again and again.
Tompkinsville was reached at five o'clock on the morning of the 9th of
July. The Federals, under the command of Major Thomas J. Jordan, of the
Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, though surprised, made a stand, and the battle
at once opened. But a few shots from Morgan's mountain howitzers utterly
demoralized the Federals, and they fled in confusion.
Major Jordan, after retreating about a mile, succeeded in rallying about
seventy-five of his men, and made a stand to cover the retreat of his
force. Calhoun, with some fifteen of his scouts far in advance of the main
column, charged down on them without hesitating a moment. The Federals,
although they outnumbered the scouts five to one, were ridden down, and
throwing down their arms they cried for mercy.
In this fight the gallant Colonel Hunt was mortally wounded. He was one of
Morgan's best officers, and his loss was deeply mourned.
From Tompkinsville Morgan moved to Glasgow, arriving there at one o'clock
in the morning.
The Federal garrison had heard of his approach, and had fled, leaving
everything behind them. A large quantity of military stores fell into
Morgan's hands, and was destroyed.
Although it was in the middle of the night, the glad news spread through
the town, and the citizens were hailing each other with the glad shout,
"Morgan has come again! Morgan has come again!" Soon from every house
lights were flashing, and every woman was engaged in cooking. When morning
came, not only a steaming hot breakfast of the best that the place
afforded was set before the men, but three days' cooked rations were given
each man.
At Glasgow Morgan gave out that he was again to raid the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad. In order to carry out the deception, when he left
Glasgow he followed the road which would lead him to strike the railroad
in between Woodsonville and Mumfordsville; but when he was within a few
miles of the road, he halted his command, and taking only Calhoun and his
scouts, he struck the road at a lonely place a short distance from Horse
Cove. Here he had his telegraph operator, a sharp young fellow named
Ellsworth, attach his private instrument to the telegraph wire, and for
two hours Ellsworth, in the midst of a driving storm and standing in water
up to his knees, took every message that passed over the wire. It was rare
fun to hear the Federal officers telling all their secrets, and revealing
the terror they were in over Morgan's ra
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