The National tribune., 1903-10-15

The next move was to Harrington, 10
miles from Shelbyville, where a lot of cot
ton was burned, in accordance with Gen.
Beauregard's order that all of that staple
likely TO fall into Federal hands should be
destroyed. Over one store i'll the little
town the Stars and Stripes fOated in re-
splendent glory, advertising the fact that
the proprietor was proudly and prominent
" for the Union. The flag advertisement
was attractive to the Morgan men, they
refusing to trade" at any other store.
On May Morgan arrived in the yiclnl-
ty of Murfreesboro. familiar ground, and.
next morning, drove in the picketS. Not
desiring to attack the garrison, he hanked
the town. while the Feder:;ls were in arms
expecting Il front attack, and struck the
Nashville and Murfreesboro pike, about
five miles from Stone River Some more
cotton was burned, a few scouting Fed
erals were captured, and the telegraph
wires were cut, not, however, until Geo.
A. Ellsworth, Morgan's famous telegraph
OPERATOR had sent dispatch to Nashville
to the effect that Morgan had captured
Shelbyville and there was urgent need OF
reinforcements at Murfreesboro.
On the night of the same day the little
column reached Lebanon, p miles north
of MurfreeSboro. and some 30 miles east
of Nashville The entire force was quar-
tered in the town, the squadron occupying
the college, their horses being tied iii the
large ward. The other etachmentS were
assigned quarters at the livery stables.
Iieut-Cui. Wood. who had been left near
AiurfreesborO to observe if the enemy fol-
lowed, came in, some hours after night
fall, and reported that the MurfreesborO
Federals were not moyinG-a woful mis-
take.
hour the next morning and cross the Cum
berland River about 10 miles from Leba-
non. and orders were issued that the conf
mand should be ready to move at o'clock.
Through come unaccountable mistake,
these orders were not communicated to the
company commanders. 1t was a bleak,
rainy night. and the criminally-
pickets on the Murfreesboro road left their
post and went to a house not far distant.
THE LEBANON RACES.
"And hard I've spurred this night, to show
The mastering of the coming foe"
Contrary to Lieut.-Col. Woods report,
the Federals, whom Morgan had left be-
hind him at Murfreesboro, were following,
notwithstanding the inclemency of the
night, and at least one whole regiment had
passed on toward Lebanon before the
pickets at the wayside house discovered
the fact. There was now nothing between
Morgan's little band in the town and the
advancing Federals. Upon realizing the
IL.
low by name, who had been noted as a gal
liant soldier, mounted his fleet steed, and,
declaring that he would retrieve his fault,
or die, dashed at full speed along the road,
passed the Federal column unchallenged,
apparently unnoticed, and reached the
hotel, were Col. Morgan had his quarters,
just as the foremost Federal also arrived.
While Whitlow was calling loudly to alarm
the Colonel the enemy fired and killed him.
The squadron, in disordered array, sue
ceeded in retreating from the town, and
then hurriedly formed aaoss the road
Morgan, who had effected his escape from
the hotel, Joined the squadron, and, desir-
ed TO unite with tie detachments that had
been quartered at the livery stables, but
just then the enemy, between Morgan and
the attachments, was advancing upon the
squadron. The Colonel ordered the men
to disinount and reserve their fire until he
should give the word. When the enemy
had come very close, Morgan gave the or
der to fire, and the Federal column re-
coiled. some men and horses being seen
to fall. Col. Frank Wolford, an officer of
the Federal cavalry, foeman worthy of
any combatant's steel, rode into Morgan's
line and was made prisoner. In like
manner, in the confusion of the fight. sew
eral officers and men rode into Morgan's
ranks. Gen. Dumont, a very gallant Off
Ger, commanding the entire Federal force,
narrowly escaped becoming Wolford's
companion III captivity.
The attachments in the center of the
town were completely surrounded, and
Morgan was powerless to relieve them.
Wood held out for an hour or more, but
when the enemy threatened TO burn the
town lie surrendered. Capt. Brown, COM
manding one Of the detaGiments, was kill
ed. On neither side, however, were the
killed and wounded numerous.
The culpable negligence of the pickets,
In atnupd f0r nv tho pallanrry of
Whitl0w, had caused disaster irreparable.
Barring the surprise, the combat was I'M
equal, and, Of course, Morgan was forced
TO retreat-in fact to run. The pursuing
Feterals were Misunderstanding Ken
tuckians, mounted on fine horses, and to
say they pressed the pursuit vigorously is
stating the case mildly.
With about 100 men Morgan had made
his way TO the Rome and Carthage road,
moving at a steady gait, when suddenly
the enemy dashed into the rear of the col
umn and yiciously began to saber the men.
BLACK Bess' broke the curb of her bride.
and, in tie excitement, Col. Morgan could
neither restrain the mare nor reform his
men. Two or three men took hold of the
bride, trying to hold "Bess'' from running
away, but it was useess-she went tearing
along the road like tornado. The scene
was amusing, albeit the conditions were
dangerous. Morgan was compelled to COM
municate with his men by courier Black
Bess, insisting on going ahead, not per-
uniting hin: to tarry with the column to
give orders in any other way. 1t was
even difficult to keep courier within hear
Ing distance. While going like the wind,
Morgan sent word to his men, whose
horses could not keep the pace to take
to the woods" A few men would turn
and fight and then resume the wild
hegira. One of the men graphically tells
OF his experience in the race, as follows:
Il vas riding a horse captured from
Gen. Dumont, and kept UP with Col. Nor
gan until my horse lost his shoes, which
put me in the rear. The men had all
passed me with the exception Of Ben
Drake. When Ben went by lie said: Tom,
Gen. Dumont will get his horse Yes
replied; get me horse, Ben.' About
mile from that place l found a horse with
the saddle hanging under hin. the stirrups
broken off. Not having time to change
saddles, l arranged the saddle as best |
could, led the horse to the fence, jumped
on, used the spurs, and soon passed Ben
again, his horse being then played out. l
overlook Col. Morgan, passed him, and
found another horse with a saddle on.
Stopping l changed saddles When we got
70 Rome, ID miles from Lebanon, I
traded horses again, and stayed with Col
Morgan, who, having succeeded in pull
Ing up" Bess, had fallen to the rear. A
short distance from Rome, the Yanks,
within 100 yards of US, called to us to halt.
told them to go to - The Colonel
then told me TO ride forward and order the
men to push on as fast as possible. l was
the first TO reach the ferry, 81 miles from
Lebanon. We hurriedly into tho hoot