Hero Of The ‘Lost Cause’

At C.H. Booth Library

Popular Civil War expert Bill Barrante will be returning to the C.H. Booth Library with four new topics. He will be speaking on three Tuesdays in April and one Wednesday in May. The public is invited to attend one or all of these free lectures pertaining to the Civil War.

The topic for Mr Barrante’s first talk on Tuesday, April 11, will be John Hunt Morgan, the Confederate raider, cavalier of the South, and hero of the “Lost Cause.”

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1825, John Hunt Morgan flunked out of college and soon found that he did not have the aptitude or the interest to be a scholar or a farmer. With the advent of the Mexican War in 1846 he found his calling and quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant under Zachary Taylor.

When the Civil War broke out years later John Hunt was more than willing to leave his business behind and take up arms. His regiment served independently and did not even have an official army uniform. This proved to be to their advantage as they wore light blue overcoats which covered their britches, allowing them to come up close to Union lines and ask for information on their enemy’s location.

This archetypal Southern gentleman was a colorful character with a sense of humor that stayed with him even during times of war. He also had a bit of a Robin Hood reputation, although he certainly was no saint. He so charmed the ladies that he was frequently invited in for tea. John Hunt Morgan was a Brigadier General who deserves to be much more than a footnote in our country’s history, and will certainly provide entertainment for all those who attend this very worthwhile program.

The talk will take place in the meeting room of the library at 7 pm. The program is free and refreshments will be served. Time will be set aside for questions. Don’t miss the chance to hear more about the war that some say has never really ended.