Morgan's Latest Exploit.
--A correspondent of the Mobile
Register, writing from
Chattanooga, recounts the following:
‘
Col. John H. Morgan returned last evening from his scout up the river, having gone in pursuit of some of the enemy's cavalry, who were reported to have gone up in search of our steamer, the
Paint Rock.
About seven miles up the river he broke up some flatboats, and brought others across to this side.
Seeing no signs of the enemy, he crossed at a point above the island to make an exploration.--Taking a small canoe, accompanied by his cousin,
Major Wash. Morgan, (who commands a company of
Cherokee Indians,) and
Col. George St. Ledger Grenfell, be crossed the river, and after proceeding out some distance heard some voices.
Approaching. they came on a man and a boy. Col
Morgan, seeing that the man mistook them for Yankees, asked him if he knew anything about the
Secesh fellows over the river.
‘"No."’said he, ‘"but I've learn that that rascal
Morgan was over thar yesterday, but the derned fellow flies about so thar's no tellin' whar he is now!"’
’
The
Major and
Col. Grenfell could hardly keep straight faces.
Morgan, after putting several questions to the man, asked if he was really a good Union man. He solemnly declared he was, and would do anything to help the
Yankees.
‘"Well,"’ said
Morgan, ‘"can't you paddle us over the river?--we would like to see if any one is over there."’
‘"I will,"’ said the fellow, ‘"if you will just let me run up to the house a minute to change my breeches."’
‘"Oh, those will do now,"’ said
Morgan, ‘"as we are in a hurry,"’ and the man was compelled to go with them to the river.
After the man had paddled the canoe about half way across it being necessary to keep very still in order to prevent the canoe from upsetting.
Col. Morgan changed his position, and the canoe came near going over, when the
Major cried out, ‘"
Col. Morgan, if you don't keep still you will upset us."’ At this announcement the
Union man's face presented a perfect picture of terror, and he cried out, ‘"Are you
Col. Morgan, sir?
For God's sake don't hang me!"’ ‘"Well," ’ said
Morgan, ‘"hurry over, and I'll see about it,"’ Such tall paddling as the
Union man then did was never beaten by the
Indian.
The poor fellow, trembling with fear as he reached the shore, was afterwards let go.
