CALHOUN TAKES FRED PRISONER.
After leaving Midway, Morgan did not march directly to Paris, but halted
at Georgetown, a little city twelve miles north of Lexington. The citizens
of Georgetown gave Morgan’s command the same joyous welcome which they had
received at almost every place visited; for Morgan came to them not as an
enemy, but as a liberator.
From Georgetown Morgan resolved to attack Cynthiana, which lies north of
Paris, having heard there was a considerable body of Federal troops
stationed there. Sending a small force toward Lexington to keep up the
fiction of an attack upon that place, Morgan moved with the main body of
his force upon Cynthiana.
Here was fought the fiercest battle that Morgan was engaged in during his
raid. Cynthiana was held by Colonel John J. Landram of the Eighteenth
Kentucky. He had under him about four hundred men, mostly Home Guards and
raw recruits. Landram put up a most gallant defence, and the battle raged
for an hour and a half with the greatest fury. It was at last decided by a
furious charge made by Major Evans at the head of his Texas rangers. The
entire force of Colonel Landram was killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.
Colonel Morgan lamented the loss of some forty of his bravest men. Calhoun
was not in this fight, having been sent with his scouts toward Lexington
to watch the movements of the enemy.
From Cynthiana, Morgan moved on Paris, and the place surrendered without a
shot being fired. Some twenty-five miles of the Cincinnati and Lexington
railroad was now in Morgan’s possession, and he proceeded to destroy it as
thoroughly as his limited time admitted. But he was being encompassed by
his enemies. A large force was moving on him from Frankfort; another from
Lexington. Calhoun with his faithful scouts kept him fully informed of
these movements.
Just in time to elude General Green Clay Smith’s forces from Lexington, he
marched for Winchester. His next move was to Richmond. This left all the
pursuing forces in the rear. The celerity of Morgan’s movements, the
marvellous endurance of his men, astonished and confounded his enemies.
At Richmond, Morgan decided to make a stand and give battle to his
pursuers; but Calhoun brought word that at least five thousand Federals
were closing in on him. To give battle to such a number would have been
madness, so he marched for Crab Orchard. On the march Calhoun made a
detour toward Danville so as to visit the plantation of his uncle, Colonel
Richard Shackelford. He was also in hopes of meeting his cousin Fred. He
had heard how Fred had interceded for his father, keeping him from being
sent to a Northern prison, and he wished to thank him. He was ashamed of
the hatred he had felt toward him, and resolved to make amends for it.
His arrival was a genuine surprise, but to his consternation Fred
presented himself in the uniform of a captain of the Federal army. His men
clamored to take Fred prisoner, but just as Calhoun had succeeded in
quieting them, to his dismay Captain Conway came galloping upon the scene
at the head of his company. He had obtained permission from Morgan to
scout toward Danville. His real object was to capture Fred, who he knew
was at home. Once in his hands, he hoped to convict him as a spy. His plan
was frustrated by the bold stand taken by Colonel Shackelford, who
delivered Fred as a prisoner to Calhoun with instructions to take him to
Morgan. This Calhoun did, and Morgan at once paroled him, although Conway
tried his best to have him held as a spy. Morgan not only paroled Fred,
but let him return with the horse he had ridden, although many of the men
looked on the splendid animal with envious eyes. But Morgan would not hear
of their taking a horse which belonged to his old friend, Colonel
Shackelford.
“Why didn’t you ride that horse of yours?” asked Captain Mathews of Fred,
alluding to Fred’s famous horse, Prince.
“Afraid you might keep him,” laughed Fred; “you are a good judge of a
horse, Captain.”
“Right you are,” responded Mathews; “I am sorry I didn’t think of that
horse when we were at Richmond. I would have visited you with my friend
Conway, and taken the horse. Think I will have to return for him yet.”
Fred thought little of what Mathews said, but that very night Mathews
dispatched two of his men back in disguise to steal Fred’s horse.
From Crab Orchard Morgan marched to Somerset, surprising the place, and
capturing a large wagon-train. It was also a depot for army supplies, all
of which Morgan gave to the torch. Here he again took possession of the
telegraph office, and enlightened the Federals as to his movements.
At Somerset Morgan’s raid was practically at an end. There were no Federal
troops in front of him; his pursuers were a day behind. After he had
completed the destruction of all the United States property in the place,
and was ready to leave, he caused the following dispatches to be sent:
Somerset, Ky., July 22, 1862.
GEORGE D. PRENTICE, Louisville, Ky.
Good morning, George D. I am quietly watching the complete destruction of
all of Uncle Sam’s property in this little burg. I regret exceedingly that
this is the last that comes under my supervision on this route. I expect
in a short time to pay you a visit, and wish to know if you will be at
home. All well in Dixie.
JOHN H. MORGAN,
Commanding Brigade.
Somerset, Ky., July 22, 1862.
GENERAL J. T. BOYLE, Louisville, Ky.
Good morning, Jerry! This telegraph is a great institution. You should
destroy it, as it keeps me too well posted. My friend Ellsworth has all of
your dispatches since July 10 on file. Do you wish copies?
JOHN H. MORGAN,
Commanding Brigade.
Somerset, Ky., July 22, 1862.
HON. GEORGE DUNLAP, Washington, D. C.
Just completed my tour through Kentucky. Captured sixteen cities,
destroyed millions of dollars of United States property. Passed through
your county, but regret not seeing you. We paroled fifteen hundred Federal
prisoners. Your old friend,
JOHN H. MORGAN,
Commanding Brigade.
The feelings of the above gentlemen as they received these telegrams can
better be imagined than described. The one to General Boyle must have cut
him to the quick as he read it. To know how completely Morgan had
outwitted him was like gall and wormwood to him.
From Somerset Morgan halted his command at Livingston, Tennessee, to take
a much-needed rest. Never did men need it more. They had accomplished one
of the most astonishing feats in the annals of American warfare. No wonder
the name of Morgan struck terror to the hearts of the Federals. Morgan in
his report of his raid sums it up as follows:
“I left Knoxville on the 4th day of this month with about nine hundred
men, and returned to Livingston on the 28th instant with nearly twelve
hundred, having been absent just twenty-four days, during which time I
travelled over one thousand miles, captured seventeen towns, destroyed all
the government property and arms in them, dispersed about fifteen hundred
Home Guards, and paroled nearly twelve hundred regular troops. I lost in
killed, wounded, and missing of the number I carried into Kentucky, about
ninety.”