The Washington herald., 1911-01-08
FORMER FOES WHO FACED EACH OTHER ON THE
FIELD OF BATTLE, NOW ON SUPREME COURT BENCH

jumping our horses from the bank. -four
feet above the water. The weather was
bitter cold, snow was on the ground
and our clothing ffoze on our bodies
when We reached the other side. The
Federals had about 1000 men, Ohio and
Illinois infantry, Illinois and Kentucky
cavalry. and Il section of the Thirteenth
, Indiana Battery. We had loo cavalry
infantry, and artillery. The Federals
surrendered in a little more than ar
hour. We lost 125 men. The Federals
lost 262 men. and 1.S34 of them were
made prisoners.
hastily recrossed the river. each cavalry
man carrying an infantryman behind
him. 1 was left with the rear guard to
pick up Federal muskets and other port
able property, all of which we loaded
into wagons. Mr.. Justice Harlan Is an
early riser. He was up that morning
soon after daylight, at his camp. near
Castalian Springs. six miles distant from
Hartsville. He heard the artillery fre.
and Immediately started with his regi-
ment to the relief Of the garrison at
Hartsville, reaching a bluff back Of the
river just as the last wagon was going
over. / was with the wagon. Col. Har-
Ian opened on us with q piece of artil-
lery. The shells dropped so near to the
wagon that the drivers, becoming fright
ened, cut the mules loose and got to
shore as quickly as possible. went
with them. of course. And that was my
introduction to Mr.. Justice Harlan. Nor
gan was made a brigadier general Tor
the battle he Yon at Hartsville
Disobeyed His Commsnder.
That he might disguise his movements
and give the Federals work near at hand.
Bragg ordered Morgan to make series
of rapid demonstrations in Kentucky
Morgan. knowing of Lees purDpse to
march into Pennsylvania, asked permis-
sion to extend his raids into Indiana and
Ohio. Bragg declined to give his consent.
Col Basil w. Duke, second in command
to Morgan, says that Morgan told him
that he meant to cross the Ohio River
anyway BY the testimony of Duke,
therefore, Morgan disobeyed his COM
mander when he entered Indiana on July
s. 1863. with $500 men. Lee had already
lost the battle at Gettysburg and aban-
doned his Northern invasion. Vicksburg
had surrendered on July 4. But Morgan
kept on.
I've went over the Ohio in two steam
boats" MIR. Justice Lurton said to me,
from the little town of BrandenberS.
KY, thirty miles west of Louisville, and
to Corydon, Ind. Cavalry were
following us and opposition was ahead
OF us. and so we had to ride constantly.
For nine days and nights We only left
our saddles early each morning that we
might feed our horses. We slept as we
rode along. Looking back, 1 can scarcely
remember anything that was done. l
was in doze, you understand, from
loss of sleep and hard riding.
when John Morgan and his men
came through Corydon," Robert j. Trace
well. Comptroller Of the Treasury. once
told me. "he had a list of all the loyal
men and the Confederate sympathizers.
There were three mills at Corydon.
owned by persons outspoken for the gov
ernment. Morgan agreed not to burn
them if paid 5000. The money was
given him and he rode on"
Near Cincinnati. six days after the
raid began, Private Lurton almost met
another youth who was destined to gain
wide fame as q Democrat and public
man. The home guard turned out to de-
fend their liberty and their native land.
Judson Harmon, now governor Of Ohio.
and candidate for. the Presidency Of
the United States, rode forth on horse
back to hurl Morgan back and to slaugh-
ter his marauderS as they ran.
Harmon has worked the story up"
Judge I.urton remarked, until he now
declares that he remembers seeing me
climb a hill. That was Harmon's sec
ond campaign. When Gen. Kirby Smith
was reported to be on his way toward
the home guards rushed to
the front, and Harmon, slipping away
from his mother and disobeying his father,
who was a Baptist preacher. went into
camp under a circus tent, armed with a
double -barreled shotgun and an old
sword that had been hand-forged by a
village blacksmith"
At Burlington Island. not far from
Cincinnati. most of Morgan's men were