CHAPTER XI.

MAJOR G. W. RUE, THE CAPTOR OF MORGAN-HIS REPORT TO COLONEL LEWIS RICHMOND-PARTICULARS OF THE CAPTURE-INTERVIEW BETWEEN MORGAN AND RUE-INTERVIEW BETWEEN MORGAN, SHACKELFORD, AND WOLFORD-A GOOD PROVIDENCE-MAJOR RUE'S NATIVITY-HIS EDUCATION AND MILITARY CHARACTER-RUE IN MEXICO-RUE A CHRISTIAN.

UT for the most untiring and almost superhuman

BUT

efforts of those brave men, Generals Judah, Hobson, and Shackelford, and the heroic forces they led, Morgan would not have been captured, and his command destroyed. There was not There was not an officer or private, so far as is known, who did not do his duty manfully and act well his part, in the pursuit of the "great raider;" yet, it is but just to say that special credit should be given to Major George W. RUE, of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, who was the actual captor of Morgan.

The account of this interesting event we prefer giving to the reader in Major Rue's own language. In his report to Colonel Lewis Richmond, A. A. G.

of General Burnside, and dated at Cincinnati, Ohio, July 29, 1863, he says:

"COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report:

"On the evening of the 23d instant, by your order, I left the barracks at Covington, Kentucky, at seven o'clock P. M., with a command of three hundred and seventy-five cavalry, being detachments from different regiments, as follows: One hundred and twenty from the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, under Major Graham; seventy-five from the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry; fifty from the Eighth Michigan Cavalry; also, small detachments from the First and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, and a number of men from various regiments; also, three pieces of artillery from the Fifteenth Indiana Battery, under command of Lieutenant Tarr.

"The command left the Little Miami Railroad depot at Cincinnati, at ten o'clock P. M., for Bellair, via Columbus. The train, losing no time, arrived at that point at one o'clock P. M., on Friday, the 24th instant. I disembarked the men and horses, and encamped at

Bellair for the remainder of the night. On the following day we patrolled both up and down the banks of the Ohio River for a considerable distance.

"At one o'clock P. M. of that day I was notified by Major-General Brooks to place my forces upon the cars, and proceed, with the greatest possible haste, to Steubenville. However, I did not stop at that point, but passed on to Shanghae, where I again disembarked my command, at seven o'clock P. M., Saturday. From thence I proceeded, along the public road, westwardly, five miles, to the town of Knoxville, at which place I arrived at twelve o'clock in the night. Here I learned that Morgan had already passed through Richmond, west of Knoxville, at four o'clock P. M. of that day, the 25th instant, and was moving in a north-east direction.

"I left Knoxville at four o'clock A. M. on Sunday morning, going northwardly, and joined General Shackelford at eight o'clock A. M., at Hammondsville. From thence we proceeded to Salinesville, my command taking the advance. At the latter piace we learned that Morgan had been seen last at Mooreville, going eastwardly, on the Beaver Creek road,

toward Smith's Ford, on the Ohio River. I was sent, With the advance, by General Shackelford, to intercept Morgan, if that was possible, at some point on the above-named road. I started forward, at the rate of seven miles per hour, with my command, which was then reduced to three hundred men, by detachments going off to their respective regiments.

"On coming within half a mile of the junction of the Beaver Creek road, I was surprised to learn that Morgan was passing the intersection of the roads, on a gallop. I then considered the chance of getting up with him rather desperate. I learned, however, from citizens, that a private road led off to the right of the road on which we were moving, and intersected the Beaver Creek road at a distance of something over a mile, while Morgan would have to pass two miles on the main road to reach the same point. As Morgan had half a mile the start of us, we had about equal chances to reach the desired spot at the same time. By throwing down some fences the road was practicable for our purpose, although very rough. I ordered my command to move forward on double-quick, and the order was carried out vigorously, and we

moved at the greatest possible speed. I took the advance, accompanied by Captain Pond and Adjutant Pierce, with about twenty privates from Company A, Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry. We dashed forward, over the rough, hilly road, and reached the Beaver Creek road about one hundred and fifty yards in advance of the rebels. I formed my men in a line across the road. Major Graham rapidly closed up the column, threw down the intervening fences, and a line of battle was soon formed and ready for action on the enemy's front and flank. I had previously ordered Lieutenant Burton, of the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, with thirty men, to annoy the rear of the enemy, by following him on the main road, and for the further purpose of preventing him from retreating that way. The enemy was thus completely surrounded. Morgan promptly dispatched a flag of truce, which met me in the advance, with the demand that I should surrender my force to him. I told the bearer of the flag to return at once to his commander, and notify him that I demanded the instant and unconditional surrender of his entire force, or else I would forthwith open fire upon them. The