  Morgan’s command had not been encamped at Livingston more than two or three days when, to every one’s astonishment, a couple of soldiers belonging to Captain Mathews’s company came riding into camp, one on Fred Shackelford’s famous horse, Prince, and the other on a well-known horse of Colonel Shackelford’s, called Blenheim. Calhoun, hearing the cheering and laughter which greeted the soldiers as they galloped in waving their hats and shouting, ran out of his quarters to see what was occasioning the excitement. He could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the well-known horse of Fred. Then his heart gave a great jump, for the thought came to him that his cousin had been waylaid and killed. But if so, how did the soldiers come to have Blenheim too? To his relief he soon learned the truth of the story, how from Crab Orchard Captain Mathews had sent back two of his company to capture Prince, and they had returned not only with Prince, but with Blenheim. Mathews was in high spirits as he appropriated Prince. Jumping on his back he galloped him through camp, showing off his fine points, and declaring he could outrun any horse in the brigade. [pg 114] Blenheim was awarded to Conway, much to his satisfaction. He could not forego the opportunity of crowing over Calhoun, thinking he would be vexed over the capture of his cousin’s horse. “Why do you come blowing around me?” asked Calhoun, nettled by his manner, “I am neither the keeper of my cousin nor the keeper of his horse.” “Oh, you were so careful of his precious person when I took him prisoner, I did not know but your carefulness might extend to his horse,” replied Conway, with a sneer. Calhoun felt his blood boil, but controlling himself, he replied: “You did not take Captain Shackelford, and I am surprised that you should make such a statement. You forget that I was there before you.” “You would have let the fellow go,” snapped Conway. “Just as Colonel Morgan did, on his parole,” answered Calhoun. “It was your fault that he slipped through my fingers,” exclaimed Conway, angrily, “but my time will come. I have swore to see him hanged before this war is over, and I shall.” “Catch your rabbit before you skin him, Captain,” replied Calhoun, with provoking coolness; [pg 115] Conway had entertained a secret dislike to Calhoun ever since their first meeting, partly because he had been chosen by Morgan, instead of Conway himself, to go back to Kentucky, and partly on account of his being Fred’s cousin. But after the affair at Colonel Shackelford’s house, he took little pains to conceal his dislike. Many of the officers of the brigade noticed this, and predicted that sooner or later there would be trouble between the two. But Calhoun was not through with being bantered over the capture of Prince. Captain Mathews came riding up and with a flourish said: “Ah! Lieutenant, I reckon you have seen this hoss before; what do you think of him?” Now, Mathews was a rough, rollicking fellow, and quite a favorite in the command. He and Calhoun were good friends, and so Calhoun answered pleasantly: “He is the best horse in Kentucky. I know it, for I was once beaten by him in a race. But,” continued Calhoun, with a laugh, “my advice is to guard him very carefully, or Captain Shackelford will get him back, sure. That horse has more tricks than you dream of.” “I am not worrying,” replied Mathews. “One of your scouts has just had to fork over five dollars to one of my men, on a bet they made at Crab Orchard that I could not get the hoss. Perhaps you would like to bet I can’t keep him?” [pg 116]“Yes, I will go you twenty-five that Captain Shackelford will have his horse back in less than two months,” answered Calhoun, dryly. “Done!” exclaimed the Captain, gleefully, and the stakes were placed in the hands of Captain Huffman. The bet afforded much amusement to the officers, but all of them looked upon it as a very foolish bet on the part of Calhoun. “That twenty-five is gone,” said Huffman to Calhoun, as he pocketed the stakes, “but I am sure of having fifty dollars for at least two months.” “I reckon I shall lose,” said Calhoun, “but Mathews had better not let Shackelford get sight of his “Why?” asked a dozen voices in concert. “Because that horse is up to more antics than a trick horse in a circus. You will see, if we ever run across my cousin in our raids.” “I don’t know what you mean,” said one of the officers, “but your cousin will have a fine time getting that horse away from Jim Mathews.” “Wait and see,” was Calhoun’s answer. It was not many days before they knew what Calhoun meant. A few days sufficed to rest Morgan’s command, and it was not the nature of Morgan to remain long idle. He had to be doing something. It was known that the Confederate armies were about ready to make the long-talked-of forward movement into Kentucky. In fact, General Kirby Smith had already set out from Knoxville to invade Eastern Kentucky, and General Bragg [pg 117] The Federal army in Tennessee was scattered, and owing to the raids of Morgan and Forrest, the men were on short rations. General Buell was at his wits’ end. He knew that General Bragg was preparing to advance, but thought he would not attempt the invasion of Kentucky before attacking him. He therefore looked for a great battle somewhere in Middle Tennessee, and concentrated his forces for that event. Before Bragg moved, Morgan decided to strike another blow at the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and this time right under the noses of the Federal army. Gallatin is only twenty-six miles from Nashville, and Morgan decided to attempt its capture. In order to spy out the land, Calhoun entered the place as a country lad. He found that it was garrisoned by a Federal force of about four hundred, under the command of Colonel Boone. The discipline was lax. In the daytime no pickets were out, and Calhoun found no difficulty in entering the place. He made himself known to a few of the citizens, and they gave him all the information possible. To them the coming of Morgan meant deliverance from a hateful foe. It did not take Calhoun long to find out the station of every picket at night. The camp of the Federals was on the fair-ground, half a mile from the city. Colonel Boone was accustomed to sleep at a hotel in the city; in fact, his wife was sick at [pg 118] That the citizens might not know that his numbers were depleted, Colonel Boone did not send this force away until midnight, thinking no one would see them depart. But sharp eyes were watching. Nothing was going on in Gallatin without Calhoun’s knowledge. He lost no time in reporting to Morgan, and the attack came swiftly. Knowing the location of every picket post, Calhoun was able to effect their capture without the firing of a gun, and Morgan rode into Gallatin without the knowledge of the Federal force, which was only half a mile away. Colonel Boone was captured at the hotel. The first intimation he had that Morgan was in the city was when he was commanded by Calhoun to surrender. A demand was now made on the camp that it should surrender, which it did. Thus without firing a gun Gallatin, with the entire Federal garrison and all the military stores which it contained, was captured. Losing no time, Morgan ordered the companies of Captain Mathews and Captain Conway, together with Calhoun’s scouts, to take the stockade which guarded the tunnel six miles north of town. The [pg 119] A long train of cars which had been captured was piled with wood, rails, and other combustibles, set on fire, and run into the tunnel. The sides and roof of the tunnel were supported by heavy woodwork, and the whole tunnel was soon a roaring mass of flame. The wood being burned away the tunnel caved in, and it was months before a train ran through from Louisville to Nashville. Morgan had effectually blocked the road. Highly elated with their success, the command returned to Gallatin, Mathews and Conway riding at the head of the column. To Calhoun was committed the care of the prisoners, and he brought up the rear. When about half-way to Gallatin, Calhoun heard the report of a single pistol shot in front, then a rapid succession of rifle shots. The head of the column seemed to be thrown into confusion, and the whole command came to a halt. Fearful that an attack had been made by a Federal force coming from Nashville, Calhoun gave orders to shoot down the first prisoner who attempted to escape, and prepared to resist any attack that might come. But no more firing was heard, and the column began to move again. Soon an officer came riding back and told Calhoun a story that interested him greatly. Mathews and Conway were riding at the head of the column, when, as it reached a cross-road, a [pg 120] A boy sprang out of the bushes into the road, and Mathews’s horse stopped by his side. He fired at Conway, hitting him in the shoulder. To save himself from being shot again, Conway flung himself from his horse. The boy sprang onto Mathews’s horse and rode away at full speed, followed by the other horse. An ineffectual volley was fired at the boy. Captain Mathews’s arm was broken by the fall. HE FIRED AT CONWAY. HE FIRED AT CONWAY. “So Captain Mathews has lost his horse?” asked Calhoun, with a faint smile. “Yes, he will quit blowing now.” “And I have won twenty-five dollars; but I am sorry Mathews had his arm broken.” When Calhoun reached Gallatin, Captain Conway had had his wound dressed, and Mathews’s arm was in splints. Conway was in a towering passion. He blamed Calhoun for his ill-luck, saying if it had not been for him, Fred Shackelford would have been hanged as a spy. From this time he did not try to conceal his hatred of Calhoun. Captain Mathews took his misfortune more philosophically. “It was a blamed sharp trick on the part of young Shackelford!” he exclaimed. Then turning to Captain Huffman, he said: “Give that money to Lieutenant Pennington; he has won it. [pg 121] “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 [pg 122] 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 posted by Calhoun and his scouts with regard to every movement of Johnson. Although he knew that he was greatly outnumbered, Morgan resolved to give battle and teach the boasting Yankees a lesson. Early on the morning of August 21 Calhoun came galloping into Gallatin with the information that Johnson was close at hand. To avoid fighting a battle in the city Morgan moved out on the Hartsville pike, meeting the enemy about two miles from Gallatin. The engagement opened at [pg 123] For a time the Federals fought bravely, and for an hour the issue of the battle was doubtful; then a charge stampeded a portion of the Federal forces. Thoroughly panic-stricken they threw away guns, accoutrements, everything that impeded their progress, thinking only of safety in flight. Plunging into the Cumberland River, they forded it and did not stop running until they reached Nashville. The remaining Federal force under General Johnson retreated about two miles, and then made a brave stand. But nothing could withstand the fury of Colonel Basil Duke’s attack, whose command had the advance. General Johnson and many of his men were taken prisoners, and the remainder were scattered. In this engagement the Federals lost two hundred men, killed, wounded, and missing. Their general himself was a prisoner. Thus, to their cost, they found that when the occasion demanded it Morgan would fight. Morgan’s loss in the battle was only five killed and twenty wounded; but among the latter was the brave Captain Huffman, who had an arm shattered. Colonel Basil Duke, in this fight, won the highest praise from Morgan for the masterly manner in which he handled his regiment. It was greatly owing to the efforts of Colonel Duke that the victory was won. [pg 124]In this battle Calhoun bore a conspicuous part. Single-handed he engaged a Federal officer who was trying to rally his men, and forced him to surrender. When he delivered up his sword Calhoun saw to his surprise that it was his old acquaintance, Lieutenant Haines. “Ah, Lieutenant,” said Calhoun, “I am glad to have met you again. When the battle is over I will come and see you.” “Pennington again, as I am alive!” gasped the astonished Lieutenant. After all was over Calhoun sought him out, and found him sitting dejected and crestfallen among the prisoners. “Cheer up, Lieutenant,” said Calhoun, pleasantly; “we are going to parole you. You will soon be at liberty.” “How often do you want to parole a fellow? This will be the third time,” growled Haines. “Curse the luck. I thought we would wipe you off the face of the earth sure this time. We would, too, if it hadn’t been for that cowardly regiment which broke.” “An ‘if’ has stood in between many a man and success,” answered Calhoun. “How long ago were you exchanged?” “About two months,” replied Haines, “and here I am in for it again. I expected to win a captaincy to-day. If this is the way it goes, I shall die a lieutenant.” “Oh, you may wear the star of a general yet, [pg 125] A change came over the face of Haines—one that transformed his rather handsome features into those of a malignant spirit. Calhoun saw it and wondered. The Lieutenant quickly recovered himself, and answered: “Yes, but trouble has come upon the family. Mr. Osborne refused to take the oath of allegiance, and as he was looked upon as a dangerous character, he has been sent North as a prisoner.” “To wear his life away in some Northern bastile!” exclaimed Calhoun, in a fury. “Monstrous!” “That is not all,” returned Haines. “By some means the house took fire and burned with all its contents. I did all I could for them—tried to save Mr. Osborne, but could not; but I will not relax my efforts to have him released. I have some powerful friends in the North.” Calhoun thanked him, and went his |
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