The Great Raid of 1863
185 Miles Through Indiana
In the summer of 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan led 2,400 cavalry raiders on a daring sweep through Indiana — covering 185 miles of Union soil and leaving a trail of legend across the heartland.
Who Was John Hunt Morgan?
John Hunt Morgan was one of the Confederacy's most daring cavalry commanders — a Kentucky-born raider whose bold tactics and charismatic leadership made him both feared and celebrated. Known as the 'Thunderbolt of the Confederacy,' Morgan specialized in lightning strikes deep behind Union lines.
By 1863, Morgan had already conducted two successful raids into Kentucky and Tennessee. But his most audacious plan was yet to come: a sweeping arc through Indiana and Ohio that would carry the war to Northern soil and, he hoped, inspire a pro-Confederate uprising among the populace.
What followed was 46 days of relentless riding, skirmishing, and evasion — including 185 miles across Indiana soil — a campaign that became the stuff of Civil War legend.
"The Thunderbolt of the Confederacy" — John Hunt Morgan's raiders covered over 1,000 miles in 46 days.
The Raid Through Indiana
Follow Morgan's route as his raiders swept across southern Indiana in July 1863.
The Crossing Begins
Morgan's 2,400 raiders crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg, Kentucky, entering Indiana and Union territory. The crossing took two days under fire from Union gunboats.
Battle of Corydon
Morgan's forces clashed with Indiana Home Guard militia at Corydon — the only Civil War battle fought on Indiana soil. After a brief fight, the town fell and Morgan's men collected supplies before pressing north.
Sweeping Through the Heartland
The raiders moved rapidly through Salem and Paoli, cutting telegraph lines, burning bridges, and seizing horses and supplies. Panic spread across southern Indiana as residents fled before the advancing column.
Racing East
Morgan pushed his exhausted men eastward through Versailles and Sunman, staying ahead of Union pursuit. The column stretched for miles along dusty Indiana roads, horses and men pushed to their limits.
Into Ohio
After just five days in Indiana, Morgan crossed into Ohio, continuing his desperate race. The Indiana leg of the raid had covered nearly 400 miles in under a week.
Why the Trail Matters
The John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail marks the actual route Morgan's raiders traveled through Indiana — the same roads, towns, and landscapes that witnessed the only Confederate invasion of the Hoosier State.
Today, roadside markers along the trail connect visitors to this remarkable chapter of Civil War history. But many of these markers have fallen into disrepair, and the story they tell risks being forgotten.
Friends of the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail exists to restore, maintain, and expand these markers — ensuring that future generations can follow in the footsteps of history. Just to give you an idea of the history and the current condition of the Trail, the two links feature Karen Schwartz of Harrison County talking in the first video about the raid and Harrison County and in the second video she shares the entire trail. These videos were done in the summer and winter of 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMbBTD6kIUQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vRfK5kXjBo (NOTE THE VIDEO WORKS - NOT SURE WHY THE "ERROR 153" IS THERE, JUST CLICK ON 'Watch video on YouTube.)
Along the Route
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