corydon battle park

By Arville L Funk

John Hunt Morgan's Bio

In July of each year, Harrison County commemorates the anniversary 

of the Morgan Raid through Indiana. The greatest resistance to Morgan 

and his Confederate Cavalry was put forth by Harrison County, and the 

two skirmishes at the Brandenburg Crossing and the Battle of Corydon 

claimed the lives of several of citizens of Harrison County. On each 

anniversary, it is appropriate that we once again remember these gallant 

citizens who not only died in the actual fighting, but died as a result of the raid.

The Battle of Corydon and the Battle of Gettysburg were two of the very 

few battles fought on Northern soil and both were fought at the same time.

The known casualties in the county in the actual fighting were eight killed 

and six wounded. In addition, there were two known deaths that were a 

direct result of the Raid in July, 1863.

The known deaths were:

LT. JAMES CURRANT (Current) - from Heth Township, wounded at 

Brandenburg Crossing July 8, 1863 and died the next day. He is buried 

at the Crossroads' Cemetery near Mauckport.

GEORGIA (JEREMIAH) NANCE from Laconia, killed at the Brandenburg 

Crossing. He is buried at tho Beswick Cemetery, (Radmaker Farm, east of Laconia).

NATHAN McKINZIE killed at the Battle of Corydon, July 9, 1863, buried 

at Buttontown Cemetery, 2 miles south of Greenville, Floyd County, Indiana.

HARRISON STEEPLETON killed at the Battle of Corydon, buried at Union 

Chapel, Boone Township.

COL. JACOB FERREE - wounded at Battle of Corydon, died several days 

later buried on his farm in Boone Township.

ISAAC LANG - died from a heart attack suffered in the retreat from the 

Battle of Corydon, July 9, 1863.

WILLIAM HETH - Toll Road keeper, killed at his toll gate on the east edge 

of Corydon on the New Albany Toll Road (S.R. 62). Killed July 9, 1863 and 

buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Corydon.

REV. PETER GLENN - Lutheran minister, killed of his farm, four miles south 

of Corydon on Road 135, buried at Jordan's Cemetery, just across the road 

from his farm.

The other two deaths that were a direct result of the raid were:

MISS ABBIE SLEMONS - died in August, 1863 as a result of the hardship 

and exhaustion during the raid.

MRS. CYNTHIA BOOKER DENBO - died of exhaustion on July 16, 1863 

as a result of the raid.

The known wounded and injured from the county were:

CAPT. WILLIAM FARQUAR - injured in an accident in the fight at the 

Brandenburg Crossing, July 8, 1863.

JOHN GLENN - son of Rev. Glenn, wounded in both logs in the fight at his 

father's house, four miles south of Corydon.

CALEB THOMAS - wounded in the Battle of Corydon.

Also there were three other county Home Guards wounded at the Brandenburg 

Crossing.

In addition to the known casualties, several deaths were reported in the county 

that could not be confirmed because of lack of accurate details.

The true Confederate losses in Harrison County will probably never be known. 

Official records state at least eight were killed and approximately forty were wounded.

The known Confederate losses in Harrison County were:

PVT. ALBERT WOMACK - 9th TN Cav., died of wounds suffered in the Battle 

of Corydon. Body buried of Cedar Hill Cemetery, Corydon, later returned to 

McMinnville, TN., his home.

PVT. JOHN DUNN - Co. D, 2nd KY Cav., killed at the Glenn house.

PVT. GREENE BOTTOMER - killed at the Battle of Corydon, buried at Cedar Hill 

Cemetery, Corydon.

CAPT. W. H. WILSON - Quartermaster, 1st Brigade, wounded in Brandenburg 

Crossing.

LT. P. H. THORPE - Co. A, 2nd KY Cav., wounded at Battle of Corydon.

PVT. ARTHUR JOHNSON - 2nd KY Cav., wounded at Battle of Corydon.

PVT. CHARLES BEST - 2nd KY Cav., wounded of Battle of Corydon.

PVT. LEN A. SHARP - Co. A. 8th KY Cav., wounded at Battle of Corydon.

PVT. R. S PORTER, Co. C, 2nd KY Cav., wounded at Battle of Corydon.

The other Confederate dead were probably buried at the old Edward Smith farm 
on the south hill, and now no traces remain of the old graveyard.

The old Presbyterian Church building, which stood on south Capitol 
Avenue was used as a hospital for Morgan's Confederate wounded and 
dying soldiers. That night, after the lost of the Confederate Raiders 
had galloped on north toward Salem, those wounded of Morgan's number 
who were left behind in Corydon were cared for by the townspeople 
until they were able to return south. As was told years ago by many 
of the older citizens of Corydon: "Those of Morgan's men who were left 
behind were nursed and cared for by the citizens of Corydon and not
one of Morgan's wounded were molested or mistreated by Corydon's citizens."