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

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MORGAN'S RAID
STORIES OF MORGAN'S RAID

At the time of Morgan's Raid, Mr. Epply said although he was only six years old, he could remember Morgn's men stacking their guns outside of their yard fence and coming to the door for food. The men left taking a young horse which Mr. Epply's father regained six months later. He had to make a trip to Cincinnati for his horse which he found uninjured.

One of Mr. Epply's stories of the raid, included the anecdote on Mr. Matthew Henry Gray. Mr. Gray met Morgan and his men at the door with a gun. The gun was immediately seized, stuck in the fork of an apple tree and bent around the tree. Then Mr. Gray was placed upon a very bony old mule -- the worst the raiders had -- and compelled to ride with them for approximately five miles and walk or hobble home. (A)

Another story was told of the experience of Reuben Rice with Gen. Morgan.

Mr. Rice was a citizen of Graham township, Jefferson County. He was taken by Morgan as far South as Frankfort Kentucky, where he was forced to pray all night that the South might be victorious in the War. (A)

In 1910 Mr. Epply visited Morgn's tomb at Lexington, Kentucky. Before driving out to the cemetery, he was told by a friend living there not to say anything in opposition to Morgan's raid or he would soon stir up trouble in the community. (A)

GRACE MONROE
District 5, Jefferson County
(A). Reference: Mr. J. B. Epply

MORGAN'S RAID

Morgan's Raid

Mrs. Epply said her grandparents had often told her stories of Morgan's Raid. When Morgan's men left Lexington they traveled north on the present State road 256. The Jennings home was off the main highway but may of their neighbors gathered on a high portico of the house where they might watch "Morgan and his terrible men" march down the road. (A)

The next day four of the horsemen came and asked for food. Being invited to come in while the meal was prepared for them, they did nothing to molest the property of their host. At one house nearby they were refused admittance, so they entered anyway. Then empties a barrel of flour in the floor and mixed bread and cooked it for themselves. (A)

Mrs. Epply's aunt and a girl friend were in Lexington at the time of the raid. As they were riding home they met General Morgan leading his men. The girls thought their horses would be stolen, so dismounted before being ordered to, by Morgan. They were surprised when their horses were not taken, and were informed that, "Southern Gentlemen Don't Steal Ladies Horses." (A)

GRACE MONROE
District 5, Jefferson County
Reference: (A) Mrs. J. B. Epply

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