xt72jm23bs3p https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72jm23bs3p/data/mets.xml Dunn, Byron A. (Byron Archibald), 1842-1926. 1903  books b92-63-27078581 English A.C. McClurg, : Chicago : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864 Fiction. United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Fiction. Raiding with Morgan  / by Byron A. Dunn. text Raiding with Morgan  / by Byron A. Dunn. 1903 2002 true xt72jm23bs3p section xt72jm23bs3p 

 








C9


z
0
D
04
x
0






c,


EC
D



    11IN" 'i
          I   I I'o
      v        i
i
i


i 



1,
IVi I 
I ,
i
i
i


 





The Young Kentuckians Series



Raiding with Morgan


                   BY
            Byron A. Dunn
 Author of " General Nelson's Scout," "I On General
     Thomas's Staff," - Battling for Atlanta,"
          "From Atlanta to the Sea"



     Chicago
A. C. McClurg  Co.
       1903



-


 




























      COPYRIGHT
By A. C. McCLURG  CO
       A. D. i903

 PVBLISHED SEPT. 30, 1903


 


PREFACE.



  General John H. Morgan was one of the most
picturesque figures in the Civil War, an officer with-
out a peer in his chosen line. During the two years
of his brilliant career he captured and paroled at
least ten thousand Federal soldiers, and kept three
times that number in the rear of the Federal army
guarding communications. When we consider the
millions of dollars' worth of property he destroyed,
and how he paralyzed the movements of Buell, we
do not wonder that he was considered the scourge
of the Army of the Cumberland.
  General Morgan was a true Kentucky gentleman,
and possessed one of the kindest of hearts. The
thousands of persons captured by him almost ir.-
variably speak of the good treatment accorded
them. The following incident reveals more clearly
than words his generous spirit. In reporting a
scout, he says:
  "Stopped at a house where there was a sick
Lincoln soldier, who died that night. No men
being in the neighborhood, his wife having no
person to make a coffin or bury him, I detailed
some men, who made a coffin."
  The adventures of Calhoun as a secret agent of
the "Knights of the Golden Circle" opens up a
portion of the history of the Civil War which may
                       7


 
PREFACE.



be almost unknown to our younger readers. Dur-
ing the war the whole North was honeycombed
with secret societies, whose members denounced
Lincoln as a usurper and a bloody monster, and
maintained that the government had no right to
coerce the South. They resisted the draft, encour-
aged desertions, and embarrassed the Federal Gov-
ernment in every way possible. In secret many of
the leaders plotted armed rebellion, the liberation
of Confederate prisoners, and the burning of North-
ern cities. They held out inducements to the South
to invade the North, and there is but little doubt
that Morgan was lured to his destruction by their
representations.
   Shortly after the close of the war the author met
a gentleman who had served on the staff of General
Breckinridge. This officer affirmed that he carried
a message from Breckinridge to Morgan, saying
that the former had positive information that forty
thousand armed "Knights" stood ready to assist
Morgan if he would invade Indiana. Everything
goes to show that Morgan relied on these reports,
and it was this belief that induced him to disobey
the orders of General Bragg.
   It is an interesting question whether General
Breckinridge was really privy to the plans of the
"Knights, " and whether he secretly encouraged
Morgan to disobey orders, hoping that the appear-
ance of a Confederate force in the North would
lead to the overthrow of the Lincoln Government
and the independence of the South. The author



8


 
PREFACE.



has taken the ground that Breckinridge was fully
cognizant of Morgan's intended move.
  This volume mentions only the greatest of the
General's raids, and the author has tried to narrate
them with historical accuracy as regards time,
place, and circumstances. In stating the number
of his men, his losses, and the damage he inflicted
on the Federals, the General's own reports have
been followed; these, as was to be expected, differ
widely in many cases from those of the Federal
officers.
   The tale of the exploits of Calhoun is substan-
tially true, though the hero himself is fictitious, for
every one of his most notable feats was accom-
plished by one or other of Morgan's men. It was
Lieutenant Eastin, of Morgan's command, who
killed Colonel Halisy in single combat. Calhoun's
achievements in the escape from the Ohio Peni-
tentiary were actually performed by two different
persons: a sharp dining-room boy furnished the
knives with which the prisoners dug their way to
liberty; Captain Thomas H. Hines planned and
carried to a successful termination the daring and
ingenious escape. Captain Hines fled with General
Morgan; and every adventure which befell Calhoun
in "The Flight to the South" actually befell Cap-
tain Hines. The Captain's marvellous story was
published in the January number of "The Century, "
I89I, and to this narrative the author is indebted
for the leading facts.          B. A. DUNN.
   August 1, 1903.



9


 
This page in the original text is blank.




 



                   CONTENTS


CHAPTER                                        PAGE
    I. AFTER SHILOH                              Is
    11. THROUGH THE LINES -     -     -    -      28

  III. RECRUITING IN KENTUCKY    -     -     -  49

  IV, MORGAN S FIRST RAID     -     -     -     69
  V. MORGAN S FIRST GREAT RAID   -    -     -   82

  VI. CAPTURED BY HOME GUARDS       -     -     94

  VII. CALHOUN TAKES FRED PRISONER     -    -  108
  VIII. THE CAPTURE OF GALLATIN -    -     -     113
  IX. THE DUEL  -     -    -     -     -     -  126
  X. HARTSVILLE   -     -     -    -     -     142
  XI. MORGAN S SECOND GREAT RAID -    -     -  151

  XII. A SPY! A SPY! -   -     -     -    -      161

  XIII. UNDER ARREST   -     -     -    -        18-

  XIV. THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE   -     196

  XV. OHO NE! OHO NE! OHO NE!     -    -     - 214
  XVI. CALHOUN MAKES HIS REPORT      -     -     226
XVII. THE PASSING OF THE RUBICON -    -    - 234

XVIII. THE RIDE OF THE SIX HUNDRED  -    -     246
XIX. AN ANGEL OF MERCY     -    -     -     - 253

XX. CALHOUN AWAKES TO LIFE   -    -     -     260Q
XXI. THE ESCAPE      -     -    -     -     - 281

XXII. PRISON DOORS ARE OPENED -     -    -     292
XXIII. THE FLIGHT TO THE SOUTH    -    -     - 303
XXIV. CHIEF OF THE SECRET SERVICE   -     -     310
XXV. THE LONE RAIDER    -     -   -   -     - 3i8
XXVI. " COME' -    -                            328



I I


 
This page in the original text is blank.




 


                   ILLUSTRATIONS


                                                       PAGE
As he sat upon his horse and looked out
    upon the river     -     -      -     Frontispiece
He easily distanced all his pursuers   -            -    31
Sauntering into the depot they gazed curiously around  76
They silently crept down the gorge     -      -     -   loT
He fired at Conway     -     -      -     -      -      120
The force of the blow threw the Colonel forward on his
   saddle      -      -                                157
He cautiously crept up on the Sergeant -   -     -  183
Into the darkness Calhoun dashed, following his guide  223
Escape of Morgan from prison    -      -     -      -   302
She held her breath and listened to catch the sound of
   battle   -     -                                    319


 
This page in the original text is blank.


 
    RAIDING WITH MORGAN.


                CHAPTER I.
              AFTER SHILOH.
THE great battle of Shiloh had been fought,
    and victory had been snatched from the
hands of the Confederates by the opportune arrival
of Buell's army.
   The Southerners had lost their beloved com-
mander, slain; a third of their number had fallen.
Although defeated they had not been conquered.
They had set forth from Corinth in the highest
hopes, fully expecting to drive Grant's army into
the Tennessee River.  This hope was almost
realized, when it suddenly perished: twenty thou-
sand fresh troops had arrived upon the field, and
the Confederates were forced to retreat. But they
had fallen back unmolested, for the Federal
army had been too severely punished to think
of pursuing.  Both armies were willing to rest
and have their decimated ranks filled with fresh
troops.
  Of all the Southern troops engaged at Shiloh
none felt their defeat more keenly than the Ken-
tucky brigade under the command of Colonel
Trabue. They had fought as only brave men can
                      i5


 


RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



fight; they left one-third of their number on the
field, killed and wounded. Defeat could not de-
moralize them, and it fell to their lot to cover the
retreat of Beauregard. They had stood like a wall
of adamant between their fleeing army and the vic-
torious Federals. No charge could pierce that line
of heroes. With faces to the foe, they slowly fell
back, contesting every inch of ground.
   Fondly had they hoped that Grant would first
be crushed, then Buell annihilated, and their march
to Nashville would be unopposed.  From  Nash-
ville it would be an easy matter to redeem their
beloved Kentucky from the ruthless Northern
invaders.
   It was but a few days after the battle that there
was a social gathering of Kentucky officers at the
headquarters of General John C. Breckinridge.
Conspicuous in that group of notable men was one
whose insignia of office showed him to be only a
captain. But he was already a marked man. He
had greatly distinguished himself in Kentucky and
Tennessee as a daring raider and scout, and at
the battle of Shiloh he had rendered invaluable
service at the head of a squadron of independent
cavalry.
   It was but natural that in such a gathering the
situation would be freely discussed. "It looks to
me," said Breckinridge, with a sigh, "that if we are
forced to give up Corinth, our cause in the West
will be lost. I am in favor of holding Corinth to
the last man."



i6


 
AFTER SHIlLOH.



   "What is your opinion, Morgan" asked one of
-the officers, turning to the captain of whom we
have spoken.
   Thus addressed, John H. Morgan modestly
answered: "The General will pardon me if I differ
with him somewhat in his opinion. Corinth should
be held, as long as that can be done with safety to
the army. But Corinth itself is of little value to
us, now that the railroad between here and Chatta-
nooga is in the hands of the enemy. It is not
worth the sacrifice of a hundred men."
   "What! would you give up Corinth without a
struggle" asked the officer, in surprise.
   "Not if a battle offered a reasonable hope of
victory," replied Morgan. "What I mean is, that
the place should not be held so long as to endanger
the safety of the army. Corinth is nothing; the
army is everything."
   "Then you believe, Captain, that Corinth could
be lost, and our cause not greatly suffer"
   "Certainly. The further the enemy advances
into the South, the more vulnerable he becomes.
Even now, give me a thousand men, and I can
keep forty thousand of the enemy busy protecting
their lines of communication."
   "Morgan, you are joking!" exclaimed several of
the officers.
   "No joke about it. I expect to see old Ken-
tucky before many days; and if I do, there will be
consternation in the ranks of the Yankees."
   "Do you think you can reach Kentucky with a



17


 
RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



thousand men" asked Breckinridge, in a tone
which showed his doubt.
   "I shall make the attempt with less than half of
that number," replied Morgan, coolly.
   A murmur of surprise arose, and then Trabue
asked: "Will Beauregard let you make the hazard-
ous attempt"
   "Yes, with my own squadron, but he will risk
no more men in the venture."
   "Well, good-bye, John, if you try it," said one
of the officers, laughing.
   "Why good-bye, Colonel "
   "Because the Yankees will get you sure."
   "Perhaps!" answered Morgan, dryly, as he arose
to go.
  "The whole South will ring with the praises of
that man one of these days," remarked Breckin-
ridge, after Morgan had made his exit.
  "A perfect dare-devil. I am proud he is a Ken-
tuckian," remarked Trabue.
  Not knowing the flattering words spoken of him,
Morgan wended his way to his headquarters, where
he was informed by the orderly who took his horse
that a young Confederate officer had been waiting
for some time to see him.
  "He said he must see you," continued the
orderly, "and if necessary he would wait all
night. "
  "All right, I will see what he wants," replied
Morgan, as he turned and entered his headquarters.
There he was greeted by a young man, not much


 
AFTER SHIL OH.'



more than a boy, who wore the uniform of a Con-
federate lieutenant.
   Morgan gave him a swift glance, and then ex-
claimed: "Bless my heart! if this isn't Calhoun
Pennington, son of my old friend Judge Penning-
ton! I am more than glad to see you. I have
heard of some of your exploits, and often wondered
why you did not seek to take service with me.
Let's see! You were on the staff of the late
lamented Governor Johnson, were you not"
   "Yes," replied Calhoun; and his voice trembled,
and tears came into his eyes in spite of himself, as
he thought of the death of his beloved chief.
   "A grand man, a brave man," said Morgan,
gently. " Now that he has gone, what do you
propose doing"
   "That is what I have come to see you about.
General Beauregard has offered me a position on
his staff, but I wanted to see you before I accepted. "
  "What! a position on the staff of General Beau-
regard! That is a rare honor for one so young as
you are. Of course you are going to accept"
  "I do not know yet; I am to give him an an-
swer in the morning, as I said I wanted to see you
first. Great as the honor is which has been offered
me, I feel it is a service which would not be agree-
able to me. I much prefer the freer life of a scout
and ranger. Perhaps you may know, I have done
much of this kind of work. I have even performed
more dangerous tasks than that of scouting, and I
confess I rather like it."



19


 


RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



   Morgan mused for a moment, and then suddenly
asked: "Are you not a cousin of Frederic Shackel-
ford, son of the late Colonel Richard Shackelford
of our army"
   Calhoun's brow clouded. "Yes," he answered;
"but why do you say the late Colonel Shackelford
Uncle Dick is not dead."
   "Is that so I am rejoiced to hear it. It was
reported he was among the slain."
   "He was desperately wounded," answered Cal-
houn, "but he did not die, and he is now a prisoner
in the hands of the Yankees. Uncle Dick is a hero;
but as for that traitor cousin of mine, I hate him!"
and again Calhoun's brow grew dark.
  "I have no reason to love him," laughed Mor-
gan, "but I cannot help admiring him. He it was
who discovered our well-laid plans, and forced me
to flee from Lexington, as a thief in the night."
  "Aye!" answered Calhoun, "but for him and
that brute Nelson, Kentucky would now have been
out of the Union. But that is not all. Had it not
been for the same two traitors there would have
been a different story to tell of Shiloh. Grant's
army would now have been prisoners, Buell's in
full flight, and our own pressing northward to re-
deem Kentucky. Had there been no Nelson,
Buell's army would not have reached Grant in time
to save him from destruction. If there had been
no Fred Shackelford I should have borne the news
to General Johnston that Buell would join Grant
by the fifth, and Johnston would have made his



20


 
AFTER SHILOH.



attack a couple of days earlier. I was bearing the
news to Johnston that Nelson would reach Savan-
nah by the fifth when I was captured."
   "Captured" echoed Morgan, in surprise.
   "Yes, captured, and by no less a personage than
my cousin Fred Shackelford. But for this I would
have reached Johnston by the second; as it was, I
did not reach Shiloh until the morning of the last
day of the battle."
  "Then you escaped" queried Morgan.
  "No; my cousin let me go, after he had held
me until he knew my information would be of no
value. I was dressed in citizen's clothes. He
could have had me hanged as a spy. I suppose I
ought to be thankful to him, but I am not." And
Calhoun shuddered when he thought how near he
had been to death.
  "That was kind of him," said Morgan; "and
you ought to be thankful to him, whether you are
or not. To tell the truth, I took a great fancy to
young Shackelford, and tried hard to get him to
cast his lot with me. But as I failed to get him, I
believe you would make a splendid substitute.
You still think you had rather go with me than be
on Beauregard's staff"
   "A thousand times, yes.   I had rather go
with you as a private than be a lieutenant on
the General's staff," answered Calhoun, with
vehemence.



  Calhoun did not tell Morgan the exact truth regarding
his capture and release. For this see "General Nelson's Scout.



21


 
RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



  Morgan's eyes sparkled. "That is the finest
compliment I ever had paid me," he said, "but I
cannot allow the son of my old friend Judge Pen-
nington to serve in the ranks as a private soldier.
Yet my companies are fully officered now. Let's
see! How would you like to go back to Ken-
tucky"
   "Go back to Kentucky" asked Calhoun in sur-
prise.
   "Yes, to recruit for my command. Do you
think you could dodge the Yankees"
   "I believe I could. I could at least try," an-
swered Calhoun, his face aglow with the idea.
   "The case is this," said Morgan: "I am going
to make a raid in a few days, and am going to try
to reach Kentucky. My present force is small-
not much over four hundred. I do not look for
much help from the Confederate Government.
Those in authority do not regard with much favor
independent organizations. To augment my force,
I must in a great measure rely on my own efforts.
I know there are hundreds of the flower of Ken-
tucky youths eager to join me if they had the
opportunity. You are just the person to send
back to organize them. When can you start"
   "In the morning," answered Calhoun.
   Morgan smiled. "Good!" he said. "You are
made of the right material. We will make full
arrangements to-morrow. Good night, now, for it
is getting late."
   Thus dismissed Calhoun went away with a light



22


 
AFTER SHILOH.



heart. He was to be one of Morgan's men. It
was all he wished.
   The next morning Calhoun informed General
Beauregard that while sensible of the great honor
which he would bestow on him by appointing him
a member of his staff, yet he believed he could be
of more service to the South by casting his fortune
with Morgan, and he had concluded to do so.
  "While I greatly regret to lose you," replied
the General, "I believe you have chosen well. To
one of your temperament service with Morgan will
be much more congenial than the duties of a staff
officer. In fact," continued the General, with a
smile, "I think you resemble Morgan in being
restive under orders, and prefer to have your own
way and go where you please. A command or two
of partisan rangers may do, but too many would be
fatal to the discipline of an army. Morgan may do
the enemy a great deal of mischief, but after all,
the fate of the South must be decided by her great
armies. "
  "True, General," replied Calhoun, "but if
Morgan can keep thousands of the enemy in the
rear guarding their communications, the great
armies of the North will be depleted by that num-
ber. "
  "That is true also," answered Beauregard;
  and for that reason Morgan will be given more or
less of a free rein. I have recommended him for a
colonelcy. Convey to him my regards, and tell him
I heartily congratulate him upon his last recruit."



23


 
RAIDING WITTH MORGAN.



   General Beauregard's kind words touched Cal-
houn deeply. "Thank you, General," he replied,
with feeling. "I trust I shall never prove myself
unworthy of your good opinion. May God bless
you, and crown your efforts with victory!"
   After parting with Beauregard, Calhoun lost no
time in reporting to Morgan. He found his chief
in command of about four hundred men, rough,
daring fellows who would follow their leader wher-
ever he went. A more superb body of rough-riders
was never formed.
   Calhoun was introduced to the officers of the
squadron, and when it became known that he was
going back to Kentucky to recruit for the command
-although many of the officers wondered why their
chief had selected one so young-they gave him a
hearty welcome. But when it became known that
he was the son of Judge Pennington, of Danville,
that he had already won renown as a daring scout,
and had been offered a position on the staff of
General Beauregard, their welcome was doubly
enthusiastic.
  To this welcome there was one exception. One
of Morgan's officers, Captain P. C. Conway, had
applied to Morgan for permission to go back to
Kentucky on this same duty, and had been refused.
He was a short, thickset, red-faced man with a very
pompous air. His weakness was liquor; yet he
was a brave, efficient officer. What he considered
an affront was never forgiven, for he was of a re-
vengeful disposition. It was consistent with his



24


 


AFTER SHILOH.



character that he should become a mortal enemy
of Calhoun.
  When he was introduced to Calhoun he merely
bowed, and did not offer to give his hand.
  "I believe I have heard of Captain Conway,"
said Calhoun, with a smile. " I have heard a cousin
of mine speak of him."
  "Why, yes," spoke up Morgan, with a twinkle
in his eye, "Captain, Lieutenant Pennington is a
cousin of your particular friend, Captain Fred
Shackelford, of the Yankee army."
  Conway fairly turned purple with rage. "Lieu-
tenant Pennington has no reason to be proud of his
relationship to that sneak and spy," he snorted.
  "I have no more reason to love my cousin than
you," replied Calhoun, with some warmth. "He
may have played the spy; so have I; but sneak he
is not, and I would thank you not to use the term
again, traitor though he is to the South and his
native state."
  Conway glared at him for a moment, but there
was something in Calhoun's eye which told him that
if he repeated the term it might cause trouble, so
he snapped: "Well, spy and traitor, if those terms
suit you better; but it may be of interest to you to
know that I have sworn to see that precious cousin
of yours hanged, and"-with a fearful oath-"I
will see that he is."
  With these words he turned on his heel and
stalked away.
  "Shackelford's name has the same effect on



25


 
RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



Conway that a red rag has on a mad bull," laughed
Morgan. " He can never forget that trick your
cousin played on him."
   "Ah! I remember," said Calhoun; "Fred told
me all about it. Conway may take a dislike to me
simply because I am Fred's cousin. I noticed that
he greeted me rather coldly."
   "I reckon he will not carry his hatred so far as
that," replied Morgan, "yet it may be best not to
mention Shackelford's name to him."
   But Morgan might have changed his mind if he
had heard Conway talking to a brother officer.
  "Just to think," he fumed, "that the Captain
picked on that young upstart to go back to Ken-
tucky to recruit instead of one of us. I volunteered
to go yesterday, and he put me down. To my
mind, Pennington is no better than that sneak of a
cousin of his, and Morgan will find it out some day."
   "Better keep a still tongue in your head, Con-
way," dryly replied the officer, a Captain Mat-
thews, to whom Conway was complaining. " Mor-
gan will give you hell if he finds you are trying
to create dissatisfaction."
  "I am not afraid of Morgan," muttered Conway,
but he said no more.
  In the mean time Calhoun was hurriedly making
preparations for his journey. Many of the officers
and men were engaged in writing letters to send
back by him to the dear ones in Kentucky. Mor-
gan intrusted to him several important communica-
tions to prominent Southern sympathizers.



-26


 
AFTER SHILOH.



   Just as Calhoun was ready to start, Morgan gave
him his secret instructions.
   "What I now tell you," he said, "is too impor-
tant to commit to writing. You may be captured.
For hundreds of miles you must ride through a
country swarming with Yankees. You will need
discretion, as much or more than you will need
courage. Much depends on your success. I intend
to make a raid north about the first week in May.
If possible (and I think it is), I shall try to reach
Kentucky. My force when I start will not reach
five hundred. If I could be joined by a thousand
when I reach Kentucky, I believe I could sweep
clear to the Ohio River. But with the short time
at your disposal that will be impossible. But join
me at Glasgow with all you can. I expect to be in
Glasgow by the tenth of May at the latest."
   "All right,'" replied Calhoun, "I will try to
meet you there at that time, with at least one or
two good companies."
  Little did Morgan think at the time how badly
he would need those companies.
  At last all was ready, and amid shouts of "Good-
bye" and "Success to you,'" Calhoun vaulted into
the saddle and rode away eastward.



27




 


CHAPTER II.



             THROUGH THE LINES.

AT the time Calhoun started for Kentucky,
    General Halleck was concentrating his im-
mense army at Pittsburg Landing, preparatory to
an attack on Corinth. Federal gunboats patrolled
the Tennessee River as far up as Eastport. Gen-
eral Mitchell held the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad between Decatur and Stevenson, but
between Corinth and Decatur there was no large
body of Federals, and the country was open to excur-
sions of Confederate cavalry. In Middle Tennessee
every important place was held by detachments of
Federal troops. To attempt to ride through the
lines was an exceedingly dangerous undertaking,
but that is what Calhoun had to do to reach Ken-
tucky. He expected to meet with little danger
until he attempted to cross the lines of General
Mitchell, which extended along the railroads that ran
from Nashville southward. The country through
which he had to pass was intensely Southern, and the
Yankee cavalrydid notventure far from therailroads.
  When Calhoun left Corinth, he rode straight
eastward, until he reached Tuscumbia, Alabama.
Here he found little trouble in finding meant to
cross the Tennessee River. Once across the river
he took a northeast course, which would take him
                      28


 
THRO UGH THE LINES.



through Rogersville. Now and then he met small
squads of Confederate cavalry. They were scout-
ing through the country, and did not seem to be
under very strict military discipline, doing much as
they pleased.
   Now and then he came across a party of recruits
making their way to the Confederate army at
Corinth. They were mostly country boys, rough,
uncouth, and with little or no education. They
knew or cared little of the causes which had led up
to the war; but they knew that the Southland had
been invaded, that their homes were in danger, and
they made soldiers whose bravery and devotion
excited the admiration of the world.
   In order to find out what General Mitchell was
doing, and as nearly as he could, to ascertain the
number of his forces, Calhoun resolved to ride as
near the line of the Nashville and Decatur railroad
as was prudent. As he approached Rogersville, he
learned that the place had just been raided by a
regiment of Yankee cavalry, and the country was
in a panic.
  Approaching the place cautiously, he was pleased
to ascertain that the cavalry, after committing
numerous depredations, had retreated to Athens.
He now learned for the first time of the atrocities
which had been committed on the defenceless in-
habitants of Athens, and his blood boiled as he
listened to the recital. No wonder the citizens of
Rogersville were in a panic, fearing that their fate
might be the same.



29


 
RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



  "The whelps and robbers!" he exclaimed;
"how I should like to get at them!   But their
time will come. Never will the South lay down
her arms until every Northern soldier is driven in
or across the Ohio."
   In Rogersville Calhoun met with a Doctor Jen-
kins, who was especially well informed as to the
strength and positions of the Federal army, and as
to the feelings of the citizens.
  "At first," said he, "the result of the battle of
Shiloh greatly discouraged us, and the slaughter
was horrifying. But we are getting over that now,
and every true son of the South is more determined
than ever to fight the war to the bitter end, even
if we see our homes in flames and the country laid
waste. How is it that Kentucky does not join
hands with her sister states"
   "She will, she must," cried Calhoun. "Already
thousands of her sons are flocking to the Southern
standard. It needs but a victory-a Confederate
army to enter her territory, and the people will rise
en masse. There are not enough traitors or Yankees
in the state to keep them down."
  "Do you think Beauregard can hold Corinth"
asked the Doctor.
  "He can if any one can. He is a great gen-
eral," answered Calhoun. "But Morgan thinks
the loss of Corinth would not be fatal if thp army
were saved. 'Under no consideration,' says Mor-
gan, 'should Beauregard allow himself to be cooped
up in Corinth.' "



30


 
This page in the original text is blank.




 





















(r.







x
:D





E41
:2

w
3
J.!

4-


 
THRO UGH THE LINES.



  "I reckon he is right," sighed the Doctor; "but
may the time never come when he will have to
give it up."
  "Amen to that!" answered Calhoun.
  From Rogersville Calhoun made his way north.
He ascertained that the railroad which Mitchell was
engaged in repairing was not strongly guarded, and
he believed that with five hundred men Morgan
could break it almost anywhere between Athens
and Columbia.
  Near Mount Pleasant he met a Confederate offi-
cer with a party of recruits which he was taking
south. He sent back by him a statement to Mor-
gan of all he had learned, and added: "Taking
everything into consideration, I believe that Pulaski
will be the best place for you to strike. I have no
fears but that you can capture it, even with your
small force."
  Calhoun met with his first serious adventure
shortly after he had crossed the railroad, which he
did a few miles south of Columbia. Thinking to
make better time, he took the main road leading
to Shelbyville. He was discovered by a squad of
Federal cavalry, which immediately gave chase.
But he was mounted on a splendid horse, one that
he had brought with him from Kentucky. He
easily distanced all his pursuers with the excep-
tion of three or four, and he was gradually drawing
away from all of them, except a lieutenant in com-
mand of the squad, who seemed to be as well
mounted as himself.


 
RAIDING WITH MORGAN.



   "Only one," muttered Calhoun, looking back,
as a pistol-ball whistled by his head; "I can settle
him, " and he reached for a revolver in his hol-
ster. As he did so, his horse stepped into a hole
and plunged heavily forward, throwing Calhoun
over his head. For a moment he lay bruised and
stunned, and then staggered to his feet, only to
find the Federal officer upon him.
   "Surrender, you Rebel!" cried the officer, but
quick as a flash, Calhoun snatched a small revolver
which he carried in his belt, and fired.
   Instead of hitting the officer, the ball struck the
horse fairly in the head, and the animal fell dead.
Leaving the officer struggling to extricate himself
from his fallen horse, Calhoun scrambled over a
fence, and scurried across a small field, beyond
which was a wood. A scattering volley was fired
by the foremost of the pursuers, but it did no
harm, and Calhoun was soon across the field.
Mounting the fence on the other side, he stood on
the top rail, and turning around, he uttered a shout
of defiance, then jumping down, disappeared in the
wood.
   The foremost of the Federals, a tall, lanky ser-
geant named Latham, galloped to the side of his
commander, who was still struggling to extricate
himself from his fallen horse. Springing. from his
saddle, he helped him to his feet, and anxiously
inquired, "Are you hurt, Lieutenant"
   "The Rebel, the Rebel, where is he Did you
get him" asked the Lieutenant.



32


 
THROUGH THE LINES.



  "Get him!" drawled the Sergeant, "I think not.
He got across that field as if Old Nick was after
him. But once across he had the cheek to stand on
the fence and crow like a young rooster. I took a
crack at him, but missed."
  "Why didn't you pursue him" demanded the
officer, fiercely.
  "What! in those woods Might a