The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-15

With bowie knife and pistols are galloping
up the glen"
The raid, led by Gen. John Hunt Morgan Tin
1868 colonel of a cavalry regiment in Gen.
BraXton Bragg's Confederate army-hiS Lriga-
dier-generalship coming later) was one Of the
most spectacular and daring enterprises In the
Civil war. Boldly conceived and sklfully exc
cuted, it's leader failed in his announced pur-
pose of watering his horses in Lake Erie" but
he did succeed in reaching the point farthest
north attained by any Southern troops on active
service during the war, and the expedition just
missed being carried to triumphant conclu-
son-through fault of Morgan's but because
a swift and unexpected rise of the Ohio river
prevented his reaching safety at the last mo-
ment For as a ballad later composed by one
of his hardriding troopers and sung by his
viving comrades, had it
sob, Morgan crossed the river 81
And went across with him
/ was captured in Ohio s
Just because 1 couldn't swim!"
Morgan's raid grew out of the difficult mill
tary situation of the Confederate forces in the
West in the summer of 1863 Gen. S. B. Buck
ner was in East Tennessee and General Bragg's
army lay around Tulahoma confronted by Gen.
eral Rosecrans with superior force. Bragg
dared not detach any troops to strengthen Buck
ner's inadequate force which was essential to
holding his part Of the state, because General
Burnside was preparing an army of 10000 men
in Kentucky to move against Buckner. So Bragg
decided to retreat across the Tennessee river
and in order to create diversion to cover his
retreat he decided upon cavalry expedition
into Kentucky.
Morgan was selected for the job with orders
to go anywhere in Kentucky he wished and cap
ture Louisville If possible. Morgan was willing
to make the attempt but did not believe that
he could hold out long enough for Bragg to
complish his withdrawal He proposed to carry
the war into enemy territory by crossing the
Ohio river believing that the scare would not
only hold Burnside IN Kentucky but also reduce
the pressure Buckner and Bragg. But Bragg
could not see it that way and gave the cavalry
leader orders to confne his operations to Ken
lucky.
Morgan, however, had set his mind upon ham
ding the expedition in his own way and when
on June IL his division of approximately 1900
men, divided into three brgades, crossed the
Cumberland and started north, his secret desti-
nation was Ohio. After number Of skirmishes
with Union troops stationed garrisOns of
towns along the line of march, he reached the
Ohio at Bragdensburg July Z, captured two
steamboats,, drove off 800 Federal militia and
two Federal gunboats, and then crossed the
river to Indiana. He was now in the heart Of
y,
sands of Federals from the Kentucky camps, and
facing hostile militia, populace and soldiery
wherever he might turn. Descending on Cory
don he found 1000 militia drawn up to bar his
way. He dispersed them and moved on without
hating through Salisbury and Palmyra to Salem.
There he tapped telegraph lines and learned Of
the frantic efforts the Federals were making to
capture him. and the wild reports of an immense
invading Confederate force which were being
circulated.
From Salem he proceeded on up the Ohio, de-
stroying and burning as he went, in effort to
cripple the transportation system and deprive the
Federals of their stores. At Versailles he en-
countered a strong force of enemy troops sent
to capture him but eluded them and continued
on his way. After threatening Cincinnati, he
skirted the city and reach Camp Shady. There
he destroyed large number of Federal army
wagons much forage and other supplies Con-
tinuing east. laying waste to rail lines, he fin
ished his dash through Ohio at Pomeroy. At that
time it was estimated $4,000 Federal troops were
hot i'm pursuit of the daring raiders. gB
Even then Morgan might have made his escape
into Virginia, but for an unexpected rise in the
Ohio that delayed the command and prevented it
from crossing the river Immediately. While they
were compelled to wait, Federal troops and gun
boats came up. The raiders pushed further up the
river to another ford Here many crossed before
the pursuers caught up, and made their escape.
Hemmed in by Federals, the remainder of the
command split up in small groups-some escap-
ing, some being captured. General Morgan and
large number of his followers escaped, doubled
back on the trail and headed toward Athens and
GAINESVILLE.
But the game was about up. Maj George Rue
of the Ninth Kentucky cavalry had thrown a
Gordon of troops across the path of the fleeing
raider south of New Lisbon and there on July
&c. 1868, Morgan surrendered to his fellow-Ken-
tuckian who for the past two years had been
kept busy chasing John Morgan out Of Ken
lucky" bronze tablet set in a huge bowlder
on the little-traveled Beaver Creek road today
marks the high water mark of the Confederacy.
Morgan was sent to the Ohio penitentiary at