John Hunt Morgan in Kentucky

At various times during late June, 1863, Confederate Gen. John H. Morgan's scouts and some of this nine regiments moved into Cumberland County preparing for the Great Raid into Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.

The First Brigade, numbering 1,450 cavalrymen under Col. Basil Duke, crossed the Cumberland River here, at Burkesville, Scott's Ferry, Amandaville and Bakerton. The crossing took the better part of two days. The regiments of the Second Brigade, numbering 1,000 were commanded by Col. Adam R. Johnson. For the most part, the Second Brigade crossed the Cumberland at McMillan's Ferry, Salt Lick Bend and other points to the west.

Due to heavy rains in late June, the river was out of its banks, recorded as 5/8 of a mile wide in some places.

The ferries across the Cumberland operated into the first half of the 20th Century. Only one remains in operation, McMillan's Ferry which crosses the river in Turkey Neck Bend of Monroe County. It can be reached by traveling SR 100 to SR 214 between Burkesville and Tompkinsville.

19 - Rebel Crossing at Burkesville Ferry

The Great Raid
July 1-2, 1863

John Hunt Morgan’s Great Raid into Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio began in Cumberland County, Kentucky. The raid lasted 25 days and covered a thousand miles, making it the longest Confederate raid of the Civil War.

Morgan commanded 2,460 cavalrymen divided into two brigades, the first led by his brother-in-law, Col. Basil W. Duke. Most of Duke’s brigade crossed here, on boats constructed on site to speed the crossing. Pvt. John Weathered, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, CSA, reported that about one hundred cavalrymen crossed at a time, placing their saddles and blankets on an old flatboat. Their horses, forced to swim across the river, were claimed on the other side.

The remainder of Morgan’s nine regiments and the commissary train crossed the Cumberland River at various fords up and down the river, leading the Union newspapers to report that Morgan had 10,000 men in his force.

In spite of these reports, the area was only lightly defended. Commanding Gen. Henry M. Judah thought that Morgan would be unable to cross the rain-swollen river. Consequently, Gen. Edward H. Hobson, encamped at Marrowbone just 10 miles away, had few troops at hand.

P.H. Burns, 22nd Indiana Battery, described the Union opposition to Morgan:
This was our first experience to face the enemy. Cavalry, Infantry, and our Battery, with two small pieces, assembled on the hills near the Cumberland just about the time Morgan was crossing.... A little skirmishing was had in some of the ravines as he came over, but the old fox slipped around us, and then began the race...

Confederate Crossing, July 1-2, 1863

CONFEDERATE GENERAL JOHN HUNT MORGAN’S GREAT RAID INTO KENTUCKY, INDIANA, AND OHIO began in Cumberland County, Kentucky.
The raid lasted 24 days and covered a thousand miles, making it the longest Confederate raid in the Civil War.

Morgan commanded 2,460 cavalrymen divided into two brigades. The 1st Brigade was led by Morgan’s brother-in-law, Col. Basil W. Duke, and the 2nd Brigade by Col. Adam R. Johnson. Morgan’s nine regiments and commissary train crossed the Cumberland River at various fords for miles up and down the stream, leading the Union newspapers to report that Morgan had 10,000 men in his force.

Northern Gen. Edward H. Hobson was encamped at Marrowbone, just 10 miles away. Because of the heavy rains, Hobson’s commander, Gen. Henry M. Judah, thought the river was impossible to cross, so this area was lightly defended by a few Ohio and Kentucky troops led by Union Col. Frank Wolford.

After leaving Tennessee, the rebel Duke’s 1st Brigade came to Albany, then entered Cumberland County via three parallel roads. Most of the brigade crossed here while four pieces of artillery were taken across two miles upstream at Scott’s Ferry. Boats had to be constructed on site to help speed the crossing.

Pvt. John Weathered, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, CSA, reported that about one hundred cavalrymen crossed at a time, placing their saddles and blankets on an old flatboat. The horses swan across the river, where they were held until their owners claimed them.

P.H. Burns, 22nd Indiana Battery, described the Union opposition to Morgan: This was our first experience to face the enemy. Cavalry, Infantry, and our Battery, with two small pieces, assembled on the hills near the Cumberland just about the time Morgan was crossing.... A little skirmishing was had in some of the ravines as he came over, but the old fox slipped around us, and then began the race....

On the morning of July 2, Morgan’s men moved into the square around the county courthouse at Burkesville and waited for provisions to be brought up. Wagons had to be off loaded, disassembled, and loaded on the makeshift rafts, then reassembled and the cargo reloaded on the other side. The men tired of waiting for the rations and rode north toward Columbia, foraging for food at farmhouses on their way.

WMTH CORPORATION PO BOX 51153 BOWLING GREEN, KY 42102 PHONE (270) 792-5300 FAX 721-0004