KENTUCKY CONFEDERATES
COMPANY A
6TH KENTUCKY CAVALRY
A CHRONICAL OF EVENTS CONNECTED WITH PRIVATE JOHN THOMAS DILLEHAY, HIS REGIMENT, AND HIS COMPANY, IN THE CIVIL WAR

 

--BY DONALD E. MONROE--

 

 

Jan 31, 1844. JOHN THOMAS DILLEHAY WAS BORN.

 

1860. CENSUS, MCLEAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY. County Seat Calhoun. William Slater Dillehay. Age 39. Born Kentucky. Occupation farmer. Value Real Estate $1200. Value Personal Estate $322.

Margaret E. Age 40. Farm wife.
JOHN T. AGE 16. FARM LABORER.
George W. Age 10. [My Great-Grandfather]
Mary M. Age 7.
David A. Age 5.
Walker T. Age 3.

 

Aug 27, 1862. KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. A Confederate army under Lt-Gen Edmund Kirby Smith moved into central Kentucky.

Sep 7, 1862. RACE FOR LOUISVILLE. A Federal Army under Maj-Gen Don Carlos Buell in Nashville, Tennessee and Confederate Army under Maj-Gen Braxton Bragg in Greensboro, Tennessee began a race for Louisville, Kentucky.

Sep 8, 1862. JOHN DILLEHAY ENLISTED in the Confederate Army. He enlisted at Stanford, Kentucky in Brig-Gen Abraham Buford's Brigade. Buford was a cousin of Federal Brig-Gen John Buford of Gettysburg fame who was also from Kentucky. Term of John's enlistment was three years. His age was 18. In the Confederate Cavalry the men had to furnish their own horse and accouterments. They were then paid per diem (according to the regulations) for the care and feeding of the horse--this in addition to their regular pay. In actuality many Confederates including John Dillehay were never paid.

 

ORGANIZATION OF JOHN DILLEHAY'S COMPANY:

CAPT ROBERT D. LOGAN, COMMANDING;
1st-Lt John D. Bryan;
2nd-Lt John S. Hughes;
2nd-Lt David N. Prewitt.

 

Sep 15, 1862. JOHN DILLEHAY WAS MUSTERED into Col J. Warren Grigsby's Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry, CSA, at Danville, Kentucky. The Regiment camped four miles north of Danville. Several expeditions were made in search of Bushwhackers and Home Guards--two through the Rolling Fork Hills in Boyle and Casey Counties; two among the hills of Sugar Creek in Garrard County; one in Marion and Taylor Counties. It marched in aggregate over 200 miles. Many arms and prisoners were captured.

Buell's Army was at Bowling Green, Kentucky and Bragg's Army was at Glasgow, Kentucky. Bragg issued a proclamation asking Kentuckians to join the Confederacy. Bragg had been assured by prominent Kentuckians in Confederate command circles that Kentuckians would flock to the banner if a significant Confederate force would enter the state.

 

FAVORITE SONG OF CONFEDERATE KENTUCKIANS--

CHEER, BOYS, CHEER

Cheer, boys, cheer! no more of idle sorrow;
Courage! true hearts shall bear us on our way;
Hope points before and shows a bright tomorrow,
Let us forget the darkness of today;
Then farewell, England, much as we may love thee,
We'll dry the tears that we have shed before;
We'll not weep to sail in search of fortune;
Then farewell, England, farewell forevermore.

Then cheer, boys, cheer! for England, Mother England.
Cheer, boys, cheer for the willing strong right hand;
Cheer, boys, cheer! there's wealth in honest labor;
Cheer, boys, cheer for the new and happy land.

 

Sep 18, 1862. J. WARREN GRIGSBY WAS APPOINTED COLONEL and commander of the Regiment. He was confirmed by election. Grigsby was from Covington, Kentucky directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.

Sep 25 - 29, 1862. BUELL BEAT BRAGG TO LOUISVILLE. The people of the city were in a panic. Many evacuated themselves and their belongings. The people of southern Indiana and southern Ohio were also in a panic along with the state governors.

Sep 28, 1862. Bragg left Bardstown, Kentucky to confer with Gen Kirby Smith in Lexington. He then went to Frankfort. The Confederates occupied the eastern half of Kentucky except for Louisville and Covington. The state government fled to Louisville.

Oct 4, 1862. At Frankfort Bragg installed Richard Hawes as the Confederate Provisional Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This was not a legal proceeding. Hawes was not elected. Kentucky never formally seceded. The legally elected legislature remained predominantly unionist. [The state of Kentucky eventually furnished 75,000 soldiers to the Federal Armies and an estimated 25,000 soldiers to the Confederate Armies--that is 100,000 out of a total population at the time of about one million.]

Oct 7, 1862. THE REGIMENT BROKE CAMP and bivouacked near Danville.

Oct 8, 1862. BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE. At 3:00 a.m. the regiment marched to Perryville and operated on the left wing of the Confederate Army as part of Wheeler's Cavalry, including the 1st and 3rd Alabama. They patrolled out the Lebanon Road on which Crittenden's II Corps (USA) was approaching, and screened the left wing of Bragg's Army. They pushed Edward McCook's Cavalry (USA) down the road as far as the Moreman house. After driving the enemy from his position they rested on their arms that night in front of the enemy center.

Oct 9, 1862. BRAGG'S ARMY RETREATED after a drawn battle. There was heavy skirmishing between Perryville and Danville, and John Dillehay's company was acting as a rear guard under orders of Gen Joseph Wheeler, Commander of Cavalry. Pleasant Monroe, along with the rest of his green and untried Federal regiment, was present at Perryville but was not engaged.

Oct 10, 1862. The company attacked a detachment of the enemy in Daniel Jones' barn and routed them. It fell back to the Dix River, where it guarded the crossing between Danville and Lancaster.

Oct 12, 1862. It fell back to the vicinity of Lancaster. It skirmished all night and then marched to Crab Orchard.

Oct 13, 1862. Heavy skirmishing in the morning. The company skirmished between Crab Orchard and Mount Vernon. It was constantly under fire from Perryville to London, Kentucky.

Oct 20,1862. JOHN DILLEHAY'S COMPANY WAS RELIEVED at London, Kentucky. It marched out through Cumberland Gap to Bean Station, Tennessee.

 

FROM GEN WHEELER'S REPORT ON BRAGG'S KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN dated October 30, 1862:

 

Col Grigsby's excellent Kentucky regiment was with me during several engagements and did most excellent and efficient service. Though just organized, the gallantry, skill, and intelligence of their commander, which seemed to characterize the officers and men of his regiment, made up in some measure for deficiency in instruction.

 

Oct/Nov/Dec, 1862. The company camped at New Market and Lenore Station, Tennessee. It guarded the Niawassie Bridge. It patrolled in the vicinities of Sweetwater, Sparta, McMinnville, and Revere, Tennessee.

Dec 31, 1862 - Jan 3, 1863. BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO (Stones River in the North). Buford's Brigade consisting of the regiments of GRIGSBY (230 MEN), Smith (220 men), and Butler (180 men) was ordered to Rover 18 miles southwest of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At daylight on the 31st it moved to a position on the left of Bragg's Army and joined Gen Wheeler's Cavalry. It attacked and captured 30 prisoners. It then moved to the left bank of Overall's Creek near Mrs Washington's house. It crossed the creek and charged, capturing 10 or 15 more prisoners. It marched to LaVerne in the rear of Gen Rosecrans' (US) army on the 1st and captured wagons, stores, and prisoners, including 95 men of the 22nd Indiana. It then returned to the Washington house. On the 2nd it moved to Cox's Hill eight miles from Nashville and supported Gen Wheeler's operations in the rear of the enemy. It again returned to Mrs Washington's on the 3rd. At sunrise January 4th (Sunday) Buford's Brigade, including JOHN DILLEHAY AND HIS COMPANY, retired down the Shelbyville Pike in the rear of Bragg's Army.

The Confederate cavalry was instrumental in capturing Gen Rosecrans' supply trains and interrupting his supply lines at Murfreesboro. Several Federal units on the right wing ran out of ammunition during the fight. That is where PLEASANT MONROE WAS WOUNDED AND CAPTURED.

Jan, 1863. JOHN DILLEHAY'S COMPANY performed scouting and picket duty in front of Gen Hardee's Corps.

Jan 6, 1863. Several companies including those from Bullitt's Battalion were united with Grigsby's Regiment.

Jan 24, 1863. THE REGIMENT WAS IN ACTION AT WOODBURY, TENN.

 

Feb 1, 1863. ORGANIZATION OF THE 6TH KENTUCKY CAVALRY, CSA. The regiment was formed by the consolidation of GRIGSBY'S AND BULLITT'S BATTALIONS. Regimental Staff was as follows:

 

COL J. WARREN GRIGSBY, COMMANDING [later served as a subordinate commander under Nathan Bedford Forrest];
Lt-Col Thomas W. Napier;
Maj William G. Bullitt;
Surgeon D. Duke Carter;
Assistant Surgeon Stephen B. Lewis;
Quartermaster E. T. Robertson;
Adjutant J. W. Alcorn.

 

JOHN DILLEHAY'S COMPANY, commanded by CAPT ROBERT D. LOGAN, was designated COMPANY A.

 

Feb, 1863. THE 6TH KENTUCKY CAVALRY ALONG WITH THE 5TH KENTUCKY CAVALRY JOINED JOHN HUNT MORGAN'S CAVALRY DIVISION. Morgan from Lexington, Kentucky had gained a reputation for lightening cavalry raids behind enemy lines, a propensity for terrorizing Kentucky Unionists, a highly independent nature, and a reluctance to subordinate himself to anyone. The division was organized as follows:

 

BRIG-GEN JOHN HUNT MORGAN, COMMANDING;

1st Brigade, Col Breckinridge Commanding - 2nd, 5th, 6TH, and 9th KENTUCKY, and 9th Tennessee;

2nd Brigade, Col Gano Commanding - 3rd, 8th, 10th, and 11th Kentucky.

 

Morgan was defending a line on Bragg's right stretching 100 miles from Woodbury, Tennessee to Monticello, Kentucky.

Feb 23, 1863. THE 6TH KENTUCKY SKIRMISHED AT ATHENS, KENTUCKY.

Mar 20, 1863. ENGAGEMENT AT VAUGHT'S HILL near Milton, Tennessee. The enemy was composed of the 105th Ohio, 101st Indiana, 80th and 123rd Illinois, 1st Tennessee Cavalry (US), and 9th Indiana Battery. Col A. S. Hall, 105th Ohio, commanded. The 6TH KENTUCKY was strung out during a long forced march from Liberty, Tennessee. It attacked the enemy battery in the center dismounted and almost captured it. It then ran out of ammunition and had to retreat. COLS GRIGSBY AND NAPIER WERE BOTH WOUNDED.

Apr 2/3, 1863. SKIRMISH AT WOODBURY AND SNOW HILL, TENNESSEE. The enemy consisted of the 3rd and 4th Ohio Cavalry. The 6TH KENTUCKY and Quirk's Scouts covered a retreat from Liberty to Snow Hill. They were posted on the road from Snow Hill to Liberty along with two guns of Byrne's Battery. MAJ BULLITT COMMANDED. They were forced back by a superior force.

Apr 5 - 7, 1863. Camped at Smithville, Tennessee.

Apr 29, 1863. The Regiment performed a reconnaissance on the Chapel Hill Pike, Tennessee.

May 10, 1863. BATTLE OF HORSE SHOE BEND west of Monticello, Kentucky. The 6TH KENTUCKY was on the right backing up Col Smith. Cols Cluke and Chenault had already been there, but they were almost out of ammunition. Morgan then moved up the rest of his division. An enemy force under Col Jacobs was driven from its position. The enemy lost 10 killed, 20 wounded, and 40 missing. DILLEHAY'S BRIGADE LOST 10 KILLED AND 16 WOUNDED.

May 28 - Jun 19, 1863. The Brigade spent three weeks on the line of the Cumberland River. Headquarters was Albany in Clinton County, Kentucky.

Jun 26, 1863. The 1st Brigade of Morgan's Division was at Alexandria and the 2nd Brigade was at Liberty, Tennessee.

 

A line in long array where they wind betwixt green islands,
They take a serpentine course, their arms flash in the sun,--
hark to the musical clank,
Behold the silvery river, in it the splashing horses loitering
stop to drink,
Behold the brown-faced men, each group, each person, a picture,
the negligent rest on the saddles,
Some emerge on the opposite bank, others are just entering
the ford--while,
Scarlet and blue and snowy white,
The guidon flags flutter gaily in the wind.

FROM CAVALRY CROSSING A FORD--BY WALT WHITMAN

 

Jul 1, 1863. Morgan's Division was getting ready for a major operation. It was organized as follows:

 

Commanding Officer - Brig-Gen John Hunt Morgan

1st Brigade - Brig-Gen Basil Duke, Commanding

2nd Ky Cav - Maj Thomas Webber, Commanding
5th Ky Cav - Col D. H. Smith, Commanding
6TH KY CAV - COL J. WARREN GRIGSBY, COMMANDING
[PVT JOHN DILLEHAY WAS IN COMPANY A]
9th Ky Cav - Col William Breckinridge, Commanding
9th Tenn Cav - Col William Ward, Commanding

2nd Brigade - Col Adam R. Johnson, Commanding

7th Ky Cav - Lt-Col John Huffman, Commanding
8th Ky Cav - Col Roy S. Cluke, Commanding
10th Ky Cav - Maj George Washington Owen, Commanding
11th Ky Cav - Lt-Col Joseph Tucker, Commanding

Horse Artillery -

Byrnes' Battery - (2) 3 inch Parrots - Capt Edward Byrnes, Commanding
Lawrence's Battery - (2) 12 pound Howitzers

 

Jul 2, 1863. MORGAN'S GREAT INDIANA-OHIO RAID BEGAN. The 1st Brigade consisted of 1460 men and the 2nd Brigade of 1000 men. Gen Bragg ordered Morgan to confine the raid to Kentucky. He was to disrupt the supply lines to Gen Rosecrans' Army and to draw men away from supporting Rosecrans. Bragg explicitly ordered Morgan not to cross the Ohio River.

 

SKIRMISH AT MARROWBONE, Burkesville, Kentucky. The 1st Brigade crossed the Cumberland River at Burkesville, Kentucky and Scott's Ferry. They crossed on "two crazy little flats" and "2 or 3 canoes," and swam the horses across. Gen Judah's Cavalry (US) was 12 miles distant at Marrowbone. Judah was lax because the river was swollen. The 6TH KENTUCKY and 9th Tennessee were first across. They plus two pieces of artillery covered the crossing. Gen Judah was routed along with the 9th and 12th Kentucky (US) under Gen Hobson.

Jul 3, 1863. SKIRMISH AT COLUMBIA, KY. Morgan encountered a contingent of Wolford's Cavalry, consisting of 150 men under Capt Carter. Carter was mortally wounded, and his men were almost surrounded. The enemy withdrew with Capt Fishback in command. Morgan then passed through Greensburg, Campbelsville, and Lebanon.

Jul 4, 1863. ENGAGEMENT AT GREEN RIVER BRIDGE, Tebb's Bend, Kentucky. A contingent of the 25th Michigan under Col Orlando H. Moore was entrenched across a narrow neck of a bend in the river, guarding the bridge. Col Moore when asked to surrender said that July 4th was "not a fitting day on which to surrender." Moore was in a strong defensive position and after a stiff fight Morgan withdrew. Col Chenault was killed along with 36 other Confederates.

Jul 4, 1863. SKIRMISH AT UNIVERSITY PLACE, KENTUCKY.

Jul 5, 1863. SKIRMISH AT BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY.

SKIRMISH AT FRANKLIN, KENTUCKY.

ENGAGEMENT AT LEBANON, KENTUCKY. The 20th Kentucky (US) commanded by Col Charles S. Hanson occupied Lebanon. Morgan camped five miles from town and then drove the pickets in. The 6TH KENTUCKY and 9th Tennessee attacked on the right firing from houses overlooking the depot. Morgan's younger brother, Tom, was killed along with 8 or 9 others. 25 or 30 were wounded. The enemy was overwhelmed and almost out of ammunition, and Morgan was burning the town around them. Hanson surrendered. 300 of the enemy were captured along with guns, ammunition, and supplies. Morgan forced the prisoners to march 10 miles to Springfield. Several who could not keep up were killed. The prisoners were then paroled and a company of the 6th KENTUCKY departed without leave. Morgan then marched all night through Springfield to Bardstown.

Jul 6, 1863. BARDSTOWN, TRAIN CAPTURED. Morgan arrived at 4 a.m. and departed at 10 a.m. The men marched all day. A train from Nashville was captured 30 miles from Louisville. George Ellsworth, an expert telegrapher on Morgan's Staff, who always carried his own telegraph piece, tapped the lines and determined that the enemy expected them in Louisville. They feinted toward Louisville, veered to the west, crossed the Salt River Bridge, and then halted for 2 or 3 hours. A detachment was sent ahead to capture boats for crossing the Ohio River.

Jul 7, 1863. STEAMERS CAPTURED AT BRANDENBURG, KENTUCKY. The advance guard first captured the J. T. MCCOMBS. They then hoisted a distress signal and captured the ALICE DEAN.

Garnettsville. Morgan camped there in Hardin County. He then marched all night to Brandenburg on the Ohio River. Gen Hobson's pursuing Federal force was 50 miles behind.

Jul 8, 1863. CROSSED THE OHIO RIVER. Two captured steamers were waiting at Brandenburg, Kentucky. A US gunboat was driven off by Morgan's batteries. Some say that the gunboat purposely allowed Morgan to cross so that his force would be trapped and destroyed north of the Ohio. A contingent of militia under PROVOST JOHN TIMBERLAKE [EX-LT-COLONEL, 81ST INDIANA, PLEASANT MONROE'S REGIMENT] was also driven off on the other side of the river. The 1ST BRIGADE was across by 5 p.m. This would have been the perfect time to break up Morgan's Raid with his two brigades divided by the river. The 2nd Brigade and artillery were across by midnight. The boats were then burned, and the men camped about 6 miles from the river. They were now in the home territory of the men of the 81st Indiana.

Jul 9, 1863. BATTLE OF CORYDON, INDIANA. 450 militia under Col Irvin assisted by PROVOST TIMBERLAKE were routed. MAJ LEONIDAS STOUT [also late of the 81ST INDIANA] commanded a company of Indiana militia. Two stores had their goods "appropriated", and a "contribution" of $700 each was levied on three mills in town. The owner of another mill could not produce a contribution and Morgan's men burned the mill.

Jul 10, 1863. SALISBURY/PALMYRA/SALEM,INDIANA. The Command passed through Salisbury and Palmyra. It then camped 16-18 miles from Salem. Morgan attacked Salem, chased the militia, and fed the men and horses. Railroad bridges and the depot were burned. Pillaging was rampant. According to one observer a trooper had a bolt of calico. Another rode along with a bird cage with three birds. Another had five pairs of ice skates in hand.

MORGAN THEN MARCHED TO VIENNA. Ellsworth, nicknamed "Lightning" because he once tapped into the lines in the middle of a thunder storm, tapped the telegraph lines. The Indiana militia were ordered to fell timbers and blockade the roads. Morgan camped near Lexington, Indiana in Scott County. [Regimental Surgeon William D. Fouts along with Co D Commander Capt Robert F. Gordon and second in command 1st-Lt Ebenezer Gordon, all of the 81st Indiana, were from Lexington; the rest of the members of the Company, including Pleasant Monroe from Austin, were mostly from Scott County.]

Jul 11, 1863. PARIS/VERNON. Morgan's command left early for Paris. They then marched to Vernon where a heavy force was deployed. Morgan demanded their surrender. The enemy commander requested time to remove the non-combatants from the town. Morgan granted his request and then moved on avoiding a costly engagement. He burned a bridge or two and destroyed a water tank, a warehouse, and a train. Hobson's advance guard (US) was 5 hours behind Morgan's rear guard.

Jul 12, 1863. VERSAILLES, INDIANA. Morgan rested his men from 12 to 3 a.m. Up to this point they had averaged 21 hours a day in the saddle. The men were not complementary of the Indiana militia. To them they compared unfavorably with the Kentucky Home Guards. Morgan had detachments fanning out on every side road and "appropriating" fresh horses for his command. Hobson's force found nothing but worn out mounts as they passed through in pursuit. The 6TH KENTUCKY [JOHN DILLEHAY'S REGIMENT] was detached to burn bridges near Versailles. GRIGSBY'S 6TH also appropriated $5000 from the public funds of Versailles. They captured many horses and then marched all day and all night.

Jul 9-13, 1863. THE COMMAND MARCHED A DISTANCE OF 200 MILES AVERAGING 40 MILES-A-DAY. They were approaching the Indiana/Ohio border. Governor Oliver P. Morton of Indiana had refused to subordinate the Indiana militia to Gen Ambrose Burnside and the regular army commanders who were coordinating the pursuit of Morgan's Raiders. Gov Morton was also constantly interfering with Burnside and his commanders. Burnside coordinated the pursuit from Cincinnati, Ohio, constantly sending and receiving telegraph messages to and from the commanders and local administrators.

Jul 13, 1863. CUMMINSVILLE, INDIANA. Morgan rested his men. On approaching Cincinnati he attempted to give the impression through various feints of an approach to Hamilton, Ohio. He halted 2 or 3 hours at Harrison, Ohio, and arrived in the vicinity of Cincinnati that night. 2000 men were left in the command, and they suffered from unimaginable fatigue.

GOVERNOR DAVID TOD OF OHIO WAS MUCH MORE COOPERATIVE than Gov Morton had been. Gov Tod agreed to have martial law declared and offered the Ohio Militia to Gen Burnside to use in any way he saw fit to thwart Morgan. When Gov Morton offered Indiana Militia to Tod, Tod referred him to Gen Burnside. Tod was a Democrat. Morton was a Republican.

CINCINNATI, OHIO. The 2nd Brigade led a night march through the suburbs of Cincinnati. Straggling was a huge problem. The 1ST BRIGADE had trouble keeping up because of stragglers at the end of the 2nd Brigade. They had to track by dust from the horses ahead and slaver from the horses' mouths. Men were falling out of their saddles from fatigue. Some would sneak off to go to sleep only later to be captured. COL GRIGSBY through strenuous effort prevented the rear of the 1st Brigade from falling apart.

Jul 14, 1863. MILFORD, OHIO. They tore up the railroad at Milford, and crossed the Little Miami River at Miamiville. They then attacked Camp Dennison and destroyed a train on the Little Miami River. They rested near Camp Dennison that morning, and then resumed the march after burning a "park of government wagons."

 

AN ACCOUNT OF MORGAN'S RAID IN HAMILTON COUNTY IN THE CINCINNATI JOURNAL:

 

On Tuesday, the 14th instant, at early dawn, the inhabitants hereabouts were aroused from slumber by the clattering of hoofs upon the stony pike, and the clanking of stirrups (I suppose, as I didn't see any sabers or the like). On peeping through the windows, I recognized them immediately as sesesh, from their hard looks, their clothes of many colors and fashions, and their manner of riding. They did not ride in any kind of order, unless it was disorder. As many as could rode abreast. Some galloped, some trotted, and others allowed their horses to walk slowly while they slept in the saddles. They were not uniformly dressed. Some wore a whole suit of the well-known blue which designates our soldiers; others had part of a suit, but most of them were arrayed in citizens garb. Some were barefooted, some bareheaded, and one, I noticed wore a huge green veil. Probably he was ashamed of his company, and took this method to conceal his grim visage while in the presence of decent people. Some wore jackets outside of their coats, as though they had dressed in a hurry. Perhaps their keen ears had detected the sound of Hobson's cavalry behind. Some had ladies' gaiters, dress-patterns, and the like, protruding from their pockets; and one bootless, hatless, shirtless being held his suspenderless pants with one hand, while he held the bridle with the other, and heeled his horse to a gallop.

 

Jul 14,1863. WILLIAMSBURG, OHIO. Morgan arrived at 4 p.m. The men had marched 90 miles in the previous 35 hours. They camped that night. They complained about the Indiana/Ohio horses that they "requisitioned" to replace the worn out stock. (Of course they paid for them with Confederate money!) They thought Kentucky stock was much better. At this time the men became aware of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, as the towns that they passed through were decorated in celebration.

SKIRMISH AT LAWRENCEBURG.

Jul 15, 1863. PIKETON, JACKSON, AND VINTON, OHIO. Continued the march.

Jul 17, 1863. BERLIN. They skirmished with Ohio Militia capturing hundreds. They destroyed their guns and released them. The advance guard sometimes fooled the militia into thinking they were federal cavalry. Morgan had always been especially adept at bluffing, and he generally wore civilian clothes while campaigning. The men carried axes to chop down the barricades.

ACTION AT CENTREVILLE, OHIO. The enemy included the 9th Michigan Cavalry.

SKIRMISH AT HAMDEN, OHIO. Ohio Militia.

Jul 18, 1863. SKIRMISH AT POMEROY, OHIO. They faced the 23rd Ohio Infantry. It was one continual fight in passing, regulars plus militia. The road ran through a ravine lined by steep hills occupied by the enemy. The 6TH KENTUCKY took the lead. They dismounted and dislodged the enemy when fired on. They reached Chester at 1 o'clock. Morgan halted the command for an hour-and-a-half. The halt proved disastrous. It delayed their arrival at Buffington Ford on the Ohio River, where Morgan had planned to recross and escape through West Virginia.

BUFFINGTON FORD, OHIO. Morgan's command arrived that night. The night was pitch dark and the men were totally exhausted and demoralized. There was an enemy work at the ford. A night crossing could be disastrous, but waiting until the next day could allow the pursuers to catch up. The river was higher than normal for that time of year due to previous heavy rains. This would allow Federal gunboats, that had been following Burnside's orders and tracking Morgan's movements, to impede any crossing attempt. Morgan decided to wait until morning to make a crossing attempt. The 5th and 6TH KENTUCKY were chosen to lead the attack at the ford the next morning.

Jul 19, 1863. CROSSING THE OHIO RIVER. Smith's and GRIGSBY'S regiments including JOHN DILLEHAY moved to attack at dawn. The enemy work was found unoccupied having been evacuated during the night. The 5th and 6TH were then ordered to move down the Pomeroy Road and cover the crossing. There they encountered Gen Judah's advance guard, a detachment of the 14th Illinois Cavalry. They captured 40 or 50, killed or wounded several, and dispersed the rest. The main body of the enemy then arrived, including the 8th and 9th Michigan and a detachment of the 5th Indiana. The enemy charged and the 5th and 6TH KENTUCKY were pushed back. The Parrot guns were lost. Gen Hobson's Federal force advanced on the Chester Road. The Confederates were low on ammunition averaging five rounds each.

JUDAH AND HOBSON ATTACKED SIMULTANEOUSLY, one by the Pomeroy Rd and one by the Chester Rd. The gunboats commenced shelling. The enemy force included: 14th Illinois Cavalry; Henshaw's Illinois Light Artillery; 5th Indiana Cavalry; 1st, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th Kentucky Cavalry (US); 2nd and 7th Ohio Cavalry; 43rd Ohio Infantry; 2nd Mounted Tennessee (US) Infantry; Ohio Militia; and two Federal gunboats. Morgan's men were shelled from three directions. Wagons collided with horses and some men panicked from fear and exhaustion. The left flank was turned and the 6TH KENTUCKY was almost surrounded. They fought their way out under MAJ WILLIAM BULLITT. GRIGSBY was apparently separated from his regiment at this point. The 6TH KENTUCKY under BULLITT formed the rear guard. They kept their pursuers at bay "with empty guns." The enemy charged again. 700 Confederates were captured, including Gen Duke, Col Smith, and MAJ BULLITT. A few men made it across the river, including COL GRIGSBY (without his regiment) and much of the 9th Tennessee. Several men drowned. Gen Morgan got half way across and went back when he saw that most of the command would not make it. Morgan and 1200 men including JOHN DILLEHAY retreated still on the Ohio side of the river.

Jul 20, 1863. SKIRMISH, HOCKINGPORT, OHIO. Detachment of the 23rd Ohio Infantry.

SKIRMISH NEAR COAL HILL, OHIO. Detachment 45th Ohio Infantry.

SKIRMISH, CHESHIRE, OHIO. Detachment 65th Indiana Infantry.

KYGER CREEK (Variously called Keiger Creek, Keyger Creek, and just about every variation you can imagine. The present name seems to be Kyger Creek, near Cheshire.). 10 miles from Gallipolis. Gen Shackelford chased Morgan's remnant all night and through the next day after Buffington. He caught them at 3:00 p.m. He then fought them and drove them to a high bluff at which point he demanded their surrender. Col Cicero Coleman, an officer on Morgan's staff from Louisville, bore the Confederate truce flag. It was raining and late evening when Col Coleman and several hundred Confederates came down the hill and surrendered. Morgan and 600 men had fled.

JOHN DILLEHAY CAPTURED. According to his service record he was captured at Cheshire, Ohio, July 20, 1863. He was probably among those captured at Kyger Creek. Capt Logan and most of the rest of Company A are also listed as captured at Cheshire, as are most of the Regiment.

Jul 26, 1863. CAMP CHASE. Register Number 2, page 206 of the POW ROLL FOR CAMP CHASE, OHIO indicates that PVT JOHN DILLEHAY was received at Camp Chase on this date, and that he had been arrested at Cheshire, Ohio July 20, 1863.

Morgan and the remainder of his force were captured at Salineville, Ohio by Shackelford's Kentucky Cavalry (US) under Maj Rue. Morgan and 69 officers including CAPT LOGAN were confined as common felons at Columbus Penitentiary, Ohio.

 

MORGAN'S CASUALTIES FROM THE GREAT RAID:

 

Officers - 28 killed, 35 wounded;
Men - 250 killed and wounded;
Captured - 2000;
Escaped - 300.

 

A SEASONED, BATTLE-HARDENED CONFEDERATE CAVALRY DIVISION WAS LOST at a time when the Confederacy could least afford it, coming on the heels of Vicksburg and Gettysburg. MORGAN later ESCAPED from prison along with several of his officers by tunneling out of his cell and climbing over the wall. He was treated as a hero in Richmond, Virginia, but he never regained the stature that he had before the Great Raid. He was shot and KILLED AT GREENVILLE, TENNESSEE September 4, 1864. The remnant of his force formed the escort for Jefferson Davis when Davis escaped from Richmond near the war's end.

Aug 20, 1863. JOHN DILLEHAY WAS TRANSFERRED to Cincinnati and from there to CAMP DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS near Chicago.

 

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home;
'Tis summer, the darkeys are gay,
The corn-top's ripe and the meadows in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By-'n-by hard times comes a-knocking at the door:--
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night!
Weep no more, my lady,
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For the old Kentucky home, far away.

FROM MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME--BY STEPHEN FOSTER

 

Aug 22, 1863. POW ROLL FOR CAMP DOUGLAS, ILLINOIS, Number 7, Sheet 7 includes PVT JOHN DILLEHAY. Many of Morgan's men who were captured on the Raid were imprisoned at Camp Douglas.

 

EXCERPTS FROM AN ACCOUNT OF PRISON LIFE AT CAMP DOUGLAS BY R. T. BEAN, COMPANY I, EIGHTH KENTUCKY CAVALRY, WHO WAS CAPTURED DURING MORGAN'S GREAT INDIANA-OHIO RAID

 

Each barrack had a capacity for two hundred men, and I was placed in charge of one which was known as No. 7. Camp Douglas had been erected as a rendezvous and drilling grounds for Federal troops before going to the front. We found a few prisoners there, but discipline was slack on the part of the guards. The fence was much out of repair, and quite a number of prisoners with money and citizens' clothes made their escape. Up to this period the cartel of exchange between the contending forces was in full force, and we thought we would soon be back in our saddles riding as gaily as of yore. But a hint from General Grant that it was cheaper to "feed" the Rebels than to "fight" them put a stop to the exchange; but of this we knew nothing at the time.
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There were a number of Kentuckians there, and, Kentucky-like, they soon began to grow "thirsty"; for to put a Kentuckian down to water rations entirely is not only an insult but a real affliction. A vigilant search was instituted and a milk peddler found, a woman who came in daily with a tin can shaped like an old-fashioned coffee pot with a long tin spout. When approached upon the subject of bringing in something more in keeping with the needs of a grown-up individual, she replied that the contents of her can were inspected as she came in and she dare not change from milk to something stronger and more exhilarating. We suggested that she take a cork, insert it in the spout of the can on the inside, fill the can with whiskey and the spout with milk, and by tipping the can the milk would flow from the spout. The plan worked like a charm, and how we did enjoy it--the joke, I mean!
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A fence was now built between us and the guards. Our sutler was restricted to the sale of tobacco, stamps, and paper. Our rations were most radically changed. All vegetables were cut off, and tea, coffee, and sugar became things of the past. One-third of our bread was cut off and two-thirds of our meat, the latter being salted shoulders. Men were hungry now.
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The arrangements of the prison were changed. The barracks were all raised and placed on posts about four feet high, thus putting an end forever to future tunneling. An extra thickness of lumber was put on the fence to the height of about eight feet from the ground, and I realized that escapes were at an end.
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I have seen men eat rats and pronounce the flesh good and palatable. I never ate any myself for the reason that my health was never robust, and close confinement was very trying to me. I was confined in the hospital for two or three months at three different times during my stay there. Under such conditions my appetite was never of a ravenous nature, and hunger such as made life miserable for others did not trouble me. It is true I longed for a change of diet and often felt that if I could but visit a blue grass pasture I could eat the grass with the keenest relish. A number of dogs lost their lives through their curiosity to see a live Reb. One case I recall to mind with clear remembrance. An aristocratic lady from Chicago drove in behind a pair of high-stepping Kentucky bays, and closely following the carriage was an aristocratic dog. While his mistress was talking and telling us unregenerate Rebs how wicked it was to be fighting against the best government in the world the dog came in for his share of attention and was inveigled into the barracks, which he never left. His flesh was pronounced first-class, and sharp lookouts were kept for more of his kind.
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From day to day the reins were drawn tighter and tighter upon us. At sundown we were ordered to our barracks and to bed, and not a word was allowed spoken until the blast of the bugle the following morning, when we arose and marched out for roll call. Many a Minnie ball went crashing through our barracks at night at some real or imaginary noise. It was dangerous even to indulge in a snore. We were not allowed to leave our barracks at night fully dressed. We could wear our coats, but no pants, or our pants minus the coats; and O how cold it is at Chicago in the winter!
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Life in the prison was going from bad to worse. Half-fed, cursed, kicked, and abused for imaginary more than real misdemeanors, hope was dead and life an existence only that gave no promise of relief or escape. Our guards had been changed several times, but that brought no change in our favor. The meat furnished us was salted pork shoulders, and that was telling upon us. The scurvy broke out in a most virulent and aggravated form. Lips were eaten away, jaws became diseased, and teeth fell out. If leprosy is any worse than scurvy, may God have mercy upon the victim! It was shocking, horrible, monstrous, and a disgrace to any people who permitted such conditions to exist. .....The scurvy sent many a man from Camp Douglas to his grave, and many more bear today its cruel, loathsome scars. Our cries for relief were unnoticed; and the greater our sufferings, the more satisfaction it seemed to give our captors.
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One very common punishment inflicted upon the prisoners was by the ball-and-chain route. An iron ball weighing perhaps seventy-five pounds was strongly attached to one end of a chain, and the chain then riveted to the leg of the offender. To walk and carry the ball was almost a physical impossibility, and the possessors made little carts into which the balls were dumped and hauled around. These pieces of "jewelry," so called, would stick closer than a brother, and their owners were so much "attached" to them that they always took them to bed with them. It was a most excellent idea--it prevented their rolling out of bunks or walking while asleep. Another invention to amuse the prisoners was a ride on "Morgan's mule." This one was of wood and did his worst while standing still. He was built after the manner of those used by carpenters and plasterers and was about fifteen feet high with a very sharp "back" that was reached by a ladder. A wag of a Reb, after being hoisted into the saddle, told the guard he would feel more at home if he had a pair of spurs, and that blessed Yankee went off, got two bricks, and tied them to his feet.
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A few years ago I rode out to the Confederate Cemetery at Chicago.....as I gazed over that field of the dead, as my eyes rested upon the thousands and thousands of stones that marked the place where rested the ashes of some Confederate soldiers, I wondered what had caused all of this fearful mortality. Before me I saw the headstones of five thousand six hundred Confederates whose lives went out in prison. No fearful epidemic had ever raged there. Was it starvation, neglect, and cruelty? God alone knows.
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Mar 2, 1865. JOHN DILLEHAY WAS TRANSFERRED from Camp Douglas TO POINT LOOKOUT, MARYLAND, awaiting exchange. His name appears on Register Nr 1, Page 33. Many men in his regiment signed a Loyalty Oath, a copy of which appears in their service records. The ones that did so got an early release. There is no signed Loyalty Oath in John's service record.

 

Furl that Banner, for 'tis weary;
Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary;
Furl it, fold it--it is best;
For there's not a man to wave it,
And there's not a sword to save it,
And there's not one left to lave it
In the blood which heroes gave it;
And its foes now scorn and brave it;
Furl it, hide it--let it rest!

Take that Banner down! 'tis tattered;
Broken is its staff and shattered;
And the valiant hosts are scattered,
Over whom it floated high.
Oh 'tis hard for us to fold it,
Hard to think there's none to hold it,
Hard that those who once unrolled it
Now must furl it with a sigh!

FROM THE CONQUERED BANNER--BY FATHER ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN,
CONFEDERATE CHAPLAIN

Mar 12, 1865. JOHN EXCHANGED. Roll Nr 186, Fort Delaware, Delaware bears the following endorsement which also applies to the men whose names are borne on this roll. "Received Boulware's & Cos & Wharves, James Riv., Va. March 10th, 11th, & 12th, 1865 from Jno E. Mulford, Col. & Asst. Agt. Exch., Three Thousand four hundred and ninety-nine (3499) Paroled Confederate Prisoners of War, including One Hundred and Forty three officers on within (sic) Roll. W. H. HATCH, Asst. Agent of Exch." ROLL NR. 87, SHEET 3 contains JOHN DILLEHAY'S name.

 

Apr 12, 1865. Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

Apr 14, 1865. Lincoln assassinated.

May 10, 1865. Jefferson Davis captured near Irwinville, Georgia with an escort of the remnant of MORGAN'S MEN.

 

Jun, 1880. CENSUS. Job's League District, McLean County, Kentucky. JOHN THOMAS DILLEHAY. AGE-36. FARMER.

Jane Lewis Sinnett 34 (wife)
Lora 13
Thomas H. 12
Joe A. 9
Margaret 7
Mary J. 6
Thomas 3
Sarah 1

 

John returned to McLean County, Kentucky and married Jane Dec 7, 1865. He continued to farm and produced a large family. He sometimes showed up at family functions, according to Gertrude Dillehay Willis, daughter of his brother, George Washington Dillehay, my Great-Grandfather. According to Gertrude it was known that her uncle was a Confederate Veteran. She had no idea what he did in the War. John Dillehay died Jul 23,1943 while residing in Daviess County Kentucky.

 

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