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

Inscription. 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 Nat’l War Museum, at the World’s 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.

VFW Post 5837 and Ladies Aux.

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 is in Morgantown, Kentucky, in Butler County. Marker is on E G L Smith

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Street east of North Main Street, on the left when traveling east. Located on the grounds of the Butler County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 North Main Street, Morgantown KY 42261, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 Allen (approx. 1.4 miles away); Birthplace of Hines (approx. 3.8 miles away); 1912 (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morgantown.

Also see . . . Bowling Green Daily News article on unveiling of historical marker. (Submitted on September 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Major Andrew Graff Hamilton Marker (reverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 14, 2018

2. Major Andrew Graff Hamilton Marker (reverse)

Major Andrew Graff Hamilton Marker at the Butler County Courthouse. image. Click for full size.

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 November 19, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 18, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.