The National tribune., 1901-03-21

men who knew him loved him, all women
admired him. Chesterieldian in manner,
genial and gracious, a perennial smile
irradiating his face, always neatly
dressed, often elegantly apparelled, slight
ly above medium hight, and symmetrical-
ly proportioned, Gen. Morgan's personal
ity was notably attractive. He was al
ways gentleman. His face was an open
book. Excepting a dark mustache droop-
Ing over the laughing mouth and a mod
est imperial and goatee." he wore no
beard. His treatment of prisoners was no.
tably considerate and generous. The many
prisoners who fell into his hands, almost
without exception, testified TO that fact.
His intercourse with his men was extreme
ly social.
His ready speech flowed fair and free,
In phrase of gentlest courtesy;
Yet seemed that tone, and gesture bland,
Less used TO sue than to command"
1t was the ambition of Kentucky horse
men to serve under Morgan, his methods
and sphere of operations being very allur-
Ing TO the Kentuckian, who was essentially
free lance in the saddle. A glittering
staff usually surrounded the magnetic
General-accomplished young man, re-
splendent in gold lace, plumes and fine
clothes. Representatives of the best fam
nies Of old Kentucky,
''They had song of war for knight,
Lay of love for lady bright"
Morgan's romantic and spectacular career
is a theme for song and story, scarcely
less interesting to the soldier in blue than
TO him who wore the gray.
Gen. John Hunt Morgan was q native
Alabamian, born at Huntsville, June l,
1875. When he was about four years
old his father, Calvin c. Morgan, re-
moved to Lexington, Ky. There were SIX
brothers, Gen. John Ii. Morgan, Col. Cal
win C. Morgan, Col. Richard G. Morgan,
Maj. Charlton II. Morgan. Lieut.. Thomas
ii. Morgan and Francis Key Morgan, the
General being the eldest, the last two
mere boys. One sister married Gen. A.
J.. Hill, and another married Gen. Basil
W. Duke. The father was a prosperous
merchant, the Morgan home being noted
for its substantial elegance and hospital
ity, culture and refinement
When about 20 ye.-s old, Gen. Morgan
served in the Mexican war as a Lieuten
ant in Col. Humphrey MarshalPs regi
ment of cavalry, and distinguished him
self for gallantTy in the battle of Buena
Vista. Returning to Lexington, the
hAthens of the West" he engaged in ner-
camille pursuits, and, like all KentuckianS
Of that favored blue grass region, he was
race-stock.
The Kentucky State Guard, organized
and commanded by Gen. Buckner, was NJ
exceptionally efficient organization, com
posed of the best young men of Danic
Boone's dark and bloody ground Th,
Lexington Rifles, commanded by Capt
john ii. Morgan, was star company o.
Gen. Buckner's famous "Old Guard" Ii
September, 1861, exercising the peculiar
military tactics that afterward distin
guished him, Capt. Morgan eluded the Wig
ilance of the Union authorities, aut
marched his drilled and well-armed com
pany from Lexington to the Confederate
lines. He was then about 80 years old.
Capt. Morgan's five brothers followec
him TO Dixie, conspicuOuSly serving in hi
command. Col. Dick Morgan, however
served for time on the staff of his broth
er-in-law, Gen. A. p. Hill.
In the Confederate army Capt. Nor
gan, displaying his peculiar talents, al
tracted attention as a dashing and sue
cessful commander of a squadron of cav
airy. April i, 1862, he was promoted {
COlonclcy, and in the following Decem
Der became a BTigadier-General.
Morgan has been called the Marion 0
the civil war" He seems 10 have been tn
originator of that peculiar feature of til
war, the cavalry raid in. the rear of th
enemy. j quote from a Union author:
ut is a reasonable estimate that MOI
gan's force, which at the highest neyG
exceeded 1000 men, and probably did DC
average over 1900, which was horse,
foraged and fed from its enemies, serve
to neutralize in the time of action at leas
10 times its numbers of less active troops
In no modern warfare has the quality q
commander and men served TO give
force anything like this power. Thcr
can be no doubt that the same audacit,
sWiftness and fertility of resources woul
have been equally successful on Europea
fields. However, there was one peculia
feature Of America, especially that part {
II where Morgan operated, that fayore