General John Hunt Morgan:
John Morgan was featured on the front cover of an 1862 Harper's Weekly, pictured at right. Morgan's portrait is presented on the upper left corner of the page, and is accompanied by a description of his daring exploits and raids. Being a northern newspaper, Harper's Weekly was not very appreciative of
Morgan's raids, so the article is understandably not complimentary of Morgan. We present below the text of the article in its entirety, as well as a detailed view of the portrait of
Morgan.
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 | THE BANDIT MORGAN WE give herewith a portrait of the guerrilla, and bandit, JOHN MORGAN, of Kentucky. This man was a well-to-do planter in Kentucky when the war broke out. Having predatory instincts, he collected together a band of dare-devil vagabonds, proclaimed himself their captain, and commenced the life of a guerrilla chief. He has distinguished himself by burning bridges, tearing up railway tracks, robbing supply trains, and plundering and wasting the few remaining prosperous portions of Kentucky. |
Being well aware of the doom which awaits them if caught, he and his men display the most desperate courage in their encounters with the soldiers and the Home Guards, and thus far none of them have been captured alive. They have just completed a most successful raid through Kentucky, stealing their food, clothing, and other necessaries from the people of whom they claimed to be the friends. John Morgan is said to possess some of the chivalrous qualities of his namesake and prototype, Morgan the Buccaneer of the Caribbean Sea: they will not, however save him from being hanged if he falls into the hands of his fellow citizens in Kentucky. Our portrait of him was made by a prisoner who lately several days in his hands. - - - END HARPER'S STORY - - - |
