The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-09-14

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 briga-
der-generalship coming ater) Of the
most spectacular and daring enterprises In the
Z Civil Boldly conceived and skillfully exc
cuted, Its 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 active
service during the war. and the expedition just
missed being carried to a triumphant conclu-
sion-through no 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 ballad later composed by one
of his hard-ridlng troopers and sung by his sur
yfving comrades. had 1t
"Oh, Morgan crossed the river.
And went across with him
/ was captured In Ohio
Just because couldn't swIm"
When on June II Morgan and approximately
1900 cavalrymen crossed the Cumberland river
In Tennessee and started north his secret desti-
nation Ohio After number OF skirmshes
with Union troops stationed as 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
enemy territory. his little force pursued by thou
sands of Federas 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.
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 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 a 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 estimated $4,000 Federal troops were
hot In pursuit OF the daring raiders
Even then Morgan might have made his escape
into Virginia. but for an unexpected rise In the
Ohio that delayed the command and prevented 1t
from crossing the river Immediately. While they
were compelled to walt, 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 Dy fedeTale, the remainder or 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
20. 1863. 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
the litte-traveled Beaver Greek road today
marks the high water mark of the Confederacy.
Even IL Morgan failed to water his horses In
Lake Erie" 1t remained for two other Confed-
crate leaders, John Y. Bea and David Ell. Ross,
TO enjoy spectacular, though brief career, on
that body of.water and to create almost as much
CONSERVATION In Union hearts as had the bold
Kentuckian.
AT the outbreak OF the Civil war Ross was an
eighteen-year-old cadet In the Macon Guards
the pride OF Georgia. Captured at the battle OF
Knoxville. Tenn. Ross sent to a Union pri-
son camp on the shores Of Lake Erie from which
he escaped and made his way to Toronto.
where he became acquainted with Jacob Thomp-
son, formerly secretary Of the interior In Presl-
the Confederacy In enlistng Southern sympa-
tlizers among the Canadians and In aiding Con-
federate sympathizers to escape.
Thompson sent Ross to Windsor to report to