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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

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

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

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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.