The National tribune., 1906-12-13
CHASING MORGAN.
4 Long River Trip to Head OF the
Raider.

As"Aucfs
Editor National Tribune: I take tn :,
opportunity to write you line or two
which 1 have had in storage in my
Uranium so long that 1 fear that thy
will not be acceptable
On July 9, 1868, we were at Num-
fordsville, guarding the bridge of the
Louisville e. Nashville Railroad The
force consisted of about two regiments
and part of a battery, and was well
fortified by earthworks. Morgan did not
attack us, but crossed the L. & N r. r.
about Is miles in our rear, which was a
surprise to us, as we expected to have
a fight at that place for the bridGr
That evening We had the unexpected
pleasure Of hearing the well-kncwn four
notes of the bugle which meant for us
to pack up. The next was to fall in
which We did with promptness We
boarded the cars and started north,
only halting once or twice during the
night. We got to Louisville. the next
morning. In the evening we went
aboard the steamboat Calliope with her
bow headed upstream. Our feet now
began to assume look Of Importance,
as there were about 10 transport boats
and. think, four gunboats when we
started up the Ohio. The usual way of
travel was to have two or three Of the
gunboats in the advance, with all the
transports following. three or four Of
them lashed together, side by side, With
the remaining gunboats in the rear In
this arrangement we proceeded-up the
river as far as Madison, Ind, where
we landed for about two hours. Here
we made the discovery in a very short
time that we were in Gods country, as
the boys were in the habit of speaking
of home. The city heard that we were
kI-z..-
get breakfast for us (God bless them).
I was so astonished that 1 forgot to
thank them for their kindness and
goodness of heart. Men, old and young
ladies and school children were all try
ing to do their best, each to outdo the
other in efforts to please the soldiers
who had come to their relief in the
hour of need
Morgan had now passed and was 60
ing in the direction of Cincinnati. We
had not long to stay, and as our feet
was getting under way / was standing
on the cabin deck looking at the anil
mated scene. The impulse came to me
of bursting out in song and praise, and
sang that well-known old Methodist
hymn
Praise God, from whom all blessingsI
flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, We heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"
We frequently received dispatches
along the river by small boats coming
from north shore, which would row OUT
in the stream and bring our commander
a dispatch, and would have about 200
or 800 questions fired at the boatman |
before he could get away. We knew
where Mr.. Morgan was to be found, all
the same. We did not have much more |
trouble. We finally got to Cincinnati, |
arriving there after numerous stops
and halts on the 14th, and found the
city full of alarm and fear. John Nor
gan was at this time passing thru Ohio |
north of the city. Our feet moved on. |
arriving at Portsmouth on the 10th, |
where we took the train up the Scioso |
Valley about 35 miles, and came up
with Morgan or part of his command, |
but as his command was mounted and
we were infantry, we could not keep
up with him. We returned to the river,
where our fleet awaited us. We again
and with one of our gun
boats went down the river, where there
was some rebel cavalry trying to get
possession of boat to effect a cross
ing. We soon put stop to that, as
our gunboat fired two shots among
them, which put them to rout without
further trouble and without landing
the infantry. we tnen went up the
river as far as Ironton, where we soon
got word of the capture of the most of
Morgan's command at Burlington Island
and We're ordered to Portsmouth, where
awaited the prisoners, and where the
irst boatload came down. Our fleet
being divided up, we were ordered with
one gunboat as an escort to return to
Cincinnati Immediately. The next morn
ng we marched down to the river, and
-ook charge of 1,100 of Morgan's men,
Who had come down the river in the
night and were on boats on the river.
They were placed aboard cars on the
Little Miami Railroad. bound for Co,
umbus to Camp Chase. where We ar
lived July 26, beautiful Sabbath
neutrality-suspicious. Hedges. Sergeant
20. G, 107th ILL.,, Second Brigade, Sec
md Division. Twenty-third Corps. 313I
Meade ST., Pittsburg, Pa.