Morgan’s Men Association: Preserving the Legacy of Confederate Cavalry Commander John Hunt Morgan

The Morgan’s Men Association, Inc. stands as a living link to one group of soldiers in the American Civil War — the men who served under General John Hunt Morgan, a Confederate cavalry leader known as the “Thunderbolt of the Confederacy.” Founded to honor and preserve the memory of these men and their commander, the group remains dedicated to commemorating their history.

Formation of the Association

The Morgan’s Men Association was formed originally at Lexington, Kentucky, at the reinternment of General John Hunt Morgan, on April 17, 1868. After serving as the funeral escort for their leader, the surviving members of Morgan’s command met at the Phoenix Hotel and created the association. These veterans, many of whom had ridden with Morgan during his raids through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, sought to preserve the camaraderie and spirit that had bonded them during the war.

Meeting initially in Kentucky and Tennessee, the organization quickly became one of the earliest Confederate veterans’ heritage groups in the United States. Its purpose was twofold:

To honor and perpetuate the memory of General Morgan and his men.
To maintain fellowship among surviving veterans and their descendants.

In the years that followed, the organization’s membership expanded to include descendants and historians, ensuring that the legacy of Morgan’s Cavalry would endure long after the last original rider had passed away. The Association later became incorporated as Morgan’s Men Association, Inc., formalizing its non-profit status and broadening its mission to include education, preservation, and public history.

John Hunt Morgan and His Command

General John Hunt Morgan was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1825 and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He became one of the most daring Confederate cavalry commanders, renowned for his fast-moving raids deep behind Union lines.

Morgan’s most famous action was the “Great Raid” of 1863, when he led nearly 2,500 cavalrymen across the Ohio River into Indiana and Ohio — the farthest north any organized Confederate force would penetrate during the war. Though the raid ended in Morgan’s capture, it became legendary for its audacity and mobility.

Morgan was later killed in Greeneville, Tennessee, in 1864, but his legend lived on through the devotion of his surviving men — and eventually through the organization that would bear their name.

Membership

There are two types of memberships available. Regular Membership is open to all members of the family of Luther Morgan, the grandfather of General. John Hunt Morgan, and to all descendants, both direct and collateral, of those who served honorably in the command of Gen. Morgan. Associate Membership is extended to all other persons who are interested in maintaining General. Morgan’s place in history.

Conclusion

The Morgan’s Men Association, Inc. continues to uphold the memory of one of the cavalry units of the Civil War. Founded by the men who served under General John Hunt Morgan, the Association aims to preserve not only historical artifacts but also the camaraderie and loyalty that defined “Morgan’s Men.”