Wayne Township (part 14 of 22)

Mr. Lamson was a farmer and wry worthy gentleman, who died in 1838. Mrs. Lamson married Joseph Morey, who was bom near Rutland, Vermont, December 19, 1799, died April 9, 1880. He came to Granville, Ohio, in 1813. He was one of Milfords best citizens, and was much esteemed. By this marriage there were two children bom: Rose T. and Corwin. Mrs. Morey is spending the evening of her life on the homestead, where she has resided for forty-five years. She is much respected by all who know her, for her many Christian virtues. MOREY, WILLIAM, farmer. Miller township, was born in Licking county, Ohio, September 13, 1826. About a year after his parents, David and Harriet C. Morey, nee Reynolds, moved to Clinton township on a farm three miles south of Mt. Vernon, on the Utica road. Here they lived .^nd died. She had a family of eleven children. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and attended the district schools. From sixteen to twenty-one years he was at Cincinnati, where he learned the baking and confectionery business. He worked for a few years in Ohio and Illinois; the remainder of his time he has spent on the farm, except three months, when he was a member of company C, One Hundred and Forty-; econd regiment, Ohio National guards. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Ann Myers, daughter of John Myers, of Milford township, January, 1856. They had seven children, six of whom are living, viz: Marion S., Aldon D., Halleck J. (deceased), Carrie O., Dora D., Ida May, and Eddie Chase.

MORRISON, THOMAS (deceased), Beriin township, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and married Isabelle McReynolds, who was born in the same county. They had four children, viz: Isabelle, Eliza, John, and Hugh M. They emigrated to Mt. Vernon in 1821, moved to Berlin township in 1825 on their farm. The parents died at home. Hugh M. owns the home farm at present.

MORRISON, W. D., farmer and blacksmith, Beriin township, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, came to Ohio in 1844, and married Isabelle Morrison, who was bom in this township in 1826. They have seven children, viz: Mary, Eliza, Martha, Josephine, Anna Bell, Geraldine, Emma A., Thomas W. and Lilla E. Mr.

MORTON, JOHN' W. (deceased), son of Joseph and Margaret Morton, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, .Xovcmber 29. 1817. His father died in 1823. In 1826 his mother, with her children - one son and three daughters - emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, and located on a farm in Clinton township, now owned by Mrs. Margaret Morton's heirs.

Mr. Morton married Miss Martha Chambers in 1848, who was born in Miller township, Kno.x county, Ohio, November 25, 1826, daughter of Benjamin and Rachel Chambers. They settled on the old home farm with his mother, remained about seventeen years, and, in 1866, he purchased and moved on the farm where his widow and daughter are now living in Clinton township, adjoining the home farm on the north, and known as a part of the old Johnson farm.

MOUNT, CHARLES J. (deceased), Fredericktown, was bom in New Jersey in 1825, and came to Knox county when he was quite young. He was married in 1850 to Phebe D. Boberts, who was born in Knox ccrunty in 1824. They have the following family, viz : Sylvi2 W., bom in 1852; Ella J., in 1855; Charles B., in 1857; Martha R., in i860; and Elliot, in 1862.

Mr. Charles Mount was a carpenter by trade, and worked at this trade in Fredericktown. He v\as a soldier in the late war - a member of the Twentieth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He enlisted in November, 1861, and received an honorable discharge in August, 1862. He died in September, 1863, from effects of disease contracted in the army.

MOW'RY, JACOB, Union township, farmer, post office, Rossville, was born in Jefferson township in August, 1847, and remained at home until 1875, when he came to Union township. He married Catharine Armstrong in 1874, and not long after bought the farm on which he now Ii\es. He has two children - Minnie Viola and Alpha .Alice.

MOXLEY, GREENRURG W., Liberty township, deceased, was born in Maryland, November 30, 1830. He came to Liberty township when he w.,s about four years old, was reared on a farm and followed farming all his life. He was a straight forward, upright man, industrious in his business and a good farmer, kind husband and affectionate father.

August 29, i860, he was united in marriage to Miss M. Hyatt, who was born September 25, 1835. They had two children, viz; Morris R. and Elizabeth. He died January 21, 1880.

MUc:is., .A.ARON, Middlebury townsliip, labcjrer, post office, Fredericktown, born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1823, came to Miller township in 1837, and was married in 1851, to Catharine Shafer, who was born in Franklin county in 1830. and had the following children; Mary E., born September 14, 1852; John W., April 27, 1854; Louisa C, February 17, 1856; N.mcy N., December 13, 1857: Emma J., Febraary 8, iS6o; Lillie A., July6, 1865; Franklin D., July 21, 1867; Rosa B., October 9, 1869, The following are deceased: Franklin D., died Januarys, 1869; Mrs. Catherine Muck diedjanuary 21, 1878, in this county.

MUENSCHER, IXD., REV. JOSEPH, was bom in Providence, Rhode Island, December 21, 1798. He prepared for college at Phillips' academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and graduated from Brown university in 1821. He then entered the Theological seminary at Andover, where he remained one and one-half years, and on March 7, 1824, he was ordained deacon, and on March 13, 1825, was ordained priest of the Protestant Episcopal church. He was rector of Christ's church, (South Leicester, now Rochdale), Massachusetts, from 1824 to 1827; and of St. John's church, Northampton, from 182710 1831; of Trinity church, Saco, Maine, from 1831 to 1833, after which he came to Ohio and was chosen professor of sacred literature, in the Theological seminary at Gambier, where he remained from 1833 to 1841, when he resigned and accepted a call from St. Paul's church, Mt. Vernon, but continued as instructor in Hebrew in the .seminary from 1841 to 1843. He was rector of St. Paul's chi'.rch from 1841 to 1855, when he resigned, and has remained without any particular charge, but officiates occasionally. He is the author of several very popular and instructive works, one of which consists of notes explanatory of the Proverbs of Solomon, another being A Manuel of Biblical Interpretations; and a work on the orthography and pronunciation of the English language; also The Church Choir, being a collection of sacred music, which has been extensively used in the Episcopal church. He has also contributed articles to the Theological periodicals and other religious publications. He was the founder of the "Society for the relief of widows and orphans of deceased clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal church of Ohio, " and has been its secretary most of the time to the present. He was married to Miss Ruth Washburn, a sister of the late Hon. Emory Washburn, ex-governor of Massachusetts, and daughter of Joseph and Ruth Washburn, of Leicester. Massachusetts. They have had a family of seven children, viz: Joseph W., Eliza C. , Emory W., Sophia, Charles H., Robert P., and Sarah. Joseph W. graduated at Kenyon college and read law at Cambridge, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Sandusky, Ohio, where he died July 30, 1849. Eliza C. Terry died in Mt. Vernon, March 23, 1866. Emory W. graduated at Kenyon college and engaged in civil engineering at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Charles H. engaged in the mercantile business in Sandusky, Ohio, and Mrs. Sarah Young resides in Butler, Montgomery county, Illinois.

MURPHY, BENJ.\MIN, deceased, was born in Morgan county, \'irginia, on the twenty-sixth day of -April, 1783, and brought up in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. May 2, 1805, he married Miss Joar.nah Lewis, born in New Jersey, April 5, 1786. They settled on a farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where they li\ed until the fall of 1823, when they moved to Knox county, Ohio, and located in Mt. Vernon, where lie remained several years, and then purchased and moved on a farm near Fredericktown, same county. They lived on this farm a few years and then moved back to Mt. \'ernon, where his wife deceased in 1862. He died at the home of his son, Elias, two miles west of Mt. Vernon, January i8, 1867, aged eighty-four years. They reared a family of seven children, viz: Israel, born in Pennsylvania, .March 18, 1806: Elias, in Pennsylvania, Au- gust 5, 1808; Mary, in Pennsylvania, March 14, 1811; Oliver P., in Pennsylvania, January i, 1816; Martha J., in Pennsylvania, March 21, 1819; Lewis S., in Pennsylvania, November i, 1821; Eliza, in Ohio, Julys, 1824. All are now deceased except Elias, Mar)', and Eliza. Two of Mrs. Murphy's brothers, John and Thomas Lewis, served in the War of 1812. Benjamin Murphy was drafted in the same war, but owing to circumstances he could not leave home, and his brother, Barrick, went into the army in his place, served the time out and returned home.

MURPHY, ELIAS, farmer, second son of Benjamin and Joannah Murphy, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August s, 1808. He came with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, in 1823. On the twenty-ninth day of May, 1834, he married Miss Margaret Newell, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the first day of Augu.st, 1812, and was brought to Knox county, Ohio, by her parents, James and Policy Newell, in 1819. Shortly after his marriage to Miss Newell he purchased and moved on the far.m where they are now living, m Clinton township, two miles west of Mt. Vernon. He has made farming and stock raising his vocation. Their union resulted in eight childrens, two sons and six daughters. One son and one daughter are deceased. His son, Lewis M., served in the war of 1861.

Newe'l, James, deceased, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1782. He married Miss PoUey Fleming July 2, i8ri, born in Pennsylvania July 17, 1792. They settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where they remained eight years, and in 1819, emigrated to Knox county, Ohio; located in Clinton township on a farm now owned by Joseph Meyrs, two and one-hnlf miles west of Mt. Vernon, where they passed the remainder of their days. He died December 7, 1848. His companion survived him until A.pril 15, 1850.

They reared a family of seven children: Margaret, born in Pennsylvania August i, 1812; Samuel, born in Pennsylvania June 10, 1814; Sarah, born in Pennsylvania July 14, i8i5;Jane, born in Pennsylvania September 20, 18 18; Eliza A., born in Ohio December 25, 1821; Hugh, bom in Ohio December 25, 1824, James S., April 4, 1828. Two of the number are now deceased - San' h and James S.

MURPHEY, WILLIAM, HiUiar township, farmer, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 31, 1818. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother a Virginian by birth. His name was James Murphey, and his wife's maiden name was Mary Ann Paschal. They were married in Guernsey county, Ohio, and came to HiUiar township in June, 1830, and settled immediately west of where Centreburgh now stands, where he owned four hundred acres of land. They had a family of ten children, the subject of our sketch being the fifth child. 1 hey were among the early settlers of Hilliar township.

Mr. Murphey spent his youth at home with his parents on the farm, until he was about twenty-two years of age. He lived in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri about seven years, and the rest of his life has been spent in Hilliar township. He is an excellent farmer, and has the esteem of the public. He was married to Miss JuUa Ann Smith in 1846. They had five children, two of whom are living - Alva M. and Ida J.

Ohio, where he was reared and educated at th.e public schools, and remained until 1858. After leaving school he learned boatbuilding, at which he worked three years; he then followed sailing for about two years, and at the opening of the war he enlisted in company F, Forty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and served two years and one month, when he was discharged en account of disabilities and returned home.

During his term of service he came to Mt. Vernon and was married to Miss Lizzie Crandall in May, 1862. After his discharge he moved to Columbus and resided there until 1864, when he agam enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Seventysixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was made orderly sergeant.

In January, 1865, he was commissioned second lieutenant, and in March was commissioned first lieutenant, and was mustered out and discharged in July, 1865, but was immediately commissioned second lieutenant of company A, Seventeenth United States Colored infantry; and in the following December was promoted first lieutenant, in which capacity he served until 1866, when the regiment was mustered out and discharged. He was given the honor of brevet captain for meritorious service, commission to date from 1865. After his discharge he returned to Mt. Vernon and went into business. He was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Steel, and was continued under his seccessor. He has been secretary of the board of health since 1868, but is now engaged at his trade as house finisher.

Mrs. Murphy was born in October, 1838. Since 1868 she has been ministering to the comfort and happiness of the community by keeping elegant ice cream parlors; furnishing to the public ice cream of all flavors desired, by wloksale as well as retail; also lemonade and wedding cakes, as well as all other kinds of cake.

MYERS, GEORGE, farmer, Milford township, was born near Woodstock, Virginia, in the year 1813. About 1820 his parents Frederick and Mary Myers, nee Riffy, with their family came to Licking county and remained one year, and then moved to Milford township, having traded a five-horse team and wagon for one hundred acres of land, which was unimproved. They had twelve children, six of each sex, si.x of whom are living. They (the parents) lived and died on this farm.

The subject of this notice spent his young days on the farm he now resides upon and has followed farming all his life. He is a pioneer in every sense of the word. He came here when but few families lived in the township. Here he passed the years of his young manhood, and here is spending his old age. fie married Miss Catharine Gripp June i, 1838, who was born in Bennington township. Licking county, June i, 1816. The young couple began house-keeping in this township, and here reared their family.

Mrs. Myers died March 18, 1880, aged nearly sixty-four years. They had eleven children, ten of whom grew up and nine are yet living, viz: Ezra Lewis, William W. , H<^nry John, Torrenoe, George M., Winfield Scott, Frederick, Oscar. Harrison and Ida V. have deceased.

Mr. Myers is one of Milford's best citi/ens, and of its most substantial farmers. After the death of his father he purchased the old home farm on which he now resides.

MYERS, DAVID, Brown township, farmer, post office, Jelloway, and son of Abraham and Elizabeth Myers, bom in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1815, was brought to

Ohio when a child by his parents, his father locating in Steubenville, Jefferson county, where he remained until 1826, when he removed with his family to Knox county, locating near Danville, where he remained a few years. His father then moved to Pike township, where David Myers, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood.

July 28, 1836, he married Miss Catharine Pinkley, daughter of David Pinkley. bom in Richland county, April 28, 1817. After his marriage he rented a farm in Richland county, which he occupied about three years. He then moved back to Knox county, where he has since remained. About 1855-56 he purchased a farm of fifty acres one mile and a half south of Jelloway, in Brown township, where he then moved. By their union they became the parents of nine childien; Sarah E., Joseph, who served three years in the late Rebellion, in the Sixty-iifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in company A, under Captain Cassil; Margaret A., James, who died in the army in December, 1863, he being a member of the Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry in company B, I,eonard being his captain; William, Armanda, Masey, David M. and Mary. Janu.^ry i, 1857, h's companion died at the age of forty years.

In 1867 he married Libby Bailey, widow of William Bailey, born in Danville, Knox county in 1825. About five years after this marriage he bought a farm of one hundred and four acres southwest of Jelloway, where he then moved, and has ever since lived.

MYERS, JOHN, treasurer of Knox county, is a resident of Mt. Vernon. He was born in Bedford caunty, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1830. His parents came to Knox county in 1836, and engaged in farmmg. The subject of this sketch followed farming for a few years, and then engaged in the grocery business. From the grocery he entered the dry goods store of William Hendrick, where he remained for one year, and then returned to farming.

Mr. Myers was elected county recorder in 1871, and reelected in 1874. At the October election in 1879 he was elected county treasurer, which office he now holds. He was married to Miss Lorretta J. Armstrong, eldest daughter of the late Colonel John Armstrong, September 22, 1858, by whom he has had three children, only one of whom is now living.

MYERS, JOHN W., Milford township, farmer, is a native of Milford township, was born February 21, 1837. son ot Frederic Myers, of whom mention is made in this volume, in the biography of Jeorge W. Myers.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and has always followed it as his vocation. He started in life poor, but has secured a competency by industry and frugality. He is an excellent farmer, and his farm shows careful attention, and is an estimable citizen.

MYERS, WILLIAM W., Milford township, wagonmaker and repairer of all kinds of farming implements, Lock post office, was born in Milford township, March 13, 1841. He is the son of George and Catharine Myers. He was on his father's farm until twenty years of age. He then went to the carpenter trade, learned it, then took up the trade, which he is now following. He is a natural mechanic and can manufacture almost anything which can be made in the way of sleighs, sleigh runners, in fact he can construct anvthing of the vehicle kind. He

He was married to Miss Julia Niebel, daughter of Joseph Niebel, April 14 1864. They had three children - James Lewis, born January 8, 1865, died October 3, 1877; Ella Elma, July 19, 1868; Aremenia, January 25, 1872, died April 9, 1875.

MORGAN, GENERAL GEORGE W. The paternal and maternal ancestors of the subject of this sketch were Celts. His great-grandfather, Evan Morgan, emigrated to the United States from Wales, and established himself at Prospect, a country seat near Princeton, New Jersey.

Prior to the war of the Revolution, George Morgan, son of Evan, became a member of the firm of Baynton, Wharton & Morgan, one of the largest commercial houses in Philadelphia, aad in 1764 he married Mary Baynton, daughter of the senior member of the firm. Her mother's maiden name was Chevalier, and her parents were both of French extraction.

Early in April, 1776, about foui months prior to the declaration of independence, the Continental Congress appointed George Morgan Indian agent, with instructions to negotiate certain treaties with the Indians.

Know ye; That the delegates of the Colonies of New Hampshire; Massachusetts Bay; Rhode Island; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Maryland; Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; and Georgia, in Congress assembled; reposing especial confidence in George Morgan Esquire, have nominated and appointed him, the said George Morgan, Esquire, Agent under their Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the middle department.

The annals of Heckewelder and Hildreth, and Taylor in his history of Ohio, speak of the important services rendered by George Morgan in his negotiations with the various tribes of Indians, whom he never deceived.

Among other treaties, he negotiated one with the Delawares, whose confidence he enjoyed to an almost unlimited extent. As an evidence of their regard, they conferred upon him the title of Tamerind - the Truth Teller - after the great Delaware chief who had borne that name.

That war was not an exception to wars generally, so far as the rivalship and ambition of leaders were concerned. They clashed then, as they have since, and will always continue to do. Certain generals aspired to chief leadership, and sought to I supplant \\'asliington. Prominent among those aspirants were Gates and Lee. General Conway belonged to their faction, which was opposed with bitterness by Generel Cadwalader. A duel was the result. Cadwalader challenged Conway, and according to the usages of the times, Colonel George Morgan, although a friend of Washington, acted as Conway's second, or, as the French term it, his witness. They fought with pistols. Tlie choice of ground, and the first shot, by lot fell to Conway. The day was gusty, and probably to this fact Cadwalader owed his life. A gust swept across Conway's line of fire, and his ball whistled harmlessly near Cadwalader's head. The wind still blew in sudden puffs. Cadwalader raised his arm to fire, but feeling the force of the wind, let it fall again, without touching the trigger.

The wind lulled, and with the utmost deliberation, Cadwalader fired, and Conway staggered and was caught in Morgan's arms. The ball struck him squarely in the mouth, barely missed the spinal column, and was caught in his hair, which, according to the custom of that day, was worn long, and tied in a clump or club behind.

Sir: - You will see by the enclosed letter from the Marquis de la Fayette to me, that the Empress of Russia is desirous of obtaining some authentic documents, respecting the language of the natives of this country for the purpose of compiling an universal Dictionary.

As I have thought no person was more in condition to accomplish that essential service, for the republic of letters than yourself, I have taken the liberty of transmitting a specimen of the vocabulary to you, together with a request that you will do me the favor of paying as early and accurate attention to the completion of the matter, as your avocations will admit.

Persuaded that a gentleman of your taste for science in general, and particularly of your capacity for acquiring the information in question, will enter upon the task with pleasure, I make no apology for troubling you with it, nor do I think it necessary to add anything farther, than that it may be e.xpedient to extend the vocabulary as far as with the aid of your friends, you conveniently can, and that the greatest possible precision and exactitude will be indispensable, in committing the Indian words to paper by a just orthography.

The enclosed, my dear General, is a vocabulary which the empress of Russia Has requested me to Have filled up with Indian names, as she has ordered an universal dictionary to be made of all languages. It v.'ould greatly oblige her to collect the words she sends translated into the several idioms of the nations on the banks of the Oyho (Ohio). Presly Nevil and Morgan of Fort Pitt, General Mullenberg in Fayette county, and our other friends could undertake it for us, and be very attentive in accuracy. I beg your pardon my dear General, for the trouble I give you, but Have been particularly applied to, and cannot dispense with paying great attention to the business. This goes with so long an epistle of mine that I shall only present you here with my best love and wishes, and am my dear General, your respectful and tender friend

Some years after the recognition of American Independence, Colonel George Morgan purchased a farm, long known as Morganza, near Canonsburgh, in western Pennsylvania. It was from that place President Jefferson received his first intelligertce of Burr's conspiracy.

In his life of Aaron Burr, Parton says: "It so chanced that one of Burr's first visits, on his western tour had consequences of the utmost importance.

" It was to the house of Colonel Morgan, a name of renown in the west, a valiant old campaigner who lived with his two stalwart sons near the little town of Canonsburgh, Pennsylvania, ' that this fatal visit was made. Civilities had passed between Morgan and Burr in former years, and that old patriot had concevied for Burr a very warm friendship, which his misfortunes and peculiarities strengthened. As his custom was. Colonel Burr gave notice of his coming, and the old gentleman bursting with hospitality sent forth his two sons to meet the expected guests. Colonel Burr rode with one of the sons and Colonel De Peister with the other. Burr's con\ersation surprised the young gentlemen. Among other things he said the Union could not last long; a separation of the States must ensue in four or five years. He made minute inquiries respecting the militia and arms of the country, and of the character of the officers. One of Morgan's workmen 1 banced to pass, and Burr said he wished he had ten thousami such men."

Colonel George Morgan and his sons, John and Thomas, were witnesses on behalf of the Government at Burr's trial; and it was at Richmond, where the trial took place, that Thomas Morgan and Katherine Duane, the future parents of George W. Morgan, first met. Miss Duane was daughter of Colonel William Duane, editor of the Aurora, the recognized organ of Thomas Jefferson. His father, John Duane, married Anastatia Sarsfleld, a collateral relative of General Patrick Sarsfield, who commanded the Irish troops at the famous battle of Limerick. John Duane and wife emigrated from Ireland to the United States in the first half of the Eighteenth century, and settled near Lake Champlain in the State ol New York. Their son William was born in 1760, and after the death of his father, in 1771, his mother returned to Ireland, where he received a classical education, and greatly excelled as a linguist. Anastatia Duane was a devout Catholic, and became forever estranged from her son because he married Katherine Corcoran, a Presbyterian.

In 1784 William Duane went to Calcutta, in India, and established a journal called T/te World, one side of which was printed in English and the other in Hindoostan. The paper acquired great influence, and Duane amassed a considerable fortune in a few years. He dreamed of an Anglo-Indian empire; and the governor general became uneasy at the influence of Tke World. One fine morning when a ship was about to sail for England Duane was invited to breakfast with that officer, and was entertained with every semblance of hospitality. The breakfast over, in marched a guard of soldiers, who arrested Duane and conveyed him on board the English ship. His large property was confiscated by the governor general, and on his arrival in England he in vain sought for redress. He soon became the editor of The Advertiser, the organ of the pronounced Hberals who followed the lead of John Home Tooke. In consequence of the boldness of his articles he was arrested for ITbel; and in 1795 he returned to the United States, and became the associate editor with Bache of The Aurora, and soon became the sole editor and proprietor. That journal led the opposition to the administration of John Adams, and upon the action of the Senate, Duane was indicted and tried for libel under the sedition laws. He was heavily fined, but the fines were afterwards remitted by President Jefferson.

Duane was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in a regiment of rifles in the army of the United Stales, and held that rank in the War of 1812. He was the author of a number of scientific and literary works, among which was a work on tactics, which for many years was recognized as authority. His son, William J. Duane, was Secretary of the Treasury under Andrew Jackson, with whom he had a rupture. Duane refused to remove the public deposits from the United States bank, on the ground that the bank was entitled to hold them until the expiration of its charter. As a compromise, Jackson tendered him tlie mission to Russia, which he declined. He was then removed, and Roger B. Taney was appointed his successor.

George \\'. Morgan was boni at Washington, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1820. The course of hi.s education was irregular. He was for four years in what was then known as the English department connected with Washington college, and was in the grammar school before enrolling as a private soldier in the army of t!ie Republic of Te.xas.

He early evinced a fondness for history, and read with avidity the Lives of Plutarch, Rollins' Ancient Historv, and the separate lives of the great military captains. After his return from Te.xas he entered Washington college, and was in that institution about eighteen months, when he was sent to the military academy, where he remained two years.

On the si.xth day of September, 1836, Captain Thomas J. Morgan organized a company of volunteers for service in the Republic of Texas, then menaced with a second invasion by Mexico, and George enrolled his name as a vojunteei in his brother's company. Not long after the arrival of the company in Texas, George was promoted to be first sergeant, and entered with zeal on the discharge of his duties.

The army of Texas was then in Camp Independence, on the La Bacca, under the command of Brigadier General Felix Huston, late a lawyer of Natchez, Mississippi. He was a man of eloquence, courage, and energy, and by instinct a soldier. His army was well drilled, but not well disciplined. As a commander, Huston was after the style of Wallenstein, and governed his soldiers by his personal magnetism; and they would have followed him wherever he chose to lead. During the intervals of drill he would make passionate harangues to his troops; recite the tragedy of the Alamo, and the butchery of Fannin and his five hundred comiades at Goliad. Then would follow a glowing description of Mexico; a thrilling narrative of the conquest by Ferdinand Cortez; and he promised to lead his soldiers to the halls of the iMontezumas, if the President and Congress would allow him to do so. Sam Houston was then President, and Congress was in session at Columbia, the capital of the Stale. Albert Sidney Johnston, who afterwards fell at Shiloh, was the adjutant general of Texas. He was a graduate of the United States military academy, and was recognized by all who knew him as possessing many dements of greatness. With a kindly heart, he was grave, dignified, and reserved, but without the magnetism that was one of the chief characteristics of Sam Houston.

Major Gray, Captain T. J. Morgan, and probably other officers, informed the President through the adjutant general, of the demoralized condition of the army.

Felix Huston was brigadier general in command of the army in the field, while the rank ot Sidney Johnston was colonel. Congress authorized the President to commission a first brigadier general, a grade till then unknown, and the commission was bestowed on Johnston.

In the meantime Sam Houston visited the camp on the La Bacca. He was a man of majestic presence; six feet four inclies in height, and nobly developed in person. He was alike great as a statesman and as a soldier. Having called upon General Huston, he visited the hospital, cheered the sick, and here and there recognized an old comrade of San Jacinto. The next day he reviewed the army; caused it to be formed in double column closed in mass, and addressed the troops in deep and solemn tones, as a father might speak to his erring children.

W'hen Felix Huston harangued the army, as he often did, the cheers of the soldiers could be heard far away over the prairies. But when Sam Plouston spoke, there was an impressive silence. He briefly reviewed the struggle of Texas for independence. The most dangerous enemies of Texas, he said, were not in Mexico, but in the United States. Texans had no cause to fear those who would meet them in the field, with arms in their hands; but real danger to Texas was to be apprehended from the charges of those who represented the Texans as a lawless banditti. He appealed to the soldiers to aid him in making Texas respected by the nations; and that could only be done by every citizen and soldier yielding cordial obedience to the laws.

A few days after President Houston had returned to Columbia, while Felix Huston was manoeuvering his troops on the prairie, several horsemen were seen to approach along the trail leaJing towards the capital. It was Sidney Johnston and his staff.

At a glance, Felix Huston comprehended the situation; and advanced to meet the man, by whom he had been overslaughed. Their salualions were courteous and dignified. Huston invited Johnston and his staff to sup with him, and the invitation was accepted. These two men were of opposite types in every thing, but courage. In aspect, Johnston was bronzed and stern. His hau- was was thick and nearly black; his forehead, broad and high; his brows, heavy and projecting; his eyes, dark brown, and serious in their expression. Xo one ever met Sidney Johnston, who did not feel he was in the presence of a remarkable man.

Felix Huston was the taller, but not the heavier man. His complexion was fair; his eyes, in one of which was a slight cast, were grey-blue; and his hair, light brown. He possessed more magnetism than Johnston, but was not so great man. Huston had a dash of recklessness in his composition, and the faults which belonged to his temperment; but was as generous, as he was brave.

While thus, the rival chieftains, greeted each other, the eye of every soldier was bent upon them; and as they parted, young Sergeant Morgan, turned to his brother and said: Tom,

The supper passed off pleasantly; but scarcely had Johnston reached his quarters, when Major Ross of Huston's staff, delivered him a cartel from his chief. The correspondence, the author has never seen, and what he narrates of the duel, is legendary ; but believed to be true.

In his note, Huston said there was no man in Texas, under whom he would be more proud to serve, than General Johnston, for whom he entertained great respect as an officer, and gentS'- man. But the President, with authority of Congress, had promoted a junior officer over him. That as he could not demand satisfaction of them all, he requested the honor of a meeting with their representative; and that Major Ross was authorised to make the necessary arrangements. Johnston promptly replied, reciprocating the courteous sentiments expresed by Huston, named sun-rise the next morning, as the time, and the west bank of the La Bacca as the place of meeting; and designated Colonel Moorehouse as his friend.

who messed there, a pocket case of surgical instruments, to amputate the crushed fingei of a poor fellow, as Reed said, who had been accidentally injured. Sergeant Morgan exclaimed: "And so it requires pocket instruments to amputate a finger, does It?" The captain still discredited the idea of a duel. The next morning, as young Morgan was calling the roll of his company at reveille, two pistol shots were heard from the direction of the river; and the sergeant, without finishing the roll call, ordered: "Break ranks! march! "and exclaimed: "Boys, Johnston and Huston are fighting," and broke for the river, on the opposite bank of which, but out of view, the duel was taking place.

There was but one brace of duelling pistols in camp; they belonged to Huston, and of necessity were used. The spring of one of the locks was weak; Huston called attention to the fact, and chose that pistol for himself. Johnston had never pulled a hair trigger, while Huston was a crack shot. To equalize the chances it was arranged, at Huston's suggestion, that the elbow of the pistol arm should be kept against the hip, and that the forearm alone should be raised to fire. .At the first shot Johnston's ball cut a twig, which fell at Huston's feet. He took it up, and said: "A capital shot, General." Johnston passed a finger through a bullet hole in the lappel of his coat, and replied: "Not so good as yours. General." Huston missed at the second shot, and the ball of Johnston entered the ground a few feet from him, on the line of fire. At the third shot Johnston missed his aim, and Huston's pistol snapped. He sat down at the root of a tree, and braced the spring by inserting a small splint of wood. While doing so, he noticed that Moorehouse, Johnston's second, was about to load with a defective ball when Huston called out, " Here, Colonel, is a good ball. The flaw in that one would catch the wind," and Johnston's pistol was loaded with the perfect ball taken from Huston's pocket. At the fourth shot Johnston fell. The ball entered the hip on the right side, and was extracted from the left by a simple incision of the skin. The wound was painful, and not free from danger. When Johnston fell, he promptly raised himself on his elbow, and said: "Gentlemen, 1 call upon you all to bear witness that this affair has been conducted honorably."

The combatants now repose in death. Huston died, long since, in the south; and Johnston fell at Shiloh. His friends believe, that had he not fallen, the fate of that day had been different.

In February, 1837, Sergeant Morgan was promoted to a second lieutenantcy of artillery, in the regular army, and was ordered to report to the commandant of tlu- post or. Gnlvcstun island.

In an army, and especially in such an army, inaction breeds discontent, and discontent is the parent of mutiny. Nearly every State in the Union was represented, and every man had gone to avenge Fannin, and Travis, and Crockett, and Bowie. Every man wished to aid in transferring the lone star of Texas, to our National banner, but the Mexicans threatened and made demonstrations, but did not seek those whom they denounced as invaders. The fare of the army was rough ; for long months at a time the soldiers lived on beef coffee, and tobacco, without bread or vegetables. But if the fare was rough, the clothing was worse, for the treasury of Texas was empty, and the soldiers received no pay. .And for all this, never, in the world's history, did any country do so much for her soldiers as Texas has done. Those who enlisted for the war, on their discharge, received a warrant tor one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land. One-third of a century after Texas was annexed to the Union, every surviving veteran of the Texan revolution was given a pension of one thou.sand dollars; and, several years ago, an additional land grant of six hundred and forty acres was made to every indigent veteran who had served in that revolution; and on the fifteenth of March, 1881, by a:t of the Texas legislature, another grant of one thousand two liundred and eighty _ acres was made to every surviving vetei:T, or to his widow.

Nevertlieless, a mutinous epidemic bn ke out in the camp of the main army in 1837, and spread to every post in Texas. .Amidst a terrific midnight storm. Colonel Teal was shot dead in his tent. Who fired the shot has never been known.

Shortly afterward a mutiny broke out at Camp Johnston, on the Navadad. The leaders were arrested and put in irons. The guard was doubled, and Captain Thomas J. Morgan was captain of the guard. During the night, a large body of armed men assembled in front of the guard tent and demanded the release of the prisoners. The guard was under arms ready to obey orders. Captain Morgan stepped to the front and briefly addressed the mutineers. He spoke to them in a kindly manner, but with firmness. He appealed to them to return to .their duty, and told them they could only reach the prisoners over the dead bodies of the guard. His firmness and presence of mind restored discipline, and as a recognition of his services he was commissioned major; by which title he was known until the hour of his death.

The post at Velasco next suffered. Lieutenant Sprowl joined the mutineers, and was shot and instantly killed by Captain Snell, commandant of the post.

.At that time there were two companies at Galveston, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Lynch, and the disease of mutiny next attacked them. The entire want of pay, for Texas had no money; the want of proper food - the soldiers having lived on fresh fish for three weeks; the want of clothing; and, more than all, the want of an active and glorious campaign, were the combined causes which demoralized the army.

Lieutenant Berth had been a sergeant in the army of the L'nited States, and in that service would have been efficient as an adjutant - he was the adjutant of the post of Galveston. He was as cold and precise as a machine, and the soldiers detested him. He received an anonymous warning not to sleep in his quarters; and that very night a shell exploded under his bed and blew it to pieces, while Berth lay concealed in the grass near by. The next day he fled from the island.

Adam Clendennin, Morgan's captain, was very unpopular. He was young, haughty and brave. A note was sent to him, demanding that he should leave the island. He treated it with contempt. The ne.xt night, while Clendennin and Morgan were in their quarters, built of sand sod, matted together by the roots of grass, Herculano, a Mexican sen'ant, came running in, pale and trembling, and exclaimed; "The soldiers! the soldiers !"

Seizing their swords, they rushed out, and saw three soldiers loading a cannon pointed at their sand sod building, and not over fifteen paces from it. They rushed toward the gun; the would-be assassins sunk in the tall prairie grass and disappeared. The gun was spiked, and left in its position. On the next mornmg, while Clendennin and Morgan were at breakfast, the crack of a musket was heard, and a ball crashed tlirough the slats of the window in front of the table at which they were seated. A prompt, but fruitless search was made. They returned to breakfast, and consulted as to what was best to be done. Clendennin determined to ask for orders to proceed to Houston, to report the condition of affairs at the war office. He had made but a step from the door, when the report of a musket was heard, and a ball whistled close to his head. He took the first boat for Houston.

First Lieutenant Beaumont had resigned, and Morgan was left in command of the company. .A committee of three, composed of First Lieutenant Agnew, a half-breed Indian, named Smith, and another, called on Morgan to assure him that he had nothing to fear if he did not interfere. He replied that It was their place to obey orders, not to give them; that he was m command of the company by the authority of his commission, and would do his duty. The military forms of roll call, parade, and guard-mounting were continued, but the mutineers were in frequent consultation. That day and night passed off quietly, but towards morning Morgan was awakened by Ordinance Sergeant Keoph, who told him that Smith was ringleader of the mutiny; that he was trying to pursuade the men to kill the remaining officers, seize a biig, then lying in the bay, and put to sea. That on the coming midnight a general con. sultation was to be held in the street formed by the huts occupied by Morgan's company. Ten of Morgan's men, and Sergeant Grover remained true, but feigned to sympathize with the mutineers. By prearrangement they were detailed for guard duty, on the following day, and by the roster it fell to Morgan's lot to be officer of the day.

The new guard was mounted; the day passed off with unusua) quiet, and at night Morgan had the faithful Herculano conceal himself in the grass to watch any movement on part of the mutineers. Toward midnight he crept to Morgan's quarters and told him they were assembling, but without arms. The Mexican was sent with written orders to Sergeant Grover to meet Morgan with his ten men in rear of his company's quarters. The tall grass concealed their approach. Their arms were loaded with buck shot. Grover was charged to look to Smith. The guard noislessly filed between the huts, faced to the mutineers with their backs to a hut. The surprise was complete. Morgan had cautioned the guard not to fire unless he gave the word. He commanded, 'Make ready!' The half-breed stepped fonvard and commenced to draw a heavy blunderbuss pistol but was instantly struck over the head and knocked senseles by the butt of Grover's musket. Morgan then told the men that only seven of them were guilty, and, calling their names, ordered them to step to the front, or be fired upon. They came forward and were ironed, marched to the guardhouse, and the remainder of the command were dismissed to their quarters, with the injunction to return to their duty. The suddenness of the surprise, the fall of Smith, the sense of guilt, and the chance of being regarded as innocent, demoralized those who were on the verge of desperate mutiny.

In the meantime Clendennin was not idle. He rallied a large body of officers who had just been furloughed, and armed to the teeth, and reenforced by a party of citizens who were keen for a fray, took a steamer and reached Galveston on the night following the arrest of the ringleaders. It was well they came. Toward morning a large body of mutineers by their numbers overawed the guard and libeiated the prisoners. By this time Clendennin's reinforcement had landed, and the mutineers quietly retired to their quarters. On the beach near Lynch's quarters were two heavy guns which he had turned towards the barracks of the two companies, and they were ordered to parade. The order was obeyed, and the ringleaders were again returned to the guardhouse.

Ten minutes afterwards. Colonel Lynch, by Surgeon Sheppard, sent a challenge to Clendennin. It had been reported to Lynch that Clendennin had uttered some serious reflections against him at Houston. The challenge was peremptory, and was instantly accepted, the duel to take place immediately after the adjournment of the court martial, which was at once to assemble to try the mutineers. Lynch was the president; Morgan, as junior officer, the judge-advocate; and Clendennin was a member of the court.

The court immediately assembled. The accused were jointly tried, and found guilty. But the court considered all the circumstances of mitigation, and was lenient in its sentence. All pay, and one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of bounty land were forfeited, and the mutineers were dishonorably discharged, and sent from the island, with a warning not to return.

Lynch and Clendennin proceeded from the court to the beach, and while Morgan was writing the report of the proceedings of the court, the report of the pistol of the combatants was heard. The principals, at the word, wheeled and fired. Clendennin was struck in tlie side, but the ball, striking a button, glanced, and the wound was slight.

.Morgan was immediately promoted to the first lieutenantcy, made vacant by the resignation of Beaumont, and on the reorganization of the army, under President Lamar, he was made captain in the First regiment of regular infantry, commanded by Colonel Bruleson, and at eighteen years of age commanded the post at Galveston.

Peace was never ratified between Texas and Mexico, and a quasi war continued until the conclusion of the treaty of peace between the United States and Mexico, in 1848.

In June, 1843, Captain Morgan, as he was then known, came to Mt. Vernon. He had but fifty cents in his pocket, and there were only three persons in Knox county whom he had ever met - Caleb J. McN'ulty, A. Banning Norton, and Dr. A. C. Scott. He was young, strong, full of hope, and ready to work. He entered the law office of the Hon. John K. Miller as a law student, and became the partner of his preceptor as soon as he was admitted to the bar. But the following spring the war with Mexico broke out^ and he abandoned the law office, to become the captain of "The Young Guard," which organized in Mt. Vernon. He had been in Ohio only three years, when at Cincinnati he was elected colonel of the Second Ohio, hy the unanimous voice of his company officers.

As is generally the case, every one seemed to believe that the war would be of short duration; and the volunteers were enlisted to serve for a single year. They could have been as readily enlisted for the war. During that year Colonel Morgan served in the army, commanded by General Zachary Taylor. For some months he was stationed at Camargo, which enabled him, with the efficient assistance of Lieutenant Colonel Irwin and Major William Wall, to bring his regiment to a high state of drill and discipline. Not the discipline of regulars, for the very nature of the volunteer service renders that impracticable. Nay, more, it requires years to establish such discipline, under favorable circumstances, but when once established an army acts with the certainty of a machine, and it is superior to a machine because action is guided by reason. But there are advantages in the volunteer system. There is more individuality; and the road to promotion and glory is open to every soldier in the ranks ; which is the inspiration of success.

Morgan's regiment was well disciplined; and in the rapidity of its evolutions, and in steadiness of courage, it was the equal of any regular regiment. On the twenty-sixth of February, 1847, with a batallion of his regiment, he fought and repulsed General Urea and a force of lancers ten times Morgan's strength. The march and fight was in a square, and Morgan's men displayed the coolness and steadiness of veterans. Had they been less steady or less cool, not a man would have been left to tell the story of slaughter and defeat. Taylor devoted a special report to that series of actions, and that report secured the promotion of Morgan to the senior colonelcy of the eight additional infantry regiments in the regular army; and he was the only officer in that war who commanded a separate volunteer and regular regiment.

After the final repulse of Urea, Morgan left his command with Lieutenant Colonel Irwin, and proceeded to the citadel of Monterey. Meeting Adjutant Riddle, whom he knew, but by whom he was not recognized, he said: "Adjutant, I ,vish to see Colonel Ormsby." "The colonel is not in the fort; if you have any message I will deliver it to him on his return." "1 wish to see the colonel personally." "Who are you? Are you an orderly from Colonel Morgan?" Morgan straightened himself and replied: "I am Colonel Morgan, sir." At this unexpected reply Riddle and the officers with him gave a hearty laugh; but seeing that Morgan was offended at once with courteous hospitality invited him to his quarters, placed a lunch and bottle of bourbon on the table, and invited him to partake of them. Exhausted and hungry Morgan relished the lunch, after which Riddle handed him a small mirror, when Morgan gazed and scarcely recognized himself. He was begrimmed with powder smoke and dust; his hair was mattered and unkempt; his shirt was soiled and black, and he wore no badge of an officer on his person. He now laughed as heartily as the Kentuckians had done, and said: Now, gentlemen, I understand you."

When Morgan reached Agua Nueva he was cordially received by Taylor, who congratulated him on his victory over Urea. As "Old Zac," as the soldiers loved to call him, was about to leave for Walnut Springs, he ordered Morgan to re- port to Brigadier General John E. Wool, who was to remain in command of the main body of the army, to be established on the field of Buena Vista.

Morgan's regiment was without tents, and nearly without camp equipage of any kind. During the two days' rest at Saltillo the men had to go into quarters, and as they were" exhausted they were relieved from duty, but conducted themselves remarkably well. However, the military governor of that place, feeling that he might be superseded in command, reported to Wool that the soldiers of Morgan were behavii.g badly. When, therefore, in obedience to orders, Morgan reported to General Wool, he was received coldly. He said that he had been informed that Morgan's troops had been carousing at Saltillo, and asked "What have you to say to that sir? "

"General," replied Morgan, "I have great respect for you as my commanding officer, but you have not a better disciplined regiment in your command than mine. The report made to you, by whomsoever made, is not true. "

' ' No, the report is official, and it will be well if you will give your officers to understand that they are under an officer who will not tolerate abuses."

Morgan received written orders to go into camp at "The Narrows," immediately in front of the Buena Vista, and to thoroughly police the ground which \v;:s still littered with the bodies of mules, horses, and some unburied Mexicans. He was informed that the day after the morrow ;lie whole army would go into camp at Buena Vista, and recen r d written orders not to allow any officer or soldier to pass ' The Narrows," in advance of the column without a written pass from Wool's headquarters. This order was intended for the volunteers; as it turned out, it caught the regulars.

It is nineteen miles from the Aqua Nueva to the Narrows. At dawn the next morning, with a few wagons laden with tarpaulins and poles, instead of tents, eight companies of the Second Ohio, under Morgan - two having been left with Wool at the pass of the Rinconada - took the lines of march for the Narrows. Arrived there, Morgan told his men what had taken place between himself and Wool; that they were sent to police that ground, as a punishment for an offence they had not committed. Although they had just marched nineteen miles, he told them to redeem their reputation by a thorough police of the ground upon which they were to camp before sun-down. The men sprang cheerfully to work; every vestige of the battle, save the blood stains on the rocks, was removed; and the sinks were all dug and arranged before sunset.

The army of Wool was to come down the next morning. The officer of the day and the officers of the guard were instmcted not to allow any officer or soldier to pass the Narrows in advance of the army, without a written pass from General Wool. About nine in the morning Colonel Churchill, inspector general of the army, a veteran of merit, and a rigid disi;iplinarian, with two or three other officers, reached the Narrows, on their way to lay out Wool's camp. They were halted by the guard, and their passes demanded. In vain they replied they had been sent forward by General Wool. The guard refused to allow them to pass, but an officer of the guard offered to conduct them to Morgan's quarters. He saw them coming, and suppressing the smile which sought to assert itself, met the veteran colonel with grave courtesy and requested him to alight. The inspector general declined; said he was under orders from

General Wool to lay out his camp. Morgan regretted to detain him; but he, too, was acting under orders, which it was his duty to enforce. The officers were again invited to alight, and this time the invitation was accepted. Cigars were offered; declined by the veteran, but smoked by his juniors.-

In about an hour, Wool arrived. He, too, was halted by the guard, who did not recognize him; his pass was demanded, and he was escorted to Morgan's tent. The old martinet had a keen sense of humor, and failed to repress a smile, on seeing the veteran and rigid Churchill held as a prisoner. Raising his cap, Morgan advanced to receive his general, when Wool said. " What does all this mean, colonel?" "These gentlemen, general, sought to go through my lines without a written pass from your headquarters, and I have arrested them and await further orders." " Well, colonel, let them proceed. You enforce orders rather strictly." "No exceptions were made, in the order, general, and it is my habit to obey orders as I receive them." "Well, well, we will let it pass. Your camp is nicely policed, but you must have sinks dug." "That, sir, was done on yesterday. "I will look at them," he said. The boys had worked like heroes, and Wool said with an approving smile, "That's very well, sir, very well. Good morning colonel." The heart of the old chieftain was won, and ever afterwards, he called the Ohio troops his regulars.

.\s the e.xpiration of the term of service of the Ohio troops drew nigh. Colonel Morgan expressed a desire to reorganize his regiment. General Wool gave him a letter to General Taylor, requesting the commanding general to give Morgan a letter to the President, advising that authority might be given Morgan to reorganize his regiment.

On presenting to General Taylor Wool's lettei , after reading it, Taylor turned to Major Bliss, his chief of staff, and said, " Major, give Colonel Morgan his commission as colonel of the Fifteenth infantry. " The surprise of Morgan was complete, as lie had received no intimation uf the good fortune which awaited him.

Early in [une, 1847, Colonel Morgan reached Vera Cruz to take command of his new regiment, which was composed of five companies enlisted in Ohio, three in Michigan, one in Wisconsin, and one in Iowa. The lieutenant colonel, Howard, had ser\'ed twenty years as an officer of the regular army; Major Woods was promoted from a captaincy in the Sixth infantry, and Major Mills was a man of fine intelligence, great personal courage and ambition. He was killed at the very gates of the City of Mexico.

Thornton Broadhead, who was colonel of the First Michigan cavalry in the late civil war, and who died an heroic death at the second battle of Bull Run, was the adjutant of the Fifteenth infantry; and one of the color-bearers of that regiment, Morgan met at Chickasaw as lieutenant colonel of an Iov\a regiment.

Just as the I-'ifteenth was about to take up the line of march for the interior. Lieutenant McCleary, of Hamilton, Ohio, who was the regimental quartermaster, rode up to Colonel Morgan and said: "Colonel, 1 will join you to-night, or in the morning. I must look to my vouchers." His hand was hot and dry, and before morning he was dead.

to let the troops recuperate. From thence to Puebla the column was annoyed along the line by a rattling fire from Juarez's men, but not of sufficient consequence to narrate.

Of all the lands beneath the sun none is so grand, or so beautiful as Mexico. It has its pest spots, but one forgets them while contemplating the grandeur of her mountains, the magnificence of her table lands, and the lu.xuriant beauty of htr groves of the orange, the lime, the fig, the pomegranate, and the mango. And of the cities of the world among the most beautiful are Puebla and Mexico.

The deeds of Scott outshone those of Cortez. The Spaniard attacked the Aztecs with firearms, while they had none. Cortez had cavalry, but the Aztec regarded a mounted soldier as a god. But when Scott came he met not the Aztec hut the Aztec's conqueror.

Vera Cruz is defended by what is regarded as one of the most powerful fortresses in the world; but Scott captured the walled city, thus defended, with a loss of only thirty men.

Then came Cerro Gordo; its rugged crests piercing the clouds, the impassable ravine which flanked the road, making destruc tion inevitable to those who might be driven over the precipire. The place seemed impregnable - against an ordinary army it was so. But there was Scott and Worth, and Persifer Smith, and Shields and Harney, and Duncan and Hunt, and scores of other heroes; and Cerro Gordo added one more leaf to the chaplet which crowned Scott's brow.

Pueblo became a school of training for Scott's whole army. And such rivalry, such emulation to excel, has been seldom seen. The old army did not love the new; and while the newregiments acccepted the old ones as models they aspired to excel them.

There was a striking contrast between Scott and Taylor. Each merits a place on the roll of renowned captains. Scott was lofty in statue and in character. He gloried in the pomp and panolpy of war. In Mexico he never appeared on the street without epaulets, and sword, and sash, and coat buttoned to the chin.

.\s for Taylor, he was never so uncomfortable as when in full uniform. Scott's ten thousand men at Puebla formed a splendid army. It was in the very heart of a country with nine million inhabitants, whose capital it proposed to capture. The army was composed of the divisions of Twiggs, Quitman, Worth, and Pillow, the whole four only equal in numbers to the division of Morgan while he held Cumberland Gap. The four divisions advanced from Puebla on the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth of August, 1847, in the order already named. On the twelfth and thirteenth a reconnoissance was made of the lull, El Penon, which commanded the main route to the city, and which was armed by three tiers of heavy guns, the base of the hill being enveloped in water. On the thirteenth a reconnoissance was also made on Mexicalcingo, which was five miles from the city. Both places were regarded as impracticable.

Our army was in position about Lake Chalco, with its head towards El Penon. The order of advance was inverted. Worth, Pillow, Quitman, and Twiggs marched, in the order named, southward around Lake Chalco, and thus the city was turned.

When Twiggs withdrew to follow the column he was attacked, but the skirmish was light, and without any result. On the eighteenth. Captain Seth Thornton, the same who was wrecked on the coast of Florida during the Indian war, and who was captured with Hardy at the opening of our war with Mexico, was sent forward from .San Augustin to aid a reconnoissance.

He Was fired upon by a masked battery, and cut nearly in two. He was the first man killed in the valley of Mexico. By reputation he was known to the whole army, and the news of his death created a greater shock than the fall of an hundred persons would have done under other circumstances. Three young officers were standing on the road on which Thornton had advanced a few minutes before, when an officer came dashing up, his brow knit, and his face pale. In reply to "what's the word?" answ^ered, as he galloped on, "Seth Thornton is cut in two by a nine-pound shot !"

The ne.xt morning, August 19th, the divisions of Twiggs and Pillow were sent forward to attack the enemy at Contreras, whose right was defended by a work mounting twenty-seven guns.

" From an eminence I observed the church and hamlet of Contreras, on the road leading up from the capital through the entrenched camp to Magdalena, and seeing the stream of reenforcements advancing by that road from the city, I ordered (through Major General Pillow) Colonel Morgan with his regiment, the Fifteenth, till then held in reserve by Pillow, to move forward and occupy Contreras (or Ausalda), being persuaded, if occupied, it would arrest the reenforcements and ultimately decide the battle. A few minutes later Brigadier General Shields, with his volunteer brigade, came up from San Augustine; I directed Shields to follow and sustain Morgan. These corps reached Contreras, and found Cadwalader in position, observing the formidable movement from the capitol, and much needing the timely reenforcement."

The position occupied, and the movement made by Morgan, was one of the operations which led to the famous court of inquiry which resulted from the charges preferred by Scott against Pillow, Worth, and Duncan.

In his report Pillow says: "About this time Brigadier General Cadwalader's command had also crossed the plain, when some five thousand or six thousand troops of the enemy were observed moving rapidly from the direction of the capital to the field of action. Colonel Morgan, with his large and fine regiment which I had caused to be detached from the rear of Pierce's brigade, was now ordered to the support of Cadwalader, by direction of the general-in-chief, who had now arrived upon the field."

This portion of the enemy's forces moved steadily forward until a conflict seemed inevitable, when Colonel Morgan's regiment, having reached this part of the field, presented a front so formidable as to induce the enemy to change his purpose, and draw off to the right and rear of his former position.

The advance of Morgan was in a diagonal line from near the hill of observation, where Scott and Pillow had established themselves, across the pedrigal (volcanic slag) wliich e.xtended to Contreras. The pedrigal was broken by abrupt chasms and nearly as sharp as glass. Eri route Morgan met Lieutenant Beauregard, of the engineers (confederate general in the civil war), returning from having conducted Cadwalader's brigade to its position. Beauregard returned and conducted Morgan to the right of Cadwalader. The moment Morgan formed, he advanced in hne to the crest of a slope in front and halted. The enemy's column also halted; sent forth an engineer officer to make a reconnoissance. He approached so near that his retreat was cut off, and he was captured, when the enemy changed direction to the right; and the fight v/hich seemed imminent was postponed.

The night soon closed in. It was black and tempestuous; and the rain poured down in torrents. .A.fter midnight, the brigades of Persifer Smith, Shields, Cadwalader, and Morgan's regiment, passed between the right of the enemy s line, and tlie fort of Contreras, which was stormed by Riley's brigade at dawn. The fighting, from the firing of the first- to the last gun, occupied about seventeen minutes.

The enemy's loss was seven hundred" killed, eight hundred and thirteen prisoners, the wounded included; twenty-seven cannon and a number of standards; while Scott's loss was only si.xty.

The enemy fell back to the rivulet of Cherubusco, where another battle was fought on that afternoon, August 20, 1847. In his report Scott says, "The Ninth, Twelfth, and Fifteenth regiments under Colonel Ransom, Captain Wood, and Colonel Morgan, of Pierce's brigade; and the New York and the South Carolma volunteers, under Colonels Burnett and Butler; together with the mountain howitzer, under Lieutenant Reno, of the ordinance corps, all shaied in the glory of this action, our fifth victory in the same day. . . Several changes in command occurred on this field. Thus: Colonel Morgan being severely wounded, the command of the Fifteenth infantry devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Howard; Colonel Burnett receiving a like wound, the command of the New York volunteers fell to Lieutenant Colonel Ba.xter; and on the fall of the lamented Colonel P. M. Butler, earlier, badly wounded but continuing to lead nobly in the hottest of the battle, the command of the South Carolma volunteers devolved, first on Lieutenant Colonel Dickenson, who being --everely wounded, as before at "Vera Cruz, the regiment was ultimately under the command of Major Gladden."

"I cannot distinguish between the conduct of the commanders of regiments in my division. They all acted a distinguished part, as did their field and company officers; though the circumstances of battle caused Ransom's, Morgan's, and Trousdale's regiments, and the Twelfth infantry, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Bonham, on the nineteenth and twentieth, to be most actively engaged. . . In this last engagement, the gallant Colonel Morgan was wounded severely, when the command of the Fifteenth regiment devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Howard."

In reviewing the operations of that glorious day, Scott thus gives the results: "The army has in a single day, in many batles, as often defeated thirty-two thousand men; made about three thousand prisoners, including eight generals (two of them e.x-presidents), and two hundred and five officers, killed or wounded four; thousand of all ranks, besides entire corps dispersed and dissolved; captured thirty-seven pieces of ordnance, with a large number of small arms, and a full supply of ammunition. Our loss amounts to one thousand and fifty-three killed and wounded."

"For gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreas and Cherubusco," Colonel Morgan was brcvetted brigadier general in the regular army of the United States. He was then twenty-seven years of age. On his return to Ohio, at the conclusion of the war, he svas welcomed back with every demonstration of regard. A banquet was tendered him at the capital of the State, and a superb sword, with gold mounting, was presented to him by citizens of the State, and the citizens of Knox county gave him a splendid brace of holster revolvers with silver handles. He resumed the practice of the law, and was elected prosecuting attorney ; as his practice rapidly increased, he declined beinj; a candidate for a second term, and formed a partnership with James G. Chapman, under the style of Morgan & Chapman.

In 1853 President Pierce tendered General Morgan a mission in Europe, which he declined. Two years afterwards, his health broke down, and he was offered and accepted the consulate at Marseilles in the south of France.

In every respect, except as to salary, Marseilles is an agreeable consulate. The place is thoroughly cosmopolitan, and probably at no other post in the world, can the flags and costumes of so many different nationalities be seen. And the general style is as much Oriental as European. From Marseilles, General Morgan was promoted to the post of minister to Portugal; a position at one time held by John Quincy Adams, and aftervvards by James B. Clay.

Both as consul and as minister. General Morgan gave full satibfaction to his Government. He was yet in Europe when the first battle of Bull Run was fought, and returned to the United States in the fall of 1861.

Civil war was a new experience in the United States. The angry flow of words at length culminated in the clash of arms. Reason had been fruitlessly exhausted, and force was the final, and only resource left.

The first was revolutionary - bent upon the destruction of slavery, even at the cost of the Union. To this cla.':s belonged Phillips, Garrison, Chase, and others.

Those who composed the third class, were in favor of preserving the Union at any cost of men and money, but were not only opposed to making slavery an object of the war, but were opposed to arming the slaves, on the ground that the ballot would inevitably follow the use of the bayonet, and that the colored people were not prepared for the elective franchise. To this class belonged George W. Morgan, the subject of this sketch.

In December, 1861, General Morgan was consulted by Secretary Chase as to the policy of invading Texas, and as to his willingness to assume the command of a column to occupy that State. He replied in writing, and recommended the invasion. .^mong other reasons he gave the following:

"The occupation of Texa.s would prevent supplies of beef and com from being sent into Louisiana, and the importation of munitions of war, and the exportation of cotton, by way of the Rio Grande. If the invasion were conducted in a spirit of magnanimity it would consolidate the Union men in Texas, and thereby weaken the rebellion."

.^bout a week after the plan had been submitted to Secretary Chase, he received a note requesting General Morgan to call at his residence that evening. When he called he was met at the door by Mr. Chase, who congratulated him on the approval of his views as to the invasion of Texas. The .Secretary told him that his fortune was in his own hands. He then asked Motgan what he thought of the propriety of organizing colored regiments in Texas. He replied that to do so would consolidate the south and divide the north; that the policy would be bad as a matter of strategy.

I have learned recently that General Butler was authorized to raise troops for Texas, with the expectation of commanding the expedition, before your name was mentioned for the post by me.

" It would gratify me beyond measure if you would consent to join him as a brigadier general. I should then be confident of success. I am sure you can have the post, if you say the word. "Yours truly, S. P. Ch.\SE.

The civil uar occupied a vast area, upon whose surface several campaigns were being conducted at the same time, but hundreds of miles apart.

.A.mong the military points regarded as of importance was Cumberland Gap. Mr, Lincoln had, in i86r, suggested the propriety of building a railroad, connecting Lexington, Kentucky, with that place. East Tennessee once in the pos.session of a large Union army, the evacuation of Virginia would become inevitable. But a mountain wildnerness lay between the two places, and the gap itself was regarded as impregnable, if properly supplied with military stores.

In April, 1862, General Morgan was assigned to the command of the Seventh division of the army of the Ohio, composed of four brigades of infantry, embracing fourteen regiments, one battalion of cavalry, and four batteries of artillery. The brigades were commanded by Brigadier Generals Carter, Spears, Baird, and Colonel de Courcy.

During several months Carter had been in position at Cum - berland - Ford with a force inadequate for active operations against that stronghold.

When Morgan assumed command he found many of the troops threatened with scurvy. Tlie roads had been impassable, and Carter's brigade had been living on short rations of salt provisions, and wholly without fresh meat. By telegraph Morgan ordered cattle to be driven up from the blue grass region twice a week. As there was no forage they were at once slaughtered, and fresh beef was supplied to the troops. The companies forming the different regiments were supplied with arms of different calibres, and there was but one battery, and it was composed of only four guns. A redistribution of arms was ordered; new arms were brought forward, and each regi ment was supplied guns of the same calibre.

Two reconnoissances - one secret, one armed - were made, and Morgan became satisfied that Cumberland Gap cjuld not be taken by an attack in front.

Several times the enemy sent spies into his lines, and instead of shooting them Morgan utilized them to his own purposes. One of them pretended to be a zealous Union man, dined with Morgan, who afforded him an oppoitunity of overhearing a conversation carried on in an adjoining tent in regard to his plans. The spy learned that a column of fifty tliousand men was shortly to be concentrated at Cumberland ford, when the Gap was at once to be attacked in front, and turned by heavy columns bv way of Rojers and Big Creek Gaps. This fable was carried to Knoxville, and laughed at. A heavily laden wagon had never g^ne over Rogers G ip, and the defiles leading to the gap at Big creek were heavily blockaded for eighteen miles.

In the meantime, Morgan sent Spears with, his brigade to clear the blockades; with orders to fall back on the approach of an enemy, and to return to the blockade when he retired. The enemy did advance in force to cut off Spears; but warned in

Brigadier General Carter L. Stephenson, with five thousand men, held Cumberland Gap; Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith, a vigilant and able officer, with a force of ten thousand men, was at KnoxviUe, while two brigades in Powell's Valley, watched Big Creek Gap, and another force held Chattanooga.

When his plans were completed Morgan, by telegraph, requested Buell to cause a demonstration to be made against Chattanooga in order to cause Smith's army in the field to go to the relief of that place. Morgan then occupied a narrow defile at the Moss house, where the Deer Creek road debouches, and threw up a work there in order to becloud the enemy at the gap as to his plans. When ready to move he seized every suspected person between the Moss house and the gap, and each day sent a brigade over the Deer Creek road, until at length the whole division had gone forward. The crossing at what is miscalled Rogers' gap, was full of difficulty. The guns were dragged up the mountain side by the aid of block and tackle, and by this means a battery, composed of six twentypounder Pariott guns, was carried across the mountains. At the foot of the mountain on the south side the enemy had a cavalry post. The pickets heard the heavy thud of the artillery v/agons, and spread the alarm, after having captured one or two stragglers belonging to Morgan's column. The Kno.xville Whig announced that east Tennessee was invaded by fifty thousand Yankees, and as Morgan kept his army concealed in the dense forest until it was fully concentrated, the very stillness of his command gave his movement an air of mystery, which was greatly in his favor. His division was concentrated on the afternoon of the sixteenth of June, and at i o'clock on the morning of the eighteenth he advanced in two columns, by parallel roads, to attack the gap.

The men had their cooked breakfasts in their haversacks, and their canteens filled with coff"ee. At daylight they halted for breakfast. A force of the enemy was known to have been on the night previous, about three miles in advance of the breakfast halt. Morgan had not Slept during the previous night, and went into a house by the road side, to snatch a few moments sleep. He was soon awakened by Colonel de Courcy, who came in with a farmer who reported that the enemy was evacuating the confederate stronghold. The march was renewed, and the footprints of the confederates on their retreat were still fresh when the Union troops took possession of the place.

The occupation of this stronghold was more glorious than gaining a battle. It was a victory achieved without the loss of a life, and was fully appreciated by the Secretary of War, by the general commanding the army, to which the Seventh division belonged, and by the country. The following telegrams and general order, speak for themselves:

This department has been highly gratified with your successful operations against Cumberland Gap, and commend the gallant conduct and labors of your officers and troops, to whom you will express the thanks of the President and of this department.

It is out of the power of this department to supply you at present with any cavalry for offensive operations, and as your force can for some time be advantageously employed defensively in its present position, I trust you will not need it. With thanks for your diligence and activity, I remain, yours truly,

The general commanding the army of the Ohio, takes pleasure in announcing the success of an arduous campaign by the Seventh division. Brigadier General Morgan, commanding, by which the enemy's fortified position at Cumberland Gap was turned, and his force compelled to retreat as our troops advanced to the attack. -

The general thanks Brigadier General Morgan anTl the troops of the Seventh division, for the ability displayed in their operations against this important stronghold, and fgr the energy, cheerfulness, and fortitude which they exhibited in their struggles with difficulties of the most formidable magnitude for an army.

Morgan intended to advance on Knoxville, and established an arsenal at the Gap, containing a larg^; supply ol ammunition and four thousand extra stand of arms.

I might as well be without eyes as without cavalry. The enemy is said to have taken up a strong position in the Clinch mountains, in the direction of Morristov n, but not on the route I would advance, if authorized to go forward; but this place would be threatened by the enemy's position were I to pursue another route. One strong brigade with six heavy guns, and five hundred cavalry to act as scouts anu foragers should be left here; and I should be strengthened by tv.o brigades of infantry, one battery of artillery, and two regiments of cavalry. With such a force I could sweep East Tennessee of every rebel soldier. My effective force is now about seven thousand five hun" dred men of all arms.

Every energy was at once directed to strengthen Cumber" land Gap. Lieutenant W. P. CraighiU (now colonel of engineers) had charge of the work of fortification, and Captain Patterson, of ths volunteer engineers, was engaged in the construction of a storehouse capable of containing six months supplies for twenty thousand men.

The whole question of holding that rugged fortress was one of supplies. This fact was well understood by the Union and the Confederate authorities. As has been already said, in 1861, Mr. Lincoln recommended the construction of a railroad from Lexington to that place.

The Hon, John Forsyth, of Alabama, a man of distinguished ability, and at one time a volunteer aid on the stafi of Bragg, in his Memoranda of Facts bearing on the Kentucky Campaign, says: "The strongholds of Cumberland Gap would have defied our combined armies in a direct assault."

On the thirtieth of June, 1862, Morgan telegraphed to Assistant Quartermaster General Swords, at Cincinnati: "We are in want of everything. We are destitute of forage."

On the twentieth of July, Engineer CraighiU telegraphed to Brigadier General Totten, chief of the department of engineers: "The country in our rear is exhausted. That in our front soon will be."

On the twenty-third of July Morgan telegraphed to the Secretary of War and General Buell: " My supplies are very short." On the eighth of August he telegraphed to Captain Brown in charge of the base of supplies at Lexington, Kentucky: "Twenty-five thousand of the enemy are between this place and Knoxville, and the enemy's troops are constantly arriving by way of Dalton. The safety of this place depends upon the supplies you can rush forward. Not a second is to be lost. Give us supplies and we will hold this place, regardless of the enemy's force." On the tenth of August Morgan telegraphed to Buell and Stanton "I have about three weeks' supplies."

On the night of August 16, 1862, the aimy of Stephenson, variously estimated at from fourteen to twenty-five thousand men, went into position about four miles west of Cumberland Gap, and a few days previously the army of Kirby Smith entered Kentucky by way of Rogers and Big Creek Gaps. Smith established his headquarters at Barbourville and sent two divisions under McKown to summon Morgan to surrender. He replied: " Present my compliments to General Smith, and say that if he wants this post he must come and take it."

Thousands of brave soldiers have been sacrificed to gratify the vanity of iheir commander. Smith was too wise a general and too true a man to usele'^sly throw away the lives of his men. He knew Cumberland Gap and the wilderness country which surrounds it. Morgan was hemmed in on every side, and he regarded his surrender as inevitable; and it was so reported to the Government at Richmond.

On the sixteenth of August Morgan telegraphed to the Secretary of War, and to Buell: "Kirby Smith cannot possibly remain three weeks in my immediate rear, while I can hold this place five weeks with my present command." He did hold the Gap four weeks and five days from that time. But Bragg and Smith remained in Kentucky until the middle of October. General in Chief Halleck telegraphed as follows. The telegram 'vas sent to Lexington, and thence to Morgan by private courier: "Washington City, twenty-second August, 1862. General Morgan, Cumberland Gap: - Hold on firmly. You will soon be reenforced. Don't yield an inch. Fight the enemy whenever he appears, and I will see that you are very soon supported with other troops. Try to open communications with General Buell; if you cannot do this, telegraph to General Wright at Cincinnati.

H. W. Halleck. General in chief." Morgan did not ask for men. but rations to feed an army strong enough to hold the gap against all the armies which environed him. Instead of wanting men, he sent men to aid in the defence of Lexington. The following note was also sent Morgan from Lexington, Kentucky:

"Headquarters United States Forces. ) Lexington, August 23, 1862. J General: - Yonr despatches reached me safely. Their spirit makes me your servant forever. If your officers and regiments ate similarly inspired the great gap will be ours as long as the hills last. I will make a strong effort to relieve you. My brigades are already en route in your direction. For reasons, I may have to come slowly, but I will come. Respectfully, not be, made good. On the nineteenth of August the Union troops were driven back at Big Hill, and on the thirtieth of that month they were routed by an overwhelming force at Richmond, Kentucky. Lexington was abandoned, and in a few days more not a single soldier, wearing the Union uniform, was to be found between the Ohio river and Cumberland Gap.

During the thirty-three days that Cumberland Gap was invested, Morgan's troops were on less than half-rations ; bread and other articles having been utterly exhausted. While thus threatened he made five assaults upon the out-posts of the enemy, took over five hundred prisoners, and killed or wounded one hundred and eighty men, against a loss of under forty on the Union side.

In order to save his artillery, cavalry, and wagon horses froiii starvation, and at the same time reinforce the Union column organizing at Lexington, Morgan mounted four hundred of Colonel Garrard's regiment, under the command of that ofificer, and sent him, and the batallion of cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel Munday, to report to the commanding officer at Lexington.

Smith withdrew from Cumberland Ford on September ist, and Morgan sent the brigade of Colonel de Courcy to Manchester, in the hope of obtaining flour; but it was with diflSculty that sufficient supplies could be got for his own brigades.

Colonel de Courcy wrote to General Morgan that he had received intelligence, which he regarded as reliable, that a large force of the enemy was about to attack him, in which case he might be compelled to retire towards Boonville. To guard against the risk of having his command cut up in detail, on the morning of the seventeenth of September, Morgan dispatched Captain Joline with the following order to Colonel de Courcy ; bEPTEMBEK 17, 1862. J Colonel : - A courier arrived here this morning at two o'clock with information that the enemy was beyond Lexington. The information you have received is entirely false, and I am satisfied no force is approaching you.

will in no event advance toward Boonville ; but in case you are threatened by a superior force, you will retreat to this place by way of Flat Lick, sending me a courier in advance. "This order is imperative and relieves you from all responsibility. If threatened by an enemy not superior to your own force, fight him. To Colonel J. F. de Courcy, i G. W. Morgan,

The most painful position a commander can be placed in, is to be compelled to abandon a position he has captured by strategy or by battle. Such was Morgan's position. Without the loss of a life, by combined tactics and strategy, he had forced the enemy to abandon one of the strongest positions on the continent. He was now destitute of supplies; not a Union soldier was within two hundred miles, aud he was engirdled by the armies of Stephenson, Bragg, Smith, and Humphrey Marshall; with the ubiquitous John Morgan, ready to pounce j upon his flanks, front or rear at any moment.

Soldiers - You will be glad to learn that you are to be liberated from the duty of a garrison, to enter upon an active campaign. Three months ago the enemy who lies hidden in the woods before, fled from this stronghold on your approach. Supposing that you would be equally frightened by the approach of a foe, more than one month ago, he besieged, and proclaimed to the world that you were already prisoners. What has been the result? You sent Garrard and Munday to aid our Iriends, menaced by an overwhelming force, and yet the enemy dared not attack you. Afterwards you sent a brigade si.xty miles away to procure supplies, and still the enemy slumbered on his arms. You have made five successful attacks upon his out-posts; captured Barbourville and London; made five hundred prisoners; and killed or wounded one hundred and eighty of the enemy, with but a trifling loss on your part. But you cannot longer wait to coa.x the enemy to unfurl his colors. A more glorious field awaits you, and in crushing the enemy on the soil of Kentucky, you will give freedom to Tennessee.

I know well, soldiers, that you will be patient under difficulties, and heroic in danger - that you will prove yourselves to be worthy of the great army of the Union.

With a piece of red chalk Morgan had already marked his line of retreat on the map, by way of Flat Lick, Manchester, Proctor, Hazle Green, West Liberty, and Grayson to the Ohio river. Major Lyons, Morgan's topographical engineer, had been the State geologist of Kentucky, and was familiar with every foot of the route thus marked.

"Major," said Morgan, "follow that red line and tell me what kind of a country it runs through." " It is a hellniferous country, sir; but by abandoning your artillery, wagons and mules, your infantry might get through. You can judge of the country by the names of its streams. Here is the Little Devil; there is the Big Devil, and yonder is Hell-for-certain creek; during the rainy season they are torrents; now they are all dry. "

On the afternoon of the night of the retreat, a confederate flag approached the gap. It seemed like a reconnoissance under a flag of truce. Morgan sent out Colonel Gallup, Fourteenth Kentucky, to receive it. He took along a box of cigars and some liquor, with instructions to beguile and amuse the enemy as long as possible. By mischance the quartermaster's buildings were fired, and the smoke curled over Poor Valley ridge, which masks a view of the gap from the soutii, and beyond which the representatives of the stars and bars and the stars and stripes were coquetting with each other.

The confederates returned to their lines while the work of preparation went on. On the previous night a large wagon train was sent north under the escort of the Thirty-third Indiana and Wetmore's battery, and during the entire night of the seventeenth, the troops defiled through the gap. Toward daylight Gallup fired the great store-house on the mountain, those in the valley, and fired the immense magazine and arsenal. The explosion was heard at Cumberland Ford, fourteen miles away. By daylight the head of the column reached Flat Lick, twenty miles from the gap. That night the array rendezvoused at Manchester, where deCourcy was already in position. Here Morgan halted one day to organize for the struggle before him.' Just before the column resumed the line of march on the morning of the nineteenth, the cavalry of Stephenson made a dash at Morgan's train, but were promptly repulsed by the Sixth Tennessee, under Colonel Cooper.

Proctor, on the Kentucky river, was an important strategic point, and had it been occupied by a proper force, what the result would have been cannot now be known. It is situated on the high and abrupt banks of the river, and the crossing might have been rendered doubtful. General John H. Morgan had been there on the previous night, but after destroying the large flouring-mills and a large quantity of flour, he fell back upon Irvine. The moment General George W. Morgan reached Proctor he pushed a brigade across the river, with a battery, and took possession of the opposite bank. This done, the point of greatest danger was passed.

At Proctor there are diverging roads, one leading towards Irvine; two others, one of them almost impassable, towards Hazle Green; one running along a narrow ridge, and the other along the North fork of the Kentucky. The former load was almost destitute of water, and the little that was to be found was in holes away down eighty or one hundred feet amid the cliffs. The North fork was seldom travelled, and in many places had been washed away by the winter and spring freshets. Baird and Carter, the latter in front, were directed to proceed by that route, with the wagon train; and the credit of saving it from being abandoned or destroyed was mainly due to General Baird, and the indefatigable Captain Patterson.

With the brigades of Spears and deCourcy, Morgan advanced along the ridge to Hazle Green, where he halted one day, to let the brigades of Carter and Baird come up. Two confederate officers were captured at that place. From them Morgan learned that two divisions of Kirby Smith were at Mount Sterling, on the main road between Lexington and Pound Gap, and that Humphrey Marshall was expected there. During the day. Carter came up, and as it was important to occupy West Liberty, in order to cut off" communication between Pound Gap and Lexington, the next morning Morgan pushed forward with the brigades of Spears, de Courcy, and Carter, with the intention of awaiting Baird at West Liberty.