East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-09-13
Morgan the
Raider Was
Bold Rider
Great Southern Cavalry Leader
Was Daring Soldier.
Copyright. 1918. for The Atlanta
Constltution.)

(Copyright 1913, for The Atlanta
Constitution.)
John Hunt Morgan was one of the
most daring of the cavalry riders con-
nected with the confederate army dur
ing the Civil war. He seemed to have
been absolutely fearless and his many
striking adventures read more like
pages from a romance than of actual
happenings. One OF the most pic
turesque episodes of the Civil war were
the raids that Morgan and his band
OF followers made into Kentucky,
Ohio and Indiana in 1862 and 1868.
These resulted in the destruction OF
millions of dollars worth OF military
stores. while railroad tracks were torn
up. bridges burned and culverts were
destroyed in the rear of the federal
army. making 1t necessary. at least,
10 garrison every important town In
those states.
Morgan would actually take n tele-
graph operator with him, and though
his movements were marvelously rap
Id, he kept himself constantly inform
ed OF the enemy's movements. These
raiders lived on the stores and granar-
les. as well as the stables and kitch-
ems. along their route. There were
daily skirmishes, and the raiders were
always too strong for any force that
could be assembled on the instant,
while their route could not be fore
seen, and they moved too swiftly
Finally the federal troops cornereI
the Morgan raiders on the north
shore OF the Ohio and kept them from
getting TO more friendly ground. Nor
gan and a number OF his cavalrymen
were compelled TO surrender on july
26. 1868. Morgan and several Of his
officers were taken TO Columbus and
were confined IN the penitentiary
there, their heads being shaved like
those OF ordinary felons. No good
reason has been assigned for this
treatment. nor does II appear by whom
It was ordered--certainly not by the
government
No labor was required Of the cap
tured cavalrymen but they were con
fined In cells, whence seven OF them
including Morgan, escaped and 1t Is
said they dug themselves out. They
changed their clothes In the sentry
box on the outer wall and separated
as soon as they were free.
Morgan and Captain Hines pro
ceeded at once 20 the Cincinnati de-
pot, got upon the train. which they
knew would start at a. m. and were
carried by II very near Cincinnati
when they put on the brakes at th'
rear OF the train. checked its speed
jumped off. and ran 10 the Ohio
across which they were ferried TO Ken
lucky. and went at once to a hous'
whore Refreshments and shelter await
ed them.
Thence Morgan made his wa!
through Kentucky and Tennessee t,
northern Georgia, losing his compan
ion by the way. but finding himsel
at last among those who did not fea
10 avow their sympathy with hi
cause and their admiration for hi
character. Thence he proceeded q
Richmond. where he was greeted will
enthusiasm and made speech re
counting his adventures and protest
ing that the telegraphic blazon whicl
appeared at the nick of time OF hi
having just arrived at Toronto wa
"'purely fortuitious," and that "his es
cape was made entirely without as
sistance from any one outside the pris
on"-an assertion not needed 20 In