Books By Morgan's Men of Yesterday and Today:

 

"The Bride and the Bandit", a biography of Martha Ready Morgan, wartime bride of General John Hunt Morgan. By MMA members, Dr. Robert O. Neff and Edith Elizabeth Politz. Hard bound, 408 pages., including photographs and extensive notes. Strictly limited to 500 copies. Price $35.00 per copy plus $3.00 shipping. Check or money order only. Please include correct mailing address information with your order. Edith Elizabeth politz, 3703 Anthony Dr., Tallhassee, FL, 32308.

 

"Confederate Pensioners of Kentucky" A compilation of Pension Applications of the Veterans & Widows 1912 - 1946 by MMA member, Steve D. Lynn, can now be ordered. Visit Steve's website for details and order form.

 

"The Longest Raid of the Civil War" by MMA member, Lester V. Horwitz, can now be purchased in hard cover or paper back. Call toll-free 1-513-295-0464 to order a copy. Contains over 500 pages, 180 photos, and 39 county maps tracing Morgan's 1,000 mile raid. Visit "The Longest Raid" Website for more information.

 

 

A History of Morgan's Cavalry, by Basil W. Duke and Reminiscenes of General
W. Duke have now been reprinted. No MMA member should be without a copy of these first person accounts. The books are retailing for $39.95 each. In Lexington, contact Michael Courtney at Black Swan Books, 505 East Maxwell St. at (606) 252-7255. MMA members will receive a discount. Outside Lexington, check your local bookstore. (Also available from "The General's Book's" Blue and Gray Magazine)

 

 

Confederate Wizards of the Saddle, (1914) by Bennett H. Young
is now back in print. Bennett Young was one of Morgan's best officers, who later led the raid from Canada on St. Albans, Vermont. Available from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (bn.com)

 

 

The Partisan Rangers of the Confederate States Army : Memoirs of General Adam R. Johnson, by Adam Rankin Johnson, reprint of the original. (available from Amazon Books)

 

 

 Morgan's Daring Raid: The Battle of Hartsville, by MMA member, John Timothy Heath, is the most complete account ever of the raid which was one of the most successful raids of the war.  The book is available in softcover for $25.00 or $37.50 hardcover. To order, write Battle of Hartsville Preservation, 121 McMurry Rd., Hartsville, TN  37074. Include $4.00 for shipping.

 

 

Tennessee Preacher Tennessee Solder

 

 

 In early 1861, young Presbyterian minister John D. Kirkpatrick was preaching at his first church near Nashville. Even before Tennessee seceded, John heard the call to arms and joined the First Tennessee Volunteers. It was no surprise that he would enlist in the Confederate Army; his ancestors had served in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In 1862, he became a captain of Company C of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, which was soon attached to Morgan's Cavalry Brigade. He was with Morgan at Hartsville and on the Christmas Raid. He was captured in Gallatin, but escaped with the help of a southern-sympathizing federal guard. At Vaught's Hill, he commanded his regiment. On the Indiana-Ohio raid, he was with the first troops that crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg. He narrowly avoided capture at Buffington Island because he had been sent across the river before the battle to secure the east bank. He then led 110 men on foot through the mountains of West Virginia to Confederate territory, arriving in time to fight under Forrest at Chickamauga. He commanded a battalion of Morgan’s men on Wheeler’s raid through Middle Tennessee, and, on the retreat into Alabama, commanded the rear guard at a bloody fight at Sugar Creek. John fought at Missionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap, and again under Wheeler at Charleston, Tennessee. Captain Kirkpatrick rejoined Morgan after his escape from prison, and commanded a battalion at Cove Gap and on Morgan’s Last Kentucky Raid. Although severely wounded at Cynthiana on the morning of June 12, 1864, he escaped capture and somehow was able to make his way back to Wytheville, Virginia, a two hundred mile trip through the mountains. Still the loyal Confederate, he spent the last few months of the war trying to get authorization from Richmond to raise a regiment of cavalry to fight under Forrest. After Lee's surrender at Appomattox, he appears to have been a part of Duke’s force that escorted Confederate President Jefferson Davis into Georgia. When Duke dismissed his troops at Woodstock, John headed west. He surrendered at Marion, Alabama on May 16, five weeks after Appomattox, and then headed home. After the war, he successfully led several churches in Nashville, taught theology at Cumberland University in Lebanon, and published a newspaper. When Morgan’s daughter, Johnnie Hunt Morgan Campbell, died, he helped officiate at her funeral. On his death, Cumberland University named their new home Kirkpatrick Memorial Hall.

I have just published a book about Captain Kirkpatrick's Civil War career. Information about the book, including how to purchase it, can be obtained at http://tennesseepreachertennesseesoldier.com/. There is some outstanding authentic Confederate cavalry music there that will make the viewer wish he had been born a hundred years earlier.
Tom Stevens

 

 

 Other Good Books On General Morgan or Morgan's men:

 

 To Die in Chicago: Confederate Prisoners at Camp Douglas 1862-65. By George Levy, Evanston Publishing, copyright 1999.

 

 

Morgan's Raiders, by Dee Alexander Brown, copy right 1959 (available from Amazon Books)

 

 

The Last Night and Last Day of John Hunt Morgan's Raid: Eyewitness Accounts of Morgan's Ohio Raid of 1863,  Edited by Jere. H. Simms (originally published 1913) Reprinted by Genesis Publishing Co., 1997. (Available from "The General's Books", Blue and Gray Magazine)

 

 

Rebel Raider: The Life of General John Hunt Morgan, by James A. Ramage; The University Press of Kentucky; copyright 1986.  (Available at the Hunt-Morgan House, Lexington, Ky or Barnes and Noble)

 

 

John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders, by Edison H. Thomas, University Press of Kentucky, copyright 1985 (Available from Amazon Books)

 

 

 Corydon--The Forgotten Battle of the Civil War, By W. Fred Conway, FBH Publishers, copyright 1994. (available at the Hunt-Morgan House, Lexington, KY)

 

 

The Most Incredible Prison Escape of the Civil War, by W. Fred Conway, FBH Publishers, copyright 1994.(available at the Hunt-Morgan House, Lexington, KY)

 

Ancestor Spotlight

 

 

John D. Kirkpatrick

​

In early 1861, young Presbyterian minister John D. Kirkpatrick was preaching at his first church near Nashville. Even before Tennessee seceded, John heard the call to arms and joined the First Tennessee Volunteers. It was no surprise that he would enlist in the Confederate Army; his ancestors had served in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In 1862, he became a captain of Company C of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, which was soon attached to Morgan's Cavalry Brigade. He was with Morgan at Hartsville and on the Christmas Raid. He was captured in Gallatin, but escaped with the help of a southern-sympathizing federal guard. At Vaught's Hill, he commanded his regiment. On the Indiana-Ohio raid, he was with the first troops that crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg. He narrowly avoided capture at Buffington Island because he had been sent across the river before the battle to secure the east bank. He then led 110 men on foot through the mountains of West Virginia to Confederate territory, arriving in time to fight under Forrest at Chickamauga. He commanded a battalion of Morgan’s men on Wheeler’s raid through Middle Tennessee, and, on the retreat into Alabama, commanded the rear guard at a bloody fight at Sugar Creek. John fought at Missionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap, and again under Wheeler at Charleston, Tennessee. Captain Kirkpatrick rejoined Morgan after his escape from prison, and commanded a battalion at Cove Gap and on Morgan’s Last Kentucky Raid. Although severely wounded at Cynthiana on the morning of June 12, 1864, he escaped capture and somehow was able to make his way back to Wytheville, Virginia, a two hundred mile trip through the mountains. Still the loyal Confederate, he spent the last few months of the war trying to get authorization from Richmond to raise a regiment of cavalry to fight under Forrest. After Lee's surrender at Appomattox, he appears to have been a part of Duke’s force that escorted Confederate President Jefferson Davis into Georgia. When Duke dismissed his troops at Woodstock, John headed west. He surrendered at Marion, Alabama on May 16, five weeks after Appomattox, and then headed home. After the war, he successfully led several churches in Nashville, taught theology at Cumberland University in Lebanon, and published a newspaper. When Morgan’s daughter, Johnnie Hunt Morgan Campbell, died, he helped officiate at her funeral. On his death, Cumberland University named their new home Kirkpatrick Memorial Hall.
Tom Stevens

 

 

G.M. KERBOW

​

I was born in Jackson County, Ga., Nov. 11, 1846 and volunteered to go to war at the age of 17. I entered in May, 1863, Company D, 16th Georgia Battalion Calvary. Colonel Billy Win was my colonel, Major Clark was our major and Captain Camp was captain of Company D. He was wounded at Bluntville, Tenn., and was unable for service any more. Lieut. Mathis succeeded him. My soldiering was in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. It was an independent battalion but most of the time I was with Morgan until he was killed. The Federals made it very interesting for us and they kept us in lead most of the time. One of the fights was at Bull’s Gap, Tenn. We went out on skirmish line. Every boy picked his log for protection. I got behind a chestnut log, a little fellow by the name of Cato got behind a pine log. We saw some few Federals entering a small boxed house and began shooting. Soon they saw us and they also began shooting. When they hit the log Cato was behind he said, “Lookout Marshall, begad.” I looked up and a bullet came whizzing into my hat, so I lay down again. Willingly I lay there until four o’clock in the evening. The prettiest music I have heard was Yankee Doodle played by the Federals and Dixie played by our boys. We were called in then and the Federals built their fires which meant they were going to leave their breast works. We cut them off at Morristown, six or seven miles away from Bull’s Gap. They were falling back to Knoxville. We had our pickets, the Federals drove them in, so we formed a line knowing they were near. The fight began and lasted all night. We captured about twelve hundred at once and drove the Federals to Knoxville. About a month after that I was captured at Sevenmile Ford in Virginia and they kept me four days and nights. We were guarded by two white regiments and one negro regiment as a rear guard. They marched us down the road 4 days and nights. Every man that got tired and give out he would be killed, as it was reported. When a man would fall behind the negroes would yell “Step up there white man, make my gun smoke after you: and step up there white man, bottom rail on top.” John Wallace soon grew tired and said, “Oh, Lord God, Marshall, I’m bound to die,” but hearing a gun fire he would pass me. After a while he said, “Oh, Lord God, Marshall, I’m bound to die.” I said, “Must I tell your friends and relatives you died a praying?” He said, “I don’t give a damn what you tell them.” When they paroled us we were very hungry and had nothing to eat except roasted corn and raw mutton. John Lancaster, John Maynard’s uncle, and I went to search for food. We went to a negro woman’s shack where she was cooking corn cakes. There we grabbed half a dozen cakes, put soap grease on them. It was the best food that I had ever eaten. Our order was to report at Knoxville after we were paroled, but I have not seen the place up until yet. We organized a battalion of infantry at Bristle, Tenn., left there and started to Richmond, got as far as Christianbury when Lee surrendered. I took my old mule out of the wagon train and started out for Johnson’s army in South Carolina, but he surrendered before we got there, then I started for home. I got home the first of May, arriving there at midnight. Mother made me pull off and burn all of my clothes which were filled with “cooties.” If there was ever a mule that had a soul, “Old Bill” did have the biggest one. He died near Enloe at the age of 24. I’m still here on my first legs, the father of 18 children. God has blessed me all my life. We old soldiers are all on the border line and will soon pass over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” Cooper Review, Mar. 14, 1936, Cooper, Texas
Mike Wilson

 

 

Members Book Review

​

Kentucky Raider by MMA Life Member Dr. George Karvel is the story of Commodore Perry "CP" Snell, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, CSA, and the capture of General Edward Henry Hobson at Cynthiana, Kentucky on June 11, 1864 (John hunt Morgan's Last Kentucky Raid). The General's Order Book is given to "CP" by Morgan as a memento of the event. Kept in the family and never before published the order book gives fresh insight to the story of Hobson's capture and Morgan's Last Kentucky Raid. Snell's motives for joining Morgan's Men with his comrades from Warren County, KY, his wartime experiences, divorce and marriage to a women 25 years younger, combined with rapid rise to wealth after war's end are explored. Apparently not all Yankee gold was buried, lost and never recovered. The book may purchase at Amazon Books ($16.95) or for Kindle ($5.95). Autographed copies may be obtained by direct purchase from the author who may be reached at drgkarvel@aol.com. There is an added charge of $5.00 for mailing. All profits from the sale to MMA members will be donated to MMA.

Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan Escapes From The Ohio Penitentiary". This book tells the reader who actually ordered General Morgan's Officers into the Ohio Penitentiary and Western State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania. It describes the treatment of General Morgan's men while incarcerated at the Ohio Penitentiary. It provides three accounts of digging the escape tunnel and three accounts of the long trip back to Richmond after the escape. It also describes General Morgan's welcome home in Richmond. The book is 326 pages and $12.49 at Amazon.com.

Captain George A "Lightning Elsworth: General Morgan's Amazing Telegrapher". He was indeed a Captain and his last name was indeed spelled with one L. Most people know very little about George Elsworth but this book follows him from his first employment (where he accidentally burned down the building) until his death with his finger on his telegraph key. It describes his absolutely amazing exploits while working for General Morgan during the Civil War, the murder he committed after the Civil War and the attempted train robbery in Texas. A good part of this book is in Elsworth's own words. This book is one of my favorites. The book is 160 pages and $7.25 at Amazon.com.

Reports Filed By Union and Confederate Officers Who Participated in Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan's July 1863 Indiana-Ohio Raid". These are after action reports sent to superior officers by the Union and Confederate participants of General Morgan's July 1863 Indiana-Ohio Raid. The book is 186 pages and $6.98 at Amazon.com.

Union Army and Navy Messages Sent during Brigadier General Morgan's July 1863 Indiana-Ohio Raid". This book is 407 pages of telegrams and dispatches sent by Union forces in their attempt to catch General Morgan during his July 1863 Indiana-Ohio Raid. If anyone has wondered how General Morgan managed to go through Kentucky, part of Indiana, Southern Ohio and Eastern Ohio almost to the Pennsylvania border before he was caught this book will explain it. The reader will the conflicting, confusing and false messages sent between various Union commanders. I think this book is a must read for anyone interested in General Morgan's July 1863 Indiana-Ohio Raid. The book is 407 pages and $14.49 at Amazon.com.

What happened in Jackson Country, Ohio on July 17, 1863?" This book describes the activities when General Morgan stopped briefly at Jackson, Ohio and then, with Colonel Duke's First Brigade, encountered Union Colonel Runkle and 1700 Ohio Militia at Berlin Crossroads, Ohio on July 17, 1863. This book also contains a description by the editor of the Scioto Gazette newspaper of General Morgan's Second Brigade, led by Colonel Johnson, leaving Jackson, Ohio on their way to Winchester, Ohio on July 17, 1863. The book is 67 pages and $5.49 at Amazon.com.

Another book by one of our members is: "Seldom Seen Confederate Documents and Facts" By David G. Edwards is available at Amazon for $10.00