into the little city with whoop
and hurrah. Taken entirely by surprise, Morgan's men thought only of
flight. Two companies under the command of Colonel Robert C. Wood being
cut off from their horses, threw themselves into a college building in the
outskirts of the city, and for three hours defended themselves with
desperation. At last being out of ammunition they were forced to
surrender.

In this unfortunate affair Morgan lost nearly two hundred of his best
troops. The rest were more or less scattered. He himself was chased for
eighteen miles, and the pursuit ceased only when he, with the remnant of
his troops, had crossed the Cumberland.

The Federals thought they had thoroughly whipped Morgan, and he would give
them no more trouble. But they did not know the man. He had started for
Kentucky, and to Kentucky he would go. After crossing the Cumberland, he
halted, gathered his scattered command together, and then with less than
three hundred men, started for Glasgow.

"Lieutenant Pennington will meet us at Glasgow with reinforcements," he
told his men.

But there were some of his officers who had misgivings. Chief among these
was Captain Conway. Speaking to another officer, a Captain Mathews, Conway
said: "It's strange that the Colonel has such confidence in that young
upstart. As for me, I look for no reinforcements. The best thing we can do
is to get back as soon as possible."

"Captain, what is the matter?" asked Mathews. "What has that young fellow
done that you have taken such a dislike to him?"

"Nothing; but the idea of sending a mere boy on such an important mission!
Why did he not send some one back with influence?"

"Pennington is well connected; you know his father is Judge Pennington of
Danville."

"That makes little difference. His mission will be a failure; see if it
isn't. We shall see no reinforcements at Glasgow."

Just then Morgan came riding along, and seeing Conway said, "Captain, I
want to thank you for the gallant manner in which you held back the enemy
while the command crossed the Cumberland. You did nobly."

This praise so pleased Conway that for a time he forgot his supposed
grievance.

Without further trouble from the Federals, the little command reached
Glasgow, where they were received with open arms by the inhabitants.
Houses were thrown open to them and food provided in abundance. But
nothing had been heard of any reinforcements.

"What did I tell you?" said Conway to Mathe