Download Understanding the Intentions, Details, and

UNDERSTANDING THE INTENTIONS, DETAILS, AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF MORGAN’S RAID AND THE BATTLE OF
CORYDON
By: Aric Miller
2011
The Battle of Corydon is registered as one of only two battles fought on fully
Union soil during the Civil War. Many skirmishes and battles took place during the
Civil War; with some more famous than others, written about more, and arguably many,
which have greater significance to the final outcome of the Civil War in general.
Discrepancies between many columnists, and authors about some of the details of the
Battle of Corydon in regards to details of the initial invasion and the conflict itself.
Differences of opinion also exist among many authors as to what the significance of the
Battle of Corydon is, and where its place should be among others fought during the Civil
War. Though, how exactly is the significance of a battle measured? For the Civil War in
general, the Battle of Corydon was nothing more than a fortified skirmish, however to the
community from which it was fought in, it became more. It may not have impacted the
overall outcome of the Civil War, yet it is still significant. The significance lies within
the region it took place. The battle of Corydon ignited an animosity for the Confederates
and the Southern cause in the southern Indiana region. This essay will clear up some of
the existing contextual details of both the initial invasion of Union soil, the Battle of
Corydon itself, and help place the significance of both in its proper place within the
written historiographies on the topic.
Historically, raids happen for many reasons. Raiding parties have existed for as
long as there have been battles to fight or war supplies to get, and according to historian
Lester Horwitz’s account “a raid according to Army doctrine is a swift penetration of
hostile territory to secure information, to confuse the enemy and destroy his installations
and support functions. It is a limited-objective attack for a specific purpose other than
gaining and holding ground. It ends with a planned withdrawal after the completion of
1
the assigned mission.” 1 Many raids occurred during the Civil War on both sides of the
fighting. Raids to secure munitions, destroy railroads, or tear up telegram wires etcetera.
One raid in particular stands out among the other raids for a couple of reasons. John
Hunt Morgan’s raid is interesting because there exists much controversy as to why and
even how it unfolded the way it did. For Morgan’s raid there exists a who did it, a what
they did, a where it happened, but there is no why it happened. There seems not to be
any clear-cut evidence as to the precise answer for this anomaly either.
In 1976, columnist for the Currier Journal Billy Reed wrote of Morgan’s raid
“Where was Morgan? What were his intentions? Where would he strike next? Not even
Morgan himself seemed to know the answers. He seemed to attack more at whim than by
design.” 2 However, John Hunt Morgan was an educated man. He went to college at
Transylvania College in nearby Lexington and after leaving the school he joined the
Military and left his home in Kentucky to fight for his country in the Mexican War. 3 He
had advanced in military rank through his efforts in the Mexican War where he became a
lieutenant. 4 He moved up in rank swiftly due to his intelligence during battles and his
leadership qualities under pressure. Morgan was also made a name for himself as a
raider during the first couple of years of the Civil War. 5 With his education and ability to
gain the confidence of his superior army officers it seems unlikely that he would attempt
to lead his men into unknown territory with no plan of action. Whatever the plan was,
1
Horwitz, Lester The Longest Raid of the Civil War: Cincinnati Ohio: Farmcourt Publishing, Inc., 2001), .
1
2
Reed Billy, “John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief?” Courier Journal May 31, 1976
Edison, Thomas H.: John Hint Morgan and his Raiders: The university press of Kentucky, Lexington
Kentucky, 1975
4
Edison, John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders; 1975
5
Edison: John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders:1975
3
2
Morgan eventually found himself on the bank of the Ohio River in the town of
Brandenburg Kentucky in early July 1863.
On late Tuesday afternoon around five o’clock, July 7, 1863, General Morgan and
some 2,400 raiders came into Brandenburg, Kentucky. 6 Around the time that Morgan
and his men arrived in Brandenburg the steamship J. T. McCombs was in port at
Brandenburg. Morgan ordered Samuel Taylor and some men to overtake the steamship
and used it to capture another ship. Shortly afterwards the J.T. McCombs was overtaken
it hoisted a distress signal and was then anchored the middle of the Ohio River to await a
passing victim. 7 Later, Captain James H. Pepper 8 of a side-wheeling steamship the Alice
Dean answered the call and was immediately overtaken 9 by Samuel Taylor of Morgan’s
raiding party. 10 The capturing of these two ships was noticed by word spread through the
town of Leavenworth, located in Crawford County. Union men alerted Lt. Col. William
J. Irvin of the Indiana Home Guards. He ordered that another steamer passing through the
area named The Lady Pike be hailed. Before the Lady Pike made it to the site of the
Confederate capture of the two other ships The Pike was intercepted by a “group of men
at Mauckport and induced to return to Leavenworth, Indiana, about fifteen miles below
Mauckport, for the purpose of getting cannon and some reinforcements.” 11 The Lady
Pike returned about midnight with the cannon and a small company of men under the
command of [Union] Captain Lyons and Colonel Woodbury.” 12 One of the cannons was
6
Pfrimmer, Samuel, The Battle of Corydon Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376-377, 1927
Pfrimmer, Samuel, The Battle of Corydon Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376-377, 1927
8
LaHue, Lenore: On the square: The Corydon Republican, July 5, 1962.
9
Pfrimmer, Samuel, “The Battle of Corydon” Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376-377 1927
10
-The Knights of the Golden Circle and Morgan’s Raid. : Democrat unknown publication date
11
Pfrimmer, Samuel, The Battle of Corydon” Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376-377 1927
12
Pfrimmer, Samuel, The Battle of Corydon“ The Battle of Corydon” Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376377 1927
7
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unloaded and floated across Buck creek and was “lashed to the bed of a farm wagon” 13
The gun was mounted and the ship set up at Morvin’s landing, which was a point just
opposite of Brandenburg on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. By the time Morgan had
captured both ships there was not enough time for Morgan to begin crossing. Perhaps he
needed time to consider his next move more carefully for there is no doubt he was aware
of the gravity of the situation he was about attempt. He would choose to cross the river
to Indiana in the morning.
The confederate actions were observed throughout the night, as there were some
oil wells, which were drilled along the riverbank. The wells contained no oil but there
was as “great flow of gas coming from them which had been set on fire, resulting in a
constant blaze reaching thirty to fifty feet high.” 14 Watching with anticipation there was
little that could be done to thwart their plans for crossing.
Early the next morning, Wednesday the 8th of July, a thick fog covered the area.
With the Cannon in place on the ground, Colonel Irvin ordered the Indiana Home Guards
to open fire on the two steamships, aiming for the boilers, and try and disable them so
they would be unable to cross. A short time later, being outranked, Irvin was counter
ordered by Provost Marshall John Timberlake to begin using the six-pound cannon to
shell the rebel cavalry on the bank of the river. 15 This seemed to work for a little while
until the men were outmatched by two groups of rebel batteries. The men resumed their
13
Horwitz: The Longest Raid of The Civil War: 2001 p. 42
Horwitz: The Longest Raid of The Civil War: 2001 p. 42
15
Funk, Arville, L. The Morgan Raid in Indiana and Ohio 1863, Superior Printing Company, Mentone,
Indiana; 1971 pp. 15. Funk describes another version of this story of with the Lady Pike’s firing on the two
steamships from Capt. Timberlake, however it is unknown by Funk where, if at all, it could be found.
There is no copy I could find in my research.
14
4
position at the cannon but were forced again to retreat. This time they fled their positions
and headed up back to the road to Corydon. 16
At this time Morgan and his men began ferrying across the river and were,
according to Arville Funk interrupted a federal gunboat, called The Springfield. “The
gunboat was armed with six 24 pounders [cannons] and it immediately opened fire on
both banks of the river, since by this time, the Confederates had ferried over two
regiments, the 2nd Kentucky and the 9th Tennessee. After an hour-long duel, the gunboat
retreated back up river to New Albany.” 17 In a telegram sent to Joseph Watson, the
Commander of The Springfield had a telegram sent stating the events of the battle as well
as more embellished facts. “Sir: I engaged John H. Morgan this morning at Brandenburg.
I have been fighting nearly all day. He is crossing over into Indiana. He has 10,000 men
and several pieces of heavy artillery. He has his batteries planted at three places
commanding the river. We still have boats below town to operate with me. He wants to
hold that place until he re-crosses” At about 5 p. m. the Springfield again returned,
accompanied by the steamboat Grey Eagle, which had a detachment of the 71st Ind. Reg.
and a section of artillery from the 23 Ind. Battery on board. Second Lt. John W. Ross
commanded the artillery on the Grey Eagle and when it fired its first volley, it broke
through the steamboat’s deck. After a few minutes of action the gunboat and Grey Eagle
withdrew to Louisville.” 18
By midnight when all Morgan’s men reached the Indiana side of the river it was
ordered by Morgan that the Alice Dean be burned and sank on the bank of the river. The
16
Funk, Arville, L. The Morgan Raid in Indiana and Ohio 1863, Superior Printing Company, Mentone,
Indiana; 1971 pp. 15
17 Funk, Arville, L. The Morgan Raid in Indiana and Ohio 1863, Superior Printing Company, Mentone,
Indiana; 1971
18
LaHue, Lenore: On the square: The Corydon Republican, July 5, 1962.
5
other steamship, the J.T. McCombs was not burned and allowed to go about its way
because of “Basil Duke’s long friendship with her captain.” 19 Morgan’s landing on
Union soil was undoubtedly a surprise to the citizens living in Indiana.
Morgan’s motivations for the raid are somewhat of a mystery to many. This was
a dangerous mission and logic dictates that there must have been a valid reason for it.
Authors and newspaper columnist seem to hold different opinions as to the true intentions
behind the raid. Some of the different opinions which exist point out that, it was more
than a coincidence that the Battle of Corydon and The Battle of Gettysburg occurred
around the same time. Some people link the two battles together. One soldier present in
the battle of Corydon discusses how there were different beliefs of why Morgan went on
his raid. One possible reason he believed was “to draw the attention of the people of the
Middle West away from Lee in his invasion of Pennsylvania, it certainly was a sound
military movement, provided he had the proper force and equipment.”20 This is an
interesting belief because as it turned out Morgan had crossed the Ohio River on July 8,
and the Battle of Gettysburg was on July 1, only seven days before. Which would put
Morgan on the right path to cause some diversion away from general Lee and his fighting
in Pennsylvania. However, the Battle of Gettysburg was not a planned battle. And one
would find it difficult to find some, if any mention of Morgan’s raid from the
Confederate leadership being a diversion from the battlefield in Gettysburg. So with this
evidence it can be argued that Morgan must have had some other intentions or
motivations for his raiding party to advance onto Union soil.
19
20
Thomas, Edison, H. John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders: The University press of Kentucky; 1975
Pfrimmer, Samuel, “The Battle of Corydon” Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376-377, 1927
6
In, 1976 Columnist Billy Reed offered another idea as to why Morgan decided to
take his raid from the border state of Kentucky into the Union state of Indiana. Reed
claims that it was done because of his wanting to help the Southern cause through support
from pro- southern sympathizing groups. Reed describes that Morgan rose swiftly
through the ranks, and he became restless with “timid tactics” and wanted to do more for
the Confederate cause than he was being allowed. Morgan decided to ask his superior
officer Major General Bragg if he could be permitted to “lead a substantial force of
cavalry through Kentucky, threaten Louisville, raid and destroy the L&N Railroad lines
carrying military supplies to union forces in the South” 21 then he asked about the
possibility of crossing the Ohio and entering the Union territory to which Bragg replied,
“I like everything you said, except crossing the Ohio River into the north. Go ahead and
raid Kentucky. Capture Louisville if you can. But do not, I repeat, do not cross the river.
Stay in Kentucky. 22 It was believed that Morgan would return after he had his
opportunity to raid and destroy the Kentucky area a while. 23 Morgan did not return
however and crossed into Indiana before that alleged mission was able to happen. It
seems unlikely however that Morgan would want to disobey direct orders from his
superior officer in order to perform an aggressive raiding party across the Ohio River.
Many conflicting explanations exist as to what Morgan’s intentions truly were.
Some believed that he was there on special mission to ensure that Union troops would be
occupied by his invading the North and possibly prevent the Union from overtaking the
Confederate capital in Richmond. There were troops advancing toward Richmond during
this time. In 1923 George Stauth whom was in Corydon during the Battle as a child said
21
Horwitz; The Longest Raid in The Civil War, p.2
Report of the Ohio Commissioners of Morgan’s Raid Claims; December 15, 1864
23
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976
22
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that he believed the purpose of Morgan’s raid was to “to transfer the struggle between the
Union and Confederate forces from Virginia to the eastern part of the Northern states,
while General Morgan was to invade Indiana, march to Indianapolis, capture that city,
thence to Chicago and turn southwest, capture Rock Island, Ill., and form a junction with
tie Confederate forces in Central Missouri.” 24 With a raiding party of 2,400 men Morgan
was quite a force to be reckoned with and one could even question his intentions as his
very being in the Union ground was not commonplace, however to assume that he would
be so bold as to make an attempt to take Indiana’s capital, then Chicago seems highly
unlikely without the support from somewhere. It is possible that Mr. Stauth believed that
this kind of assistance was possible because at this time there were groups that were
believed to be sympathetic to the southern cause. These were groups like the
Copperheads, The Knights of the Golden Circle, The Sons of Liberty. These are just a
few of these groups, though there were others. All of these groups had factions in the
Indiana and Ohio region during the time this raid occurred. The Knights were in Indiana,
Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri specifically.
Most of the pro southern groups were small and little is known of their ambition if
any to bring the southern ideals like slavery and stronger State’s rights to the north.
However, there existed two groups, which can be arguably linked more closely to the
pro-southern movement, The Copperheads and The Knights of the Golden Circle. Public
orator Robert McDowell believed that groups like theses would have been Confederate
soldiers special targets to help Morgan and his raiders and perhaps all types of northern
advancement of the confederates in general. Several occasions during the raid some
24
Stauth, George J., Dodge City, Kansas: Sedition in Harrison County During the War of the Rebellion.:
The Corydon Republican: April 10, 1924, Corydon Indiana
8
Southern supporters shouted words of encouragement and Morgan’s men shouted back to
those unwilling to provide military assistance “‘Give to the cause you love so well,’ they
told the Southern sympathizers contemptuously.” 25
The Knights of the Golden Circle were believed by some to have been tied in with the
pro-slavery movement as well. Maude Dome claimed that her father was a member and
that Morgan was on the Union soil looking for Southern Sympathy.” 26 In an article
written about the Knights of the Golden Circle in the Corydon Democrat a story is told of
a man named Hezekiah Ott, whom was said to have been a member of the organization
and that most of the people that joined the group did so under the auspice that they were
all against the union’s attempt to take over the South and they did not want the African
Americans to take it over either.
One of the major theories posed for the notion that Morgan hoped to ignite
Northern support from The Knights of the Golden Circle comes Ulysses Samuel Lesh’s
essay entitled A Knight of the Golden Circle. Lesh says that the Knights of the Golden
Circle was an organization created in 1856 with the principal notion to create a monopoly
on 4 major staple crops, sugar, rice, tobacco and cotton. They “cherished the institution
of slavery.” 27Slave labor primarily produced all four of these crops, in the south.
Members of this organization were placed into Washington to exert an influence. It is
likely that the influence was to block support for the Union through holding up votes,
which would allow government aid. Lesh points out that the group changed their names
25
McDowell, Robert E. General John Hunt Morgan’s Great 1863 Raid: Commemoration at
Brandenburg, KY. July 13, 1963.
26
Dome, Maud B. Centennial of Battle of Corydon to be Observed at Fairgrounds: Writer Recounts
Recollection Of Father During Raid: The Corydon Republican: Section two Volume 95, Corydon, Indiana,
Thursday, July 25, 1963.
27 27
Lesh, U. S.: A Knight of the Golden Circle: The Michigan Alumnus: Public Library of Fort Wayne and
Allen County: 1956
9
several times to have greater acceptance in the North Most of the people in the north
during this time would have most likely been opposed to the things this group stood for
or may not have not wanted the attention of being associated with a group whose
platform was so radical. They were called American Knights, then later, Sons of Liberty.
“Their local ‘temples’ assumed variant names in different localities.” 28 One group was
known as the “Men’s Bible Class.” Possibly because they had a shipment of pistols
delivered which had “Sunday-School books” 29 written on the package. This is evidence
of their willingness to play to what the public wanted in order to gain acceptance.
Ulysses Lesh claims that it was possible that the Knights gave Indiana’s Governor
Morton a difficult time during the Civil War by not allowing him to help finance war
activities. Blocking votes for things like money for munitions or uniforms is one way
this could have been done. “Failing to carry its plans by ballot, the secret order then
pushed forward its military plains more vigorously. They contemplated an armed
uprising. Initial steps were to capture the arsenals and stores of munitions in IN, OH, IL,
MO, free the Confederate prisoners in those states, arm them with the guns and munitions
captured, and then march to points where they could join rebel armies. 30 Lesh states that
Morgan’s raid through Kentucky, into Ohio and Indiana would have been a good idea if
they used it as a touch off point for taking control of the Northwestern region of the
Union territory. He also points out that it may have looked to Morgan and his men to be
a success as the raiders were aware of some of the pro southern sympathizing groups in
28 28
Lesh, U. S.: A Knight of the Golden Circle: The Michigan Alumnus: Public Library of Fort Wayne and
Allen County: 1956
29 29
Lesh, U. S.: A Knight of the Golden Circle: The Michigan Alumnus: Public Library of Fort Wayne and
Allen County: 1956
30
Lesh, U. S.: A Knight of the Golden Circle: The Michigan Alumnus: Public Library of Fort Wayne and
Allen County: 1956d
10
the area. But it did not take so strongly as expected. The action was premature. “The
secret order had not completed its military plans.” 31 Whether or not these were the actual
goals of the Knights of the Golden Circle or if they were not as conspiring as this account
renders them is uncertain. What is clear is that people thought this to be one aspect,
which seemed likely.
Basil Duke whom was second in command during Morgan’s raid wrote about a
Thomas Hine’s raid and stated that he was commissioned about eighty “picked” men and
was in fact on the Indiana mission to contact “Sons of Liberty.. The Copperheads, The
Knights of the Golden Circle” to see if they could provide any support for Morgan should
he decide to cross.32 In other words Hines was there to determine if there would be any
help offered form these groups.
Thomas Hines arrived in the Indiana territory with a small group of men a few
weeks ahead of Morgan’s arrival in Brandenburg. They investigated the landscape for
some terrain information. 33 Hines crossed the Ohio on June 17, 1863 and made it all the
way to French Lick under the guise of the “Indiana Grays” whom were hunting for
deserters of the Union army. 34 This fooled local citizens so well that Hines and his men
were even fed a meals and areas to rest unmolested. However upon arriving in Paoli
some Union men alerted the Mayor that he had been fooled and Hines men were forced
to flee.
35
31
Lesh, U. S.: A Knight of the Golden Circle: The Michigan Alumnus: Public Library of Fort Wayne and
Allen County: 1956
32
Duke, Basil W. History of Morgan’s Men: 1867, p. 423
33
Bowman, Walter; The Hines Raid: 1863
34
Horwitz, The Longest Raid of The Civil War, 2001 p 44
35
Horwitz, The Longest Raid of The Civil War, 2001 p 44
11
Hines was able to lose his pursuers and met with a Dr. Bowels about possibly
“raising an army of Copperheads who would take over the state, assassinating the state
and local government officials, seizing the state arsenals and turning on the home
guards” 36 This meeting as interrupted when an informer told them that Union troops were
on there way to arrest Hines and his men. Hines and his men were eventually forced to
swim across the Ohio River when they found themselves surrounded by Union troops.
Hines and what few men he had left, around a dozen, met up with Morgan in
Brandenburg and “informed the General of the conditions he observed in Indiana.” 37
The mission of this scout is also uncertain and some believe it to be evidence that
Morgan had had planned his river crossing prior to it execution. Although the Hines raid
did occur was perhaps done so because again of Morgan’s military intelligence. It is
possible that Morgan merely sent him to scout the land in case the raiders would have
been forced to cross in order find escape Union capture. After his return it is doubtful
that Morgan believed that the pro southern groups would provide them with much
support.
A final, plausible, account offered as an explanation of Morgan’s motivation for
crossing the Ohio River is a combination of the motives mentioned for Hines raid and
that Morgan was simply running away from a Union General named Hobson whom was
close on his trail. Captain Abe, Dyer recorded in his account of the battle that one reason
given for Morgan’s raid was that he had “Morgan was so closely pursued by Hobson’s
forces and that rather than gibe battle when driven to the river, this course was suddenly
36
37
Horwitz, The Longest Raid of The Civil War, 2001 p 44
Horwitz, The Longest Raid of the Civil War 2001 45
12
adopted by him as a necessity.” 38 It may have been that upon his coming to the river he
had chosen to cross because continuing further west in Kentucky seemed like a poor
choice as there was much countryside and little in the way of provisions he could have
raided for. Mostly made up of scattered farmland and small populations, trekking further
west would have been very difficult. There would not have been the necessary resources
needed to supply his raiding party. His knowing of the existence of the pro-southern
sympathizing groups may have been a determining factor for his crossing, yet it is
doubtful he was willing to bet everything on this information given the outcome of Hines
raid.
Morgan’s desire to avoid pursuit seems to be the most plausible given Morgan’s
education and military expertise. As previously mentioned Morgan was very talented
when it came to conducting military business and especially raids. He would have
thought ahead of his position using military tactics. Initially it may have been that
Morgan was on his raid to pull pressure off of other Confederate troops, or even to cause
some trouble throughout the border states of Tennessee and Kentucky in order to slow
down any future advances from Union forces. Morgan took out railroads and bridges in
parts of Kentucky and Tennessee was probably quite an effective thorn in the side of the
Union. However, the risks associated with crossing the Ohio and bringing the
confederate forces into uncertain danger must have been a calculated risk. 39
Whatever the motivations or ideology of the raid, eventually John Hunt Morgan
and a band of approximately 2,400 raiders were on Union Soil by July 8, 1863 and
38
Dyer, Abe: The March to Corydon-Burning of Lopp’s Mill-Morgan’s Capture and Death; The Corydon
Democrat: August 1, 1923
39
Bowman, Walter; The Hines Raid: Invasion of the State, June 1863: Indiana Historical Bulletin, April
1959
13
headed North toward the old Indiana Capital of Corydon. Similar to the unknown
elements surrounding the motivation for the raid there are in existence some inaccuracies,
which account for the next phase of the raid, his march further north and the Battle of
Corydon itself. Information varies widely from one source to another.
There are a few reasons why there are many inaccurate accounts of The Battle of
Corydon. One reason for inaccuracies in the primary accounts during this time was due
to a combination of misunderstood and misrepresented information. Also many of the
stories were not recorded for decades after they happened; some of the eyewitness
accounts were written of much later from people whom were in their early childhood. So
it was difficult to gather accurate valid information. Some of the members whom wrote
letters to loved ones sometimes gave inaccurate accounts of the details, not intentionally
but circumstantially. They simply reported the information that they were given. In a
letter written to her cousin, Attia Porter goes into some details of the battle, as she
understood them. She wrote, “What could 350 untrained Home Guards do against 4,000
well drilled and disciplined soldiers?” 40 In this instance it is apparent that she was given
inaccurate information. The actual numbers are 450 against 2,400. This was perhaps due
to many of the speculative rumors being passed around the area, as very few people were
sure of the actual size of Morgan’s raiders. Morgan’s raiders were not condensed in one
solitary group, moving together, but rather they spread themselves out over the land in
order to procure as much as they could. There was a main driving force it was known
that there were other raiders spread out across further areas in order to gather more food,
40
Conway, Fred W. ; Corydon the Forgotten Battle of the Civil War; FBH Publishers New Albany Indiana,
1991
14
horses, money etcetera for the raid. How many raiders there were scattered about was
unknown, probably by most if not all of the citizens close to the fighting.
Other examples written in secondary accounts exist which demonstrate how
difficult it is to determine who is telling the truth about what happened and who is not.
There is much information, which is based around the same event yet there exist two
different accounts regarding the details leading up to how the event took place. For
example there is a story about how the raiding party advanced north where they ran into
Peter Lopp’s Mill. In Corydon the Forgotten Battle of the Civil War. Fred Conway
claims that Lopp’s Mill was burned down when he refused to accept confederate money
for some flour taken and food eaten. Alternatively in a column written by Arville Funk,
he claims that Morgan’s raiders had captured Lopp. Lopp pleaded with his captures not
to burn down his Mill.
The Raiders spent the night at his Mill then burned it down
because a courier appeared and said that Morgan’s been “fired on from it.” 41 Funk wrote,
“It was later discovered that a Mr. Overton, outside of the mill had fired on Morgan’s
men and then escaped.” 42
On July 9, Morgan began his march along the road from their resting point at
Lopp’s Mill toward Corydon. Morgan sent riders out in a ten-mile radius to steal and
scatter horses and burn bridges. 43 This had been the main tactic that Morgan used for the
rest of his raid. He scattered his men out to capture horses and burn bridges for two
reasons. The first was because his men’s horses were constantly being exhausted from
continual travel, and new horses were needed to replenish the tired ones. Burning bridges
41
Funk, Arville L: July 9 1863- July 9, 1963: Unknown publication date. Pp. 64
Funk, Arville L: July 9 1863- July 9, 1963: Unknown publication date.
43
Twiss, Gilbert: Col. John Morgan: Civil War Swashbuckler: The Chicago Tribune, July 7, 1963
42
15
and knocking trees onto roads was also done in order to keep anyone in pursuit of the
raiders from being able to catch up quickly.
Some accounts make it appear as if Morgan was trying to be on his best behavior
while on Union Soil. Morgan was reported to have tried to offer money a few occasions,
which places this idea in the realm of plausible. Along the raid just across the Ohio River
while Morgan and his men approached the scattered houses along Indiana’s countryside
when they came to the home of a woman named Pleasant Bean. Arville Funk explains in
an article how Morgan offered a woman named Pleasant Bean some confederate money
because while his raiders were pillaging through her food storage they spilled some
heavy cream on her rug. This apparently ruined the rug and so confederate money was
offered. 44 This notion of a raiding party attempting to pay for something may seem odd in
that there really was no need to make payment. However, it does seem provide a better
look at why Morgan’s raid is written about with so much controversy. Author Billy Reed
wrote of Morgan’s controversy and noted that Southern historians praise him as ‘the Gray
Fox’ or ‘ The Thunder bolt of the Confederacy’. He quotes a southern author Allen
Kellar as writing “It may well have been chivalry’s last appearance on war’s sordid
stage.” 45 Morgan was also written about both during the time and more recently as being
a gentleman. He treated the women and children with kindness. Time and time again
there were reports of General Morgan being polite to the raided areas but to those in arms
against them he was not so benevolent.
Morgan and his raiders were harsh and brutal to those who stood against him. “A
man by the name of Spier Hurst in Hersttown was shot after he did not heed the warning
44
45
Funk, Arville L: July 9 1863- July 9, 1963: Unknown publication date. Pp. 63
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976
16
to halt while he was trying to escape with his horses. Some reported that Hurst was
simply hard of hearing and never heard their shouts. He later died from his wounds. 46
As his men advanced north, the raiders were reported to have shot a Reverends son at his
home, when the sons father Rev. Glenn arrived at the house and was fooled by the rebels
whom waved a white flag. Rev. Glenn Shot and killed one of Morgan’s rebels after he
found his son shot through both of his thighs. The raiders killed him on the spot.47just
the raiders came to a man named William Heth, who was the keeper of the Tollgate at the
east entrance of Corydon, was shot and killed by some of the rebels who made their way
to the Plank Road and rode in from the east. Once past the tollgate Morgan and his men
were less than a couple hours from the town of Corydon. As previously mentioned there
could have been little known about the actual numbers approaching the town.
Messengers had been riding hard to alert the people in the town but they would have not
likely been able to report accurately the size of Morgan’s force.
During this time Col. Lewis Jordan, Marshall Timberlake, and Maj. J. S.
Pfrimmer gathered volunteers to add to the Home defense. As the rebels moved closer to
Corydon, many armed guards from the area built fences and other breastworks to slow
the rebel forces movement. They were setting up to do battle. In an account written by a
Mr. Senour he recalled that when some skirmishing was close by at Henry Steepleton’s
place, there was a “number of rebels killed and several persons wounded. In this affair a
46
Dome, Maud B. Centennial of Battle of Corydon to be Observed at Fairgrounds: Writer Recounts
Recollection Of Father During Raid: The Corydon Republican: Section two Volume 95, Corydon, Indiana,
Thursday, July 25, 1963.
47
Welsh, George A. : Corydon Surrenders to Gen. Morgan: From the file of Frederick Pl Griffin, Historian
for Harrison County, Indiana June, 5, 1963
17
rebel came out of he woods and took deliberate aim at one the Captains, captain LaHue,
but was shot down by one of the captain’s men before he fired his gun.” 48
While Morgan’s raiders were attacking the Home Guards for the start of The
Battle of Corydon, Union General Hobson had arrived in Brandenburg and was forced to
wait there helplessly for transports, while the Home Guards began fighting in the Battle
of Corydon. 49 There can be little doubt that he overheard the shots being fired. Once
Morgan’s raiders reached the Home Guard lines he and his raiders made quick work of
the smaller defense. There were around 450 home guards present at the start of the battle
and this was hardly a match for Morgan’s nearly 2,400 men. The Home Guards
“checked” the rebels and so the rebels flanked them easily.
Senour wrote that a Mr. S. K. Wolfe who was reported to be in the thick of the
fight wrote of the event, ‘the shells made the ugliest kind of music over our heads. The
shelling operation, together with the fact that our line was about to be flanked on both
wings at the same time, made it necessary for the safety of our men at they should fall
back. This they did, not with best of order it is true, but with excellent speed. From this
time the fighting was converted into a series of skirmishes. Each man seemed to fight on
his own hook, after the manner of bushwhackers’. 50 The entirety of the battle lasted
around twenty-five to thirty minuets. Because of the sheer size of Morgan’s force along
with Morgan’s military intelligence he had defeated the Home Guards in Corydon and
with their surrender from Col. Jordan Lewis hoisting of a white flag, General Morgan
48
Senour F. Mr. Senour’s account of the battle of Corydon. Unknown date.
Hawkins, Hubert H.: Invasion of Indiana! Indiana and the Civil War: Indiana Civil War Centennial
Commission, Indianapolis, 1961
50
Senour F. Mr. Senour’s account of the battle of Corydon. Unknown date.
49
18
was able to claim victory and for a short time technically claim Corydon Indiana as a part
of confederate territory. 51
There was a fear and panic among the members of the Home Guard Unit once
they were being overtaken. A local town historian Porter Griffin wrote in a centennial
column for the Corydon Democrat, many of the Home Guards made their escape rather
than be captured by Morgan’s Raiders. The situation was so hastily executed and
stressful for some that a Mr. Isaac Lang “suffered a heart attack and died instantly while
attempting his escape”. 52 The remaining Home Guards were gathered up and taken as
prisoners of war. Morgan was preparing to enter the town of Corydon, less than a mile a
way.
Morgan’s men wasted little time collecting the spoils of their victory. Levi
Shaffer wrote of the event, “The guns were scarcely out of our hands when two or three
villainous looking wretches began exploring our pockets” 53
Before his entering the town of Corydon, Morgan had gathered men among the
remaining defeated Home Guards whom were the most prominent citizens of the town.
Morgan’s men took captured the most influential men of the town and “were compelled
to walk at the head of the Confederate columns as they entered Corydon. The Rebs
threatened to shoot these captives if the Confederates were fired on my the local
51
Horwitz, Lester The Longest Raid of the Civil War: Cincinnati Ohio: Farmcourt Publishing, Inc., 2001,
65
52
Griffin, Fredrick Porter: General Morgan And His Min Crossed Ohio River 100 Years Ago Next Week:
Centennial Anniversary Next Week Getting Nation- Wide Re- publicizing: The Corydon Democrat, Section
two, Corydon Indiana, Wednesday, July 3, 1963, Vol. 108, No. 19.
53
Shaffer, Levi G., The Corydon Republican; July 15, 1909
19
citizens.” 54 It was his use of this tactic that made it possible to enter the town of Corydon
unmolested by any other Home Guards or civilians.
Upon their march into town they first came across a Presbyterian church and
Morgan and his troops used it as a temporary hospital for some of the wounded and dying
soldiers. “The wounded were inside where some of the younger girls were given the task
of fanning and keeping the flies off them.” 55 During this time General Morgan took
control of Jacob W. Kintner’s Eagle Hotel and set it up as his headquarters. It is believed
by many authors and historians that it is during his rest at the Eagle Hotel where Morgan
first reads about General Lee’s loss in Gettysburg. 56
During the battle there were local citizens who gathered in the square as news of
Morgan’s proximity spread before he arrived. In a panic many civilians frantically buried
their belongings and valuables so as not to be stolen by the raiding party. 57 Some people
threw their coins and other valuables in a cistern until the threat had passed. Many
people also fled the town and sought shelter by fleeing “up the creek to an overhanging
cliff.” 58 Others gathered together in the town square and awaited the arrival of Morgan
and his raiders. The raiders were coming into the homes of the towns’ people and eating
the food being prepared by the women of the men in the battle. 59 There had also been a
commissary department set up by the local townspeople for the Home guards who fought
54
An essay read at a band concert July 9, 1982, Public square, Corydon
Horwiz, The Longest Raid 2001; p. 67
56
Horwitz, The Longest Raid in The Civil War;2001; p. 67
57
Griffin, Fredrick Porter: General Morgan And His Min Crossed Ohio River 100 Years Ago Next Week:
Centennial Anniversary Next Week Getting Nation- Wide Re- publicizing: The Corydon Democrat, Section
two, Corydon Indiana, Wednesday, July 3, 1963, Vol. 108, No. 19.
58
Griffin, Fredrick Porter: General Morgan And His Min Crossed Ohio River 100 Years Ago Next Week:
Centennial Anniversary Next Week Getting Nation- Wide Re- publicizing: The Corydon Democrat, Section
two, Corydon Indiana,
59
Griffin, Fredrick Porter: General Morgan And His Min Crossed Ohio River 100 Years Ago Next Week:
Centennial Anniversary Next Week Getting Nation- Wide Re- publicizing: The Corydon Democrat, Section
two, Corydon Indiana, Wednesday, July 3, 1963, Vol. 108, No. 19.
55
20
in the battle. Tables were set up with “cakes, pies, meat and other edibles… gathered in
great quantities” 60 After the battle while setting everything up Mr. David Jordan heard a
voice say “Ill take charge here now and you get some tubs, buckets and pails and go draw
some water from that well.” 61 The townspeople were at the mercy of the raiders.
Once inside the town Morgan turned the town square into a makeshift prison
camp and the captured men were “paroled several hours later after they were relived from
their pistols, riffles, watches, and some even lost their boots.”62 After only remaining in
Corydon a few hours Morgan and his men pushed on and continued their raid through
Indiana and Ohio.
Morgan’s raid and the battle of Corydon had a tremendous effect on people both
those directly affected as well as those in the surrounding areas. There were reports that
upon hearing the news of Morgan’s invasion residents in Illinois and Ohio became
nervous. 63 Citizens of Indiana were terrified. 64 “Governor Oliver P. Morton, on
receiving information of the invasion of Indiana soil, issued a proclamation ordering all
able-bodied citizens in the counties to form companies and arm themselves with such
arms as they could procure.”65 Though he had hoped for more support from the regular
army throughout Morgan’s invasion of Indiana. When Governor Morton had initially
learned of the invasion he had attempted to contact with Union General Boyle via
telegraph that the local Indiana regiments were needed back in Indiana and request
60
Horwitz, The Longest Raid ;2001 p 65
Conway, Fred, Corydon the Forgotten Battle of The Civil War: (1991); p. 76
62
Griffin, Fredrick Porter: General Morgan And His Min Crossed Ohio River 100 Years Ago Next Week:
Centennial Anniversary Next Week Getting Nation- Wide Re- publicizing: The Corydon Democrat, Section
two, Corydon Indiana, Wednesday, July 3, 1963, Vol. 108, No. 19.
63
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976
64
Sundstrom, Harold W.: Battle of Corydon: Outdoor Indiana Magazine, October, 1963
65
Funk, Arville L. Morgan’s Raid Recounted On Centennial Anniversary: The Corydon Republican, July
4, 1963.
61
21
assistance. Boyle was based in Louisville, and did not reply to the frequent appeals of
distress from Governor Morton until later and no relief was offered. 66 Governor Morton
also appealed to General Burnside on several occasions seeking assistance from other
union troops.67 “General Burnside: I ask that the Seventy-First Indiana and Twenty-third
Indiana Battery, recently sent to Kentucky, Be immediately ordered back to this State for
its protection - the protection of our towns from burning and pillage. Indiana has
repeatedly sent all her troops to protect Kentucky. I now ask the return of some for our
own protection. O.P. Morton Governor of Indiana” 68 There were other telegrams from
Governor Morton with pleas to send any support from Burnside. General Burnside
however did not jump at the chance to help the Indiana governor as it was believe that he
too felt that Morgan would try to attack the either New Albany or Louisville. 69
As mentioned earlier there were many different conflicting stories, which gave
inaccurate accounts of the actual number of Morgan’s, raiding party. One reason why
General Boyle was reluctant to provide assistance is that there were a number of
propaganda floating around almost as soon as the Invasion began. This propaganda came
from a variety of newspapers, which embellished and misrepresented the facts of
Morgan’s invasion dramatically. In some accounts there were reports that Morgan had
upwards of 4,500 troops or more.70 The uncertainty of Morgan’s next move made Boyle
think that Louisville may be one of his intended targets.71 Boyle was also uncertain of
Morgan’s numbers as he wrote a telegram to Major General Burnside reporting that
66
Hawkins, Hubert H.: Invasion of Indiana! Indiana and the Civil War: Indiana Civil War Centennial
Commission, Indianapolis, 1961
67
Unknown published article in a Magazine, looks like Indiana Magazine.
68
Telegram to General Burnside from O. P. Morton
69
Unknown published article in a Magazine, looks like Indiana Magazine.
70
The Corydon Weekly Democrat,. Corydon Indiana, July 14, 1863 Vol. 7
71
Unknown published article in a Magazine, looks like Indiana Magazine.
22
Morgan had about 3,000 men. 72 Columnist Billy Reed says of General Morgan’s invasion
that it mostly created “widespread fear in the hearts of Northern sympathizers in
Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and even Chicago.”
Morgan did not head to either of those places and spent the next week taking his
raiding party all the way east through Indiana and entered Ohio where he was eventually
captured. Morgan would escape from his imprisonment by digging a tunnel under his
cell wall. 73 A reward poster was issued to this capture and offered $1,000 dollars for his
recapture. 74 In September of 1864, Morgan was finally caught and killed during his
surrender. 75
Through all the varied ideas, which currently exist regarding Morgan’s raid and
the Battle of Corydon, it can seem difficult to find a place for its significance in the
historiography of the Civil War. However, the significance should not be measured in
terms of the greatness of the battle, because it was small. It should not be measured in
terms of death tolls like those of Manassas or Bleeding Kansas, because the death toll is
much less. The significance of the Union Invasion and the battle of Corydon have a great
regional significance.
The Battle of Corydon has a great significance to those persons directly affected
by Morgan and his raiders.. It also holds a strong significance to many of those in the
community live there presently. The true significance of the battle seems to have gained
72
J.T. Boyle, Telegram to Louisville Ky, July 9, 1863
Harpers Weekly: A Journal of a Civilization, New York, Saturday, September 24, 1864, Vol. VIII- no.
404
74
-$1,000! Reward poster from the Head Quarters U. S. Forces in Columbus Ohio, November 28, 1863
75
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976—There is another
verion of General Morgans death that was reported by The Harpers Weekly which claimed Morgan died
while trying to escape. However I believe Mr. Reed to be more reliable as it has been noted that the
newspapers were not as reliable during this time. Propaganda was commonplace among some of these
papers.
73
23
more saliency among locals than it appears to have had a few decades after its
occurrence. On the Centennial of the Battle, Columnist wrote about the battle with an
arguably inferred sense of pride. To the members of the community, Morgan’s raid and
the Battle of Corydon were an important part of their local history. Being able to claim
that a Civil War Battle occurred close by adds a sense of connectedness to something
often thought of as distant. In the south, Civil War battlegrounds memorabilia can be
found frequently. In Indiana there is only one place that can claim a Civil War battle.
And as mentioned before, there are only two Civil War battles fought on Union soil,
which exist.
Current beliefs regarding the significance of the Raid and the Battle of Corydon
are wide-ranging and arguably misunderstood. For the Civil War there is little doubt that
the battle of Corydon and Morgan’s raid in general were insignificant to the outcome of
the War. The main significance lies in the region in which this raid occurred. All across
the Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio path are historical markers with information
about the raid in that particular location. Some of the stories written about are done with
sympathy leaning toward the Southern cause, some leaning for the North. One would be
hard pressed to find an unbiased account of the raid.
In all of the locations there have been newspaper article detailing the events of his
significance for those towns. A newspaper writer from the South for example may write
Morgan’s raid in a positive light by claiming him to have been a hero for the south.
Writers call him things like “the Gray Fox’ or ‘The Thunder bolt of the Confederacy’.” 76
Historian Allan Kellar wrote of his raid “It may well have been chivalry’s last appearance
76
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976
24
on war’s sordid stage.” 77 In an article written about Morgan’s Legacy, columnist Frank
White wrote of how Morgan was seen as cultured a gentleman, for although he was on a
raid killing people according to White treated those innocent with respect. 78 Through
other accounts of Morgan’s raid some columnist mention how innocent people were
rarely mistreated save stealing fresh pies and other goods. Northern writers provide titles
like Gallant soldier or Horsetheif?, or John Morgan: Civil War Swashbuckler 79. Little
praise is awarded for his raid in these parts of the North.
The way Morgan’s invasion of Indiana and the battle of Corydon have been
written about in the past leaves out the notion of this significance. To the members of
these communities this was the Civil War. Most of the people in these areas had only
heard stories about the “Southern Rebellion”. Most of these people had only heard of
places and battles like Manassas, Antietam, Bull Run and etcetera while not really
considering the actual toll that came with it. When strangers came into the homes of
these people it genuinely scared them. It not only caused them to panic and be afraid but
it also made the Civil War a real event for them.
The significance of the Union Invasion and the battle of Corydon have a great
regional significance. There have been many periodicals, newspaper articles, books, and
letters describing the events of the northern invasion by John Hunt Morgan and the Battle
of Corydon. Throughout the many different accounts about Morgan’s raid and The Battle
of Corydon there are many discrepancies between scholars as to the details of the battle.
For the Civil War in general, the Battle of Corydon was nothing more than a fortified
77
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976
White, Frank A.; Gen. John H. Morgan’s, As Others Saw Him a Cultured Gentleman The Indianapolis
Sunday Star June 2, 1927
79
Reed; Gallant soldier or horsethief? 1976, Twiss, John Morgan Civil War Swashbuckler 1963
78
25
skirmish, however to the community from which it was fought in, it was more. It became
a piece of local history and the salient feelings the people felt, and feel, create a closer
community for its citizens. The battle of Corydon must therefore add a greater
significance to the current historiogaphical understandings on the invasion of Indiana and
the Battle of Corydon.
26
Bibliography
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November 28, 1863
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Bulletin, April 1959
Dome, Maud B. Centennial of Battle of Corydon to be Observed at Fairgrounds: Writer
Duke, Basil W. History of Morgan’s Men: 1867, p. 423
Recounts Recollection Of Father During Raid: The Corydon Republican: Section two
Volume 95, Corydon, Indiana, Thursday, July 25, 1963.
Dyer, Abe: The March to Corydon-Burning of Lopp’s Mill-Morgan’s Capture and
Death; The Corydon Democrat: August 1, 1923
Funk, Arville L: July 9 1863- July 9, 1963: Unknown publication date. Pp. 63
Funk, Arville L. Morgan’s Raid Recounted On Centennial Anniversary: The Corydon
Republican, July 4, 1963.
Funk, Arville, L. The Morgan Raid in Indiana and Ohio 1863, Superior Printing
Company, Mentone, Indiana; 1971 pp. 15
Griffin, Fredrick Porter: General Morgan And His Min Crossed Ohio River 100 Years
Ago Next Week: Centennial Anniversary Next Week Getting Nation- Wide Republicizing: The Corydon Democrat, Section two, Corydon Indiana, Wednesday, July 3,
1963, Vol. 108, No. 19.
Harpers Weekly: A Journal of a Civilization, New York, Saturday, September 24, 1864,
Vol. VIII- no. 404
Hawkins, Hubert H.: Invasion of Indiana! Indiana and the Civil War: Indiana Civil War
Centennial Commission, Indianapolis, 1961
Horwitz, Lester The Longest Raid of the Civil War: Farmcourt Publishing, Inc., 2001 pp.
1
J.T. Boyle, Telegram to Louisville Ky, July 9, 1863
LaHue, Lenore: On the square: The Corydon Republican, July 5, 1962.
Lesh, U. S.: A Knight of the Golden Circle: The Michigan Alumnus: Public Library of
Fort Wayne and Allen County: 1956
McDowell, Robert E. General John Hunt Morgan’s Great 1863 Raid: Commemoration
at Brandenburg, KY. July 13, 1963.
Pfrimmer, Samuel, “The Battle of Corydon” Griffins Scrapbook, Vol. 1, pp. 376-377,
1927
Reed Billy, John Morgan: Gallant soldier or horse thief? Courier Journal 5/31/1976
Senour F. Mr. Senour’s account of the battle of Corydon. Unknown date.
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the Rebellion.: The Corydon Republican: April 10, 1924, Corydon Indiana
Sundstrom, Harold W.: Battle of Corydon: Outdoor Indiana Magazine, October, 1963
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Thomas, Edison, H. John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders: The University press of
Kentucky; 1975
27
Twiss, Gilbert: Col. John Morgan: Civil War Swashbuckler: The Chicago Tribune, July
7, 1963
Conway, Fred W. ; Corydon the Forgotten Battle of the Civil War; FBH Publishers New
Albany Indiana, 1991
Unknown published article in a Magazine, looks like Indiana Magazine.
Welsh, George A. : Corydon Surrenders to Gen. Morgan: From the file of Frederick Pl
Griffin, Historian for Harrison County, Indiana June, 5, 1963
White, Frank A.; Gen. John H. Morgan’s, As Others Saw Him a Cultured Gentleman The
Indianapolis Sunday Star June 2, 1927
28