to Lieutenant Pennington; he
has won it. But I give you all fair warning I shall get that hoss back. My
reputation depends upon it. Then to think that I, who prided myself on
being one of the best hossmen in Morgan's troop, should be thrown. Bah! it
makes me sick," and his face took on a look of disgust.

"I warned you," said Calhoun, "that that horse was up to tricks. When Fred
gives that whistle he will unhorse any rider who is on his back. I have
seen Fred try it time and time again with his father's nigger boys as
riders, and Prince never failed of unhorsing them. When Fred gave that
whistle his horse would have gone to him, or died in the attempt."

"I am sorry you didn't let Conway hang him," replied Mathews, gently
rubbing his broken arm, "but I will get even with him, see if I don't. I
want that hoss worse than ever."

A few days after the capture of Gallatin, a Federal force moved up from
Nashville, reoccupied the city, committed many depredations, and began
arresting the citizens right and left, accusing them of complicity with
Morgan. When Morgan heard of this he at once moved to the relief of the
distressed city. Attacking the rear guard of the enemy as it was leaving
the place, he not only defeated them, but drove them to within seven miles
of Nashville, capturing the force at Pilot Knob, and burning the high
railroad trestle at that place. He also captured a train of cars and
liberated forty of the citizens of Gallatin who were being taken to
Nashville as prisoners. They had been used with the greatest cruelty by
their captors.

In this raid Morgan captured nearly two hundred prisoners. Notwithstanding
the provocation was great, considering the way the citizens of Gallatin
had been used, Morgan treated his prisoners kindly and paroled them.

The Federal authorities, now being thoroughly alarmed, resolved to crush
Morgan. To this end a brigade of cavalry was organized at MacMinnville,
placed under the command of General R. W. Johnson, and sent against him.
Johnson thought that Morgan was at Hartsville, and marched against that
place. But when he reached Hartsville and learned that Morgan was at
Gallatin, he at once marched to attack him there, confident of easy
victory.

Up to this time the Federals had boasted that Morgan would not fight
anything like an equal force; that he always attacked isolated posts with
overwhelming numbers. They were now to learn something different. Morgan
had been kept well