CHAPTER IV.
MORGAN'S FIRST RAID.
All through the month of April General Halleck had been concentrating themighty armies of almost the entire West for the purpose of crushingBeauregard at Corinth. For a month the two armies lay but a few milesapart, almost daily skirmishes taking place between the outposts.
During the month General O. M. Mitchell had overrun Middle Tennessee, andwas holding the Memphis and Charleston railroad from Decatur toBridgeport, Alabama. Two railroads led south from Nashville, Tennessee,both connecting with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, one at Decatur,and the other at Stevenson, Alabama. Both of these roads were of vitalimportance to General Mitchell, for on them he depended for transportationfor the sustenance of his army.
These roads had been badly damaged by the Confederate army when itretreated from Nashville, and General Mitchell was busily engaged inrepairing them. If repaired and held, it meant that Chattanooga must fall,and the Confederate army be driven still farther south.
John H. Morgan, now promoted to a colonelcy, believed that with a smallforce the rear of the Federal army could be raided, the railroads cut,bridges burned, and their communications so destroyed that they would beforced to fall back. General Beauregard was not so sanguine. While greatdamage might be done, and the Federal army subjected to muchinconvenience, the contest, after all, would have to be decided by thegreat armies. Then he needed every man, as Halleck was about to move.
At last he gave Morgan permission to make his raid, but with a force notto exceed five hundred.
It was in the last days of April that Morgan started with his littleforce, on what seemed to many certain destruction. But every man in thecommand was full of enthusiasm. They had unlimited faith in their leader,and where he went they would follow.
Following almost the exact route taken by Calhoun, Morgan's first blowfell on Pulaski, Tennessee. So swift and unexpected had been his movementsthat the Federals were taken completely by surprise. The place wassurrendered without a struggle.
Moving rapidly north, the command attacked and, without any loss, captureda wagon-train en route from Columbia to Athens. Thus at the verycommencement of his raid, Morgan captured Pulaski, with all its militarystores, a wagon-train, and some two hundred and seventy prisoners, andthis without the loss of a man. Among the prisoners captured were a son ofGeneral O. M. Mitchell, and our old acquaintance, Lieutenant Haines.
The prisoners were all paroled, and were astonished at the kind treatmentthey received. Both Captain Jumper, who was in charge of the wagon-train,and the son of General Mitchell were loud in their praise of the way theywere used by Morgan.
After destroying all the Federal property captured, and damaging therailroad as much as possible, the command continued on their raid, theirroute taking them by the plantation of Mr. Osborne. The welcome theyreceived there was a royal one. Colonel Morgan stopped and took dinnerwith the family.
Here he heard of the adventure of Calhoun, and he laughed long andheartily over the way Calhoun had recovered his horse.
"Tell him," said Miss Osborne, "that I forgive him his abrupt leaving, asno harm came to father. By the way, Lieutenant Haines has become quitefriendly, coming out to see us two or three times."
"No one can blame him, even if you give him but a moment of your company,"replied Morgan, gallantly. "But Miss Osborne, I am sorry to say we tookyour friend prisoner. He was paroled, and no doubt is now on his wayNorth."
Miss Osborne blushed, and then said, "A good riddance; I trust I shallnever see him again. But he was kind to papa. He even returned the horse;would not keep him."
"That is lucky," responded Morgan, "for if he hadn't been returned, one ofmy men would be riding him now, and your chance of getting him would besmall."
From Pulaski Morgan pushed northeast, avoiding Shelbyville andMurfreesboro, both of these places being too strongly garrisoned for himto attack with his small force. He crossed the Nashville and Chattanoogarailroad ten miles north of Murfreesboro, burned the depot, and destroyedas much of the track as his limited time would admit. From there he rodestraight for Lebanon, Tennessee, which place he reached just at nightfall.The inhabitants received him with the wildest demonstration of joy. Buttrouble was in store for him. His men, wearied with their long ride, andelated over their continued success, became careless. They knew they wereamong friends, and thought that no harm could come to them, so they sleptwithout fear.
The Federal authorities had become thoroughly alarmed over his progress.Strong bodies of troops were in swift pursuit, from Shelbyville, fromMurfreesboro, and from Nashville.
Just before daylight the Federals charged into the little city with whoopand hurrah. Taken entirely by surprise, Morgan's men thought only offlight. Two companies under the command of Colonel Robert C. Wood beingcut off from their horses, threw themselves into a college building in theoutskirts of the city, and for three hours defended themselves withdesperation. At last being out of ammunition they were forced tosurrender.
In this unfortunate affair Morgan lost nearly two hundred of his besttroops. The rest were more or less scattered. He himself was chased foreighteen miles, and the pursuit ceased only when he, with the remnant ofhis troops, had crossed the Cumberland.
The Federals thought they had thoroughly whipped Morgan, and he would givethem no more trouble. But they did not know the man. He had started forKentucky, and to Kentucky he would go. After crossing the Cumberland, hehalted, gathered his scattered command together, and then with less thanthree hundred men, started for Glasgow.
"Lieutenant Pennington will meet us at Glasgow with reinforcements," hetold his men.
But there were some of his officers who had misgivings. Chief among thesewas Captain Conway. Speaking to another officer, a Captain Mathews, Conwaysaid: "It's strange that the Colonel has such confidence in that youngupstart. As for me, I look for no reinforcements. The best thing we can dois to get back as soon as possible."
"Captain, what is the matter?" asked Mathews. "What has that young fellowdone that you have taken such a dislike to him?"
"Nothing; but the idea of sending a mere boy on such an important mission!Why did he not send some one back with influence?"
"Pennington is well connected; you know his father is Judge Pennington ofDanville."
"That makes little difference. His mission will be a failure; see if itisn't. We shall see no reinforcements at Glasgow."
Just then Morgan came riding along, and seeing Conway said, "Captain, Iwant to thank you for the gallant manner in which you held back the enemywhile the command crossed the Cumberland. You did nobly."
This praise so pleased Conway that for a time he forgot his supposedgrievance.
Without further trouble from the Federals, the little command reachedGlasgow, where they were received with open arms by the inhabitants.Houses were thrown open to them and food provided in abundance. Butnothing had been heard of any reinforcements.
"What did I tell you?" said Conway to Mathews.
"Wait," was the answer.
The night was an anxious one. Morning came, but still nothing was heard ofany reinforcements.
"We will wait another day," said Morgan.
About noon cheering was heard, and Morgan's men nearly went wild withenthusiasm, as nearly two hundred splendidly mounted men came gallopinginto camp.
When the captain in command reported, Morgan thanked him in the warmestterms, and then looking eagerly around, said: "Where is LieutenantPennington? I do not see him."
"Lieutenant Pennington," answered the Captain, "asked leave to take twentymen and scout toward Cave City. I gave him permission to do so. He has anidea that the railroad might be reached and broken at that point."
"Ah! I have thought so myself," replied Morgan. "I shall wait for hisreport with interest."
The arrival of the two fresh companies had raised the command to as large,or larger, than it was when it started from Corinth, an
d every man waseager to go on. It was nearly night when Calhoun reported with his littlecompany. He was jubilant over what he had discovered.
"Colonel," he said, "we can easily capture Cave City, and thus sever theconnection between Louisville and Nashville. The place is lightlyguarded."
"Oh! If we could only take the place, and capture the train on which mygallant men taken prisoners at Lebanon are being taken North, I should besupremely happy," said Morgan, with much feeling.
"Perhaps we can," replied Calhoun, with enthusiasm.
"How about going farther north than Cave City?" asked Morgan.
Calhoun shook his head. "It will not do," he replied; "all the towns aretoo strongly held for your small force to cope with."
"At least we can try Cave City," answered Morgan, and orders were givenfor the command to be ready to march at sundown. The vicinity of Cave Citywas reached about two o'clock in the morning. The column was halted andthe men were ordered to rest until daylight.
As soon as it was light, Calhoun, with a soldier named Emory, was sent inadvance to the place. They were disguised as countrymen, and were tolinger around the depot, and when the charge came they were to prevent thetelegraph operator from sending warning of the raid.
Dressed in homespun clothes, and riding sorry steeds, Calhoun and Emoryplayed their part to perfection. Their entrance into the little placecaused no comment, and excited no suspicion. Sauntering into the depot,they gazed curiously around.
SAUNTERING INTO THE DEPOT THEY GAZED CURIOUSLY AROUND.]
"What's that?" asked Calhoun, pointing at the clicking telegraphinstrument.
"That, my boy," said the operator, patronizingly, "is a telegraphicinstrument. Did you never see one before?"
"No. What makes it tick?"
"Lightning, my son, lightning; that's a lightning-catcher."
Calhoun opened his eyes in wonder. "Jes' heah that," he said to Emory."What is it fer?" he continued, turning his attention to the operator oncemore.
"To send messages," replied the operator, amused at the ignorancedisplayed. "With this little instrument, I can talk with any one atLouisville or Nashville."
"What's yo-uns givin' we-uns," drawled Calhoun. "Do yo' take we-uns fo' afule?"
A guard who stood idly by laughed long and loud. "A fine specimen ofSouthern chivalry," he chuckled.
Just then there came the sound of cheering, pistol shots, and the clatterof horses' hoofs, mingled with affrighted cries.
"By heavens! the town is being raided," shouted the operator, as he sprangto his instrument.
"Stop!" thundered Calhoun. "Touch that instrument and you are a dead man."
The operator looked up amazed, only to find himself covered with arevolver.
The guard at the same time was looking into the muzzle of a weapon held byEmory.
"Drop that gun," said Emory to the trembling man.
The gun went clanging to the floor.
"You two stand there in the corner with your hands above your heads,"commanded Calhoun.
The operator and the guard obeyed with alacrity. "Keep them covered withyour revolver, Emory," continued Calhoun, "while I see what I can find.Think I will pocket these dispatches first; they may be of use."
Just then he glanced out of the window and saw four or five soldiersrunning toward the depot. There might be more following. Giving thetelegraphic instrument a kick which sent it flying, he started to leave ina hurry. Then noticing the blanched faces of the soldiers, as they camerushing into the depot, he called out, "No use running, Emory, we can takethe whole crowd prisoners, green as we look."
And they did. There was no fight in the frightened men.
When the excitement was over Calhoun looked over the dispatches which hehad captured, and found that a passenger train was due from the south inhalf an hour, and that it had orders to wait at Cave City for a freighttrain to pass, coming from the north. This was good news, and Morgan's menwaited, in glee, for the approaching trains.
At the appointed time the passenger train came rolling in. The receptionit received astonished every one on board. To Colonel Morgan's greatdisappointment his men captured at Lebanon were not on the train; butthere were a great many Federal soldiers, principally officers, aboard ontheir way North. A few of these at first made some show of resistance; butwhen they saw how hopeless their case was, they sullenly submitted totheir fate.
It was not long before the freight train came slowly puffing in. It was animmense train of forty-five cars, heavily loaded with rations, clothing,and munitions of war for Buell's army. Morgan's men freely helpedthemselves from the rich stores to everything that they needed and couldcarry, and then the work of destruction began.
The torch was applied, and soon the two trains were wrapped in flames. Theprisoners, who had gloomily watched the work of destruction, were nowlined up, and told that they would be released upon their giving theirparole. This they gladly consented to do.
It fell to Calhoun to take a list of their names, with rank and regiment.
"Don't see why I should be asked to give another parole," growled alieutenant. "I gave you fellows one at Pulaski, a short time since, andwas on my way home now, to stay until I am exchanged. How often do youwant to take a fellow prisoner, anyway?"
Calhoun glanced up much amused. The officer started, stared at him amoment, and then abruptly asked, "Is your name Pennington?"
"It is, Lieutenant Pennington, if you please."
"You and I have met before."
"Ah! I know you now. I wish to thank you, for I am told you did not visityour wrath on the Osbornes on account of my abrupt leave-taking."
"No, the girl had concealed you in the house unbeknown to the oldgentleman, and as he had assured me there were no Confederates about, hefelt real cut up about it. He actually proffered me another horse in theplace of the one you took. Said I was his guest, and should not suffer."
"Just like an old-fashioned Southern gentleman, the very personificationof honesty," replied Calhoun. "It may interest you, Lieutenant, to knowthat recovering my horse did me little good, for he went so lame I had toleave him."
"And took mine in his place," spoke up a fine-looking Federal officer whostood near, and whose name Calhoun had not yet taken.
"Captain Crawford, as I live," exclaimed Calhoun, extending his hand."Captain, I want to give you my sincere thanks. That was a fine horse youloaned me. Must have Kentucky blood in him. I am riding him yet. How aboutyour parole, Captain? You know you absolutely refused to give it to me."
"I have changed my mind."
"Ah! that is good. If you refused this time we might be obliged to takeyou along with us, and that might not be agreeable to you."
As the Captain gave his parole, he said, "This is the second time we havemet. There may be a third meeting, and it may be my time."
"_Au revoir_," gayly replied Calhoun.
Little did he think then of their next meeting, and what it would mean tohim.
The prisoners all being paroled, and the work of destruction complete,Morgan's command returned to Glasgow, loaded with booty.
The capture of the trains and the breaking of the railroad at Cave Citycaused the greatest excitement throughout the Federal army. It showed theFederal authorities how weak their line of communication was. Although somuch depended on Morgan's capture, he was left for some days almostunmolested. He made a demonstration toward Lebanon, captured a number ofprisoners, and then, when the combination against him grew too strong tobe resisted, he withdrew at his leisure and at length found rest for hiscommand at Chattanooga.
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