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

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Morgan's Raid
MEMORIES OF MORGAN'S RAID -- "The Captured Boy"

A company of Confederate soldiers came dashing up the streets of Dupont, about two-thirty P.M. July 11, 1863. They immediately rounded up and captured eighteen old men and a boy, Dr. Lewis. All of the prisoners were placed in Mr. Mayfield's store. A guard was placed at the front and rear door. Eventually one of the guards spied the young boy and said, "What are you doing here?" The boy replied quaveringly, "You captured me." Perhaps the humor of the situation as well as the tragedy forced itself through the mind of the Confederate; anyway he told the boy to see how quick he could get home. The young cub scuttled home as fast as his trembling legs would carry him. The old men were eventually released.

In the meantime a Confederate soldier chopped down a telegraph pole and cut the wire. The Confederates also went south of Dupont and burned Big Creek Bridge and burned Graham Creek Bridge to the north of the town. The empty freight cars on the siding were burned as well as the depot.

Along about six o'clock in the afternoon Morgan's main body of men arrived. His headquarters were at the home of Thomas Stout. The women folks were kept all night cooking for the hungry and weary soldiers.

The confederates broke into Mr. Mayfield's smoke house and stole a large number of hams. They also looted his general store of a large amount of goods. Morgan picked up all the horses possible to replace his worn out mounts. The women, children and citizens were not molested.

Morgan left Dupont Sunday July 12, 1863 immediately after noon. Hobson with four thousand men were on his trail early Monday morning, July 13. What horses Morgan failed to take Hobson took. Jefferson County later received about $40,000 for the property taken by Hobson's men. Morgan had scouting parties eight or ten miles north and eight or ten miles south of Dupont. Rumor states they were as far south as north Madison.

Thus Morgan flashed through southern Indiana like a meteorite across the horizon. The people were gasping with astonishment at the rapidity of his movements. Over two hundred miles in five days! This was drama enacted before the eyes of the people. He became almost a legendary character; gallant, dashing, aristocratic, fearless. A vivid personality that set the teeth of southern Indiana on edge; today just a reminiscence. (A)

Grace Monroe
District #5
Jefferson Co.
Reference: A- A. M. Pender- who received the following story from Dr. J. F. Lewis, the Captured Boy.

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