The National tribune., 1903-11-12


| was already ut Lexington. On the fol
lowing day Morgan made a hard march
passing through Danville and Nicholas
vile, and encamped 12 miles from Lex
ington. On the next day, Sept. 4, amid
| wild shouts, enthusiastic plsudits and
warm congratulations, the Morgan com
mand entered Lexington. This being the
home of Morgan, the triumphal entry and
scenes along the densely thronged street.
can be better imagined than described.
RAPID INCREASE OF MORGAN'S COMMAND
| Morgan entered Lexington at the head
Of LOO men. the ID Ky, after deduct
ing all losses, being 900 strong, and Gano's
Squadron numbering 20G effectives. The
rapidity with which recruits now fiocket
10 Morgan's standard was astonishing
Capt. Breckinridge increased his company
to battalion. GanO, with his squadron
as nucleus, soon became the Colonel OF
a regiment. The Cd Ky, within very
short time. had 12 companies. numbering
100 effective men. Two additional regi
ments, very fine ones. recruited by Coils.
Cluke and Chenault, Joined Morgan's Bri.
gade.
THE BATTLE OF RICHMOND.
Borne down at length on every side,
Compelled to flight, they scatter wide
Leaving 5000 men in front of Cumber
land Gap, then occupied by Federal
force of probably 5000 or 1900 men, com
manded by Gen. G.. w. Morgan. Gen
Kirby Smith, with 1900 men and 30 OF
40 pieces of artillery. entered Kentucky
through Big Creek and Rogers Gaps of the
Cumberland Mountains, and moved with
such amazing swiftness, marching sc
miles in three days, that Gen. William
Nelson, although expecting an attack, was
in measure surprised. Gen. Nelson
sometimes called "Bulr' Nelson, was q
fine division, commander, as was well
proven at Shiloh where he eminently dis
tifguished himself. At the time of the
Confederate invasion, Gen. Nelson, with
headquarters at Lexington, was in COM
mand of GONE 10000 men. The greater
part of his force, ala.it 1000 men, Man
sons and Crufts Brigades, were posted
at Richmond. Although he was an Off
Ger Of acknowledged ability, Gen. Nelson
had n notOriously furious temper, which
possibly, untitled him for independent
command. Within short month after the
hattie OF Richmond, he was shot and killed
in the Gait House, in Lexington. By Gen
Jefferson G. Davis, in resentment for G
gross indignity offered him by Nelson
who insulted him with words and slapped
him in the face, and for this act, I be
ljeve, Gen. Davis WIS exonerated by botl
the military and the civil authorities.
A cloud of cavalry, Morgan's and
Scott's. the former in advance of Bragg
the latter in front of Kirby Smith, served
admirably to mask the movements of the
main armies. and when the Confedera tes
approached Richmond, the Federal com
manders were under the impression thai
| they were merely confronting Col. JohI
Scott's cavalry, about 1000 strong Gen
Nelson was mt Lexington, away from hi.
command. when the storm broke upor
Richmond. He came upon the field, how
ever. in raging passion, and In time tt
| receive n wound.
| Col. Scott's cavalry, veteran I1ouisian
ians, and probably some of the TexaI
Rangers, struck Metcalf's regiment at Bis
Hill. Is miles from Richmond, and thor
oughly defeated and dispersed 1t. Ever
after this preliminary fight the Fedora
commander, Gen. Manson, remained il
ignorance of any force, other than Scott,
cavalry, until Gen. Smiths army was n
the gates OF Richmond. Smiths at
battle occurred Aug. %, 1862, Smitl
having been some distance in the rear
Shaler. the excellent Union writer, says
"Col. Scott, who had been marching OIL
a detour, after his defeat of Metcalf,
regiment. struck the road in front of tn
rout Of the utterly broken army. Gen
Manson, with 100 men. tried to beat then
tillery and trains and 5000 prisoners fel
into the Confederate hands. The remain
der scattered through the woods and by
paths in utter rout and confusion. Th
debris Of the defeated army came out t
the Ohio River. all the way from tn
Little Sandy River to Louisville, a lin
300 miles in length. In no other cas-
during the war was an army SO complete
lily annihilated 10 single days battle
Gen. Nelson, himself wounded, escaped
but the greater part OF his officers fel
] loss is not known with certainty: it Ma