Calico Raid

Morgan’s Raid, also known as the Calico Raid or the Great Raid of 1863, was a diversionary incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Union states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11 to July 26, 1863. It is named for the commander of the Confederate troops, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan.

The raid was launched by Morgan and his 2,460 handpicked Confederate cavalrymen, along with four artillery pieces. The expedition’s intent was to divert the attention of the Union Army of the Ohio from Southern forces in the state and possibly stir up pro-southern sentiments in the North. General Braxton Bragg, the regional Confederate commander, had intended for Morgan’s cavalrymen to provide a distraction by entering Kentucky. Morgan, however, confided to some of his officers that he had long desired to invade Indiana and Ohio to bring the terror of war to the North.

Morgan’s raid began on June 11, 1863, when he and his men crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg, Kentucky. They then rode north through Indiana, burning bridges, raiding towns, and destroying Union supplies. On July 8, Morgan’s men defeated a Union force at Corydon, Indiana. The next day, they captured the town of Salem, Indiana.

Morgan’s raid continued into Ohio, where he and his men skirmished with Union troops at Versailles and Mount Sterling. On July 13, Morgan’s men crossed the Ohio River back into Kentucky. They were pursued by Union forces, and on July 26, Morgan and about 300 of his men were captured near West Point, Ohio.

Morgan’s raid was a daring and successful operation that caused widespread alarm in the North. However, it did not achieve its strategic goals of diverting Union troops from the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania or stirring up pro-southern sentiments in the North. Morgan’s capture was a major victory for the Union, and it dealt a blow to Confederate morale.

Morgan’s raid was a significant event in the American Civil War. It was one of the largest cavalry raids of the war, and it showed the potential of cavalry to operate in enemy territory and cause widespread disruption. Morgan’s raid also had a significant impact on the people of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. The raid caused widespread fear and destruction, and it left a lasting legacy on the region.