virginia Cavalry, then com
manded by Lieut-Colonel (,frerwArIs
GeneraD ] E B: Stuart. This repi-
meut became famous, not only for its
proves in battle, but also for having
been commanded by Stuart, William
E Jones, Flrz Lee. Drake and Morgan.
The last named was it, last Colonel;
and, while for his personal and mill
tary qualities he was beloved by the
whole regiment, he always sustained
its high reputation in the field.
Col. Morgan participated in over
three hundred battles and skirmishes,
and had fourteen horses killed and
mortalIy wounded under him; the
last one having fallen under him at
Appomattox, few minutes before the
order was given to cease firing. Be-
ing in command of Psine's Brigade at
the time (that officer having been
wounded a few days before), be suc-
ceeded in cutting his way through the
serried column OF the enemy, and es-
capped safely with his command to
Lynchburg, where he afterwards dis
banded it by order Of General Lee.
Starting for home with his horse,
sabre And pistols Everything else, in
Guiding his diary and private papers,
having been destroyed on the disAs-
trous retrea), his sabre was stolen
from him in crossing New Canton
Ferry. When within few miles of
his home, a party of Federal soldiers
forced him to give them his pistols.
and that night his horse was stolen
by some inscriptions thief. The last
was comparatively an Insignificant
loss, being new acquaintance made
on the battlefield at APpomattOx after
his own had been stricken down; but
the sabre and pistols had been his tried