The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-02-19
WAR STORIES.
a Bit Of History Concerning the Dark Days
of Civil Conflict.

vent the cgrcss Of prisoners who might
convey information to the enemy and
all the roads and avenues were picket
ed. After visiting the camps and see
ing that pickcts had been duly posted,
General Morgan and his staii at late
hour of the night, retired to rest. Be-
ing greatly fatigucd, they slept very
sonndly, and were startled from their
slumbcrs about o'clock on Sunday
morning by The elder Mrs. Williams,
who Informed them that the Yankees
had surrounded The house. The gene
raj and his staff a. once sprang from
their beds, armed themselves and
rushed out at the opposite door to
that at which the Yankees were thun-
ins.
"On the side Of the house where
they escaped there is great deal of
foliage and vineyard. These, to-
gcther with the basement Of the old
hotel at the southwestern extremity of
the grounds, enabled them TO conceal
themselves for time, but the Yam
KEGS by this time began to appear so
thick and fast around them thet con-
cealmcnt became hopeless, and they
rushed out to fight their way through,
In hope Of succor and assistance from.
the battalion SO near at hand.
|
'SThe officers with General Morgan
were Major Gassctt, Captains With
ers, Rogers and Clay, and young
gentleman by the namo of johnson,
clerk in the Office of the adjutant gen.
eral. At this time they were all, ex-
cept Withcrs and Clay, in the base
ment of the old hotel occupied by
Mrs. Fry, (wifc Of the notorious bush
whacker and murderer, now in our pos
SESSION., who was all the time calling
to the Yankees, informing them Of the
hiding place of the rebels
"Seeing escape was almost hopeless,
General Morgan directed Major Gas
sctt to examine and sec if there was
any chance Of escape from the front
of the basement into the street. Ma
jor Gassctt looked out and replied
there was chance, but it was des-
peratc one, which General Morgan did
not hear, as at that instant the Yam
KEGS charged up to the fence scparat-
ing the hotel from Mrs. Williams
grounds, when the general, with Major
Gassett, Captain Rogers and Mr..
johnson, sprang out in the direction
OF tho vineyard, where the latter were
captured and the general killed. The
latter had just fred his pistol and was
In the act OF firing again when he fell.
Captain Withers and Clay had not
been able to get out Of the house and
had concealed themselves or near it.
Major Gassett, in the meantime,
sought shelter in tho basement and
vineyard alternately, but could not
elude the vigilance Of Mrs. Fry, who
was all the time directing attention to
his whereabouts.
Being the only rebel Withers
and Clay having been discovered and
betrayed by ncgro-Major Gassctt's
ingenuity was put to work to avoid
capture. Mrs. Fry knew he was in
the basement, and the Yankees were
as thick around him as snakes in har-
vest. After passing to and fro several
times between tho basement and the
garden, all the time under fire, he
finally took shelter in the former, and
at an auspicious moment sprang iuto
the street, gave Mrs. Fry parting
blessing in his exit, mounted horse
hitched near by and made his escape.
A great many shots were fred by the
Yankees. but the only ono that took
effect was the one which killed Gener-
al Morgan, piercing his right breast
and ranging through diagonally.
Withere, Rogers, Clay and johnson
are now, wo presume' in Yankee
prison, and Major Gassett is again on
duty with his command.
'Thc general was determined never
to surrender, aud told members of mis-
staff they must not give up. He was
heard to say: They have got us,
sure, when he drew his pistol and
commenced firing. After General
Morgan had been killed tho unfeeling
brutes who murdered him threw his
lifeless body across horse and parad-
ed it through tho street. His body
was subsequently sent through the
lines by flag Of truce"
The account Of the killing of Gen
eral Morgan is no doubt authentic and