History of MORGAN'S CAVALRY
By Basil W. Duke
Cincinnati: Miami Printing and Publishing Company, Corner Bedinger Street and Miami Canal.
1867
Typed for the page by Donna Krapf, 2000
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six by Mrs. HENRIETTA MORGAN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Kentucky, at Covington.
TO THE WOMEN OF KENTUCKY, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THE GALLANT MEN WHOSE HEROISM HAS BECOME PART OF THE HISTORIC HERITAGE OF THE STATE, AND TO THE NOBLE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH, WHOSE KINDNESS ALLEVIATED THE HARDSHIPS WHICH THESE MEN SO LONG ENDURED, AND FOR WHOSE SAKE THEY WERE PROUD TO SUFFER AND BLEED, THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
The writer presents to the reading public the narrative of an arduous and adventurous military career, which, commencing at a period but little subsequent to the outbreak of the late civil war, continued through the four eventful years.
He has endeavored to make the work a correct and graphic representation of the kind of warfare of which MORGAN was the author, and in which his men won so much celebrity. Strict accuracy has been attempted in the description of the military operations of which the book is a record, and it is hoped that the incidents related of personal daring and adventure will be read with some interest.
The author regrets that, for reasons easily understood, the book is far less complete than he desired to make it. The very activity of the service performed by MORGAN'S CAVALRY prevented the preservation of data which would be very valuable, and a full account of many important operations is therefore impossible. Limited space, also, forbids the mention of many brave deeds. If many gallant and deserving men were noticed as they deserve, the book could not be readily finished.
To the friends whose contributions assisted the work, the author returns his warmest thanks.
To Mr. Meade Woodson, to whom he is indebted for the maps which so perfectly illustrate his narrative, he is especially grateful.
He regrets, too, that many of his old comrades have altogether failed to render him aid,
confidently expected, and which would have been very valuable.
B. W. D.
Chapter I
History of Morgan's Cavalry
Why written
First enlistments
Popularity of Morgan
Misrepresentation of the press
New uses of cavalry
Chapter II
Early life of General Morgan
His qualities as a commander
His personal qualities
Chapter III
Political condition of Kentucky in 1861
Bewilderment of the people
Camp Dick Robinson
First entrance of Confederate troops
Chapter IV
Military situation in the West
Advance to Bowlinggreen
Scarcity of arms
Organization of the army
Want of discipline
Qualities which compensated for its absence
Chapter V
Morgan leaves Lexington
Roger W. Hanson
Service on Green River
Scouting
Our first skirmish
Narrow escape
Terry's Rangers
Chapter VI
Retreat from Bowling Green
Evacuation of Nashville
Our Fourth Ohio acquaintances
Scouting near Nashville
Morgan holds Murfreesboro
Dash on Mitchell
Night attack
Capture of Gallatin
Stampede of our pickets
Promotion of Morgan
Concentration at Corinth
Chapter VII
Battle of Shiloh
Death of Sidney Johnson
Result of the battle
Expedition into Tennessee
Cotton burning and telegraphing
Defeat at Lebanon
Expedition to Cave City in Kentucky
Chapter VIII
Reorganization at Chattanooga
First raid into Kentucky
Fight at Tompkinsville
Capture of Lebanon
Telegraphic strategy
Morgan master of the situation
Fight at Cynthiana
Evade the pursuing troops
Chapter IX
Capture of Gallatin
Active service near Nashville
Fights at Gallatin and Cairo
Destruction of the railroad
Sojourn at Hartsville
The videttes
Kentuckians running from the draft
"The Vidette."
Chapter X
Again on the march for Kentucky
Bushwhacking experience
The Confederate army enters the State
Service in front of Covington
Efforts to embarrass the retreat of the Federal General Morgan
Fight at Augusta
Retreat of the army from Kentucky
Morgan captures Lexington
Chapter XI
Morgan's retreat through Southwestern Kentucky
At Gallatin again
Scouting and ambuscades
Driven from Gallatin
A week's fighting around Lebanon
Battle of Hartsville
Chapter XII
December raid into Kentucky
Capture of Elizabethtown
Fight at the Rolling Fork
Escape from the toils
Chapter XIII
Service during the winter of '63 and '64
Cluke's raid into Kentucky
Battle of Milton
Defeat at Snow's Hill
Chapter XIV
Service in Tennessee, and on the Cumberland in Kentucky
Fight at Greasy Creek
Active scouting
The division starts for the Ohio
Crossing of the Cumberland in the face of the enemy
Fights at Columbia, Green River and Lebanon
Crossing the Ohio
The militia objecting
Fight with the gunboats
March through Indiana and Ohio
Detour around Cincinnati
Defeat at Buffington.
Chapter XV
Life in prison
Escape of Morgan from the Ohio Penitentiary
Exchange at Charleston
Chapter XVI
Services of the remnant of Morgan's command while their General was in prison
Reception of General Morgan by the people of the South
He is assigned to command in Southwestern Virginia
Fight with Averill
Action at Dublin Depot
Last raid into Kentucky
Capture of Mt. Sterling
Severe engagement next day
Capture of Lexington
Success at Cynthiana
Defeat at Cynthiana
Retreat from Kentucky
Chapter XVII
Death of Morgan
Grief of his men
Subsequent active service of his old command
Hard fight at Bull's Gap
A battle by moonlight, and a night-long chase
The Stoneman raid
Disaster at Kingsport
Fighting the enemy and the elements
Battle of Marion
Winter quarters at Abington
March to Charlotte after Lee's surrender
Escort to Jefferson Davis after Johnston's surrender
The last Council of War
Surrender at Woodstock