t was the business of at least one United
States officer to surrender, and not to fight. Six hundred and fifty-two
prisoners fell into Morgan's hands, also a large quantity of military
stores. The stores were destroyed. At Elizabethtown Morgan was in striking
distance of the object of his expedition, the great trestles at Muldraugh
Hill. There were two trestles, known as the upper and lower, both defended
by stout stockades.

General Morgan divided his forces, Colonel Breckinridge with one brigade
attacking the lower stockade, while Morgan with Colonel Duke's brigade
attacked the upper. A couple of hours of severe shelling convinced the
commanders of these stockades also that it was the duty of a United States
officer to surrender, and not to fight. Seven hundred more prisoners and
an immense store of military goods were added to Morgan's captures. The
goods, as usual, were destroyed.

It was but a few minutes after the surrender of the block-houses when the
trestles were a mass of flames. They were immense structures, each nearly
fifteen hundred feet long, and from eighty to ninety feet high. Thus the
object of the expedition had been gained. Again the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad was rendered useless to Rosecrans's army.

But Morgan's danger had just commenced. Thus far he had had his own way.
The enraged Federals were moving heaven and earth to compass his capture.
A brigade was transported from Gallatin to Mumfordsville by rail, joined
to the force at that place, and ordered to move east and cut off his
retreat. The forces in Central Kentucky were ordered to concentrate at
Lebanon. Thus they hoped to cut off every line of retreat.

"Don't let Morgan escape," was the command flashed to every Federal
officer in Kentucky.

From Muldraugh Hill Morgan marched for Bardstown. This led him across the
Lebanon Railroad. Before all of his force had crossed the Rolling Fork of
Salt River, the pursuing force, under Colonel Harlan, came up and engaged
the rear. The rear guard under Colonel Duke gallantly resisted them until
all had crossed in safety, but during the action Colonel Duke was severely
wounded by a piece of shell. General Boyle, the Federal commander at
Louisville, gave out that he had died of his wounds and there was great
rejoicing. But the gallant Colonel lived, to the disappointment of his
enemies.

The Federals, in close pursuit, left Morgan little time to destroy the
railroad leading to Lebanon, but h