Confederate General John Hunt

Confederate General John Hunt. . , Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan led one of the longest raids of the Civil War and included one of the northernmost penetrations of the Confederate Army into Ohio., The General was a colorful man, much beloved by his men. His daring and military skill created a living legend. The people of the South loved him, while his military commanders bemoaned his independence and lack of discipline. Morgan's Raid into Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania began on July 2, 1863, about the same time as the Battle of Gettysburg., Against orders, he swept through Kentucky and into Indiana with nine regiments, nearly 2,500 men. The Union Army chased him across southern and eastern Ohio, and as he tried to turn south, a major battle ensued at Buffington Island in the Ohio River. Morgan withdrew his forces and was trapped by the Union Army to the north and a swollen Ohio River to the east and south., Over the next weeks, his cavalry engaged in several skirmishes, and the force was in disarray with many captured and killed. Morgan was eventually captured on July 26, 1863, with about 600 men., For security, it was decided to house Morgan and his officers at the Ohio Penitentiary. Morgan was offended by this breach of protocol, and felt that the southern gentlemen were treated as common criminals rather than prisoners of war., On November 27, 1863, Morgan and 6 other officers made their escape by tunneling to an existing underground airshaft underneath their prison cells, through the foundation wall into the prison yard. They then went over the nearby east wall after climbing up the female prison building that was connected to it., Changing into street clothes, the escapees split into pairs, 4 of whom, including Morgan, caught a train from Union Station to Cincinnati. It is reported that Morgan sat with a uniformed Union Major as the train passed the Ohio Pen. "That is the hotel where Morgan stops, I believe," said the Major. Morgan replied, "...I drink to him. May he ever be kept as closely as now.", Morgan was killed in September 1864 when Union troops surrounded and captured his Tennessee headquarters.