American Life Histories
Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project
1936-1940

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Morgan's Raid
INCIDENTS OF MORGAN'S RAID IN JEFFERSON COUNTY

Mr. H. H. Snook was born in Franklin County near Frankfort Kentucky April 14, 1844. He joined Morgan's command soon after the outbreak of the war. He fought thru four years of the war with the exceptions of two brief periods which he spent in Northern prisons, one of them after Morgan's Raid in Ohio.

He participated in hundreds of exciting episodes and adventures of those days. One of the most romantic occurred while he was marching with Morgan in Indiana. Stopping in the small town of Dupont, he and some other troopers begged a drink of water from a young girl. As they departed private Snook called back, "good by little girl will see you later."

He kept his word, for soon after the war he returned and was married to the girl - Miss Josephine Mayfield, a daughter of Frank Mayfield, and a sister of Mrs. George Mayfield of Madison.

It was from the Mayfield' smoke house that a large number of hams was taken.

While at Dupont Morgan's Men did not remain quietly in camp. Many of them scattered out and visited the surrounding farms where they helped themselves to the hay and corn of the farmers. They went inside of the houses demanding food of the women and compelled them to cook it. The brick house on road seven one half mile south of Dupont was where the Rawlin family lived. Bands of men throughout the entire day rode up and compelled Mrs. Rawlings to cook for them. Eventually the flour barrel was empty so she quit cooking.

Mr. Rawlings had a very fine black mare, which he knew he would lose if he did not hide her. He knew if he hid her in the barn she would be found. He thought of his large cellar under his house with an outside entrance. He hid the black mare in it. While the men feasted in the kitchen over the black mare Mrs. Rawlings was worried that the mare would make some noise and let the soldiers know where she was hid; but she did not. Eventually the men left. Mr. Rawlings kept the black mare many years afterwards.

When it became known that Morgan's men were in Dupont, many of the surrounding farmers left their work and come to town to see the Confederates. The town was full of citizens as well as soldiers. A man by the name of Wildman put spurs to his horse and dashed down the street. An officer gave the command to fire. Some citizen called out not to fire. The soldiers did not fire immediately until they received a second command from the officer. By that time Wildman was out of range. He was not hurt and rode away in safety, risking his life to save that of his horse."

Grace Monroe
District #5
Jefferson Co.
Reference: A- G. R. Burdsal-Aged 84

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection