Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and his Raiders (Indiana to Ohio)

Buckeye Bill

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Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and his Raiders invaded Harrison, Ohio, from Dearborn County, Indiana, on July 13th, 1863. Morgan and his Raiders crossed the Whitewater River covered bridge and burned it to slow down pursuing Federal cavalry. Morgan and his Raiders spent the evening hours in the city of Harrison, Ohio, stealing food, horses, saddles, bridles and boots. Morgan and his Raiders would travel eastbound towards Federal Camp Dennison (Germany, Ohio) on July 14th, 1863.

* Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan.

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* Whitewater River Crossing from Indiana into Ohio (Raiders burned the old covered bridge).

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* John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail Indiana Marker.

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* John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail Ohio Marker.

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* Morgan's Raiders in Harrison, Ohio Drawing.

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* Modern Black & White Photo of the above drawing.

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* Indiana Stone Marker of Morgan's Raiders (State Line of Indiana and Ohio).

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Very nice. He is one of my husband's and I favorites. My husband is member of the Morgan's Men Association. We will be going to Bardstown, Ky. at end of August and go thru areas he went thru there.

Thanks for your posts on him. Love the drawings and photos.

Been to these places posted. Harrison is not too far from where we live.
 
I had to check the geography in a separate browser window while looking at your map. Wow! This is getting right there into your neck of the woods, Bill! This is a great idea for a thread. I think you'll have some interest. People have just been busy doing other things today because it's Sunday. I didn't click in again until almost midnight.
 
I am heading out soon to photograph John Hunt Morgan's Raid through my county in Ohio. I will start photographing more sites in Harrison and end up in Camp Dennison. A skirmish was fought in Miamiville just north of Camp Dennison in Clermont Ohio.

Bill
 
Bill,

I built a cabin in Meiggs County, Ohio, right along the trail that Morgan and his men took on their raid through Ohio. There was a big, hand painted sign that said he had come that way.

My cabin was only a few miles from Pomeroy, Ohio, and on the way to Buffington Island, where Morgan and his men fought with Union forces.

Good thread, hope you add to it in the coming days.

Sincerely,
Unionblue
 
As I posted earlier John Hunt Morgan is one of my favorites. Morgan was born on June 1, 1825 in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the son of Calvin C. Morgan and Henrietta Hunt Morgan. His mother was from Lexington, Ky. Her father was one of the richest men in Kentucky. John was named for his grandfather, Henrietta's father. In 1829, the Morgans returned to Kentucky. They settled down on a farm on Tate's Creek Pike, which was owned by Henrietta's father. In that house, they raised 8 children, John, Calvin, Richard, Charlton, Thomas, Key, Henrietta who would marry Basil Duke, and Kitty, who would marry Ambroise P. Hill.

At the age of 16, John entered Transylvania College in Lexington, Ky. He would then come to live with his grandfather at the Hunt house, Hopemont, which is now known as the Hunt-Morgan House.

In his second year at Transylvania he had to leave school. He was just not the student type.

In 1846, John and his brother Calvin and their uncle, Alexander Morgan would leave Lexington for the Mexican War. They joined the First Kentucky Cavalry.

They all participated in the Battle of Buena Vista with two other prominent Kentucky men, General Zachary Taylor and Jefferson Davis.

Alexander Morgan was killed during the battle. John and Calvin returned to Lexington after the War.

John Hunt Morgan entered the hemp business and also had a woolen mill. In November of 1847 he married Rebecca Gratz Bruce. Morgan's businesses thrived and he branched out into buying and selling slaves. He also was very active in community affairs. He became a captain in the Union Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the city council, member of the school board and member of Christ Church. He also was very active in the Masonic Lodge. He had actually joined before going into Mexican War.

In 1853, Rebecca and John lost their first son. He was stillborn. Rebecca was very fragile and became an invalid. She would pass away in July, 1861. At this time he knew he would be for the Confederacy. He would then join the Confederate Army. He would later form Morgan's Men and be know as the "Thunderbolt of the Confederacy".
 
I will say up front I know very little about this man. I intend no disrespect to anyone's ancestors and I am not seeking nor will I participate in an argument. But I have a question ref this OP: What was the military objective of this raid in Ohio?

Thanks in advance.

While Morgan and his staff were planning their "Great Raid" into the states of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, the South believed they were winning this War Between the States. Yes or No? Sadly, this "Great Raid" into Indiana and Ohio started after the South's defeats at the Battle of Gettysburg and the Siege of Vicksburg. The Confederacy suffered a severe blow......

I believe after researching this "Great Raid," Morgan and his staff's main objective in the states of Indiana and Ohio was to destroy military targets and divert enemy troops from strategic venues. The cities of Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, supplied the Federal government with the majority of uniforms and other supplies.

I just find Morgan's Raids into the North's territory fascinating to study. Plus, this topic is also "Off the Beaten Path." I think you know what I mean, my friend.

Bill
 
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