Morgan's Men Ride Again

By Tim Massey · Originally published November 2017 · p. 15

The Morgan’s Men Association held its annual reunion in Bardstown, Ky., Aug. 25-26. The original MMA was formed by the veterans of Morgan’s command in 1868. As the veterans slowly crossed over the river, the MMA ceased to exist. Revived in the 1990’s, it is now made up of descendants of those veterans who proudly called themselves “Morgan’s Men.” The Friday evening gathering and social were held at the Old Bardstown Civil War Museum. Those attending the reunion found hostess MMA treasurer Jenny Widowski ready to greet them in the lobby. Members received their name tags with this year’s reunion ribbon attached. The museum was open for the members and guests to enjoy the rich collection of Civil War artifacts, art, and photos on display. It was the perfect location and included many items concerning Gen. John Hunt Morgan and his raids into Kentucky. The Friday evening gathering, as usual, was a time of renewed friendships and making the acquaintance of first time attendees. Morgan’s Men has the feel of a family reunion for many of us have attended twenty years. This must be the same feeling experienced by the veterans as they made their annual pilgrimage to the reunion. Morgan’s Men moved the annual reunion from location to location where Morgan’s Men raided. Historically, the MMA follows this tradition. Saturday started bright and early with a bus ride to Elizabethtown. We were again in a museum, the Hardin County History Museum. Here we found another treasure-trove of local and regional Civil War history. Museum board member Elvin Smith Jr. joined us for our time around E-Town. His broad knowledge of Morgan’s time here was inspiring. Many of the displays were dedicated to General Morgan and his men. We spent the morning enjoying this excellent museum. Some of us slipped outside to watch a parade that was passing on the street. Our next stop was just up the street at the Brown-Pusey House. On Oct. 20, 1862, Gen. John Hunt Morgan and his staff stayed at the home. Morgan ordered his breakfast to be ready at 4 a.m. Union troops camped outside town raided early in the morning to capture Morgan. All they managed to catch was the breakfast just being placed on the table. It became known as the “Battle of the Breakfast.” Morgan’s batteries fired from a hill outside town, which is now the city cemetery, hitting downtown buildings. After a scrumptious meal catered by Mordecai’s of Springfield, we were off for the afternoon, following Morgan. I must report that we did not leave our dinner for any enemy troops! After lunch, we walked downtown where one of Morgan’s cannonballs is still lodged in a building. A granite marker near the courthouse reflects Morgan’s presence and the Battle of Elizabethtown. We then motor coached the route followed by Morgan’s Men when they rode into the area during the famed Christmas Raid. Our first afternoon stop was at the city cemetery where a cannon proudly marks the spot from which Morgan’s artillery opened on the town. Elvin Smith Jr. led a discussion on Morgan’s troops in the area. Before departing we posed for our annual group photo around the cannon. Mr. Smith then took us to the area where the “Battle of Rolling Fork” took place. After burning the trestle on Muldraugh’s Hill, Morgan allowed his men a night’s rest before they turned back to Tennessee. The next day, Dec. 29, 1862, Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s command of about 4,000 Confederates was surprised by Col. John Marshall Harlan’s 3,000 Union troops. Morgan and his senior officers had just finished a meeting in the Hamilton-Hall House. Col. Harlan’s command opened artillery fire from high ground to the south. Colonel Basil Duke commanded Morgan’s rear guard of 300 men, and was later reinforced to 800 by Col. Roy S. Cluke. Cluke returned, abandoning plans to burn the L&N trestle over the Rolling Fork near Lebanon Junction, some four miles to the northwest. It was here that Basil Duke was wounded crossing the river. In the attack Duke was struck in the head with a shell fragment and fell from his horse. Morgan scout Capt. Tom Quirk picked up the unconscious Duke and took him to Bardstown, where he received medical aid. Duke’s stand allowed Morgan’s men enough time to get to the second, western ford and escape Harlan’s trap. Before the war, Col. Harlan and Col. Duke were close friends; both were graduates of Centre College and Transylvania Law School. After the war, Basil Duke became an attorney for the L&N Railroad, which he had played a great part in trying to destroy during the war. John Harlan served as an U.S. Supreme Court Justice from 1877-1911, becoming known as the “Great Dissenter.” The evening was a special affair as we gathered at the Rickhouse Restaurant for the annual banquet. The gathering of today’s Morgan Men in their fine dress made the evening an elegant event. The buffet dinner was tantalizing. The evening featured Dr. James Ramage, author of “Rebel Raider,” as guest speaker. We have had the pleasure of Dr. Ramage as our speaker multiple times over the years and his talks are always enjoyable. His vast knowledge, flavored with wit and charm, make for a delightful time. This year, Dr. Ramage spoke on Morgan’s Christmas Raid, the reason for our gathering in Bardstown.

(Library of Congress)

A short business session led by Commander Ralph Widowski followed. Then it was time to bid farewell to Morgan’s Men as they each headed in different directions awaiting the call of the commander to assemble once more. Next year’s reunion will focus on Buffington Island and be headquartered in Gallipolis, Ohio. The 2019 reunion will be in Greeneville, Tenn., the site of Morgan’s death in September 1864. For more information visit Morgan’s Men of Facebook and on the web at http://morgans_ men.tripod.com/#