Raiding with MorganDunn, Byron A. (Byron Archibald)
History
Raiding with Morgan
Dunn, Byron A. (Byron Archibald)
Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864 -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Morgan’s cavalry protected the right of Bragg’s army. His headquarters
were nominally at MacMinnville, but it could truly be said they were in
the saddle. Morgan did not stay long in any one place. A number of
expeditions were made against him, sometimes with a whole division, but he
managed to elude them with slight loss.
Only twice during all this time did severe reverse overtake him—once at
Milton, when he failed in his efforts to capture a brigade of infantry,
and again at Snow Hill, when he was charged by a whole division of cavalry
under the leadership of General David Stanley.
His captures of scouting and forage parties were numerous during these
months, and he added a long list of prisoners to those he had already
captured. But so strongly was every place held, and so numerous had become
the Federal cavalry, it was impossible to make any large capture. The
enemy had learned by bitter experience, that eternal vigilance was their
only safety in guarding against Morgan, and the troops which held the left
of Rosecrans’s army were always in fear. No Federal soldier was safe half
a mile outside the lines. Bitterly did many sleepy soldiers curse him, for
at three o’clock every morning they were forced to get up and stand at
arms until broad daylight. The Federal officers wanted no more surprises.
But in spite of all their vigilance, Morgan would swoop down and carry off
prisoners from under their very noses.
These months were busy ones for Calhoun; he and his scouts were always on
the go. At the battle of Milton he greatly distinguished himself, and was
the subject of a complimentary order. But during the battle he received a
slight flesh wound in the arm and the ball came from the rear. Again was
Conway behind him. The thought that he might be slain in this treacherous
manner was distracting, but what could he do? He durst not complain; such
a monstrous charge against a brother officer would have to be
substantiated by the best of proof. He could only avoid Conway as much as
possible during battle, and hope for the best. After the battle at Milton,
by reason of losses in the regiment, Conway was promoted, being appointed
major. It was fortunate for Calhoun that he was chief of scouts, and on
Morgan’s staff, or Conway would have made his life a burden, for he was a
member of the regiment of which Conway was major.
One day Calhoun, being sent on special duty over to the left of Bragg’s
army, found himself in Columbia. He now remembered what Captain Haines had
told him of the misfortunes which had befallen the Osbornes, and he
determined to visit them. As he approached the place a sigh escaped him,
for the plantation no longer was blooming like a rose, and the splendid
mansion house was a charred mass of ruins.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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