Alexandria in Dekalb County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Morgan in Alexandria
Preparing for a Raid
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 18, 2014
1. Morgan in Alexandria Marker
Inscription.
Morgan in Alexandria. Preparing for a Raid. From late in 1862 to mid-1863, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg fortified his defenses in Middle Tennessee while Union Gen. William S. Rosecrans reinforced his army. To disrupt the extended Federal communication and supply lines, late in 1862 Bragg ordered Gen. John Hunt Morgan to attack the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. On this occasion, and again in 1863, Morgan initiated a cavalry raid into Kentucky from here in Alexandria.
Alexandria offered well-watered areas near the fairgrounds sufficient to assemble thousands of mounted men, a road leading north to multiple Cumberland River crossings and a supportive population. The presence of the Confederate raiders was no secret, however, and there were those who felt that Morgan’s use of the area left the residents open to Federal reprisal.
On December 22, 1862, Morgan headed north from Alexandria with 3,100 cavalrymen and several artillery pieces on his “Christmas Raid.” Five days later, he reached Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where his men destroyed Louisville and Nashville Railroad trestles and bridges, temporarily rendering the line impassible. Pursuing Federal forces failed to block his return to Tennessee.
Morgan’s most daring raid began here when, on June 11, 1863, he led 2,400 cavalrymen through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in the deepest penetration of the North by Confederate troops. Federal gunboats patrolling the Ohio River prevented Morgan from returning south, and tireless pursuit by Federal forces led eventually to his capture and imprisonment.
(captions) , (lower left) Morgan’s Raiders, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine (Aug. 1865) , (upper center) Gen. John Hunt Morgan Courtesy Library of Congress , (upper right) Morgan's Christmas Raid , (lower right) Morgan's Ohio Raid
From late in 1862 to mid-1863, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg fortified his defenses in Middle Tennessee while Union Gen. William S. Rosecrans reinforced his army. To disrupt the extended Federal communication and supply lines, late in 1862 Bragg ordered Gen. John Hunt Morgan to attack the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. On this occasion, and again in 1863, Morgan initiated a cavalry raid into Kentucky from here in Alexandria.
Alexandria offered well-watered areas near the fairgrounds sufficient to assemble thousands of mounted men, a road leading north to multiple Cumberland River crossings and a supportive population. The presence of the Confederate raiders was no secret, however, and there were those who felt that Morgan’s use of the area left the residents open to Federal reprisal.
On December 22, 1862, Morgan headed north from Alexandria with 3,100 cavalrymen and several artillery pieces on his “Christmas Raid.” Five days later, he reached Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where his men destroyed Louisville and Nashville Railroad trestles and bridges, temporarily rendering the line impassible. Pursuing Federal forces failed to block his return to Tennessee.
Morgan’s most daring raid began here when, on June 11, 1863, he led 2,400 cavalrymen through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in the deepest penetration of
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the North by Confederate troops. Federal gunboats patrolling the Ohio River prevented Morgan from returning south, and tireless pursuit by Federal forces led eventually to his capture and imprisonment.
(captions)
(lower left) Morgan’s Raiders, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine (Aug. 1865)
(upper center) Gen. John Hunt Morgan Courtesy Library of Congress
(upper right) Morgan's Christmas Raid
(lower right) Morgan's Ohio Raid
Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1921.
Location. 36° 4.66′ N, 86° 2.019′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Tennessee, in Dekalb County. Marker is on West Main Street west of High Street (Tennessee Route 53), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alexandria TN 37012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2017. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 737 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 11, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on November 24, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 6. submitted on December 28, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
