The National tribune., 1902-03-06

Having escaped from prison, Morgan
had reorganized his command and achieved
additional fame. He had defeated Gen
Ayerili, near Wytheville, Va, and made
another extensive raid in Kentucky. When
he once more returned to old Virginia; his
banners somewhat tattered and torn, ne
again sounded his bugle horn and marched
to GFeenville, Tenn, where he was killed.
In the meantime Duke had been Ian
gushing in prison. returning to Dixie just
a few DAYS prior to the enactment of the
tragedy in which his chief had lost his
life too late to become an actor on that
stage of action.
The death of Morgan had caused lamen-
tation and no little CONSERVATION In the
ranks of the Regulars" Feeling that
the glory and chivalry had gone from the
cavalry, they hung their harps upon the
willows, and.
"Last DER the warriors closing grave,
Rung the full choir in choral stave."
However, in the drama of war there is
rapid, ever-changing of scene-transi-
tion from joy to sorrow, from sorrow TO
JOY. Welcoming the temperance of
Duke, the ''old Regulars" forgot, in a
measure, their sorrow and wiped away
their tears. Being mainly young men,
hope springing eternal in their breasts,
they resumed their merry ways,
"And to the tinkling of the light guitar,
Sweet stopped the western sun, sweet
rose the evening star"
The meeting of Duke and his comrades
was pathetic scene. All thought of the
dead Morgan. No singer of song, no
writer of romance. can sing or tell the
story. The young General, surrounded by
his officers and men, made picture sug-
geStive of Napoleon and his Marshals and
the "Old Guard after the return from
Elba.
Officers and men were returning from
various prisons:
@Veterans of early fields were there,
Whose helmets pressed their hoary hair,
And boys whose hands scarce brOOked
to wield
The. heavy sword or bossy shield.
The might of Weber there was seen,
There Tucker with his graceful mien;
Cunningham always gallant knight,
And 'Cantrill,' fiery, fierce and bright" !"
Cols.~ Ward, Dick Morgan and Steele,
Capts. Lea and Messick, Lieuts. Welsh,
Hunt, Hawkins, Hopkins, Skillman,
Roody, Piper, Moore, Lucas, Skinner,
Crump and others were some of the dra-
mats personae rallying around the stand
ard of Duke. Representatives of all the
old regiments were present. At that time
Dukes Brigade was encamped near Jones
borO Tenn, not far from Greenville.
Vaughn's, Cosby's and Giltner's were in
the same vicinity, Gil commanded by
Brig Gen. John G. Vaughn. Duke drilled
and inspected his little brigade every
day, the Regulars becoming, possibly,
more efficient than ever. Alert and with
flashing eye, Duke appeared on capari-
soned charger, his dark plume the ORR
famine.
''His line to marshal and TO range,
And ranks to square, and fronts to
change"
The active young General and his men
impatiently awaited an opportunity to
measure lances with the enemy that had
boosted OF recent triumphs at their ex
pense and TO their sorrow.
TRAVELLING BACK TO GREENvILLE.
The same enemy that had killed Nor
gan still held Bulls Gap, that Noun
tain fastness" which the dead chieftain
had intended to attack, his career being
closed, however, at Greenville.
L shall let Gen. Duke tell the story of
his first movement:
''In the latter part of September, Gen.
Vaughn moved from JonesbOro in the di
rection OF Greenvile. One object of the
movement was to attempt, if cooperation
with Gen. John S. Williams, who was
known to be approaching from toward
Knoxville. could be secured. the capture
of the Federal forces at Bulls Gap. Gen.
Williams, known as 'Cerro Gordo,' had
been cut off, in Middle Tennessee, from
Gen. Wheeler. who had raided into that
country. Wiliams's Division consisted of
three brigades. One OF them, commanded
by Col William Breckenridge, was the
Kentucky cavalry which had won enviable
IL
the operations around Atlanta. In this
brigade We're Col. Breckinridge's own reg
iment, the 9Th Ky, and -Dortch's battal-
ion, both having belonged to Morgan's
command. Another Of Williams's bri-
gades was very fine one of Tennessee
troops, under Gen. DebTell, an excellent
officer The third, commanded by Gen.
was composed Of Confederate battalions
troops of no particular State Organiza-
ton.
"Gen. Vaughn sent courier TO Gen.
Williams, offering to cooperate with him
and suggesting that Williams should at
tack the Federal rear while he, Vaughn,
would attack in front.
Passing through Greenville at early
dawn upon the second day after leaving
JOnesboro, the column marched rapidly to-
ward Bulls Gap, Dukes Brigade in ad-
vance. At that time it consisted of two
battalions, the first commanded by Col
Ward, and the second by Col. Richard
Morgan--in all about 322 effective men.
FIGHT AT LICK CREEK
about four miles from Greenville Capt.
Messick, whose company "a, OF the Sec
Ond BattaliOnl was acting as advance
guard, encountered a scouting party of
the enemy, 30 or 90 strong. Messick i'm
mediately attacked, routed the party and
chased il several miles, taking eight or 10
prisoners. Pressing on again, after the
column had Overtaken him, he discovered
the enemy in stronger force than before
advantageously upon the farther side Of
little stream about two miles from Lick
Greek. Hating his little command Mes
sick, accompanied by Lieut.. Hopkins. gal
lOped across the bridge and toward the
enemy TO reconnoiter. Approaching de-
spite the shots fired at them, to within
40 or 80 yards of the enemy, they were
then salnted by yOley from nearly 200
rifles. Thinking it impossible, or impo-
lite to procure further information, they
galloped back. Upon the approach of the
column this part of the enemy fell back
10 Lick Greek, where it was met or rein
forced by some 200 or 300 more Lick
Creek is about three miles from Bulls
Gap"
AT THE BRIDGE.
Where il crossed the road, Lick Greek
was deep stream, spanned by a short,
narrow bridge no fords being near Evil
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