That Rascally Morgan

So my reenacting unit's first event is coming up this weekend at Vernon, IN. It is for the town's Sassafras Festival, and the proceeds go to benefit the local historical society. I recommend anyone who's in the area to come on over and check it out, as the home made pies and breads are excellent!!

Vernon's history includes just a bit of Morgan's final raid into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. It was just outside of town that he turned east into Ohio and eventually to his capture. Submitted by a friend, this is a story related from "The Camp Jester, or Amusement for the Mess" published by Blackmar and Brother, Augusta, GA, 1864. Its an amusing little story about an interaction by Morgan and some Indiana home guard.

HOW MORGAN GOT THREE HUNDRED HORSES.
John Morgan is as good at playing a joke sometimes as he is at horse stealing, and the following incident will prove that on this occasion he did a little of both at the same time. During his celebrated tour through Indiana he, with about three hundred and fifty guerillas, took occasion to pay a visit to a little town hard by, while the main body were 'marching on.' Dashing suddenly into the little 'burg,' he found about three hundred home guards, each having a good horse tied to the fences--the men standing about in groups, awaiting orders from their aged captain, who looked as if he had seen the shady side of some sixty years. The Hoosier boys looked at the men with astonishment while the captain went up to one of the party and asked:
"Whose company is this?"
"Wolford's cavalry," said the reb.
"What! Kentucky boys! We're glad to see you boys? Whar's Wolford?"
"There he sits," said a ragged, rough rebel, pointing to Morgan, who was sitting side ways upon his horse.
The Captain walked up to Wolford (as he and all thought) and saluted him:
"Captain, how are you?"
"Bully! How are you? What are you going to do with all these men and horses?" Morgan looked about.
"Well, you see that damned horse thieving John Morgan is in this part of the country with a parcel of cut throats and thieves, and between you and I, if he comes up this way Captain, we'll give him the best we've got in the shop."
"He's hard to catch, we've been after him for fourteen days and can't see him at all," said Morgan good humoredly.
"Ef our hosses would stand fire we'd be all right."
"Won't they stand?"
"No, Captain Wolford; 'spose while you're restin' you and your company put your saddles on our horses and go through a little evolution or two, by way of a lesson to our boys. I am told you are a hoss on the drill."
And the only man that Morgan is afraid of, Wolford (as it were,) alighted and ordered "his boys" to dismount, as he wanted to show the Hoosier boys how to give Morgan a warm reception should he chance to pay them a visit. This delighted the hoosier boys, so they went to work and assisted the men to tie their old weary, worn out bones to the fences, and place their saddles upon the backs of their fresh horses, which was soon done, and the men were in their saddles drawn up in line and ready for the word. The boys were highly elated at the idea of having their pet horses," trained for them by Wolford and his men, and the more so to think that they would stand fire ever afterwards.
The old Captain advanced, and walking up to Wolford, (as he thought,) said: "Captain, are you all right now?" Wolford rode up one side of the column and down the other, when he moved to the front, took off his hat, paused and said, "Now, Captain, I am ready; if you and your gallant men wish to witness an evolution which you perhaps have never seen, form a line on each side of the road, and watch us closely as we pass." The Captain did as he was directed. A lot of ladies were present on the occasion, and all was as silent as a maiden's sigh.
"Are you ready?"
"All right, Wolford," shouted the Captain.
"Forward!" shouted Morgan, as the whole column rushed through the crowd with lightning speed, amid the shouts and huzzas of every one present--some leading a horse or two as they went, leaving their frail tenements of horse flesh tied to the fences, to be provided for by the citizens. It soon became whispered about that it was John Morgan and his gang, and there is not a man in the town who will "own up" that he was gulled out of a horse. The company disbanded that night, though the Captain holds the horses as prisoners of war, and awaits an exchange.

There's some great stuff in this book and is available online to read for free. Just google "The Camp Jester," and check it out!