The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-06
Cap ain Robert T. Cassidy, Now
Kansan, Tells of Incident.
Rebel Raider Was Hard Pressed
and His Command Divided.
STILL HAS REVOLVER
Cartridge Belt and Scabbard
Kept as Relic.
COnfederates Had Been in Sad
die Four Days Without Rest.

The union officer who commanded
the troop which captured John Morgan,
the noted rebel raider, resides in
Hutchinson. He is Captain Robert T.
Cassidy, a retired farmer.
Captain Cassidy is now visiting in
Houston, Tex, and the Houston Chron-
icle publishes an interesting account Of
his chase and capture of Morgan, in
which is the following:
Mr.. Cassidy is now a man In his list
year, with a robust constitution, SPLEEN
did color, clear voice and alert brain.
He started into the war at the age of
81 and served until the cessation of
hostilities.
He began in the union service in the
First Virginia infantry as captain of
company A. At this time West Vir-
ginia seeded from the Old Dominion
state and was known by the name of
the state of Kanawah-a fact not well
known in historical works. Captain
Cassidy received his commission from
the first provisional governor of West
Virginia, Governor Pierpont.
In july, 1868, John Morgan and his
detachment of soldiers forded the Ohio
river at Burlington. They were engaged
in sl1irmish battle with a Union force
and their ranks cut in two. One-half
recrossed the river to the Kentucky
side and the other half, under the lead
ership of John Morgan, were driven In
a northerly direction.
It was this separation from all possl-
BILE touch with his Confederate friends
and the necessity of depending upoa
fOraged food that constituted John
Morgan's much famed raid into Ohio.
Morgan's next move was in a north
westerly direction to a village called
West Point on the line between Jeffer-
son and Columbia counties, Ohio.
Captain Cassidy having been APP
praised Of Morgan's progress north
ward by telegraphic communication,
followed the south side of the river in
West Virginia to the mouth of Yellow
creek below Wellsville, where he
crossed the river with a detachment If
80 men.
In Morgan's rear was General Shack
leford with a company of. cavalrymen
and three pipeces of artillery.
1t was Morgan's intention to reach g
point on the river front known as
Nicely Clusters Ga group of islandsl
and there cross to West Virginia, but
upon reaching one of those character
istic Ohio hills scattered over the val
ley he discovered three steamboats, ~
ing behind Browns island guarding the
ford. The boats were equipped with
two cannon apiece and artillerymen.
His next move was to retreat west.
Captain Cassidy followed the path
way of Morgan's men and attaining the
hilltop came fully upon them. Morgan
realized that Shackleford was rapidly
coming up in the rear, that he was cut
off from all reinforcement and that
fight would be but a futile thing, he
therefore rode up to Captain Cassidy
with a flag of truce and surrendered.
Mr.. Cassidy states that all of the
men, including Morgan, were horse
back. that they had been in their sad
dies for four days and to a man were
thoroughly tired out. After the surren-
der General Shackleford came up. Nor
gan and his men were turned over to
him and they were marched to the
mouth of Yellow creek, placed upon a
train and taken to Columbus, o. Nor
gan was placed in the state peniten-
tiary but managed to escape. How Is
not known.
The revolver which was surrendered
by Morgan to Captain Cassidy is still
in Mr. Cassidy's possession. 1t Is a
heavy, navy Colts revolver, cap and
ball, with scabbard, belt and cartridge
hryx