The National tribune., 1901-07-25
MORGAN'S INVASION.
"reminiscences of an Exciting Day in Salem
Ohio.


Ohio.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Since my
"Bugle Notes From Dixie" have been
running through the columns OF The Ma
tional Tribune l have received many let
ters from my friends the enemy" 1
jealousy treasure these communications,
especially admiring and appreciating the
spirit in which they are written.
From Capt. J. B. Kirk, of the 10lst Pa,
now living at Lima, Ohio, have received
two letters. Thinking the last one will
be read with interest by his comrades, L
herewith append the greater part Of it:
"As you were with Morgan and may
have been with him the day of his cap
ture, in the county in which l was raised,
Columbiana Co., o., / think l must tell
you a true story in connection Herewith.
had managed to get leave of absence
for 30 days, and therefore l shook the
rosin and tar from my feet, so to speak,
and, leaving Gen. Foster in charge Of
the Department of North Carolina, l
journeyed to western Pennsylvania to see
my parents. After q few days visit
there | crossed over to Ohio to see my
friends in my native State. My grand
father lived three miles west OF Salem, the
principal town in the county.
'On the Sunday on which Morgan was
captured hitched up my horse and start
ed for the town, which, by the way, was
in the midst of an extensive Quaker set
tlement. On my way to Salem ] met a
regular drove Of Quakers in carriages
coming out of the town, and as it was
only II a. m, | could not understand the
Quaker movement at all. However, L
was soon enlightened. The old Quaker
in the first carriage stopped me and chal-
lenged me as follows: Does thee know
where Morgan is?' l knew that Morgan
was in Ohio, but at the moment had for
gotten that momentous fact. The old
Quaker, seeing me in full uniform and
observing my shoulderstraps. naturally
thought l was hunting for Morgan. In
that he was mistaken, for if there was
any man for whom | was not hunting
it was that same Morgan. So. in my
childish innocence and ignorance, | said:
Morgan whoT Why, Gen. Morgan, the
rebel. Don't thee know he is coming to
SalemY | said: Thee don't say SOL I'll
have to be driving on or l will miss the
fun Said the Quaker: Thee is max
ing light of a very serious matter. All
the churches are dismissed and we are
all going home to save our horses. Well,
get upi j can't stay here. | must see
Gen. Morgan. Good-by.' l continued to
meet solemn and frightened Quakers, the
colloluies being similar to that above mar
rated.
Salem is on a hill, and as l passed
up Main street the crowd got thicker and
thicker, until when | arrived near the
City Hall it became so dense that | could
not pass at all. My horse scared, but
could not run away. One of the citizens
volunteered the information that l was
Just in time to help lick Morgan Said
|: Where is Morgany oh, we don't
know where he is, but he is coming. The
churches are all closed and the hardware
stores have given out all their lead, and
the girls are at home molding bullets and
baking to supply the country people who
are coming to town to lick Morgan"
and we want you to drill lis down on the
Commons | said: why, Taylor, you
folks have not as much sense as a last
years birds nest. Those bullets will all
have to be assorted over to fit the guns
of various caliber, and if Morgan is COM
ing sure enough he will be here today or
tomorrow. Drilling in that limited time
will be Of no avail. Besides, it is ~
miles to the Ohio River, and the shrewd
Morgan is never going to let 81 miles
get between him and that river while
Shackelford is after him, and if he does
come what can you do with him? His
men are veterans, used to wars alarms.
They probably have breech-loading car
bines and a couple of revolvers and
saber apiece. Where would you be? The
only thing you can do is to get into the
upper rooms of the stores and houses and
fire upon the raiders from the windows
1T took me about two hours to get to
q barn where could unhitch and put