The National tribune., 1903-09-17

Stout Clare and fiery Neville ride.
They swore their banners broad should
CLEAN,
In crimson light on Rymny's stream"
Not long after the first fight" and
drawn battle, mentioned in previous chap
ter. Morgan and Duke again rode forth in
quest of hostile squadrons, green fields and
pastures new.
Col. Hanson determining to send out a
force sufficiently strong to drive in the
Nolin outposts and create alarm and con-
fusion in the Federal camps. ordered the
Major commanding the battalion OF Tell
nessee cavalry to take his entire force
about 30 men, and follow Morgan and
Duke. who would lead the way with 20 of
their men and stir up the enem! at Nolin.
As usual Morgan started at nightfall. and,
with the Tennesseans behind him, he
was in high feather, thinking he could now
successfully accomplish some OF his most
favorite designs. His men, never before
having seen such formidable appearing
column of cavalry on the march, confident
ly asserted that the array was invinclble.
The TenneSseanS. too. were hliarlousl8
anxious to measure lances With the Zoe III
wars grim-visaged front" Morgan and
Duke and the Tennessee Major met IN
council and agreed upon plans. Morgan
and Duke, with their band OF ~ Ken
tuckians. were tc gain the rear OF tile enc
my's pickets on post. and then hre a gun
which should be the signal for the Major
10 dash down with his battalion, pick up
the pickets. and then charge down upon
the base and reserve. In the meantime
Morgan was TO be governed by clrcum-
stances-to entertain the picket base by
the firing of unexpected volleys. the whole
force eventually to charge into the Fed
eral encampment. hoping to surprise anu
disparse or capture whatever enemy they
might encounter: but. alas. the best lald
= emes o mice and men gang ait agla.
MORGAN NARROWLY ESCAPES CAPTURE.
When the Confederate column was yet
some FIVE miles from Nolin, Morgan, who
was riding in advance surprised and cap
tured a countryman who had been IN tile
habit of running into the Federal lines
to- apprise the enemy of any hostiie APP
proach. This ss,.iss "avant-courier had
ANNOYED Morgan on previous occasions py
skurrying away To inform the federals OF
his movements, thus frustrating more than
one of his pet schemes; therefore Morgan
held fast TO his slippery captive, notwith.
standing the fact that the women. OF
whom there were several, at the house
where the capture was effected, We're loud
in lamentation. refusing 10 be comforted
and ignoring all gentle and courteous Ian
yuage having for its object pacifcation.
The terrible noise made by the women
alarmed the Tennessee Major, who
thought their cutlery and shrieks would
notify the enemy of his coming, and in
terfere with his plan of surprising the
pickets from succeeding. Morgan mad
moved on. undismayed by the women s
clatter. but was soon informed by one of
his men that the Tennessee battalion had
turned back. He Immediately rode to the
Major and urgently. but unsuccessfully,
requested him not to abandon the expedl-
tion. However, he determined to go for
ward himself, and when he came to the
point where the pickets had been previous
IL stationed he could not find them. Nor
gan then halted his detachment, and, leav-
ing it under the command OF Duke, he
took with him one of his best and most
trusted men. John Sisson, who afterward
became q Captain. and went down the
road on foot to reconnoiter. He had been
gone but short time when the rear
guard of the Tennessee battalion, com
manded by Capt. (afterward Colonel BIZ.
fel. came mp. When BiffeI had found
that Morgan was still advancing, he took
advantage of his position in the rear of
the returning battalion, and turned back,
without orders from the Major. to support
the Kentnckians As soon as Biffel came
up and learned why Morgan had halted.
he led his detachment into the thicket on
the side of the road opposite to that oc-
cupied by the men under Duke. Whlie
he was attempting TO effect this move
ment. Federal column Of cavalry came
mp the road, and. hearing the noise Of
horses forcing their way through the
brush. halted about 100 yards from where
Dukes detachment lay. The night being
clear, Duke easily distinguished them in
the moonlight, but he quietly forbade the
firing of n gun lest it should endanger the
safety of Morgan, who, if Duke should
be driven off, would in all probability be
captured. Duke therefore ordered his mei,
not TO fire a shot, unless indeed, the Fed
erals should resume their march and dis
cover the presence of the detachment. For
& few minutes the suspense WIS very try
ing TO the men forced to quietly lie in am
bush. The Federals. however, advanced
no farther. but on the contrary, after
brief consultation, they countermarched
and rode rapidly away. Shortly after
ward Capt. Morgan and Sisson returned
and gave an account of what bad hap
pened to them. Having worked along the
fOaQ some Id OF ~ MINUTES tHey SUI
denly heard the tramp OF cavalry. Being
in stretch OF the road darkened for some
distance by tie shade of the dense wood
land. they slipped aside a short distance
from the road. unobserved by the passing
cavalry. Morgan said there were about
100 men in the Federal column. When it
had passed him the thought occurred to
him that Duke would certainly be attack
ed. and he then started hurriedly back to
rejoin his men. As he drew near to the
point where he had left the detachment,
and heard no firing, he conceived true
idea of the situation. Cautiously stealing
along, he came upon the enemy, who,
when they halted, had withdrawn into the
woodland. also. Morgan was then COM
PEELED TO lie closely concealed and perfect
ly quiet until after the enemy had march
away, leaving the road clear. 1t was an
exceedingly close call for Morgan at the
very beginning Of his career as leader
OF cavalry. Morgan and Duke continued
to actively engage in this sort of service,
with varying success. until the troops were
withdrawn from WoOdsonvil.e and con-
centrated at Bowling Green. where the
Lexington Rifles abandoned the old name
and were
REGULARLY MUSTERED.
into the Confederate Cavalry service. The
oath was administered. the company reg
ularly organized and officers elected. John
III inn oil taI