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After the death of Gen. John Hunt
Morgan, on Sept. 4, 1864 in Greeneville, Tennessee, the Richmond Whig reported,
"Another brave, daring and chivalric cavalier has sealed his devotion to
his beloved South with his heart's blood. First Ashby, then Stuart, and
now the dashing Kentuckian, whose name was known and cherished in every
clime where his country or liberty had a friend." Under a flag of truce,
Morgan's body was sent by rail to Abingdon, Virginia where it was laid
out at the residence of Judge Campbell. The funeral took place at 4:00
PM Tuesday Sept. 6, 1864 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The procession,
"the largest and most imposing there has ever been in southwest Virginia",
formed on Glade Spring Road for burial in the Sinking Spring Cemetery.
Twenty Years Ago.
By E. Colgan
We've assembled in the graveyard, Boys,
We stand on sacred soil,
Around our Chieftain's resting place,
Away from war's turmoil.
And as we gaze with tearful eyes
And memories all aglow,
In retrospection pass the scenes
Of Twenty Years Ago.
Beneath the silent bluegrass sod
He rests from war's alarms,
His lips, now mute, no longer call
His followers to arms.
But tho' the changes time has wrought
Since treachery laid him low,
Our hearts still beat as warm for him
As Twenty Years Ago.
Oh, could we but blot out that morn
And alter fate's decree
That sped the murderous minnie on
And set his spirit free.
He too would greet us here today
Where gentle zephyrs blow,
And make the comradeship complete
Of Twenty Years Ago.
No, -not complete-, that would require
A host of forms, not here
Who rode with us on many a raid,
But sleep we scarce know where;
Near picket stands some still repose,
O'er others, roses grow;
From spirit lands they greet old friends,
Of Twenty Years Ago.
The places they fought and fell
Are numbered by the score,
From Bacon Creek's baptismal fire
To the lake's eternal shore.
Brave Atherton of the "Squadron Old"
Was the first to be called from below,
We laid him on Duck River's bank
O'er Twenty Years Ago.
West, Kennett, Smith, and Manly fell
On the battles raging billows;
Wasson, Young, and Cecil pressed
Prison tortured pillows.
John Waller, Quirk, and Charlie Byrne
Fell since our overthrow;
They've gone to join their comrades,
Of Twenty Years Ago.
We meet today in peaceful camp
War's friendship to renew,
And on the graves of comrades gone
Bright flowers and tears to strew;
To dwell on themes that filled our thoughts
When marching on the foe,
To grasp the hand that primed the guns
Just Twenty Years Ago.
Scenes have been altered since we met,
Our campfires have gone out.
Our battle fields now wave with grain,
We no more, raid and scout;
But in reunion we can meet
And all restraint overthrow,
Our cause, and comrades, are as dear
As Twenty Years Ago.
Background music: "My Old Kentucky Home"
MIDI File, by ReWEP Associates. Copyright, 1997
Used with permission only.
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