Heritage Luncheon 2013 - Part II

Lester Horwitz, author of The Longest Raid of the Civil War, was the guest speaker at this year's Heritage Luncheon. This year is the 150th anniversary of the raid of Confederate John Hunt Morgan's raid across parts of Indiana and Ohio. The raid was planned as a diversionary tactic designed to keep Union troops busy in the north while Confederate General Bragg and his troops retreated to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Following the battle of Stones River, Bragg and his troops had retreated to Tullahoma, Tennessee, a location Bragg felt was indefensible against the potential of an attack by Union Generals Henry Judah, William Rosencrans and Ambrose Burnside. Morgan's raid began with 2500 cavalry and ended with the surrender of 350 very tired men in West Point, Ohio. Of interest to us is the fact that Morgan and his men traversed much of Hamilton Co., stealing horses and provisions as needed to sustain this 1000-mile raid.

You may have noticed these signs posted around Hamilton County tracing the route Morgan and his men took through Hamilton Co. It must be remembered that the troops frequently separated into smaller groups as they searched out fresh horses and provisions, so the signs do not reflect all of the places affected by the raid. Deb Cyprych wrote a series of articles for The Tracer (see p. 23) documenting the claims for reimbursement from the state following the raid.






Sixty-five HCGS members and supporters attended this wonderful event. If you've never attended one in the past, consider attending next November when we welcome a new group of Lineage Society members -- including, perhaps, YOU!

Submitted by: Kathy Reed