History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A., Part 13

Author: Scott, Samuel W; Angel, Samuel P., 1840-
Publication date: [c1903]
Publisher: Philadelphia : P. W. Ziegler
Number of Pages: 576


USA > Tennessee > Johnson County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 13
USA > Tennessee > Carter County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 13


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On the 3Ist a scout going out on the road to Lick Creek met a flag of truce, and returned to the Gap where the command remained, shoeing horses, repairing wag- ons and getting things in order. The Adjutant of the Thirteenth sent in the regular monthly report of the Regi- ment and received a complimentary notice from Brigade Headquarters, it being the only report received. We re- mained here rather quietly until the night of September 3d, 1864.


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CHAPTER XVIII.


Fight at Greeneville, Tenn .- Death of the Famous Raider, Gen. John H. Morgan .- The Facts Told by Eye-Witnesses and Participants in the Affair .- Proof That Gen. Morgan Was Killed While Attempting to Make His Escape and While Fir- ing on His Pursuers .- The Fabulous Stories That He Was Betrayed by a Woman and Murdered After He Had Sur- rendered Disproved .- Andrew Campbell His Slayer .- The History of the Affair Corrected in Many Particulars.


The particulars of the movement leading up to the fight at Greeneville, Tenn., and the death of Gen. John H. Morgan at that place on the morning of September 4th, 1864, would necessarily occupy but small space were it not for his prominence, and the persistence with which newspaper and periodical writers, as well as historians, have attempted to convert this incident into fiction, al- most from the date of its occurrence to the present time. Almost every year some new version of this affair has appeared, each differing so materially from its predeces- sor as to mystify the reader and raise doubts in his mind as to the accuracy of any of them.


The writers were staff officers in the Thirteenth Ten- nessee Cavalry, one of them Adjutant of the Regiment, and the other one Sergeant Major, at the time Gen. Mor- gan was killed. We were both present at Bull's Gap on the night the Regiment was ordered to Greeneville, and every order given by Col. Ingerton that night and dur- ing the operations of the next day, was transmitted to the officers through us or given directly to them in our presence. Realizing the importance of placing on record an accurate account of this event, and with a view of cor- recting the many absurd and ridiculous stories published concerning it, we have examined with the greatest care


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Gen. Gillen's official report made at the time, official cor- respondence in regard to it, the report of Gen. Basil Duke, who succeeded Gen. Morgan as commander of the Confederate forces after the death of that officer, and many newspaper and magazine articles written by men who claimed to have participated in that affair. The most accurate detailed account of it we have found is that writ- ten by Hon. A. B. Wilson, Attorney-at-Law, and a resi- dent of Greeneville, Tennessee, which was recently pub- lished in the "Nashville Banner" of March 20, 1902, and also in the "National Tribune,"


Gen. John H. Morgan, the famous Kentucky Raider, gained a national, and almost world-wide reputation as the "Marion of the South" by his raids into Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. The long pursuit and his capture by the Federal forces and imprisonment in the Ohio peni- tentiary, from which he subsequently made his escape, are matters with which all readers of history are familiar. After his escape from prison he reorganized his com- ırand and made one or two other unsuccessful raids into Kentucky, in which he met with disaster and defeat, and it has been alleged the authorities of his Government had lost confidence in him, while his admirers believed he


was the victim of envy and jealousy. While under this cloud, and desiring to restore himself in the favor of his Government, he conceived the idea of getting together such of his old command, "the Morgan Men," who were greatly attached to him, as were available, and such other forces as he could, assemble them in Southwest Virginia, and swoop down on Colonel Miller's Brigade, which was now the only defense of Upper East Tennessee, capture and destroy it, and menace, or possibly capture Knoxville. Could he have consummated these plans the country would have again rung with his praise, and he would have regained the confidence of the Confederate authori- ties and the plaudits of the Southern people. Had this expedition been successful this daring officer would no doubt have realized his fondest hopes and brightest dreams, but fate decreed otherwise.


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According to official papers captured on the morning of the fight at Greeneville, Gen. Morgan had at this time about 2,500 men making due allowance for absentees. They were composed of Gens. Vaughn's, Duke's, Gilt- ner's, A. E. Jackson's, Palmer's and Smith's brigades. On the day before this engagement these forces were scattered in various places from within a few miles of Greeneville to the State line at Bristol.


Having arranged for the concentration of all these brigades at Greeneville for the purpose, as we have noted, of surprising Gen. Gillem and Col. Miller at Bull's Gap, or possibly having information that Miller's Brigade was still on the south side of the Holston river, hoped to reach that stronghold in advance of them.


Whatever may have been his designs Gen. Morgan in person, with part of his command, left Bristol on the morning of September 3, 1864, and making an almost unprecedented march of 56 miles over very muddy and hilly roads, reached Greeneville about 5 p. m. that day. Gen. Vaughn's brigade, (commanded by another officer in Vaughn's absence) not having come so far, probably reached Greeneville at an earlier hour and passed on through the town and encamped at Blue Springs about eight miles west of Greeneville in the direction of Bull's Gap, where Miller's Brigade was encamped. It was evi- dently the intention of this brigade (Vaughn's) to await the remainder of Gen. Morgan's force and join them on the following day. One brigade was sent out on the Rogersville road, and strong pickets were sent out on all the roads leading into Greeneville over which it was supposed an enemy could or would attempt to reach the town.


As nearly as we have been able to ascertain, Gen. Duke's brigade went into camp near College Hill, a short distance east of the town, and the artillery, six pieces with the caissons, was placed in position on this hill and near the college building. Gen. Palmer's men were south- east, and Jackson's northeast of the town. Quite a large squad of Confederate soldiers, fifty or more, had appar-


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ently come in on Main street and weary from the long forced march, after feeding their horses and getting something to eat, had tethered their horses to the fences and wrapping their blankets around them, laid down to rest and sleep in the street.


Gen. Morgan himself, with the following staff officers, and others : Major Hines, Captains Clay and Rogers, Dr. Morgan, (a brother to the General) Lieutenant Claude M. Johnson, Major Gossett, (the latter not a staff offi- cer) and probably a number of other aides and orderlies and others took shelter and established headquarters in the spacious residence of Mrs. Williams, the building now known as the Morgan Inn, located near the corner of Church and Irish streets, Greeneville, Tenn.


General Morgan before retiring that night had issued orders to his subordinate officers in regard to the opera- tions of the following day, and among other things had ordered that the company commanders have their men, whose guns were loaded, discharge them for fear the ammunition might be damp, as it had been raining. Such was the situation, as nearly as it can now be told, at Greeneville and Blue Springs, on the night preceding the death of Gen. John H. Morgan.


At Bull's Gap, Miller's Brigade, consisting of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Lieut .- Col. John B. Brownlow, the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Lieut .- Col. William H. Ingerton, part of the Ioth Michigan Cavalry, commanded by Major Newell, and two sections of the First Tennessee Light Artillery, comanded by Lieut. W. J. Patterson, all under the general command of Gen. Alvin C. Gillem, as will be seen by reference to Governor Johnson's order published in another part of this history, was lying quietly in camp.


The most authentic account of the manner in which the information was received by Gen. Gillem and Col. Miller that led to the night march which resulted in the death of Gen. Morgan, is as follows: On the evening of September 3d a lad about 12 or 13 years old named


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James Leady, whose parents were Union people, was sent from Greeneville to Capt. R. C. Carter's mill, near Blue Springs, with a grist of corn or wheat. As he was re- turning home he was stopped by some of Vaughn's soldiers, and his meal or flour taken from him. In- censed at that treatment, and being a Union boy, he made his way to Bull's Gap and reported to Gen. Gillem and Col. Miller that a Confederate force, numbering 200 or 300 men, were encamped at Blue Springs. The boy was closely questioned but his information seemed to be re- liable. A consultation was held among the Federal offi- cers, and a proposition made to send a force by an un- frequented road to the rear of this force and move the remainder of the Brigade up the main road, surprise and capture it. It was alleged that Gen. Gillem strenu- ously opposed this movement as unmilitary and danger- ous in the extreme, and refused to take the responsibility of making it. But, Col. Miller, Lieut .- Col. Brownlow and others of the officers favoring it, and Col. Miller as- suming the responsibility, the movement was decided upon. Col. Miller went in person then to Col. Inger- ton's tent and explained the situation to that officer, who was in command of the Thirteenth Tenn. Cavalry, and ordered him to get out his Regiment and proceed under the direction of a guide, Capt. William Sizemore, who was well acquainted with the country, to a point a short distance west of Greeneville, and take position and hold himself in readiness to attack Gen. Vaughn's force when the remainder of the Brigade, which was to move up the State road, succeeded in dislodging and driving that force back on his position. It was about 10 o'clock at night, September 3d, and while forming the Regiment it was discovered that the clouds and darkness presaged a storm. Col. Ingerton immediately gave orders for the company commanders to get out every well mounted soldier in each company ready to move. The Regiment was soon in column and conducted by Captain Sizemore moved out in a southerly direction from the Gap, over a kind of woods-road made by hauling wood to camp,


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finally reaching what was called the Warrensburg road, crossed Lick Creek on a bridge, near Warrensburg, and came to an obscure road or bridle-way called the Arnet road, which was almost impassable, even in daylight. The storm had now broken loose, and it would have been impossible to find the way but for the continuous blaze of lightning that enabled the men to see the road. The lightning blinded the horses, however, so that when the column halted they would often run against each other. But the Regiment struggled on, men and horses often falling into ditches and others running against each other, the Third Commandment was broken that night more than once, as the men cursed the


promoters of this night expedition. A short dis- tance from Greeneville, just about daylight, the Regiment left this road and passing through a woodland, reached the Newport road and moving on to the State road formed on an eminence one mile west of Greeneville, facing west, companies G and I, commanded by Captains C. C. Wilcox and S. E. Northington, were formed a short distance in rear of the Regiment, and nearest to Greeneville. The Regiment was partially screened from view by a growth of cedars and some scat- tering trees. It was now in position to intercept the force at Blue Springs-Vaughn's brigade-when driven back upon it by the remainder of the Brigade.


The reader will note that the "Thirteenth," commanded by Lieut .- Col. Ingerton, occupied a position within one mile of College Hill, where General Morgan's force of not less than 1500 to 2000 men, making allowance for the two brigades not there, were encamped. That the Regi- ment, numbering on this night less than 500 men, only the well mounted men being present-was in line with its rear towards Gen. Morgan's main force, and facing, and expecting to intercept and attack Gen. Vaughn's brigade, when driven back upon it by the remainder of Miller's Brigade. It will be observed that this was a most peril- ous position for Col. Ingerton, and it being now broad day-light, had Gen. Morgan or Gen. Duke been apprised


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of the situation, the Regiment would have been attacked in the rear by a largely superior force, while a force al- most equal to its own was between it and the remainder of the Brigade. Although Gen. Gillem, after the victory, claimed that he started out to attack Morgan, we cannot believe that any sane officer would have ordered a regi- ment into the position now occupied by Col. Ingerton, had he known that Gen. Morgan's entire force wat at Greeneville. Gen. Morgan having made the almost un- precedented march of 56 miles on the day he arrived at Greeneville, it is more reasonable to suppose that neither Gen. Gillem or Col. Miller suspected that Gen. Morgan had reached Greeneville, but that the force at Blue Springs was an unsupported scouting party which they hoped to capture by sending a Regiment in its rear and attacking it from the front, and this was evidently their design. The Regiment had been in position but a short time when the artillery was heard in the direction of Blue Springs, notifying us the fight was on, and to be in readiness to attack the enemy vigorously when he ap- proached, but there were several miles intervening and our men awaited with nervous, but silent expectation as it was believed that, finding himself hemmed in between two forces the enemy would make a desperate attempt to break through our lines, or turn our flank. Our men felt that they were expected to hold that line at all haz- ards until the force below closed in and forced the sur- render of the enemy. At 12 o'clock, midnight, Gen. Gil- lem and Col. Miller with the remainder of the Brigade, which consisted of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, com- manded by Lieut .- Col. John B. Brownlow, part of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry, commanded by Major Newell, and two sections of the First Tennessee Light Artillery, commanded by Lieut. W. J. Patterson, moved out from Bull's Gap as rapidly as the darkness and storm, and the condition of the roads, would permit, came upon the enemy about 6 A. M., captured the videttes, who were found asleep, and attacked the main body, which after a few rounds from the artillery, retreated towards Greene-


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ville. This force was completely surprised, and was un- able to stand the gallant charge of the Ninth Tennessee, and the Tenth Michigan Cavalry, interspersed with the morning salutes of Lieut. Patterson's well-directed artil- lery.


It was not very long until the advance guard (about 20 men) of Vaughn's Brigade, which we have seen was driven from Blue Springs appeared in sight of Ingerton's force posted west of Greeneville, and not suspecting danger from that direction, was within 50 yards of our line be- fore it saw us. Lieut. W. F. M. Hyder who was in com- mand of Company L near the road, evidently mistaking Col. Ingerton's signal to keep quiet, fired on the guard, this was followed by a fusilade from his company, wounding several of the guard and killing a number of the horses. The prisoners were disarmed and placed under guard.


During the confusion attending this incident a citizen rushed into our lines inquiring for the commanding officer. Col. Ingerton being pointed out to him he said: "For God's sake get out of here as quickly as possible, Gen. Morgan is in town, and has a force of 5000 men (which no doubt the citizen believed) and if you do not retreat at once every one of you will be killed or captured." The excited citizen added, however, that Gen. Morgan, with his staff and a small guard, were at the residence of Mrs. Williams in town, some distance away from his com- mand. Col. Ingerton had no thought of retreating, but sent Sergeant-Major Angel for Captain Wilcox and gave orders for him and Captain Northington with their two companies to "dash into town, surround the William's residence and bring Morgan out dead or alive."


It might be well to explain here why Gen. Morgan and his men were not aroused by the firing in such close proximity to them, which had been heard by the citizens of Greeneville, and which had brought the citizen out to warn Ingerton of his danger. It is said, as before stated, that on the preceding night Gen. Morgan had given orders to his officers to have the men discharge their


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guns the next morning, fearing the ammunition might be wet, as it had been raining. If he or his guard heard the firing, which is more than probable, they supposed it was their own men discharging their guns as directed.


We give below a diagram of the Williams grounds and house so that the movements of the two companies and the events that follow may be better understood :


I. Williams residence. 2. Place where Gen. Morgan fell. 3. Mason house. 4. Fry Hotel. 5. Stable. 6. Gate on Main street. 7. Shop. 8. Episcopal Church. 9. Court-house. 10. Where body of Gen. Morgan was taken out. II. Old Summer house. 12. Where Campbell fired from


College Hill, where Morgan's troops encamped, 1/4 mile from Williams' house.


Through the courtesy of Hon. A. B. Wilson, of Greeneville, Tennessee, himself a gallant officer of the Fourth Tennessee Infantry, we give some quotations from an article recently written by him and published in the "National Tribune."


These quotations refer mainly to the history of the Williams family, the location of the premises where Gen. Morgan was killed, and incidents attending that event, with corrections of the many false stories which have been published from time to time concerning it. Besides Mr. Wilson's excellent version of the affair, which is in our judgment, the most accurate yet published, as far as it goes, we have recently visited the scene in person with the view of gaining new information, and verifying what we were already in possession of. We feel that every fact connected with this much talked of event, owing to the prominence of Gen. Morgan, will be read with great interest in the years to come.


Before recording the details of the dash made into Greeneville by Captains Wilcox and Northington, with their two companies, we wish to emphasize the fact that no other Federal troops entered Greeneville that morning previous to the death of Gen. Morgan except these two companies, and none knew that he had been killed until his dead body had been brought out of town and laid down by the roadside about three-fourths of a mile west of Greeneville.


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LOCATION OF THE WILLIAMS RESIDENCE WHERE GENERAL MORGAN'S HEADQUARTERS WERE.


"The house, a large brick structure, is now the Mor- gan Inn. It is near Irish street, which runs parallel with Main. From the house a walk led through the grounds to a gate opening on Main street. On this walk, and about half way, there was a Summer-house covered with vines. The other buildings on the square consisted of the Mason House, on the corner on Main street, an old store-house separating it from the Fry Hotel; a shop on the next corner; an Episcopal Church, and a few out- buildings.


"A large portion of the grounds, and that portion fronting 01 Depot street, was embraced in a vineyard, while much of the residue was a vegetable garden. Mrs. Williams also owned a large farm four miles north of Greeneville.


"When Gen. Morgan came to Greeneville he put up at the Williams residence, leaving his command on the east side of the town, and about a quarter of a mile distant, thus placing himself directly between his own forces and the enemy. His entire staff stopped at the same house with him, and their horses were stabled just across Depot street from the Williams ground."


THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.


"The lady with whom Gen. Morgan lodged was Mrs. Catharine D. Williams. She was the widow of Dr. Alex- ander Williams, who had died a few years previously. Dr. Alexander Williams was in his lifetime considered the wealthiest man in the town, and his beautiful grounds, embracing three-fourths of a square and in its center was a place for pleasure resorts, for which purpose their use was never refused. Mrs. Williams, although charitable to all, was an ardent Southern sympathizer, and, besides, was in some way related to Gen. Morgan, or rather to his- wife.


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"One of her sons was a Captain in the Confederate army, and her oldest son who, now an old man, resides in Greeneville, was with Morgan's forces at the time. In the absence of her sons, Mrs. Williams's family consisted of herself and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lucy Williams, the wife of her son Joseph A. Williams, who was absent from home with some visiting friends."


It would appear at first thought that General Morgan acted most imprudently in separating himself from his command with none but a small guard and his staff offi- cers to protect him, that too in a country whose inhabi- tants were largely hostile to the cause for which he was fighting, but when we consider that he had made a long and wearisome march the previous day, that the night was a stormy one, and he, without adequate protection from the rain, the hospitable mansion of Mrs. Williams, where he had often been before, was a strong temptation for him to stop there, and take a much needed rest to fit him for the march and battle which according to his plans would take place in the vicinity of Bull's Gap, 16 miles away, on the following day. Again, all the main roads leading into the town were strongly guarded, and if the rough bridleway over which Ingerton came with his Regiment that night was known to him, he little dreamed that any officer would attempt to pass over it on a night like that.


It has been related since, that after Gen. Morgan had taken up his quarters at the Williams home that dismal night, he expressed some forebodings of coming ill and spoke of returning to his command, but was lulled into security by the more cheerful mood of his companions. Possibly his good angel was whispering words of warn- ing in his ear which the brave chieftain failed to heed.


THE CHARGE INTO TOWN.


Deeming the facts in regard to what occurred in the town of the greatest importance we have conversed with a number of men who were present and witnessed the kill- ing of Gen. Morgan, and who are men of integrity and


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character and we believe that any statement made by them would be true as far as their memory will permit them to tell the exact facts after the passing of so many years. Among those whom we have received statements from are : M. D. L. Miller, of Keensburg ; W. M. Bishop, of Watauga; John M. Wilcox, of Elizabethton; W. E. Shuffield, of Lineback; Joseph McCloud, of Hampton, and John G. Burchfield, of Washington, D. C. All of them were members of Company G, and went into Greeneville that morning with Captain C. C. Wilcox, and all agree that the material facts as we state them are true. One point of difference which we have been un- able to settle satisfactorily is whether Captain Northing- ton with his company (I.) was ordered into town at the same time and did go with Company G., or whether after the firing began he was ordered to the support of that company. Our recollection and best information favors the latter as the fact. We have been unable to get any statement regarding this point from members of that company, but we know Captain Northington and his son, Lieut. H. C. Northington, went into town with their com- pany and played a conspicuous part in the events of that morning.


Receiving orders as we have seen from Col. Ingerton to go into town Captain Wilcox formed his company in column of fours and started towards the point where the State road intersects with the main street of Greeneville. Near this point he cut off 20 men and ordered Lieut. White to take charge of them and locate and surround the Williams residence, while he with the remainder of the company proceeded east on Main street. It was yet very early in the morning, and succeeding the rain, the fog hung low, obscuring the vision for a time. Reaching a point where a small brick building of some kind stood . then on the corner of Main and Church streets, they ran onto the men and horses (rebels) whom we have men- tioned as having camped on Main street the night before, probably Gen. Morgan's guard. These men, just aroused, were in great confusion, running to and fro, and some of




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