John Hunt Morgan Escapes Prison: Confederate Raider Breaks Out
Morgan didn't pick the lock. He dug. Using table knives and air vents, he and six officers tunneled out of the Ohio Penitentiary — a place officials called escape-proof. Twenty-six days after capture, Morgan surfaced in a prison yard, scaled two walls, and vanished into Cincinnati. He crossed into Kentucky within days. The North erupted in embarrassment. But here's the twist: Morgan's daring escape made him a legend, yet his military effectiveness never fully recovered. Fame replaced focus.
November 27, 1863
163 years ago
Key Figures & Places
American Civil War
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Confederate States of America
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John Hunt Morgan
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Ohio Penitentiary
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American Civil War
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Confederate
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United States
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Ohio
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Robert E. Lee
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Southern United States
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Volleyball
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John Hunt Morgan
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Ohio Penitentiary
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Battle of Mine Run
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George Meade
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Federación Argentina de Voleibol
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