Beschreibung:

Leather Keepsake Album published by Lippincott, Philadelphia, 8.75 x 5.57 in., containing the autograph of General John Hunt Morgan (1825-1864), "The Thunderbolt of the Confederacy," and 71 of his fellow raiders, all but one on a single page side, with a few examples that are clipped signatures affixed to a single page. Free end paper inscribed To George M (or W) Walker by his Friend Lieut. ?. After terrorizing the citizens of Indiana and Ohio with his daring raid, Morgan, along with nearly his entire command was captured near New Lisbon, OH on July 26th, 1863. Morgan and his men were initially moved down river to Cincinnati. From this embarkation point, enlisted men were sent to Camp Douglas near present-day Chicago, IL. In late July, Morgan, and sixty-eight of his officers were sent to Columbus and interred in the Ohio State Penitentiary. By late October Captain Thomas E. Hines, had devised an escape plan after discovery of a ventilation shaft below his cell floor from which a tunnel was ultimately dug through two six-foot thick walls and twelve feet of grouting to reach the prison wall. On the night of November 24th, Morgan, Hines, Captains J. C. Bennett, L. D. Hockersmith, C. S. Magee, Ralph Sheldon, and B. Taylor escaped. Hines and Morgan traveled by train to Cincinnati, crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky and wound their way back to Confederate lines in Georgia. The album contains the autographs of Morgan and Col. R.C. Morgan (John Hunt's brother); Lt. Col. Cicero Coleman and 2nd Lt. Thos. W. Bullitt (a Louisvillian credited with helping dig the tunnel); Capt. Basil Duke, Thos. Morgan, C.H. Morgan, and C.C. Morgan (relatives of John Hunt and more. Included among the signatures are those of four of the six escapees: Morgan, Thomas Hines, R. Sheldon and L.D. Hockersmith. Virtually all signatories list their unit and rank. Highlights include: Capt. J.S. Ambrose, 8th KY Cav. Co F., signed in Lawrenceburg, KY; Capt. B.S. Barton, Chenault's 11th KY Co. K, signed in Trainsville, TN; Capt Issac Baker, 3rd KY Co. H, signed in Plattsburg, MO; Capt. J.C. Bennett who escaped with Morgan, 10th KY Cav. Co. A, signed in Calhoun, KY; 2nd Lt. Thomas W. Bullitt, 2nd Cav. Co. C, signed near Louisville, KY; Maj. R.S. Bullock, 8th KY Cav., signed Lexington, KY; Lt. Col. Ciccero Coleman, Cluke's Cav. 8th KY Cav., signed in Lexington; Lt. J.H. Croxton, 2nd Brig., signed in Winchester, KY; Col. Basil W. Duke, Morgan's brother-in-law, 1st Brig., signed in St. Louis; Maj. W.P. Elliot, who was detained in solitary confinement, singed in Knoxville, TN; Capt. Gibson Hart, signed in Woodford Co., KY; Capt. Griffin Micajah, 9th TN Cav. Co A, in Gallatin, TN; Capt. Thomas Henry Hines, architect of Morgan's escape, 9th KY Cav. Co E., signed in Bowling Green, KY; Capt. L.D. Hockersmith, escaped with Morgan 10th KY Cav. Co. C, in Louisville, KY; Capt. L.D. Holloway, 5th KY Cav., in Stomping Ground, Scott County, KY; Capt. J.L. Jones 5th KY Cav. Co. D., in Napolean, KY; Capt. R.D. Logan, 6th KY Co. A, in Danville, KY; Capt. M.D. Logan, 3rd KY Cav. Co. I, in Lancaster, KY; Maj. J.B. McCreary, Chenault's Regt. Mt., 2nd Brig., in Richmond, KY; Capt. E.W. McLean, 2nd KY Cav. Co. B., in Keysburg, Logan County, KY; Thomas Moreland, 1st Brig., signed in Owensboro, KY; Col. Richard C. Morgan, Morgan's brother, 14th KY Cav, signed in Lexington, KY; Capt. Calvin C. Morgan, Morgan's brother, signed in Lexington, KY; Aid D' Camp Charlton H. Morgan, signed in Lexington, KY; Maj. W.G. Owen, 10th KY Cav., signed in Washington, D.C.; Capt. R. Sheldon, escaped with Morgan, 2nd Ky Co. C., signed in Bardstown, KY; Capt. James N. Taylor, escaped with Morgan, 19th KY Cav. Co. E., signed in Henderson, KY; Capt. P.H. Thorpe, 1st Brig., signed in Summit, MS; Capt. Buford A. Tracy, 11th KY Cav. 2nd. Brig., signed in Winchester, KY; Capt. L.W. Trafton, signed in Henderson, KY; Lt. Col. Joseph T. Tucker, 11th KY Cav., signed in Winchester, KY; Capt. E.D. Warder, 3rd KY Cav. Co. C.