The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Morgan's Raid (July, 1863) - Jan. 15th, 2004

"Lexington" ^ | 1975 | Mary Wilson and Sharon Y. Asher

[SAMWolf]

According to an article in the Scott County Journal of September, 1924, written by Alice Jones now of San Diego, California and formerly of Lexington, Morgan's Raiders reached Lexington on July 4, 1863, this date differing somewhat from other accounts:



"On the Fourth of July, 1863, the little town of Lexington had arranged a celebration of the nation's independence. The boys too young for the army and the few elderly citizens dragged the old brass cannon that had been presented to the county by General Charles Scott, to the eastern slope of graveyard hill and greeted the early dawn with war-like thunder until the powder ran out.

"Beside the courthouse in the center of the public square surrounded by a grove of Locust trees a platform was set up with benches facing it. A bench from the courthouse hall was on the platform for the speakers and prominent citizens who would be participating in the simple program. There was no special music for too many boys had gone over the hill to the strains of "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and the drummers and fifers had followed.

"The audience was small, consisting mostly of women. Someone read the Declaration of Independence and a minister prayed and then introduced a Union soldier, a refugee from the South.

"In a few simple words this soldier told what it meant to be a Union soldier below the lines and the many hardships he endured before reaching the Union army. Sitting immediately behind him was a Southern sympathizer from Kentucky who had fled north when his neighbors had made it too warm for him in neutral Kentucky, and perhaps a half dozen Rebel sympathizers, 'Copperheads' as they were called. The soldier spoke in warm praise of Mr. Lincoln and Governor Morton and convincingly of the success of the Union Army.

Montgomery, Ohio, July 14, 1863

"The Kentucky Rebel sprang to his feet and shouted, "You are a liar. There are many Yankee bones bleaching on Southern soil and there will be many more before this unholy war will be beaten and the glorious South will be triumphant." A copperhead on the platform jumped up shouting, 'Hooray for Jefferson Davis.' At that point the women rose as one and started for the platform. One elderly lady, who had two sons in the army, pointing her parasol and pushing her way through the crowd said, 'Let me get to him. I'll pull every hair out of his head.' The Rebel was hustled off the platform by his friends and hurried away from the crowd. The meeting then broke up and in some confusion.

"During the program Morgan was making his way toward Lexington. The lanterns were still burning that night in the courthouse yard when a messenger came riding over the hill telling the people that Morgan was within two miles of the town. As the Raiders came over the hill the town's lights could be seen by the riders twinkling like campfires and the old brass canon lay at the foot of the hill where it had been last used. Morgan entered peacefully and without force.

"His men reconnoitered and a few came into the square and formed a line. As no citizen seemed to object or resist, Morgan and his staff rode up to the only hotel in the town and ordered supplies and feed for his horses. The rest of the band came straggling in and made camp below the community.

Steamboat Alice Dean

"By twelve o'clock the lights were out. About sunrise the Madison Home Guards swept into the town forming a line on Main Street. The Captain was just preparing to give a command for a cavalry movement to show off their horsemanship and new uniforms when a citizen informed him that John Morgan and his staff were asleep in the hotel and his men were camped by the cave spring northeast of the town. Upon hearing this, the Captain and his men wheeled their horses and made haste to leave the area.

"As the morning progressed, the Postmaster was held up, the office looted of all cash and postage stamps.

"According to Josephine Shea, Morgan and a few of his men took the mail bags down to her grandfather Patrick Shea's home and emptied the contents on the living room floor, opening all letters. Many of the letters contained money from soldiers to their families which was also stolen. After opening the mail Morgan demanded that the Shea family cook dinner for him.

"The three general stores in town were broken into and the men fitted themselves in new clothes and boots and took corn and sides of bacon.

Brig. Gen. Basil W. Duke

"At about eleven o'clock the raiders left town. Two miles east of Lexington a farmer hailed them shouting 'Hooray for Jeff Davis.' Morgan 's response was 'good, now bring your best horses and help the cause' and they forced him to lead the way to Dupont. He walked home later a much wiser man.

"All horses were not so easy to come by for Morgan, however. A lawyer living in Lexington decided to ride to Vienna on July 10th to catch a train to Seymour. He rode a neighbors horse called "Old Bill," known throughout the county as having spells of temperament.

"On this day when a Raider attempted to steal Old Bill and mount him, the cantankerous old horse wouldn't budge. The Raider finally gave up and let the lawyer mount him at which time Old Bill relaxed and moved on down the road, having demonstrated his loyalty!

"General Shackford's advance guard rode through Lexington that evening in search of Morgan. Many of Shackford's men were asleep in their saddles, tired from the long pursuit." So ends Mrs. Jones' account of Morgan's raid into Scott County.

In Lexington, as in many other places, the Confederates plundered dwellings and stores and appropriated horses and supplies. On Saturday, July 11th, they moved north to Blocher, Deputy and Paris, Indiana. The northern route was chosen because Morgan' s scouts had learned that Colonel Sering, with 2000 troops, was between him and the Ohio River. However, Morgan's right wing under Colonel Smith, went eastward, threatened Madison, and fought Jefferson County Home Guards at Kent. And at Paris the Raiders robbed a store before leaving.

From Paris they continued north to Vernon where they encountered a well-entrenched force of 500 men under Colonel Williams. In order to conceal his weakness, Morgan sent in a demand under a flag of truce to surrender. Colonel Williams replied, "that he was abundantly able to hold the place; if General Morgan got it he must take it by a hard fight."

Under cover of minor skirmishes, Morgan continued on to Dupont, eight miles southwest of Vernon. They arrived there at midnight and raided stores and F. F. Mayfield's new packing factory. The Confederates also destroyed the depot and tracks of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad. Morgan continued on to Versailles and Osgood, burning bridges and plundering as he traveled. Finally he crossed the White River into Ohio on July 13th.

General Morgan was captured and imprisoned in the Ohio State Prison at Columbus, from which he escaped on the night of November 27, 1863, and eventually rejoined the Confederate forces in the South.

General James M Shackelford

The colorful career of this daring capable Southern leader was brought to an abrupt end on September 4, 1864 in the town of Greenville, in Eastern Tennessee. He was betrayed by a woman, Mrs. Lucy Williams in whose home he was quartered at the time, to a group of Federal cavalry. General Morgan, realizing the enemy had surrounded the house, attempted to make his escape through the garden behind the house, but while mounting his horse, he was shot and killed, although, it is said, he had attempted to surrender.

[SAMWolf]

Morgan's Raid: Mr. J. B. Epply's Narrative

At the time of Morgan's Raid, Mr. Epply said although he was only six yours old, he could remember Morgan's men stacking their guns outside of their yard fence and coming to the door for food. The men left taking a young horse which Mr. Epply's father regained six months later. He had to make a trip to Cincinnati for his horse which he found uninjured.


General John Hunt Morgan, CSA

One of Mr. Epply's stories of the raid, included the anecdote on Mr. Matthew Henry Gray. Mr. Gray met Morgan and his men at the door with a gun. The gun was immediately seized, stuck in the fork of an apple tree and bent around the tree. Then Mr. Gray was placed upon avery bony old mule -- the worst the raiders had -- and compelled to ride with them for approximately five miles and walk or hobble home.

Another story was told of the experience of Reuben Rice with Gen. Morgan:

Mr. Rice was a citizen of Graham township, Jefferson County. He was taken by Morgan as far South as Frankfort Kentucky, where he was forced to pray all night that the South might be victorious in the War.


General Bushrod R. Johnson

In 1910 Mr. Epply visited Morgan's tomb at Lexington, Kentucky. Before driving out to the cemetery, he was told by a friend living there not to say anything in opposition to Morgan's raid or he would soon stir up trouble in the community.

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Morgan's Raid: Mrs. J. B. Epply's Narrative


Brigadier-General Edward Hobson

Mrs. Epply said her grandparents had often told her stories of Morgan's Raid. When Morgan's men left Lexington they traveled north on the present State road . The Jennings home was off the main highway but may of their neighbors gathered on a high portico of the house where they might watch "Morgan and his terrible men" march down the road.

The next day four of the horsemen came and asked for food. Being invited to come in while the meal was prepared for them, they did nothing to molest the property of their host. At one house nearby they were refused admittance, so they entered anyway. Then empties a barrel of flour in the floor and mixed bread and cooked it for themselves.



Mrs. Epply's aunt and a girl friend were in Lexington at the time of the raid. As they were riding home they met General Morgan leading his men. The girls thought their horses would be stolen, so dismounted being ordered to, by Morgan. They were surprised when their horses were not taken, and were informed that, "Southern Gentlemen Don't Steal Ladies Horses."

Additional Sources:

members.aol.com/wastle
www.thinkwestkentucky.com
www.tennessee-scv.org/Camp1513
www.masonpl.lib.oh.us
users.erols.com/kfraser
www.enquirer.com
www.mortkunstler.com
hhhills.org
www.lastsquare.com
members.tripod.com/~Morgans_Men
www.heidelberg.edu

[SAMWolf]

Morgan’s Raid in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio (July 1863)

Corydon

Date(s): July 9, 1863

Principal Commanders: BCol. Lewis Jordan [US]; Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan [CS]

Forces Engaged: 2,200 total (US 400; CS 1,800)

Estimated Casualties: 401 total (US 360; CS 41)

Description: On July 2, 1863, Brig. Gen. Morgan, with about 2,450 hand-picked cavalrymen, rode into Kentucky to disrupt the communications of the Union Army of the Cumberland, which began its operations against Bragg’s Army of Tennessee (Tullahoma Campaign) on June 23. Crossing the Cumberland River at Burkesville, Morgan’s column advanced to the Green River where it was deflected by a Union regiment at Tebb’s Bend on July 4. Morgan surprised and captured the garrison at Lebanon, Kentucky, then rode via Springfield, Bardstown, and Garnettsville. On July 8, Morgan crossed the Ohio River at Mauckport, Indiana, despite orders to remain south of the river in Kentucky. Union military officials called out the militia in Indiana and Ohio and worked feverishly to organize a defense. On July 9, near Corydon, Indiana, elements of Morgan’s force encountered about 400 Home Guards and captured most of them. As Morgan continued eastward to Ohio, destroying bridges, railroads, and government stores, Federal columns converged to prevent Morgan from recrossing into Kentucky.

Result(s): Confederate victory

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Buffington Island

Date(s): July 19, 1863

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Edward H. Hobson [US]; Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan [CS]

Forces Engaged: Brigades: 4,700 total (US 3,000; CS 1,700)

Estimated Casualties: 925 total (US 25; CS 900)

Description: On July 13, Morgan’s raiders crossed into Ohio at Harrison, pursued by several columns of Union cavalry under overall direction of Brig. Gen. Edward H. Hobson. On July 19, Kautz’s and Judah’s brigades attacked Morgan near Buffington Island. During the night, Morgan and about 400 men escaped encirclement by following a narrow woods path. The rest of his force surrendered.

Result(s): Union victory

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Salineville

Date(s): July 26, 1863

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. James Shackelford [US]; Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan [CS]

Forces Engaged: 3,000 total (US 2,600; CS 400)

Estimated Casualties: 364 total (US none; CS 364)

Description: After escaping encirclement at Buffington’s Island with about 400 of his men, Morgan continued east and north, attempting to find a safe crossing over the Ohio River. With several columns of Union cavalry in hot pursuit, Morgan passed through Salineville, riding down the railroad toward Smith’s Ford. Turning onto the New Lisbon Road, Morgan’s raiders were finally cut off. Morgan surrendered. During this raid, Morgan and his men captured and paroled about 6,000 Union soldiers and militia, destroyed 34 bridges, disrupted the railroads at more than 60 places, and diverted tens of thousands of troops from other duties.

Result(s): Union victory

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Tribute to a Generation - The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

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[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Thursday Morning Everyone

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[radu]

Good morning to all at the Foxhole!

To all our military men and women, past and present,
THANK YOU for serving the USA!

Hoping this posts this time. I've been trying off and on all night. LOL!
I hope everyone is doing well.
*HUGZ* all 'round!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole. Looks like we may get some rain today.

[snippy_about_it]

Ohio State Penitentiary "Morgan And His Raiders Jailed" July 30, 1863 - March 18, 1864

The Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus was a three story stone structure with heavy iron bars on the windows and doors of cell blocks. It was used to house hardened convicts until July 30, 1863, when David Todd, governor of Ohio, informed warden Nathaniel Merion that the prison would also house Confederate prisoners of war.

Four days before, the Confederate cavalry general John Hunt Morgan and 364 of his men had been captured at the end of the longest cavalry raid of the war. They had terrorized the populations of Indiana and Ohio as they traveled more than 700 miles through those states in 25 days. Because Camp Chase, the prisoner of war camp outside Columbus, was not considered secure enough for such desperate prisoners, Morgan's raiders were confined at different locations from which they would have no chance of escaping. Union Dept. Comdr. Gen. Ambrose Burnside declared the prisoners ineligible for parole, sentenced them to be imprisoned for the duration of the war.

Morgan and his 30 officers were thrown in with the general population of felons in the penitentiary in Columbus. They were denied all visitors, and had to endure the humiliation of having their heads shaved and wearing convict clothes. These soldiers were occasionally punished by being put in solitary confinement in dank, unlighted prison cells. All of these actions were contrary to the rules governing the confinement of prisoners of war. On the night of November 27, 1863, Morgan and six of his officers escaped. They had worked for 20 days with two small knives to gouge out a tunnel to freedom.

Prison rules changed after the escape. War prisoners were separated from the rest of the prison population and kept on the third floor under constant military guard. The state penitentiary's involvement in the war ended on March 18, 1864, when Secretary of War Stanton ordered all remaining Confederates transferred to the notorious prisoner of war camp, Fort Delaware.

Fascinating Fact: The Ohio Penitentiary never even held 100 Confederates at one time. Many were held only briefly while in transit to other facilities.




Morgan's men at Ohio State Penitentiary




They were surprised when their horses were not taken, and were informed that, "Southern Gentlemen Don't Steal Ladies Horses."

Gotta love the Southern gentlemen! Thanks Sam for remembering Morgan's Raid.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning radu. Good to see your computer is working...somewhat. ;-)

[snippy_about_it]

Morning Aeronaut.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning EGC. Glad to hear you have more rain on your way. We missed the snow last night and I'm happy for that!

[Darksheare]

Ouch.
A huge gamble, and tehy paid for it.
but the diverted attention to themselves quite well.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Darksheare. You're early today. I'm just now headed out the door. See you later.

[Darksheare]

They missed the snow last night because it got lost and stopped for directions.
So they sent it to me.

[Darksheare]

Morning.
I know I'm in early.
Everything that would be taking my attention at the moment is closed.
*chuckle*

[stainlessbanner]

Morn'n Snippy, Sam, and all the FRiends at the Foxhole.

Grits and Coffee coming up!

[SCDogPapa]

Mornin' Snippy,,,Mornin' Sam!

Good article. I have only read part, will finish it later today. Thanks for the post and the ping.

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. So you got all the snow. We got the wind and a tiny bit of ice for a minute and I was surprised to wake up and not see the snow. Pleasantly surprised!!

[snippy_about_it]

Morning stainlessbanner. mmmmm grits!!!