The National tribune., 1901-03-28

Gen. Morgan'S rcOrgtniZed division was
composed of three brigades. The First
Brigade, commanded by Col. Henry L.
Giltner, included the 18th Ky. Cav, Lieut.
Col. Tandy Pryor in command; the 10th
Ky. Cav. Battalion, commanded by Lieut.
Col. Trimble; the 1St Ky. Mounted Rifles
Battalion, known as Clay's Battalion. then
commanded by Maj. John b. Holiday
the I'd Ky. Mounted Rifles Battalion, COM
manded by Lieut.-Col. Thomas Johnson;
the 10th Ky. Mounted Rifles Battalion,
Mai. Tom Chenoweth in command; the 9TH
Confederate Cav. Battalion, commanded
by Lieut.-Col. Geo. NJ. Jessee-in the ag-
gregate about 915 men.
The Second Brigade, commanded by
Col. d. Howard Smith, was composed of
three battalions of cavalry, commanded
by Coils BowleS, Cassell and kirkpatrick,
In all about 800 men.
The Third Brigade, dismountCd men,
who expected to capture horses in Ken
tucky, Col. Robert Martin in command
consisted of two battalions commanded
by Lieut.-Col. Robert Aston and Maj.
Diamond, numbering about 900.
The regularly organized and famous ad-
vance guard was III command of Capt.
Lawrence Jones, and Capt Tom Quirk
Thus, on a rosy morn in early Summer,
with about 2,400 men, Gen. Morgan
started from Virginia for the Old Ken
tucky home, beyond the mountains, where
the meadow grass was blue"
That the reader may better understand
the subsequent events, l must state that
Gen. Burbridge, with probably 1000 cav
alrymen and mounted rifemen, had left
Mt. Sterling on raid to the Virginia
Saltworks at or about the same time Nor
gan had started from Virginia. The Fed
eral and Confederate forces marched
through the Kentucky mountains on roads
somewhat parallel, but widely apart,
hence they neither met nor saluted as they
passed by.
Uninterruptedly we marched to Mt.
Sterling When within probably 10 miles
of the town, we left the main road, at
midnight, and, turning to the right fol-
lowed by-path through woodland dark
as Erebus. We knew there was a Federal
garrison at Mt Sterling, but were ig-
norant as to its strength or exact location.
Having arrived in the vicinity of the town
before daylight, which was "a little too
previous" we halted and awaited the
dawn, realizing that it would be awkward,
IL not dangerous, to attempt to charge
the enemy when we could not see where
they were at" Halted in column, on that
balmy June morning, the men talking sotto
voce, the suspense was both impressive
and oppressive. There was no stir, no
noise, excepting the occasional stamping
or whinnying of some restless chargers,
the twittering of birds that had just awak-
ened in their leafy bowers, and the crow
Ing Of chanticleer, heralding the coming
dawn.
Not waiting for Col. Martins "foot
cavalry" which was far in the rear, Gen.
Morgan, at daylight, quietly led the col
umn forward, across the farm OF Mack
Everett. When we reached the gate i'm
mcdiately TO the right of Everetts resi-
L. IL. III l,rF.n
headed and clothed simply in an immacu-
lately white shirt, black broadcloth trous-
ers and slippers. Recognizing us, he ad-
vanced through the yard and, looking the
picture OF surprise, interrOgatively ex-
claimed: ''Where in the world did you
boys come fromr' Without explaining,
Gen. Morgan sharply asked the question:
Everett, where are the Yanks? With
q motion of the head and a wave of his
hand Everett made the ejaculatOry reply:
"0h, they are right over there!' which
meant that the "Yanks' were in close
proximity, just beyond a low ridge that
obstructed our view.
THE FIRST FIGHT AT Mt. STERLING.
Gen. Morgan promptly ordered Col
Tom johnson to hasten into Mt. Sterling
and take possession of all roads leading
from the town, in order to intercept any
retreating foe. There were two Federal
camps, one in our right front, the other
between us and the town.
Our advance battalions, led by Gen.
Morgan, charged the smaller detachment,
on the right, which, after feeble and
spasmodic resistance, surrendered, the
captives numbering somewhere between
G5 and 30 men. The camp between us and
the town was more stubbOrnly defended
by about 200 gallant fellows, who had re-
ceived sufficient warning TO enable them to
better prepare for our reception. Three
Of Giltner's battaions and one of y. How
ard Smiths small battaliOns soon drove
those "sullen Yanks" into the town, where
they took refuge in the houses. A spirited
and accurate fire from their fortress an
noyed us exceedingly. However, by 6
q. m. all was over-the enemy perceiying
that further resistance would be useless,
Internationally surrendered.
The cost to the Federals, as well as
remember, was about 10 killed, the usual
proportion wounded, and probably 2T0
prisoners. We also captured the camp
equipage of BUrbridge's absent troopers
tents, quartermaster and cOmmissary
stores, wagons, and lot Of disabled cav
airy horses. Although we had every ad-
vantage, fighting surprised enemy with
superior numbers, we did not ourselves es-
cape unscathed. Capt. SwangO, of the
10th KY. Mounted Rifles, was killed by a
shot from DIR. brakes house, and Capt.
Moore, OF the same battalion, was killed
by q shot from q house near the bank;
Capt Jack Harris and private jeff Harris
were wounded, the latter mortally. There
were few other casualties Of minor
character.
Having captured the wagons, q number
of them We're sent back to haul up the
weary and footsore men of Martins dis
mounted brigade.
Coming through the mountains our ra
tions had been scant, consisting mainly OF
"honey and the honeycomb." The noun
tain air and the battle before breakfast
had by no means impaired our appetites
Sans ceremonie, we proceeded to appeast
our stomachs, which were aching vOids
In the captured camps we found more
than enough for all, for Federals and Con
federates-30 sacks of coffee, sugar, -four
meats, crackers, etc, ad libitum. To th'
Confederates the breakfast was a veritabl
feast.
When Burbridge's raiders started L
Virginia they left in their standing tent
such goods and cbattels as could not con
yeniently be carried by light cavalry
across the mountains In an officers ten
found a trunk, and, without n though
of conscientious scruples. | forthwith pro
ceeded to investigate. The absent owne
had neglected to leave the key for my con
venience. / smashed the upper story o
the trunk by jumping upon it with bot
feet. That was heroic means, apparent
the quickest way to effect an entrance
and, of course, / was bound to "get there.
The open trunk revealed a plenftude 0
III / IL Al Il