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
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