May 28.—Arrived at Okolona yesterday. I am staying at Judge Thornton’s. The place is much changed since we were last here; it is filled with refugees, and sick and wounded soldiers. Mrs. T. has every corner of her house filled with the latter. I am informed that all private dwellings in the place are in the same condition.
Two ladies came from Corinth with me. The cars were very much crowded. I heard a gentleman, who sat near me, recite a poem to his friend, and say that he hoped that our people would be imbued with the same patriotic spirit that was in it . I took the liberty of asking him what it was. He informed me that it was the Battle of Killiecrankie, and could be found in Aytoun’s “Lays of Scottish Cavaliers.” This gentleman was from Missouri, and had been with the army of General Price during its campaign in the West. The tales he related of the sufferings of these gallant men were heartrending. For weeks they marched through frost and snow, with scarcely any thing to eat; the wounded and sick were left on the road-side, and if cared for it was by mere chance. The men scarcely know what to do with themselves now, as they are in heaven compared to where they had been. He told me that in visiting the hospitals in Memphis, when he saw the great care which was bestowed upon our men, contrasted with the scenes which he had witnessed in the wilds of Missouri and Arkansas, it made him sad. He related one incident which affected him more than all others. A man was dying— one of the noblest looking that he had ever seen. A lady was bending over him causing him to repeat the Lord’s Prayer, as he had doubtless done a thousand times, when a child, at his mother’s knee. The whole scene was one of the most impressive that he had ever witnessed. He said that he had never been so deeply impressed with the grandeur and beauty of this prayer. I could have listened all day long, hearing him tell of the daring exploits of Price and his gallant army.
The weather is oppressively warm, and I do not feel very well; but hearing that John Morgan was to pass, I could not resist the temptation of seeing so great a lion; for he is one of the greatest of the age. I was introduced to him by Mrs. Jarboe. I remarked to him that I regretted returning home without seeing Kentucky; that I had left home with the intention of seeing Cincinnati before I went back. He spoke very hopefully, and said that I would be there soon, as ere long the way would be open for all southerners. I then stated that I hoped to hear much of him, and the good that he would do our cause. He replied that he wished that he might hear of himself twenty years hence. I answered that if prayer would save him, he would be preserved, as I knew that many were offered up for him, along with those for the rest of our brave defenders. He is extremely modest. I paid him one or two compliments—deserved ones—and he blushed like a schoolgirl. He has a fine, expressive countenance; his eye reminded me of a description of Burns by Walter Scott. He related one or two of his adventures, and his eyes “fairly glowed with animation.” He told us about a train of cars which he had captured in Tennessee, and that the ladies on the train were as frightened as if he intended to eat them. He said, “You know that I would not do that.” He related a very amusing adventure he had had lately at Corinth. He made a call on General Buell in disguise. In the course of conversation with General B., he informed him that John Morgan was in Corinth. General B. answered that he knew better; that he knew where he was; he was in Kentucky. Morgan has great command over his features; can disguise himself, and go where he pleases without being discovered.
When the train left, the men gave him three cheers. He looked abashed, and blushed again. Mrs. Thornton said that she had rather see him than any of our great men.
