"Morgan's Men," a Narrative of Personal Experiences

In Short

This narrative is a transcription of an address delivered in 1919 by Henry Lane Stone, a former sergeant major in the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry. It details his transition from an ardent youth in Indiana to a combatant under the command of General John H. Morgan, his subsequent capture, daring escapes, and his eventual return to civil life. More than just a military record, the book serves as a late-life reflection on the lasting bonds of wartime service and the difficult, often poignant, process of national reconciliation following the conflict.

The Story

The narrative begins with a young Henry Lane Stone living in Indiana, an earnest believer in the cause of State rights, who chooses to cross the lines to enlist in the Confederate Army. His journey takes him to his native Kentucky, where he joins the cavalry under the charismatic leadership of General John H. Morgan. The early portion of the account captures the intensity of his first major engagement at the Battle of Hartsville, where he witnesses Morgan’s tactical success and experiences the gritty reality of camp life, including the looting of supplies and the writing of letters home that are intercepted by the enemy.

The arc of the story shifts significantly during the famous Indiana and Ohio Raid. Stone’s experiences here are defined by the physical exhaustion of the campaign and the perilous nature of cavalry warfare, culminating in his capture at Buffington Island. What follows is a harrowing sequence of imprisonment at Camp Morton and Camp Douglas. During this time, the narrative highlights the stark contrast between the author’s condition and his family life; while he suffers behind bars, his brothers serve in the Union Army. Stone’s ingenuity as a soldier persists even in captivity, as he manages a successful escape, embarking on a long, clandestine journey back toward the South, only to be recaptured in his very birthplace in Kentucky.

The story progresses through a series of narrow escapes and near-misses, including a tense flight from a prison transport and a desperate, disguised journey to Canada. During his period of exile in the North, Stone maintains his identity as a "Rebel" while navigating the bureaucracy of hostiles and detectives. Eventually, he returns to the field, serving under the remnants of Morgan’s command until the General’s death. The final phase of the narrative finds Stone following the path of destruction left by Sherman’s march through Georgia, living on minimal rations, and finally surrendering in Augusta in May 1865.

The concluding chapters step away from the battlefield to focus on the aftermath of the war. Stone recounts the fate of his comrades, the tragic death of his brother—a Union officer—from yellow fever, and his own humble beginnings as a clerk in a dry-goods store. The narrative ends on a note of reflection, as the aging veteran observes the shifting landscape of American politics, expressing pride in the unity of the nation and the service of a new generation in the Great War. It is a story of a life defined by conflict but tempered by the quiet, steady work of citizenship in a reassembled country.

How It Unfolds

The ideological divide The author explains his decision to leave his adopted home in Indiana to fight for the Confederacy, highlighting the personal strain of having brothers serving in the opposing Union army.

The baptism of fire Stone provides a vivid account of the Battle of Hartsville, describing the strategic precision of Morgan’s command and the sheer brutality of the short, sharp engagement.

Captivity and ingenuity The narrative turns to the harsh realities of prison life at Camp Douglas, where the author details the relentless hunger and the desperate, successful attempts of the men to break free.

The long journey home Stone describes his trek toward the South, his recapture in his childhood home, and his subsequent flight to Canada, where he hides in plain sight, dyed and disguised, to evade capture.

The final march The narrative concludes with the waning days of the war, as the remnants of the Confederate forces retreat, ending with the final surrender and the author’s transition into a civilian career.

The People

Henry Lane Stone serves as the primary lens through which the reader views the conflict; he is an observant, pragmatic narrator who balances a fierce loyalty to his chosen cause with an appreciation for the complexity of civil war. General John H. Morgan appears as the mythic, "matchless" leader whose daring tactics define the character of his command and whose loss serves as a pivotal moment of grief for his men. Col. George St. Leger Grenfell is a tragic, noble presence; his letters from imprisonment at the Dry Tortugas provide a haunting look at the human cost of the war and the arbitrary cruelty inflicted upon prisoners long after the fighting ended. Valentine Hughes Stone, the author’s brother, represents the internal divide of the war; serving the Union cause, he eventually dies from yellow fever while commanding a fort, embodying the personal tragedy that transcended political allegiance.

In Its Own Voice

The bombs fell thick and fast over our heads, while Morgan’s men yelled at every step, we all closing in on the Yankees.

In this passage, Stone captures the chaotic, auditory experience of the assault at the Battle of Hartsville.

I had on a suit of butternut jeans clothing, and in ten minutes after I had gotten out, the water had frozen and my clothing rattled like sheet iron.

Stone illustrates the extreme physical discomfort and freezing conditions he faced during his flight through Eastern Kentucky in late November.

My moustache and chin whiskers were dyed a deep black with nitrate of silver or some sort of preparation.

Describing his disguise while traveling through Covington to avoid detection, Stone highlights the lengths to which he went to return to the Confederacy.

What It's Really About

The central argument of the book is that the experience of war—specifically the shared hardships and dangers of military service—forges a connection that persists long after the political motivations of the conflict have faded. Stone posits that the same qualities that made men effective soldiers—restlessness, courage, and ingenuity—inevitably translate into the duties of citizenship in peacetime. The narrative grapples with the questions of loyalty and identity, specifically how one maintains honor when family members take up arms against one another. It is an argument for the essential continuity of the American experience, suggesting that the "Rebels" of the past eventually became the stewards of the country’s future, finding common ground through the demands of civil service and the shared memory of their sacrifice.

Why Read It Today

This narrative is essential for readers interested in the internal, personal geography of the Civil War. It is not a textbook history; it is a memoir that feels like a conversation across a fireplace. Those who enjoy the "lived" reality of the 19th century will appreciate Stone’s matter-of-fact descriptions of everything from the flavor of his rations to the specific ways he navigated the Northern rail system while being hunted.

Readers should be prepared for the author’s perspective as a former Confederate. His account reflects the attitudes and linguistic norms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his defense of his cause is presented with a firm, nineteenth-century conviction that may strike modern readers as both striking and jarring. There are no apologies here, only an honest, retrospective look at a soldier’s life. The book’s power lies in its precise, unadorned prose; Stone does not reach for epic metaphors, but instead tells his story with the steady, legalistic clarity of a man who spent his later years practicing law. What stays with you is not the grand strategy, but the small, human moments: the freezing clothes, the stolen overcoat, and the strange, quiet reunions of men who once tried to kill one another.