Nearly 150 years ago today, McMinnville made the front-page of the New York Times when over 6,000 Union soldiers descended on the town in a surprise raid.
Their target was Gen. John Hunt Morgan, who had penetrated deeper behind Union lines than any other Confederate general.
“Morgan’s headquarters was where Central Church of Christ is located today,” said local resident George McGlothin, who has done extensive Civil War research on Gen. Morgan. “He married Mattie Ready who was from Readyville and they had a three-month honeymoon in McMinnville. Virginia French planned a big ball for them here. The Union army sent 6,600 troops here to capture him.”
According to the report in the New York Times, the Union troops arrived in McMinnville at 1 a.m. on April 22, 1863, “taking the place almost entirely by surprise.”
The report said the Union troops, of the Ohio Calvary, struck the railroad, destroyed the telegraph, and also destroyed bridges between Morrison and Manchester en route to McMinnville. A locomotive and various buildings were burned.
Gen. Morgan was sought by Union forces because of his march through Middle Tennessee. Union troops has obtained victories in Nashville and Shiloh, before the Confederacy struck back with a victory in Murfreesboro under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. Union soldiers captured during the battle in Murfreesboro were brought to McMinnville under Gen. Morgan’s supervision.
Gen. Morgan established such a stronghold in McMinnville, his brigade even published its own newspaper called The Vidette. According to the newspaper, it was “published occasionally as needed.”
During their surprise raid, Union troops were unable to capture Gen. Morgan in McMinnville, however McGlothin said they did find his wife.
“They ended up capturing Morgan’s wife around Sparta Street,” said McGlothin. “When they caught her, they called in a Union officer who told them to let her go. He said they weren’t in the business of capturing women.”
The New York Times story said Union soldiers were able to capture McMinnville without difficulty. Morgan was killed in Greeneville, Tenn.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Union raid on McMinnville, McGlothin will be holding an interactive play at his business, Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens. The show is set for Saturday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. It’s called “The Honeymoon Ball of Gen. John Hunt Morgan” and is meant to represent the ball thrown for Gen. Morgan by Virginia French.
McGlothin says the menu will include items served at the ball itself, based on detailed accounts from French’s diary. For reservations, call 668-4444.
Union raid captured McMinnville in 1863

