a
shot being fired. Some twenty-five miles of the Cincinnati and Lexington
railroad was now in Morgan's possession, and he proceeded to destroy it as
thoroughly as his limited time admitted. But he was being encompassed by
his enemies. A large force was moving on him from Frankfort; another from
Lexington. Calhoun with his faithful scouts kept him fully informed of
these movements.

Just in time to elude General Green Clay Smith's forces from Lexington, he
marched for Winchester. His next move was to Richmond. This left all the
pursuing forces in the rear. The celerity of Morgan's movements, the
marvellous endurance of his men, astonished and confounded his enemies.

At Richmond, Morgan decided to make a stand and give battle to his
pursuers; but Calhoun brought word that at least five thousand Federals
were closing in on him. To give battle to such a number would have been
madness, so he marched for Crab Orchard. On the march Calhoun made a
detour toward Danville so as to visit the plantation of his uncle, Colonel
Richard Shackelford. He was also in hopes of meeting his cousin Fred. He
had heard how Fred had interceded for his father, keeping him from being
sent to a Northern prison, and he wished to thank him. He was ashamed of
the hatred he had felt toward him, and resolved to make amends for it.

His arrival was a genuine surprise, but to his consternation Fred
presented himself in the uniform of a captain of the Federal army. His men
clamored to take Fred prisoner, but just as Calhoun had succeeded in
quieting them, to his dismay Captain Conway came galloping upon the scene
at the head of his company. He had obtained permission from Morgan to
scout toward Danville. His real object was to capture Fred, who he knew
was at home. Once in his hands, he hoped to convict him as a spy. His plan
was frustrated by the bold stand taken by Colonel Shackelford, who
delivered Fred as a prisoner to Calhoun with instructions to take him to
Morgan. This Calhoun did, and Morgan at once paroled him, although Conway
tried his best to have him held as a spy. Morgan not only paroled Fred,
but let him return with the horse he had ridden, although many of the men
looked on the splendid animal with envious eyes. But Morgan would not hear
of their taking a horse which belonged to his old friend, Colonel
Shackelford.

"Why didn't you ride that horse of yours?" asked Captain Mathews of Fred,
alluding to Fred's famous horse, Prince.

"Af