Happy Birthday General John Hunt Morgan

[donna]

John Hunt Morgan was born on June 1, 1825 in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the eldest son of Calvin and Henrietta Hunt Morgan. When John was six they moved to Lexington, Ky., Henrietta's home . He attended Transylvania College in Lexington, Ky. for 2 years. He served in the Army during the Mexican-American War.

After the war, he returned to Lexington and became a hemp manufacturer. In 1848 he married Rebecca Gratz Bruce. In 1853 their child was stillborn. After that, Rebecca was ill for many years and died in 1861.

In Sept., 1861 Morgan and his militia company joined the Confederate Army. He fought at the Battle of Shiloh. He became a hope to seccessionist for obtaining Kentucky for the Confederacy. He made many raids into Kentucky. He was promoted to general.

He married Martha "Mattie" Ready on Dec. 14, 1862. They had two daughters. the first was born Nov. 27, 1863 and only lived one day. The second, Johnnie, was born April 7, 1865, following John's death.

John Hunt Morgan was killed on Sunday, September 4, 1864 in Greenville, Tennessee.

Morgan is known for the longest raid of the Civil War which was a grueling ride on horseback for over thousand miles through four states beginning in McMinnville, Tennessee to West Point, Ohio. General Morgan began his raid with 25oo calvary and surrendered in Columbiana County, Ohio with about 350 very tired men.

In all, Morgan's men on this famous raid, raided 6576 homes and shops north of the Mason-Dixon line.

From: "The Longest Raid" by Lester V. Horwitz

Happy Birthday John Hunt Morgan!

 

[JRJ]

Ol' Morgan sure gave several Indiana home guard militias a run for their money. I once read a story that a town down around, I believe, New Albany, Indiana were using black powder and anvils to try and scare the raiders off.

 

[Glorybound]

 

[donna]

Lee thanks for pictures of Morgan.

 

[Glorybound]

Lee thanks for pictures of Morgan.

Yer welcome.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Glorybound--In what city is that statue of Morgan?

 

[donna]

I don't mean to answer before Lee, but I am sure the photo is of the Memorial to John Hunt Morgan in Lexington, Ky. I know Lexington as was home for my Dad and grandparents.

The State of Kentucky and the United Daughters of the Confederacy erected this monument on October 18, 1911. It was on the courthouse lawn. The cermony of dedecation included a parade of 4oo veterans. It was dedicated by Morgan's brother-in-law, Basil W. Duke, who rode with Morgan. In attendance were Dr. Guy Carleton Lee, a third cousin of Robert E. Lee and Morgan's brothers, Charlton and Dick Morgan. Also present was John Castleman. Of the monuments in Ky., it only one with a soldier on horseback.

The horse was suppose to be Morgan's favorite, Black Bess, a mare. But the sculptor, Pompeo Coppini, thought a stallion was more appropriate. He said "No hero should bestride a mare!" It caused some controversy.

An anonymous author wrote the "Ballard of Black Bess". the ballad ended with:

"So darkness comes to Bluegrass men-
Like darkness o'er them falls-
For well we know gentlemen should show
Respect for a lady's balls."

 

[ExNavyPilot]

The horse was suppose to be Morgan's favorite, Black Bess, a mare. But the sculptor, Pompeo Coppini, thought a stallion was more appropriate. He said "No hero should bestride a mare!" It caused some controversy.

That shows you how little sculptors know about war horses or care about historical accuracy.

I was at the Museum of the Confederacy last week to help a friend do some research on Morgan. I saw his artifacts on display there (dress coat, gauntlets, kepi, presentation saddle and pair of Colt pistols) and in the archives got to read (and touch) a letter he wrote to his mother. That really makes the history feel more immediate and real...

 

[Nathanb1]

I've been spending time looking at veterans who ended up in McCulloch County, Texas after the war. A surprising number were Morgan's men. They apparently stuck together to the end.

 

[Glorybound]

Glorybound--In what city is that statue of Morgan?

Yeah Donna's correct, that statue is in Lexington, but...there is one in Louisville too, I know it's there, I saw it a long time ago, but I'll be danged if I can find a photo of it online. The statue I saw in Louisville sits in the middle of a small, grassy circular area, it's sort of a traffic island with cars going around it. It's situated in the old Louisville area, lots of nice old houses, huge shady trees, lots of ivy growing everywhere, landscaping, flowers. Maybe it was a dream...

 

[kel1985]

Read the book a few years ago (managed to get an autographed copy)...even followed part of the path through Ohio (Salineville and Buffington Island)...Happy B-Day!!!

 

[Union_Buff]

Happy 187th birthday General Morgan!

 

[Bob Owen]

He was a great fan of Old Crow whiskey! Here's to you, John!

 

[JRJ]

Growing up in Indiana Morgan was our "Civil War Claim To Fame" and it's hard to break from that mindset, but it true, All the exciting stuff happened in Kentucky and Ohio. He just went through here, town to town, encountering unprepared home guards. I mean the worst "battle" was a total blow out for the militia. Close to 450 "Able bodied men" made up the Harrison County home guard, and they were completely destroyed by Morgan's forces, I mean nearly 3/4's of the force was captured.

 

[donna]

Lee Do you think you are thinking about the John B. Castleman Monument in the Cherokee Triangle on Cherokee Rd. in Louisville, Ky.? It is in a roundabout. It honors the Confederate officer John Breckinridge Castleman. He was later in charge of the Louisville Legion and fought in Spanish-American War. He was the founder of the American Saddlebred Horse Association. He is on his mare, Carolina and in civilian clothes, in honor of his horse connections.

 

[Glorybound]

Thanks Donna, I found some photos online of the monument but they were taken during the winter, at an upwards angle which didn't really show the surrounding area. So I google-mapped it, used the satellite feature and zoomed down to 50 feet above it, which showed the area very well and it was a summer photo. I'm pretty sure that's the monument I saw. It was placed by the local John Hunt Morgan chapter of the SCV, so, that might've been where I got the idea that the statue was of Morgan. It was in '99 I believe when I saw it, I was walking in the neighborhood and crossed the street to take a look at it. Thanks! I guess I can stop searching for the JHM statue in Louisville online now, there ain't no such animal.