The National tribune., 1903-11-12
Gen. Duke continuing his account of the
engagement between Gen. JOhnson's forces
and those of Morgan at Hartsville, says:

engagement between Gen. JOhnsons forces
and those of Morgan at Hartsville, says:
GEN JOHNSON CAPTURED.
"Soon the advance guard reported that
the enemy had halted and formed for an
other fight A short reconnaissance showed
that they were dismounted and drawn up
under a long hill, about 30 yards from its
crest, but their formation was defective
in that instead of presenting straight
uniform line, so that THEN numbers would
he effective, they were formed in the shape
of Y, perhaps to meet any movement to
flank them. The hill was one of those
gentle undulations of the bluegrass pas
lures, which present perfectly smooth sur
faces on either side, and yet rise enough
to conceal from those on the one side what
is being done on the other. The three cont
panies and the advance were Immediately
brought into line and dismounted under
cover of the brow of the hill and moved
to a position that would bring the apex or
the enemy's formation about opposite the
confer of our line. We then charged over
the hill. The enemy had some advantage
in firing upward, but that was more than
counter-balanced by the fact that the men
upon their fianks could not hre at US AT
all. while our whole line could hre With
out difficulty upon any portion OF their
formation. After short but gallant hsht
they gave way again. Our loss was Two
killed. We captured Gen. Johnson, ms
Adit.- Gen, Mai. Winfrey. and several 9TH
or officers. and 20 or 80 privates. In the
two engagements the enemy left 64 dead
on the field. and number OF the wound
ed. About 200 prisoners were taken.
JOHNSON AND HIS MEN UNJusTLf CEN
SURED.
'sThis force had been selected with great
care and placed under Gen. Johnson, re-
garded as an able and dashing officer, LOT
the EXPRESS purpose Of hunting Morgan. 1t
was completely shattered and disorganlzed
nv this defeat. A great deal of censure
was cast at the time upon these msn, ana
they were accused of arrant coward.ce py
some of the Northern Newspapers. Noth,
ing could have been more UNJUST, anu
8 many who joined in denounclng them, al
terward behaved much more badly. Ihey
attacked with spirit and without hesita-
t;on and were unable to close with us on
account of their heavy loss in men ana
horses. They returned two or three tunes
to the attack until they found their Ell
forts unavailing. They could not use their
sabers, and they found their breech-load-
ing carbines only membranes. Ihey may
have shown trepidation and panic toward
the last, but, to an enemy while they were
evidently trying to get away. they ap,
reared resolute although dispirlted. L
have seen troops, much more highly
boasted than these were before their de-
feat, behave not nearly so well. Perhaps
Gen. johnson had been too confident; he
had boasted, when passing through Harts,
vile. that he would catch Morgan and
bring him back in a band-box.
JOHNSON ERRED IN MAKING THE SECOND
FIGHT.
..Hearing the day before the fight that
Forrest was in his rear, Gen. johnson very
: properly pressed on to fight Morgan be-
fore the former came up. His attack was
made promptly and in fine style; his DIS
positions throughout the first fight were
good, and he exhibited great personal cour.
age and energy. could never understand
his reason for giving battle the second
time, without fresh troops. when his men
were already dispirited by defeat, and
pressed by an enemy flushed with recent
victory. He could have gotten off without
a fight by a prompt retreat. Immediately
after his last message to Morgan, and
protected by judicious use OF detach-
ments composed of his best men as rear
guards. Evidently, Gen. johnson was
fine officer, but he seemed not to compre-
hend the new style of cavalry at all"
Morgan returned to Hartsyjlle Aug. Il,
and. having destroyed all the neighboring
bridges, he felt comparatively secure. One
of Morgan's officers says of this encamp-
ment:
village was a proof of Morgan's eonsum-
mate strategic ability. 1t was point
where it was impossible to entrap him."
While quietly repOsing at Hartsyille
Morgan received an oruer from Gen. Kirby
Smith to meet him at Lexington, Ky,
Sept. 2. This stirring summons was glad
Iy welcomed by the Morgan men. How
ever they somewhat regretted leaving the
fair country and scenes of their operations
In Middle Tennessee. They had become
attached to the bluegrass pastures and
the noble trees, tie encampments in the
shady forests. through which ran the clear,
cool Tennessee streams, the lazy enjoy
ments of the green bivouac, amid
"Deep waving fields and pastures green.
With gentle slopes and groves between"
The oft abrupt call from these quiet
pastoral enjoyments to engage in the ex
citement of action, the long midnight rides
by moonlight, through lovely scenery, the
battle on the morrow-all these were real,
not the IDEAL pictures of romance.
BOUND FOR OLD KENTUCKY.
"Yet live there still who can remember
well,
How, when Southern chief bis bugle
blew,
Both field and forest, dingle. cliff, and
dell,
And solitary heath, the signal knew"
Welcome accessions had recently been
made TO Morgan's command. Desha's
company, now full. became Go. L. To
q new company, from Kentucky. com
manded by Capt. w. II. Jones, Morgan,
in accordance with his usual policy, ap-
pointed the necessary additional officers
Thomas Quirk, First Lieutenant, and Ben
Drake, Second Lieutenant, both of whom
had eminently distinguished themselves on
numerous occasions. This became known
&s Co. NJ. Gano added another company,
Kentuckians. to his Texas Squadron.
In the morning early, Aug. %,
when the dawning beam purpled field
and stream, there was a merry sounding
Of bugle horns and marshalling of the
clans for long and eventful compaign-
rough riding in Kentucky. Morgan's
cavalry was to be the advance of Bragg's
army, then preparing to invade the Dark
and Bloody Ground"
Moving out on the Scottsville road, their
faces turned towards old Kentucky,
"where the meadow grass is blue" the
men were in high and exutant spirits
Cheer after cheer rang front to rear, and
back again from rear to front of the
column. Then they sang their song:
"Cheer. boys, cheer, We'll march away to
battle:
Cheer. boys, cheer for our sweet