Autograph letter signed by Warren B. Ewing (1825-1876). Shelbyville, Kentucky, 20 July 1862. 6 pages, 8vo. With original envelope with Shelbyville cancel and red 3-cent stamp. 

John Hunt Morgan, a native Kentuckian, represented to many secessionists the hope that Kentucky could be claimed for the Confederacy. He had raised the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry and became its colonel on 4 April 1862. After fighting at the Battle of Shiloh the same month, Morgan began his first raid into Kentucky. In an attempt to force Kentucky to secede, he swept through the Bluegrass State with nearly 900 men.

This letter was written in the swirling fears that he was targeting Shelbyville by Warren B. Ewing (1825-1876), a jeweler and Kentucky native. A Union loyalist, Ewing writes with remarkable detail and wit about the myriad reactions of the Shelbyville citizens: "our town has been threatened with an attack from a portion of Morgan's guerrilla band it seemed necessary for every Union man to remain at his post as but very few of the secesh would take up arms to defend the place though all pretended to be very willing to do so. Some of them with but their shotguns fell into the ranks and remained firm until there was no further use for their remaining under arms, and are entitled to confidence. But those who lent their aid and influence to demoralizing and dispersing the aids who come in from the neighboring villages are not worthy of the respect of the negroes whom they regard the bone of contention."

He continues: "The news reached us Sunday morning that Morgan was within thirty miles of us, threatening Frankfort, Lexington, and Shelbyville. A portion of his command were within eighteen miles of us and had a fight with a few home guards near Camden. Preparations were made to give them the warmest reception we could, receiving one hundred and fifty recruits from the villages around us between Sunday night and Monday morning. That no enemy came Monday morning when we were anticipating them, the men were suffered to stack their arms and stroll about town and the consequence was that many got drunk and were so demoralized when a breathless (almost) courier came late in the afternoon with the news that twelve hundred cavalry were within six miles of and marching on Shelbyville, that they could not be managed. Several rumors followed soon after bringing the same tidings, men, too, who had been considered reliable."

"A general stampede of the hundreds of the country people who had been flocking in all day commenced. Sheer panic-stricken Union men and dear secesh such property holders gathered about our commander imploring him to lay down his arms and save the town from destruction by an over-powerful foe. Next two companies from Mount Eden and Harrisville made a grand skedaddle, some of them leaving their arms and taking to the field and woods, leaving only our home guard and a small band from Simpsonville to meet the Allens and their Cossacks. Amid the prayers of the property owners and flying families from the town, our young commander became embarrassed and finally concluded that he would make no resistance if they numbered over five hundred men." 

"A flag of truce was proposed but no man in authority and none of the Union leaders would bear to making terms with robbers as they regard Morgan's gang. However, Jno. P. Allen and Jno. Anthony Middleton, said to their shame and the humiliation of the people, sneaked out with a flag of truce on their own responsibility to deliver up the town, and after ding for miles vainly searching for somebody to deliver up to, they sneaked off home. Jno. P. Allen is an old secesh sinner and J.A. M., a young traitor lawyer of some promise. I am not prepared to say that his assumed responsibility will much advance in the esteem of the loyal people, notwithstanding his unequalled impudence & betrayal - a requisite trait to the lawyer."

He concludes: "Shelbyville is disgraced beyond a doubt. I am not sorry that they did not pay their respects to Shelbyville, but am truly glad that the brigand John Morgan was so routed yesterday morning near Paris and sincerely hope that his command will be annihilated or captured before the chase is over."

A very rare letter. Rarely are the perspectives of civilian combatants so eloquently recorded. Few firsthand accounts of the chaos of Morgan's First Kentucky Raid are known. Ewing's letter exemplifies the complicated loyalties of the border states, especially when faced with military pressure. 

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