The Daily Dispatch: August 4, 1863., [Electronic resource]

Journal of Morgan's Raid.

July 1st, 1863--On the banks of the Cumberland. The river very high, No boats--Gen. M. obliged to build a number of boats, which he accomplished with very little delay, and commenced crossing at sundown.

July 2d.--Bucksville. Had great difficulty in making the horses swim; but by united and systematic exertion succeeded in getting the entire command of — regiments over by 10 A. M., though the command was very much scattered. At 11 o'clock scouts came into Bucksville and reported the enemy advancing and within four miles of the town. It was supposed to be only a small scouting party, and a portion of Col. Dick Morgan's command was sent out to make a reconnaissance. The report of the scout of the enemy advancing proved to be correct, and a message was received from Colonel Ward that he was attacked Colonel Grigsby was sent to reinforce him, and succeeded in driving the Yankees back in great confusion upon their reinforcements. My regiment lost two mortally wounded and two others slightly. Five of the Yankees were known to be killed and a number wounded, with about fifteen prisoners. No tidings heard of the 2d brigade until dark, when they arrived and reported that Col. Johnson, commanding and experienced great difficulty in crossing and that in addition to the precipitous banks and of all boats or other means of transportation, the enemy were hovering on the river and harassing him as far as they could. He was however, quite successful in driving them back. Yesterday a young man, calling himself Chas Rogers, dressed in full Confederate uniform, came into our lines and expressed a desire to join our command. I suspicioned him, and after a few questions, I was convinced that he was a spy. I threatened to shoot him, when he confessed he had been lying and that his name was Simon Blitz — in fact he convicted himself of being a spy. What to do with him was the next thing. I hated to shoot him, although he deserved it.

July 3d.--My regiment behaved very gallantly in yesterday's fight with the enemy, frequently having hand-to-hand encounters. Today (3d) we experienced the same difficulty in getting the artillery on, and had to press a number of oxen for the purpose. After two halts for the column to close up, our advance proceeded to Columbia. They were met by detachments from three regiments, (45th Ohio, 2d Ohio, and 1st Kentucky,) said to be under command of Col. Wolford. A brief engagement followed, in which we drove the enemy in great haste through the town, capturing six prisoners, killing two, among them Capt Carter, and wounding three. Our loss was two killed and two wounded, among them Capt. Cassel, a most dashing and daring officer, wounded in the thigh. Our men behaved badly at Columbia, breaking open a store and plundering it. I ordered the men to return the goods, and made all the reparation in my power. These outrages are very disgraceful, and are usually perpetrated by men accompanying the army simply for plunder. They are not worth a d — D, and are a disgrace to both armies. Passed through Columbia and camped six miles from Green River Bridge.

July 4th--New Market; Ky. A day of gloom, deep gloom, to our entire command How many, who rose this morning full of enthusiasm and hope, now "sleep the sleep that knows no waking!" The sun rose bright and beautiful, the air was cool and balmy, all nature wore the appearance of peace and harmony. While riding along, affected by the stillness of all around, Captain Magennis, the Adjutant General, rode up and remarked, how dreadful to reflect that we were marching on to engage in deadly strife, and how many poor fellows would pass into eternity before the setting of yonder sun. I have no doubt the poor fellow was moved to these reflections by one of those unaccountable presentiments which are so often the harbingers of evil. Before dark he was a corpse. About sunrise we drove in the enemy a pickets and were soon near their fortifications, which had been erected to prevent our crossing. Gen Morgan sent in a flag of truce and demanded the surrender, but the Colonel quietly remarked "if it was any other day he might consider the demand, but the 4th of July was a bad day to talk about surrender, and he must therefore decline." This Colonel is a gallant man, and the entire arrangement of his defence entitles him to the highest credit for military skill. We would mark such a man in our army for promotion. We attacked the place with two regiments, sending the remainder of our force across at another ford. The place was judiciously chosen and skillfully defended, and the result was that we were repulsed with severe loss — about twenty-five killed and twenty wounded. Among the killed, as usual, were our best men and officers, including Col. Chenault, Major Brent, Capt. Tribble, Lieuts. Cowan, Ferguson, and another Lieutenant, whose name I do not remember. Our march thus far has been very fatiguing — bad roads, little rest or sleep, little to eat, and a fight every day. Yet our men are cheerful, even buoyant, and to see them pressing along barefooted, hurrahing and singing, would cause one to appreciate what those who are fighting in a just and holy cause will endure. About three o'clock, as I rode on about forty yards in advance; I heard the General exclaim something in a very excited tone which I could not understand; and heard at the same time the report of a pistol. I turned, and, great God! to my horror, I saw Capt. Magennis falling from his horse, with the blood rushing out of his mouth and breast. His only remark was, "let me down easy."--In another moment his spirit had fled. He was killed by Capt. Murphy, because Magennis, by the direction of Gen. Morgan, bad ordered Murphy to restore a watch taken from a prisoner. Thus was the poor fellow's language of the morning dreadfully realized. I was terribly affected. I had seen blood flow freely on many a battle field, my friends had been killed in the morning, but this caused a deeper impression and shock than any occurrence I ever witnessed. Truly has this been a sad day. Gen. Morgan looks haggard and weary, but he never despairs. May to-morrow dawn more bright than to-day closed.

July 5th.--Another day of gloom, fatigue, and death. Moved on Lebanon at sunrise — Placed our men in line. Sent around Col. J. with his brigade to the Danville road to cut off reinforcements, which we knew were expected from Danville. I went in with a flag of truce. It was fired on five times. Officer apologized, saying he thought it was a man with a white coat on. Very dangerous mistake, at least for me. Demanded unconditional surrender. Told Col. Hanson we had his reinforcement's cut off, and resistance was useless. He refused to surrender, and I than ordered him to order out the non combatants, as we would be compelled to shell the town. He posted his regiment in the depot and various houses, by which he was enabled to make a desperate resistance. After a fight of seven hours, Gen. Morgan, finding the town could be taken in no other way, ordered a charge to be made. This ought to have been done at first; but Gen. Morgan said, when it was urged on him, that he wished to avoid the destruction of private property as much as possible, and he would only permit it as a last and final report. Col. Hanson still held out in hopes of receiving reinforcements, and only surrendered after we had fired the buildings in which he was posted. His force consisted of the 20th Kentucky, about 370 men, and twenty or twenty-five stragglers from other commands. By this surrender we obtained a sufficient quantity of guns to arm all our men who were without them; also a quantity of ammunition, of which we stood sorely in used. At the order to charge, Duke's regiment rushed forward, and poor Tommy Morgan, who was always in the lead ran forward and cheered the men with all the enthusiasm of his bright nature. Almost at the first volley he fell back, pierced through the heart. His only words were, "Brother Cally, they have killed me." Noble youth! how deeply lamented by all who know you. This was a crushing blow to General Morgan, as his affection for his brother exceeded the love of Jonathan to David. It caused a terrible excitement, and the men were in a state of frenzy. It required the utmost energy and promptitude on the part of the officers to prevent a scene of slaughter, which all would deeply have lamented. Our men behaved badly here, breaking open stores and plundering indiscriminately. All that officers could do was done to prevent it, but in vain. These occurrence are very disgraceful, and I am truly glad that they form exceptions to the general conduct. While I was paroling the prisoners a courier arrived informing me that the enemy were approaching with two regiments of cavalry and a battery of artillery, and that skirmishing was then going on with one pickets. I was therefore obliged to order the prisoners to Springfield on the double-quick. Soon after we left Lebanon the hardest rain I ever experienced commenced to fail and continued till 9 o'clock. Arrived at Springfield at dark, when I halted the prisoners in order to parole those who were not paroled at Lebanon, and formally dismiss them. This detained me at Springfield two hours after the command had passed. Wet and chilly, worn out, horse tired and hungry, Stopped to feed her. Falling asleep, was awakened by one of the men. Started on to the command. When I reached the point on the Bardstown road where I had expected the 2d brigade to encamp, was halted by a party of cavalry. Supposing them to be our own pickets, I rode up promptly to correct them for standing in full view of any one approaching, when left to my mortification, found myself a prisoner, My God! how I hated it, no one can understand. The first thought, after my wife and children, was my fine mare, named after a pretty little cousin, of Richmond, Va. I said, "poor Faunie, who will treat you as kindly as I have?" I turned her over to the Captain and begged him to take good care of her, which he promised to do.

July 6th--Travelled all day. Treated very kindly by Capt. Smith. Sick, worn out, completely wearied out. Spirits cheerful. Met Capt. Wolcott on the road from Springfield.--He got Capt. Smith to parole me. Capt Smith anxious to do so, as he had more prisoners than he could well take care of. Accompanied Capt. Wolcott to Danville. Staid all night there.

July 7th--Arrived at Nicholasville. Ordered before the Provost Marshal. Sent on to Lexington. Arrived in the afternoon and immediately ordered to prison. Visited by some sweet, pretty, and kind ladies. God bless them! I know He will.

July 8th.--Great rejoicing in Lexington over the fall of Vicksburg. (I do not believe it.) it is a great disaster, one among the very worst that could befall us. But even if it is so, and even should Lee's army be destroyed, and every town in the South burned, the rebellion would be unsubdued. There are a hundred thousand men in the South who feel as I do, that they would rather an earthquake should swallow the whole country than yield to our oppressors. Men who will retire to the mountains and live on acorns, and crawl on their bellies to shoot an invader wherever they can see one.
A writer in the Enquirer, who was with the expedition, gives an interesting account of it. We make some extracts, commencing where the journal of Col. Alston closes:

July 9th--We marched on to Corydon, fighting near there 4,500 State militia, and capturing 3,400 of them and dispersing the remainder; then moving, without a halt, though Salisbury and Palmyra to Salem — at which point, telegraphing with our operator, we first learned the station and numbers of the enemy aroused for the hunt — discovered that Indianapolis was running over with them — that New Albany contained 10,000--that 3,000 had just arrived at Mitchell; and, in fact, 25,000 men were armed and ready to meet the "bloody invader." Remaining at Salem only long enough to destroy the railroad bridge and track, we sent a scout to the Ohio and Mississippi road, near Seymour, to burn two bridges, a depot, and destroy the track for two miles, which was effected in an incredibly short time. Then taking the road to Lexington, after riding all night, reached that point at daylight, capturing a number of supplies and destroying during the night the depot and track at Vienna, on the Jeffersonville and Indianapolis Railroad--Leaving Lexington, passed on North to the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, near Vernon, where, finding Gen Manson with a heavy force of infantry, we skirmished with him two hours as a feint, while the main command moved round the town to Dupont, where squads were sent out to cut the roads between Vernon and Seymour on the west, Vernon and Laurenceburg on the east, Vernon and Madison on the south, and Vernon and Columbus on the north. Not much brighter were the bonfires and illuminations in celebration of the Vicksburg victory by the Yankees than our counter illuminations around Vernon. Many old ladies were aroused from their slumbers to rejoice over the brilliant victories recently achieved. Surmises were various and many One old lady know that the city of Richmond was on fire; another that Jeff Davis had been killed; a third that the Army of Virginia was used up. Not one knew that Gen. John H was in 200 miles of them. Daylight brought the news, and then for miles houses were found vacant. Loaves of bread and buckets of pure, fresh water, with an occasional sprinkle of wines, liquors, and sweetmeats, were thrust upon us. Terror was depicted upon every countenance until a brief conversation, assuring them that we were not warring upon women and children. Then their natural effrontery would return, pour upon us streams as muddy as if emanating from old Abe's brain. From Vernon we proceeded to Versailles, capturing 500 militia there and gathering on the road. Near this point Captain P., a Presbyterian chaplain, and former line officer in one of our regiments, actuated by a landable desire to change steeds, moved ahead, flanking the advance and running upon a full company of State militia. Imitating his commander's demeanor, be boldly rode up to the company and inquired for the captain. Being informed that there was a dispute as to who should lead them, he volunteered his services, expatiating largely upon the part he had played as an Indiana captain at Shiloh, and was soon elected to lead the valiant Hoosiers against "the invading rebs." Twenty minutes spent in drilling inspired complete confidence; and when the advance guard of Morgan's command had passed without Capt P. permitting the Hoosiers to fire, he ordered them into the road and surrendered them to our command. Crestfallen, indeed, were the Yanks; but Gen. M, treating them kindly, returning to them their guns, advised them to go home and not come hunting such game again, as they had everything to lose and nothing to gain by it.

Daily were we delayed by the annoying cry of "axes to the front," a cry that warned us of bushwhackers, ambuscades and blockaded roads. From the 14th to the 19th every hillside contained an enemy, and every ravine a blockade. Dispirited and worn down we reached the river at 3 A. M. on the 19th, at a ford above Pomeroy, I think, called Portland. At 4, two companies were thrown across the river and were instantly opened upon by the enemy, a scout of 300 men were sent down the river's half mile, who reported back that they had found a small force behind rifle pits, and asked permission of Gen. M. to charge. He assented and by five he was notified that Col. Smith had successfully charged the pits, capturing 150 prisoners. Another courier arriving about the same time reported that a gunboat had approached near our battery and on being fired upon had retired precipitately.

[The writer here gives a description of the battle of Buffington Island, heretofore published. He escaped over the river into Virginia]

We paroled, up to the 19th, near 6,000 Federal, they obligating themselves not to take up arms during the war. We destroyed thirty-four important bridges, destroying the track in sixty places. Our loss was by no means slight: 28 commissioned officers killed, 35 wounded, and 250 men killed, wounded, and captured. By the Federal accounts we killed more than 200, wounded at least 350, and captured, as before stated, near 6,000.--The damage to railroads, steamboats, and bridges, added to the destruction of public stores and deports, cannot fall far short of $10,000,000. We captured three pieces of artillery and one 24 pounder at Lebanon, which we destroyed; one, a Parrot 3 inch gun, at Brandenburg, and a 12 pounder at Portland.

After leaving the Ohio at Belleville, on the night of the 19th, we marched to near Elizabethtown, in Wilt country, from there to Steer Creek, and across the mountains to Sutton; from Sutton on the Gauley Bridge road to Birch Creek, crossing Gauley at the mouth of Cratberry, and thence into the Greenbrier country, crossing Cold Mountain, passing over a heavy blockaded road. Tired steeds prevented rapid marches and six days were consumed are we reached Lewisburg, near which we left Col. Grigsby, with a detachment, which then numbered about four hundred and seventy five men. From the crossing of the Ohio to our entrance in Greenbrier our men lived on beef alone, without salt, and no tread. Yet their only wish seemed to be for the safety of General Morgan and the command.