The National tribune., 1903-10-08

Tennessee River. Arriving at the river
early the next morning, difficulties were
encountered. The river was high, and one
small boat was the only means by which
a crossing could be effected. 1t required
two days and nights of hard work to get
the command over the7turimlent river. One
of the men, speaking Of his apprehensions.
said: I'VE had the .gunboat fever very
badly, expecting every moment to see one
come in sight, for we knew they were pa
trolling the river above3' On the night of
the Goth raiders encamPed at Lawrence
burg, Tenn, in the midstsof fertile coun-
try and hospitable people. They easily OBJ
tanned an abundance of excellent rations
and forage, and more whisky than was
good for them.
About 10 o'clock on5the, next day. when
near Pulaski, Col. Morgan learned that
400 Federal troops had just passed
through on the road to Columbia. Upon
receiving additional information to the eff
feet that the Federals were principally
convalescents. engaged in putting up line
of telegraph from Columbia to Huntsville,
Ala, he determined to relieve them.
CAPTURE OF THE 400.
Going into Pulaski at gallop, Morgan
captured Capt. Mitchell, son of the Fed
eral General of that name, and paroled
him that he might effect his exchange for
Capt. Charlton Morgan, the Coloners
brother who had been wounded at Shiloh,
and captured at Huntsville, whittier he
had gone to cOnvalesce in the smiles of the
fair ladies of that beautiful town.
Morgan overlook and attacked the Fed
erals, who had hastily thrown up n line
of light breastwork in field on the right
side of the road. A part of the enemy
force also occupied wood on the left of
the road. The ground being favorable,
Morgan charged on horseback, carrying
the entire line and making prisoners of the
greater part of the force. The remnant
retreatcd about mile, and then rallied,
but Co. A succeeded in fanking them,
when they, too, surrendered. Just then, Il
body of cavalry appeared, coming from the
direction of Columbia. Having engaged
them with skirmishers and finding them
not strcng, Capt. Brown charged them,
driving them some six or seven miles.
About 80 Federals composed this party.
and the race was exciting on both sides
and exceedingly pleasurable to the Nor
gan men. Upon returning to Pulaski with
the prisoners, Morgan and his band were
enthusiastically received by the citizens.
BLACK BEss.
Col. Morgan's celebrated mare, BLACK
Bess." came in for her full share of ad-
miratiOn and attention. The ladies crowd
ed around to caresS and feed her with
dainties, for which she had a weakness,
and her glossy tresses were in great re-
quest. 1t is said that upon this occasion,
for the first and only time in his life, Col.
Morgan opposed the pleasure of his lady
friends. Seeing that "Bess" would be
completely shorn he tore her away" and
sent her to the stable. This splendid mare
had been presented to Morgan by an adj
miring friend, Il wealthy Kentuckian. Re
markably strong and capable of great en-
durance, "Ress'' carried Col. Morgan. who
weighed 1S5 pounds, as easily and grace
fully as if he were featherweight.
a., a., .;x,.o, o;n
c,o5 5n''h|e Um 80. Iii "a ,,i,; >,
"'o"ieu u'"o'e '"". ''i nm INV pan
Zen. Duke describes BACK Bess as
i', ..sEl';. n;eoont amino, hoe novor hoo,
r,,tinrnd -. M, an.ara IN an, ngcioi
report, and She was tod completely identi-
fed with Morgan's early career to be dis
missed without descrintiori. She was the
most nerfect beanty I have ever. belpld-l
even in Kentucky. Not IS hands high.
sba had in,Tne,,Se noweia in her short ba ok.
broad tilted Ioins and thigh 6 "a If muscle.
Her head was as beddtiftil as n poet 8
dream is popnlarly supposed to be. Wide
between thr eyes. IL tsnert.I low" until
her muzzlo was small9 ienSiiph TO have
picked n lady's pocket1if The way it was
set ON her matcbIess throttle might well
liant the imagination Eforn years Her
straight. uperbly-prop6rti6fed neck. her
shoulder and cirtb. might Have fascinated
the eve forever. but for her beautiful hind
quarters and The speca aid power they
indicated. The arch or ber! back rib. her
flank. her clean legs. with firm. dry muscle.
and tendons like steel wires. her hoofs al
most as small as clentiled fist. but open
and hard as flint. aIl these battle descrip-
tion. Her hide was glossy black. without