Now that things are somewhat quiet in and near
Lebanon, I have concluded to give you a fair and impartial history of events that have transpired since the coming and going of the farfamed
Acting Brig.-Gen. J. H. Morgan, C. S. A.
On Friday, the eleventh, it was reported here about noon, that
Gen. Morgan had attacked and routed the
Federal forces in
Southern Kentucky, and that he was making his way to
Lexington through
Lebanon.
Shortly after a despatch of this character was received, it was currently and correctly reported that the
General, with a large force, was about twenty miles south-west of Le banon, near the little village of “Pinch 'em,” and that he would take
Lebanon on that (Friday) night.
Lieut.-Colonel A. Y. Johnston, in command at this place, immediately sent runners to the Home Guards to hold themselves in readiness for any emergency, and prepared
Capt. Barth's company, under
Capt. Barth's immediate charge, for offensive operations.
Late in the evening ten or twelve soldiers, members of
Capt. Barth's company, Twenty-eighth Kentucky, were sent to
New Market, distance six miles from
Lebanon, to guard the bridge across
Rolling Fork at that point.
The men were under charge of
First Lieut. Catlin, and were joined by some fifteen Home Guards.
Night came, and reenforcements were anxiously looked for from
Louisville and other points.
It was known that
Morgan's force was large and in good fighting trim.
The
Lebanon Home Guard,
Capt. Merrimee, met and sent pickets out on the roads leading into
Lebanon.
The entire force under
Col. Johnston, at half-past 10 o'clock was near forty soldiers and forty Home Guards--in all eighty men.
At half-past 11, as far as I can guess, news came that
Morgan had reached New — Market
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bridge, and that the guard there had fired on the enemy, driving them back.
Col. Johnston ordered a soldier, whose name I forgot, and
Mr. Hastings, with
Lieut. Fidler, who had volunteered as aid to
Col. Johnston, to go to
New-Market, see what was being done, and report immediately.
These gentlemen hurried forward, and, on going up a hill near
New-Market, suddenly met the advance of
Morgan's brigade, were ordered to halt, and, upon failure to do this, were fired upon.
Some twenty shots were fired, but fortunately neither of the gentlemen were injured.
Lieut. Fidler, being on a slow horse, was taken prisoner; his horse, saddle, and bridle, with a splendid navy-pistol, were taken from him.
Hastings reported to the officer in command that
Morgan was advancing with overwhelming numbers.
The
Lieut.-Colonel gave orders for no firing to be done, if the enemy was so much our superior in numbers.
When
Morgan's advance reached our pickets it was fired on, and immediately a sharp little skirmish began, which the whole body of soldiers soon participated in — the pickets having been compelled to fall back on the main body.
Our soldiers were soon compelled to skedaddle by overwhelming numbers, and they fled in every direction, leaving two men on the field dead.
Whether the enemy suffered any loss or not I cannot say. I saw several of their wounded who were badly hurt.
The men killed on our side were
Moses Rickets, an excellent citizen, honest, upright, well thought of by every one, a grocery-keeper; indeed, one of
Lebanon's best citizens; and
Mr. Dyke, a peaceable, quiet, kind, upright, respected man.
Lebanon laments their loss very much.
How terrible is war — the desolator of homes, and the great enemy of happiness!
Lieut. Col. Johnston and eighteen privates of the Twenty-eighth Kentucky were taken prisoners, and some eight or nine citizens connected with the Home Guards.
Morgan took possession of
Lebanon, which he found almost depopulated, the citizens having fled to the country for protection.
He gave orders that private property should be respected, and threatened any one with death who should disobey orders.
His men quartered themselves where they best liked, ate when they pleased, and fed their horses on the corn and grain of all. They were not guilty of proffering pay for any thing.
I believe I did see them offer confederate scrip when there was a possibility of getting good money in change.
When day came,
Morgan proclaimed that he was going to divide
United States commissary stores here among the poor of the town, and destroy only the ordnance in store.
But when he promised this he is suspected of having told a big bully, devilish-looking blackguard, whisky bloat, unmerciful, degenerated puppy — an Englishman, named
Col. St. Leger Grenville, the same immaculate personage who desired to hang all
Unionists, burn down the commodious depot here, and set on fire our court-house, insuring the entire destruction of our town — to burn down the depots for
United States goods.
I notice that only prominent rebels were so fortunate as to get any of the spoils.
Our soldiers are compelling these fellows to disgorge.
In the
Government depots were sugar, coffee, flour, bread, etc., etc., and the destruction was immense; guns were bent double by hard licks over rocks, powder, cartridges, and caps were thrown into the creek.
It is estimated that the
Government lost near one hundred thousand dollars--perhaps more.
The commodious hospital near town, with sick soldiers' clothing, was burned to the ground, and the sick turned out of doors.
Fortunately their number was few. The wagon-yard, wagons, ambulances, etc., were destroyed.
Morgan took possession of the town near three o'clock in the morning.
He was detained at New-Market bridge nearly two hours by thirty men, and failed to force his way across the bridge until he brought his artillery to bear upon it. During the engagement he got two bullet-holes through the top of his hat. He awarded great praise to
Lieut. Catlin and men for their daring and accuracy in shooting.
The
Lieutenant and men made good their escape, and lay out in the woods until Sunday last.
When
Morgan took possession of
Lebanon he declared that he would respect private property.
But his men failed to do it, and he failed to make them do it when his attention was called to their misdemeanors.
The soldiery stole horses by the wholesale.
It is a low estimate to say that
Marion County had two hundred and fifty horses stolen.
They wanted shoes, and took one hundred and fifty dollars' worth from
Edmonds and Bro. Indeed, whenever they wanted any thing they went and took it — sometimes proffering confederate scrip as pay. They took the express-wagon and pressed
Uncle Ben. Spalding's buggy into service.
Indeed, they did any thing but respect private property.
His men were respectful to ladies, and not generally insulting to citizens.
They seemed to be of that class to which we apply the term “sporting gentlemen.”
Although the men profess to be Kentuckians, I found that they had men from all the
Southern States with them.
A vast minority of them were Kentuckians.
He at first refused to parole the citizen and Home Guard prisoners, denouncing them as guerrillas, and deserving death.
A bright idea, that Home Guards, regularly authorized by law, meeting for the defence of their homes, are guerrillas!
He was, I understand, particularly tight on
Lieut. J. M. Fidler, who has lately resigned, telling him he ought to be shot, and threatening to carry him off to be tried by drum-head court-martial.
He released him only on the personal application of the
Southern Rights men of the town.
The privates insisted on shooting
Fidler.
He says he feared them while in their charge.
Morgan himself severely misused
Mr. Hastings, after he captured him, sticking his spear into him in half a dozen places, from the effects of which he has not yet recovered.
He afterwards begged his pardon for it.
While the majority of the gang were as kind as could be expected, conversed freely with citizens
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without insulting them, treated the prisoners very properly, yet many were ruffians of the lowest cast, deserving to be hung as high as
Haman.
They, the ruffians, cared neither for feelings, person, or property — gloried in insulting defenseless old men, and in stealing horses.
All of the men had the most implicit confidence in
Morgan.
He does not appear to care much for discipline, permitting his men to go as they please.
The men had no general uniform, and were armed to suit their own taste.
They all had
Adams's patent six-shooters, an English pistol, received, they said, from
England a short time since.
Many of them had shot-guns, a few only had sabres or bayonets.
They left many of their guns here and took
United States guns with them.
They had two pieces of artillery here--two small howitzers.
The citizens expected the gang to have committed so very many outrages that they are glad that it is as well as it is with them.
True, the county has suffered in loss of horses, forage, etc., but the people are glad to have their lives spared.
Champ Ferguson was along.
No private buildings were burned or injured.
I understand that they had a skirmish at
Maxville with the Home Guards; I have not heard the particulars.
It is said that two citizens were killed there.
From the prisoners' conversation, I suspect that the raid was made as much for recruiting purposes as for any thing else.
They expected the whole country to rally to their standard.
They only got one recruit from
Lebanon.
They chased me a great distance, but failed to catch me.
