The sun had just sunk to rest; the gloom of night was settling over the forest. Calhoun saw the shadows thicken among the trees. The darkness of death would soon be upon him.
"String "em up!" shouted Red.
Just then the solemn hoot of a distant owl was heard. One of the men holding the rope dropped it, and shivered from head to foot.
"Boys," he whispered, "let"s don"t do it. That"s a note of warning. I never knew it to fail."
"Cuss ye fo" a white-livered coward!" yelled Red Bill. "String them up, I tell ye!"
For answer there came the sharp crack of rifles, the rush of armed men, and the infuriated Texans were on them. No mercy was shown; in a moment it was all over.
Quickly the cords which bound Calhoun and Nevels were cut, and the terrible nooses removed from their necks. "Thank G.o.d, we were in time!"
cried Captain Huffman, wringing Calhoun"s hand.
But Calhoun stood as one in a trance. So sudden had been his deliverance, he could not realize it. He had nerved himself to die, and now that he was safe, he felt sick and faint, and would have fallen if he had not been supported. Both he and Nevels soon rallied, and poured out their thanks to the brave men who had come to their rescue.
"We would never have found you," said Huffman, "if we had not run on one of the gang who under the threat of death piloted us here."
"Where is he?" asked Calhoun.
"With the boys up with the horses."
"Let him go," pleaded Calhoun; "but for him I would now have been food for the buzzards."
"To which we will leave these carrion," answered Huffman, pointing to the dead Home Guards. "But we must be going; Morgan is impatient to be on the road."
Great was the rejoicing in Morgan"s command when Captain Huffman returned bringing Calhoun and Nevels safe; and much satisfaction was expressed over the fate of their captors. In half an hour after the return of Captain Huffman"s command, Morgan"s men were en route for Paris.
CHAPTER VII.
CALHOUN TAKES FRED PRISONER.
After leaving Midway, Morgan did not march directly to Paris, but halted at Georgetown, a little city twelve miles north of Lexington. The citizens of Georgetown gave Morgan"s command the same joyous welcome which they had received at almost every place visited; for Morgan came to them not as an enemy, but as a liberator.
From Georgetown Morgan resolved to attack Cynthiana, which lies north of Paris, having heard there was a considerable body of Federal troops stationed there. Sending a small force toward Lexington to keep up the fiction of an attack upon that place, Morgan moved with the main body of his force upon Cynthiana.
Here was fought the fiercest battle that Morgan was engaged in during his raid. Cynthiana was held by Colonel John J. Landram of the Eighteenth Kentucky. He had under him about four hundred men, mostly Home Guards and raw recruits. Landram put up a most gallant defence, and the battle raged for an hour and a half with the greatest fury. It was at last decided by a furious charge made by Major Evans at the head of his Texas rangers. The entire force of Colonel Landram was killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.
Colonel Morgan lamented the loss of some forty of his bravest men. Calhoun was not in this fight, having been sent with his scouts toward Lexington to watch the movements of the enemy.
From Cynthiana, Morgan moved on Paris, and the place surrendered without a shot being fired. Some twenty-five miles of the Cincinnati and Lexington railroad was now in Morgan"s possession, and he proceeded to destroy it as thoroughly as his limited time admitted. But he was being encompa.s.sed by his enemies. A large force was moving on him from Frankfort; another from Lexington. Calhoun with his faithful scouts kept him fully informed of these movements.
Just in time to elude General Green Clay Smith"s forces from Lexington, he marched for Winchester. His next move was to Richmond. This left all the pursuing forces in the rear. The celerity of Morgan"s movements, the marvellous endurance of his men, astonished and confounded his enemies.
At Richmond, Morgan decided to make a stand and give battle to his pursuers; but Calhoun brought word that at least five thousand Federals were closing in on him. To give battle to such a number would have been madness, so he marched for Crab Orchard. On the march Calhoun made a detour toward Danville so as to visit the plantation of his uncle, Colonel Richard Shackelford. He was also in hopes of meeting his cousin Fred. He had heard how Fred had interceded for his father, keeping him from being sent to a Northern prison, and he wished to thank him. He was ashamed of the hatred he had felt toward him, and resolved to make amends for it.
His arrival was a genuine surprise, but to his consternation Fred presented himself in the uniform of a captain of the Federal army. His men clamored to take Fred prisoner, but just as Calhoun had succeeded in quieting them, to his dismay Captain Conway came galloping upon the scene at the head of his company. He had obtained permission from Morgan to scout toward Danville. His real object was to capture Fred, who he knew was at home. Once in his hands, he hoped to convict him as a spy. His plan was frustrated by the bold stand taken by Colonel Shackelford, who delivered Fred as a prisoner to Calhoun with instructions to take him to Morgan. This Calhoun did, and Morgan at once paroled him, although Conway tried his best to have him held as a spy. Morgan not only paroled Fred, but let him return with the horse he had ridden, although many of the men looked on the splendid animal with envious eyes. But Morgan would not hear of their taking a horse which belonged to his old friend, Colonel Shackelford.
"Why didn"t you ride that horse of yours?" asked Captain Mathews of Fred, alluding to Fred"s famous horse, Prince.
"Afraid you might keep him," laughed Fred; "you are a good judge of a horse, Captain."
"Right you are," responded Mathews; "I am sorry I didn"t think of that horse when we were at Richmond. I would have visited you with my friend Conway, and taken the horse. Think I will have to return for him yet."
Fred thought little of what Mathews said, but that very night Mathews dispatched two of his men back in disguise to steal Fred"s horse.
From Crab Orchard Morgan marched to Somerset, surprising the place, and capturing a large wagon-train. It was also a depot for army supplies, all of which Morgan gave to the torch. Here he again took possession of the telegraph office, and enlightened the Federals as to his movements.
At Somerset Morgan"s raid was practically at an end. There were no Federal troops in front of him; his pursuers were a day behind. After he had completed the destruction of all the United States property in the place, and was ready to leave, he caused the following dispatches to be sent:
Somerset, Ky., July 22, 1862.
GEORGE D. PRENTICE, Louisville, Ky.
Good morning, George D. I am quietly watching the complete destruction of all of Uncle Sam"s property in this little burg. I regret exceedingly that this is the last that comes under my supervision on this route. I expect in a short time to pay you a visit, and wish to know if you will be at home. All well in Dixie.
JOHN H. MORGAN, Commanding Brigade.
Somerset, Ky., July 22, 1862.
GENERAL J. T. BOYLE, Louisville, Ky.
Good morning, Jerry! This telegraph is a great inst.i.tution. You should destroy it, as it keeps me too well posted. My friend Ellsworth has all of your dispatches since July 10 on file. Do you wish copies?
JOHN H. MORGAN, Commanding Brigade.
Somerset, Ky., July 22, 1862.
HON. GEORGE DUNLAP, Washington, D. C.
Just completed my tour through Kentucky. Captured sixteen cities, destroyed millions of dollars of United States property. Pa.s.sed through your county, but regret not seeing you. We paroled fifteen hundred Federal prisoners. Your old friend,