7 August 1863

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Tod

Morgan, a Confederate general, writes as a prisoner of war in the Ohio Penitentiary to Ohio governor Tod. Forwards a note from the warden of the prison, Nathaniel Merion, denying Morgan's request for newspapers. Morgan asks that Tod give him permission to purchase newspapers, as they had discussed the day before. On Ohio Penitentiary letterhead. Writes ". . . In answer to your request in regard to newspapers I wish [inserted: to] say that there will not be any allowed inside of the prison under any circumstances. . . In the conversation which I had with you on yesterday among other things…

GLC02698

31 May 1863

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Letter signed

Title: to D. G. Reed

General Morgan writes to Major Reed, assistant adjutant general in General Joseph Wheeler's Corps. Reports that he placed Colonels Duke, Cluke, and Chenault under arrest for neglect of duty for failing to forward a certificate called for in General Orders No. 4 from Corps Headquarters (possibly referring to Colonels Basil Wilson Duke, Roy S. Cluke, and David Wilson Chenault). Also dropped two soldiers' names from the rolls. Morgan claims the soldiers were often absent, and were captured behind Union lines without leave.

GLC02699

2 May 1863

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Letter signed

Title: to E. S. Burford

Morgan writes to Burford, assistant adjutant general. Relates his failure to comply with General Orders No. 4. Writes, "I would beg leave to say that, with half a Regiment at one point & half at another, with a command scattered over a line of County nearly a hundred & fifty miles in extent, picketing, doing courier duty, scouting, and guarding commissary trains, it is, in my opinion, an impossibility for them to comply fully with the provisions of that order." Reports that to comply with the orders, he would have to place very regimental commander in his division under arrest.…

GLC02700

2 June 1863

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Wheeler

Requests a leave of absence to be with his family. Requested the leave because he wished to move his pregnant wife to her aunt's home in Augusta, Georgia. The request was denied at the insistence of Braxton Bragg, who felt that an advance from Union General Rosecrans was imminent, and that Morgan was therefore needed in the field.

GLC03023

February 13, 1864

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Letter signed

Title: to John Cabell Breckinridge

Confederate General Morgan expresses approval that Breckinridge will take charge of a Department in South Western Virginia. Writes "am satisfied that you will get recruits from our Old State," (possibly referring to Kentucky, though Morgan was not born there). Reports that his soldiers "are all, as you are aware, fine soldiers, and very anxious to go into Kentucky where they can certainly serve The Confederacy best, as they will, by the invasion of that State, withdraw ten times their number from the Federal Army at Chattanooga..." Relates that the railroad from Danville, Kentucky to…

GLC04534

22 August 1862

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Broadside

Title: Proclamation. To the inhabitants of Kentucky!

Urging Kentuckians to join the Confederate cause, during his first raid into Kentucky. Proclaims: "Better death in our sacred cause, than a life of slavery! Young men of Kentucky flock to my standard, it will always wave in the path of honor, and history will relate how you responded to my appeal, and how, by so doing, you saved your country." Printed on a press Morgan had recently captured at Hartsville.

GLC04892

22 September 1862

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Broadside

Title: Proclamation! To the people of Estill and adjoining counties

Printed broadside published by Confederate Calvary General Morgan and Assistant Adjutant General R.A. Alston. Proclaims that he has not come among the people to disturb them of their rights of person or property. Says the Home Guards are required to come in at once and those that do not will be considered enemies of the government "and treated accordingly." Says those who comply will be treated as non-combatants and private citizens. Those "who seek opportunity to ambush our soldiers commonly known as 'Bushwhackers' will be regarded as outlaws, and orders will be issued to shoot them."…

GLC06012

21 May 1863

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Wheeler

General Morgan writes to Wheeler, Commander of Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee. Reports that Lieutenant [Cull?], sent to obtain wagons from McMinnville, Tennessee, has returned empty handed. Requests Wheeler's assistance in acquiring wagons. Remarks, "I need these wagons greatly. My Division has not, including these wagons, near the amount of transportation allowed, and you will readily see to what inconvenience I am put to get along without them." Transmits a letter (not included) from a correspondent in Kentucky. Contains water stains.

GLC02012

20 May 1863

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [John H. Morgan's endorsement on an offer for an exchange of prisoners]

Morgan's endorsement as Brigadier General and Confederate raider. On verso of a letter copy to Union Major General Ambrose Burnside from John W. Finnell, Adjutant General Kentucky Volunteers, dated 21 April 1863, regarding the exchange of a pro-Union Kentucky senator and Judge Buster and William Ingram. Morgan states these two men were arrested at Monticello, Kentucky, by Colonel Chennault of Morgan's command. Morgan reports that they have been " ... placed under bond & parole to Exchange themselves for Southern-rights men who have been arrested and placed in confinement by the Federal…

GLC00649

March 24, 1864

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Confederate General Morgan writes an eloquent letter to Davis to urge him to return him to his command. "My sense of duty compels me to leave Richmond in order to place myself at the head of the remnant of my Old Cavalry Brigade, diminished as it is now ... by the withdrawal of the choicest troops of my Command ... I have protested in vain against this act of injustice to me, my reclamations have not even been deemed worthy of a reply ... " Also demands the rescue of his troops from Union prisons, where he states they are being ill-treated. Claims that his men never committed cruelty against…

GLC01076

12 October 1862

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Pegram

To Col. John Pegram, Chief of Staff, re orders for his cavalry near Lexington, Kentucky. "I sent out scouts to Shakertown & also Col. Duke's Regt. with orders to hold the enemy in check in case they were advancing until I could go to his assistance with the remainder of my command…. I Shall move with the remainder of my force to Shakertown immediately where I will remain...according to Gen. Bragg's orders. I am very much confused by the various conflicting orders which I have read, & have necessarily been kept so constantly moving that I have not been able to procure subsistence for…

GLC09278

22 September 1862

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Broadside

Title: [Proclamation! To the people of Estill]

Countersigned by R. A. Alston. Message from the Commanding General ordering the Home Guards to come in immediately and give up their arms. Those who do not will be regarded as enemies of the Government, those that do will be treated as private citizens. Indicates that any citizen who ambushes soldiers, "bushwhackers," will be ordered found and shot. "If any of our men are fired on I will lay waste the entire surrounding neighborhood." Morgan was a Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War, famed for his daring cavalry raids behind Union lines.

GLC08176

17 March 1864

Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864

Letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Morgan beseeches Confederate president Davis to return his former regiments to his command. Mentions Breckinridge's Regiment, Dortch's Battalion, and other units. On verso is a Davis autograph note signed (with initials), asking the adjutant general for remarks. This is followed by a April 16, 1864 note by Assistant Adjutant General Samuel W. Melton, who says that Morgan's claim to the troops is "absurd", but that it might be "politic to yield somewhat...." [from Morgan's letter:] "...As Chief Ruler of the Confederate States and Commander in Chief of our Army allow me respectfully to call…

GLC02460.10.01