Near Maukport in Harrison County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Civil War Comes to Indiana
— John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail —
Ferocious battles had been fought in Virginia at places like Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, but slowly the stalemate was sapping the South of its vital manpower. In a bold campaign to take the war again onto Northern soil, Lee advanced his army into Pennsylvania. The three-day battle at Gettysburg would result in a decisive Confederate loss.
In the West, Union armies experienced numerous successes. They had repulsed a surprise Confederate attack at Shiloh, Tennessee, and stopped Confederate Braxton Bragg's Kentucky invasion at Perryville. Almost all of the Mississippi River was in Union hands, and Vicksburg, Mississippi, was on the verge of surrendering to the Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant. In middle Tennessee, Union General William Rosecrans was driving General Bragg back toward Chattanooga.
A bold Confederate strategy was needed — one that would dampen the North's desire to reinforce General Rosecrans' forces. In executing his portion of the strategy, General Bragg called on the special talents of Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan, the "Thunderbolt of the Confederacy." Morgan was a daring Confederate cavalry commander whose reputation was popularized in both the North and the South. He was directed to ride through the interior of Kentucky with his horsemen and disrupt Union activity wherever possible. To Morgan, the Ohio River was not to be a stopping point, but an opportunity to create even more chaos. Near here on July 8, 1863, Morgan disobeyed orders and crossed the Ohio. The Great Raid and the Civil War had come to Indiana.
Erected by Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D, Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail in Indiana series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.
Location. 38° 1.404′ N, 86° 11.644′ W. Marker is near Maukport, Indiana, in Harrison County. Marker is on Indiana Route 135, 0.2 miles north of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mauckport IN 47142, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Morgan’s Great Raid (here, next to this marker); Last Home of Squire Boone (here, next to this marker); Morgan's Raid (here, next to this marker); Morgan Enters Indiana (approx. 1.6 miles away); Morgan's Headquarters (approx. 1.7 miles away in Kentucky); Louisville, Kentucky Confederate Monument (approx. 1.8 miles away in Kentucky); Morgan — On To Ohio (approx. 1.9 miles away in Kentucky); Meade County Monument (approx. 1.9 miles away in Kentucky). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maukport.
Also see . . . Morgan's Raid. (Submitted on November 12, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 250 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 12, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.