The National tribune., 1900-06-14

pace" anxious 10 get as far away from
Cynthiana as possible. We were bound
for odd Virginia" once more, and were by
no means assured of Il safe journey thither
There was the possibility OF being inter
cepted and forced TO fight or run. How
ever, We worried not. We crossed nc
bridge before we came to it, and then we
burned it. We knew we could outrun any
Federal cavalry that might be pursuing us.
From Clay Village We had taken a north
eastern course, passing from Harrison
County into Robertson County, thence 10
Sardis, small town south of Maysville.
From Sardis we moved at an ordinary
pace, not stopping, however, until we
reached the vicinity Of Morehead, in Rowan
County. Here, at night, in large grass
Held, without unsaddiing, we turned our
horses loose TO Craze, and lay down to rest
and sleep, Of which We were very much in
need.
John Callawy, Of Gathright's company,
and myself were lying together when a
troopers horse, laden with cavalry boots
and other things, IN fact Il miniature store,
wandered near us. The night was dark, and
we instantly determined to relieve that
morse OF at least two pairs of boots. We
reasoned that the trooper, 4 stranger TO us,
had no right 10 so many store goods" and
acting quickly we each appropriated an
elegant PAIR Of cavalry boots, luckily Sc
| curing tolerably good fit We could not
conscicntously pillage store, but We had
| no hcSltancy IN rObbing a gay Confederate
cavalier when he had a surplus.
We marched leisurely and uninterrupted
to the Louisa Fork Of the Big Sandy River,
and up the same, thence into Virginia.
where we learned for the first time Of the
escape OF Col. Giltner, with about 200 men
oil various commands, about 40 of whom
| belonged to the 4th XIV.
| bNlneTS S column marched over n more
| tortuouS route and encountered more diff
| cultleS ana dangers than those thatfollowed
Morgan; they had escaped the terrors Of
the Licking River, but bad TO fight a cav
airy force that had crossed the bridge and
| attempted 10 intercept them on the other
shore. The desperate Confederates fought
| them with saber and pistol, driving them
| ont Of the way. Giltncr's party then made
detour from LeesbTg, his ranks being
| constantly augmented by other small
! squads running for life. Further on this
| unOrgan!Z"d band WAS increased bv the
addition oi Lieut-CO!. AllstOn, Capt. Pete
Everett and Capt. Castleman with about
2JO mon. They were mostly uuarmed
having lost their guns in the river, or thrown
them away, as they had no ammunition
| Glltner directed Castleman and Everett TO
| organize body of armed men for a rear
guard. Col. lessee, who with gallant
little band had 50 braveIy covered the rear
at the river, was transferred to the front to
command the adYancc-guard Coils.
Tnmble, johnson and Alston, and Capts.
Guerrant Scott, Barrett, Candall. Castle
man, Everett and other officers were with
Giltner. When he had gone some distance
from Cynthiana, Col. GiItner detached
jesse and ordered him to proceed TO Owen
and Henry Counties to seTvc as a nucIeus
for the rallying Of the scattered clans. Col,
johnson was sent to the vicinity of Mount
Sterling for the same purpose.
Glltners column marched rapidly
through fields and by unfrequented roads
sometimes on the highways, cutting tele.
graph wires and lodging Federal troops
They narrowly escaped from the Fedcr4Is
at NichOlasville and Richmond. Can't
Pete Everett and others had left the column
al Georgetown, and men had continued TO
| fall out all along the route, until Giltner's
! force was reduced onc-half. OF those who
| were left not more than 90 or 40 were armed /
| Lieut.. 'Corbn, of Jessee'S command. oaI
| lantly commanded the advance-guard after
his clIeis departure, and Capt Tom Bar
| rett much of the time was in command of
me rcar-Suard, dangerous and responsible
position.
With about POO men, Col Giltner sue
ceeded IN getting out of Kentucky by wav
1 of Pennimgton's Gap in the Cumberland
Mountains. Thus ii will be seen that Nor
| gan's Cavalry was cut in twain at Cynthi-
ana, the lines of retreat forming two sides
- - " ~ iIAitili WAS ltle
apex and the Cumberland Mountains the
| base.
In this memorable campaign Gen. Nor
gan had surprised two Federal forces and
captured them. He had fought Gem
Hobson and captured him and 900 men.
In turn Gen. Morgan himself had met with
| two serious dlsasters-on the second morn
ing at Mt. Sterling, and on the second
morning at Cynthiana. He had paroled
between l 200 and 1 800 prisoners, and had
! lost III killed, wounded, captured, and
missing about 1000 men.