The National tribune., 1899-06-29

AN ENEMY.
How Raider Morgan Borrowed
Gen. Hobson's Name and Feast
ed in Consequence.
BY MRS. A. c. MCPHERSON, ALBANY, o

John Morgans s feet are on thy shores,
Ohio, OH, Ohio,
His hand is on thy stable doors,
Ohio, oh, Ohio."
1t was calm Sunday morning in July,
1863. The church-going element of 116
was vending the way toward the different
churches of the town, when suddenly a
messenger came riding up the principal
street, gestulating and shouting wildly,
Morgan is coming! Morgan is coming"
These words at that time were calcu-
lated to strike terror into every heart. Ru-
mors had reached us of Morgan's maraud-
ing exploits in the river Counties, but as We
lay some distance inland little fear was
entertained that he would visit us. Can
nonading had been heard the day before,
and soon after news came of an engagement
at Berlin Crossroads; but as this has passed
into history, we will only give the hereto
fOre-unwritten record of his journey through.
The messenger had ridden from the
nearest telegraph station, three miles away.
The dispatch read: Morgan is upon the
road, and moving in northerly direction.
Look sharp" This sounded omiHouS, but
as Morgan's movements were as uncertain
as the Irishman's flea, the chances were
about equal as to his visiting NJ, or passing
by. The young men and boys, upon hear
ing this news, gathered up anything in the
shape of firearms that came TO hand, and
been in the war, but was on the GONZALES
cent list just then, proceeded to drill, while
the church-goerS sadly retraced their steps.
After short time spent in drilling
and a veritable awkward squad they were
they were set to work on the roads leading
into the town from the south and east,
placing impediments of all kinds in the
way of the cavalry; trees and saplings
were cut down and thrown in the roads;
work was kept up all night and the next
day; scouts were out in every direction.
A second sleepless night was passed, and
a heavy guard kept out, and as nothing
had been heard or seen of Morgan or his
men it was believed the danger was past,
and that he had retraced his way toward
the Ohio River, as it was known that he was
hard pressed by Hobson's cavalry. / find
the following record kept in my diary at
July %, 1s63-Morgan passed within
one mile Of our town last night. Great
excitement. Some vowed vengeance; some
rejoiced, and all felt relieved"
The question now was how he could
have possibly escaped the pickets and the
which it was confidently expected he would
have tumbed into. The mystery was
soon cleared and made plain to our inquir-
ing minds. Morgan had quietly captured
the pickets and compelled them to divulge
the situation at NJ. This they did, making
large uTdllS OIl llltiI III
forming him of a large body of militia
stationed there, and every arrangement to
give him (Morgan) reception. Whether
he believed the report or not is uncertain,
but having securely bound to trees all the
picketS but one, who was to serve as guide,
he made detour. avoiding the obstacles i'll
the way, and at 8 o'clock that evening they
arrived at the large and commodious farm
house of MIR. K, six miles north OF Nj.
Here preparations were made to camp.
The household had all retired for the night
The family consisted of Mr.. X, his wife,
and two daughters. The head of the house
was absent, having taken the best horses to
a farm off the main road for security, as it
was well known Morgan did not scruple to
replace his wornout animals with fresh
ones whenever opportunity offered.
The men belonging to the once famous
band of rangers, but now diminished down
to less than 300 in number, worn, jaded,
dust covered, ill-kempt, soon disposed
themselves over the premises; some We're
soon sound asleep in fence corners and the
lawn and in the orchards.
Gen. Morgan and his staff asked adj
mission to the farmhouse. Hearing the
noise and trampling of feet, Mrs. K, or
Aunt Eliza, as she was called by her friends
and neighbors, and the daughters had
hastily arisen and taken in the situation.
Confronted on the Threshold by the mis-
tress, who demanded the wherefore of the
intrusion, the. General bowed courteously,
and, introducing himself as Gen. Hobson,
stated his errand-a short rest, and supper
for himself and officers.
Aunt Eliza was entirely deceived by the
gentlemanly bearing and courteousness of
the superior officer, and offered the hos
pitality of the house, cheerfully presuming
that it was Gen. Hobson, of course, for
Morgan had been painted as such monster
that there could be no mistake.
Morgan's eagle eye took in the situation
at once. Requesting that the stock and
property be unmolested, which was readily
granted, the guests were soon at home in
the best room. while Aunt Eliza set about
preparing a repast alone. She was Vir.
ginian, tall and commanding in person;
fearless, and with an indOmitable will
hospitable, and with the "blue blood of
Virginia in her veins; noted cook, too,
and on this occasion she resolved that no
pains should be spared to entertain those
who were risking life and limb in the service
of their country. Luckily, the larder was
supplied with couple of brollerS; these
We're soon sizzling in fricaSSe, and Aunt
Eliza went from kitchen to pantry and
from pantry to dining room, and soon
there was repast fit for king.
White the preparations were going on
within the raiders who were not overcome
with sleep We're busily engaged in pro-
viding for their own wants. A score or
more of Aunt Elias fowls had been 81
lently removed from their perches, and
were in different stages of preparation for
their evening meal. Frequent requests
were made at the kitchen door for bread,
and soon the supply was exhausted. Aunt
EliZa'S two sons were serving their country,
and her heart went out to the common
soldier boys; so, while dispensing to the
chief guests the humber ones were not
neglected; all the milk and butter that
could be spared was freely given to be dis
tributed among the men.