A Great Escape

Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and several of his men broke out of prison November 27^th 1863 in Ohio and made their escape to the south.

John Hunt Morgan was raised in Kentucky.  His served in the United States Army during the Mexican American War, under General Zachary Taylor.  When the Civil War started and the state of Kentucky didn’t secede, Morgan moved to Alabama.  He made several raids into the north between 1862 and 63.  On the last of these raids Morgan led his band of men through Kentucky, southern Indiana and into Ohio.  After a tour through Cincinnati the raiders head for the Ohio River, their route was blocked at Buffington Island, Ohio by Union soldiers and about 700 of Morgan’s men were captured.  Morgan turned his men back north, but most were captured along with Morgan at Salineville on July 26^th 1863.

Morgan was placed in the newly built Ohio State Penitentiary along with some of his officers at Columbus, Ohio.  Morgan and his men cut a hole into a ventilation space under Thomas Hines’ cell, through which they tunneled out into the inner yard; they then scaled the wall on November 27^th 1863.  Morgan caught a train for Cincinnati, and then hired a boat to take him across the river.  They made their way back to Tennessee and safety in Confederate territory.

Capture The Flag

Private Thomas Evans was awarded the Medal of Honor, November 26^th 1864 for his actions at Piedmont, Virginia.

Thomas Evans was born 1824 in Wales.

He joined the Union Army at Huntington on February 9^th 1864, and was a member of Company D of the 54^th Pennsylvania.  His commander Colonel J M Campbell wrote in his report that Evans tore the flag from the color bearer of the 45^th Virginia Infantry regiment, capturing the man in the process.  This happened during a battle at Piedmont, Virginia on June 5^th 1864.  Evans received the Congressional Medal of Honor November 26^th 1864.

Evans died shortly after the end of the war in 1866.  He is buried in the Bethel Cemetery in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

Ambushed At His Mother's Home

Confederate Captain Redmond Burke was killed November 25^th 1862 as he approached a home in Shepherdstown, Virginia.

Redmond Burke was born in Ireland in 1816.  He lived in Harper's Ferry and worked as a stonecutter.

When the Civil War started Burke enlisted as a Private in the 1^st Virginia Cavalry.  He was transferred to serve on Confederate Major General JEB Stuart’s staff as aide decamp and scout and was portrayed as "a man of great presence of mind and courage and had done some deeds of desperate gallantry".  He was commissioned on April 3rd 1862 as a Lieutenant.  He was wounded twice, once in the leg at the Battle of Brandy Station and in the wrist at Fredericksburg.  Burke had reached the rank of Captain by November 1862.

Burke and several companions went to the home of his mother in Shepherdstown, Virginia on November 25^th 1862.  It was here that Union soldiers ambushed him.  He was killed.  When Stuart learned of Burke’s death he wrote of him that “he possessed a heart intrepid, a spirit invincible, patriotism too lofty to admit a selfish thought and a conscience that scorned to do a mean act. A devoted champion of the South, his gray hairs have descended in honor to the grave, leaving a shining example of heroism and patriotism to those who survive…”

They Leapt The Lines

Fort Connor

A part of Union Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer’s Michigan Brigade, the 6^th Michigan Cavalry was mustered out of service November 24^th 1865.

The 6^th Michigan Cavalry was organized in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and mustered into Union service October 13^th 1862 with 1,229 men.  The 6^th was part of the famed Michigan Brigade, and saw it first actions at Hanover, Hunterstown and Gettysburg under the command of Union Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer.  The 6^th made a notable charge against the retreating Confederates at Falling Waters, Maryland July 14^th 1863, where they leapt their horse over the Confederate lines.

Once the Civil War ended the 6^th was ordered to duty in west to fight Indians.  They received a new commander, Brigadier General Patrick Edward Connor.  They spent the summer constructing Fort Connor, a supply depot that was used during the Powder River Expedition.  The 6^th mustered out of service November 24^th 1865.  They lost 135 officers and enlisted who were killed in action or died of their wounds.  They also saw 251 men die from diseases.

For more information take a look at this web site  6th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry

A Wound Of Honor

Union Brigadier General Francis Engle Patterson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound November 22^nd 1862.

Francis Engle Patterson was born March 7^th 1821 into a military family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of General Robert and Sarah [Engle] Patterson.  Patterson began his military career as a Second Lieutenant in the United State artillery during the Mexican American War.  After the war he stayed in the military, transferring to the infantry.  He received a promotion in 1855 to Captain as part of the 9^th United Infantry.  Patterson left the military in 1857.

When the Civil War started Patterson rejoined the army.  He served under his father in the 17^th Pennsylvania with a rank of Colonel.  In April 1862 Patterson was placed in command of the 2^nd New Jersey and promoted to Brigadier General.  He led his troops in the Battles of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines.

While posted at Catlett’s Station in November he received unconfirmed reports that there were Confederate troops in the area, and he purportedly ordered a withdrawal.  His Division commander Union General Daniel E Sickles had him relieved of his command, and requested that an inquiry into Patterson’s actions be held, however before that could happen Patterson died.  His death on November 22^nd 1862 was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot, while in his tent near Occoquan, Virginia.  It was determined the shot was an accidental discharge, but there was talk about suicide.  Patterson is buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

The War Secretary

James Alexander Seddon was appointed the Secretary of War for the Confederacy November 21^st 1862 by Jefferson Davis.

James Alexander Seddon was born in Falmouth, Stafford, Virginia July 13^th 1815.  His health was never good and because of this he was educated at home.  When he turned twenty-one Seddon entered the University of Virginia where he studied the law.  After graduating in 1835 he settled in Richmond, Virginia where he had a successful law practice.  Seddon was elected to Congress in 1845 as a Democrat.  After serving two non-consecutive terms, his health caused him to leave politics.  Seddon retired to his estate on the James River.

The Peace Convention; an attempt to prevent the coming war, was held in Washington, DC in 1861, and Seddon attended.  When the Peace Convention fell through, Seddon attended the Confederate Provisional Congress.  Confederate President Jefferson Davis named Seddon the Secretary of War November 21^st 1862; he would hold the post until January 1^st 1865.

After the war was over Seddon returned to his estate and retired from political life.  He died August 19^th 1880.

First Spoken Outloud

The first public meeting where there was a call for secession was held November 19^th 1860 in the Chesterfield County Courthouse in South Carolina.

At a meeting held in the town of Cheraw, South Carolina on November 19^th 1860 the first public call for secession was spoken.  John A Inglis of Cheraw proposed a resolution to the group that the State of South Carolina secede from the Union.  The resolution read in part that, “the state of South Carolina should forthwith secede from the Federal Union”.

Inglis along with Henry McIver also of Cheraw, South Carolina was named to the committee that would write the document that outlined South Carolina’s secession.  Inglis would be the committee’s chairmen.