Morgantown in Butler County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Major Andrew Graff Hamilton
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2018
1. Major Andrew Graff Hamilton Marker
Hamilton, a leader of one of most incredible prison escapes of the Civil War, was born in Pa., Jan. 9, 1835. A Woodbury resident before the war, he joined Co. A of the 12th Ky. (Union) Cavalry, Aug. 12, 1862. Captured at Jonesboro, Tn., Aug. 1863; sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Va. Along with Col. Thos. Rose, he led a mass prison escape.
On Feb. 9, 1864, he led 109 Federal officers from Libby Prison. 48 were recaptured, including Col. Rose. Hamilton was the guest of honor at Libby Prison Natl War Museum, at the Worlds Fair in Chicago, in 1893. He was murdered on April 2, 1895 by Sam Spencer in Morgantown and is buried in the Bethlehem Cemetery in Reedyville, Ky.
Erected 2013 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2400.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Law Enforcement • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1895.
Location. 37° 13.518′ N, 86° 41.005′ W. Marker
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Pennyroyal Region. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: County Named, 1810 (a few steps from this marker); William S. Taylor (1853-1928) (within shouting distance of this marker); Bishop John Monroe Moore (within shouting distance of this marker); Maurice Hudson Thatcher (within shouting distance of this marker); Morgantown / Daniel Morgan (within shouting distance of this marker); Granville
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2018
2. Major Andrew Graff Hamilton Marker (reverse)
Regarding Major Andrew Graff Hamilton. Via WBBJ News 7:
"Historical marker tells of Union Army officer
June 13, 2013
MORGANTOWN, Ky. (AP) A historical marker that tells about a Union Army officer who led a mass prison escape will be dedicated Saturday in Morgantown, where he was murdered in 1895. The marker tells the story of Maj. Andrew Graff Hamilton of Pennsylvania. The Kentucky Historical Society says Hamilton joined Company A of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry in 1862 and was captured at Jonesborough, Tenn., a year later and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Va. Hamilton and Col. Thomas Rose led the escape of 109 Union officers in 1864, but Rose and 47 others were recaptured. Hamilton is buried in the Bethlehem Cemetery in Reedyville. The dedication will be Saturday morning at the Butler County Courthouse."
Also see . . . Escaping from Libby Prison. Home of Heroes website entry (Submitted on December 10, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2018
3. Major Andrew Graff Hamilton Marker at the Butler County Courthouse.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,433 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
