Extremely rare autographed carte de visite while a prisoner of war at Fort Delaware!
Brother of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan
Colonel of the 14th Kentucky Cavalry
Captured during General John Hunt Morgan's 1863 Ohio Raid
(1836-1918) Born in Fayette County, Kentucky, he was the younger brother of the legendary Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, and the brother-in-law of Confederate Generals’ Basil Duke and A.P. Hill. Known as "Dick," he entered the Confederate service in 1861, and was appointed an aide on the staff of fellow Kentuckian, General John C. Breckenridge, with whom he served with at the battle of Shiloh. Soon afterwards he was commissioned major and assistant adjutant general and assigned to the staff of General A.P. Hill, serving with him in the Seven Days battles, at Second Manassas, Harper’s Ferry, Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg, frequently being commended for gallantry on the battlefield. In early 1863, he was appointed colonel of the 14th Kentucky Cavalry. He led his regiment during the great northern raid in 1863 under his brother General John Hunt Morgan, and was captured on July 19th with General Basil Duke, near Buffington Island, Ohio. He was confined at the Ohio Penitentiary for eight months, and was then transferred to Fort Delaware Prison.
Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 1/2 x 4 card. Superb chest up view in Confederate uniform with rank of colonel. Backmark: John L. Gilhon's Photographic Art Galleries, 1024 Chestnut St., Phila. Beautifully signed, presented and dated in ink on the reverse: Yr. Affec. Cousin, R.C. Morgan, Col. C.S.A., Morgan's Div. Cavy., Ft. Delaware, May 16/64.
John L. Gihon, who took this photograph, operated Gihon's Photographic Art Galleries in Philadelphia. He was contracted to photograph Confederate P.O.W.'s at Fort Delaware Prison. |