Charles Hanson made name at Lebanon,
held in high regard at his death in 1875

By BRYAN BUSH
Bugle Staff Writer

Many Civil War readers have heard of Lt. Col. Charles S. Hanson, the 20th Kentucky, and the battle that took place in Lebanon on a hot day in early July 1863.

The Battle of Lebanon did not make the newspapers, as a couple of days earlier, the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg took place, which were huge victories and in the East and West for the Union.

Unlike his brother, Confederate Gen. Roger Hanson, Charles cast his lot with the Union and was mustered in at Smithland in January 1862 and named lieutenant colonel of the 20th Kentucky Infantry. The Clark County native took command of the 20th following the fall of Fort Donelson the following month.

His first real taste of war took place at Shiloh where Hanson with about 300 men in his regiment, was slated to be held in reserve, but was immediately ordered forward and to the left to support and prevent the turning of Col. Jacob Ammen’s left flank.

At the conclusion of the battle, Col. Sanders Bruce wrote that the 20th was in full range of the enemy’s fire and “at all times maintained their formation with the steadiness and tenacity becoming veterans ... Hanson deserves very high commendation for the manner in which he managed his regiment at this crisis.”

After Shiloh, Hanson moved with the army to Corinth, Miss., and was involved in the siege of Corinth, where he and his men took part in many skirmishes.

In August 1862, the regiment moved with Gen. Don Carlos Buell to Kentucky and marched from Louisville to Perryville. It engaged in the skirmishing of the Battle of Perryville on Oct. 8, then moved in pursuit of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg’s army going as far as Mt. Vernon. It then marched through Somerset and Glasgow to Nashville and remained there until the month of December, when it was ordered to Bowling Green. Hanson’s men guarded the railroad at various points until about the first of July, when the regiment was sent to Lebanon. It just so happened Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan was headed in this same direction on his famous July 1863 raid.

In the ensuing battle, Lt. Thomas Morgan, who was Gen. Morgan’s brother, was shot through the heart during the final charge on the depot and fell dead in the arms of another brother, Calvin.

By early afternoon, Hanson’s men were running out of ammunition, having fired 125 rounds per man. They were worn out and most of their weapons were badly fouled. After a valiant stand lasting almost seven hours and against overwhelming odds, Hanson surrendered.

When it was discovered Thomas Morgan had been killed, Gen. Morgan’s men were overcome by emotion and were going to kill Hanson and his troops, but John Hunt, still grieving and in shock over his brother’s death, rode out in front of his men and, at gun point, told them he would shoot anyone who tried to harm Col. Hanson or any of his soldiers. Laying down their arms, Col. Hanson and his men were paroled. As he was leaving the building, Morgan turned to Hanson and said, “Charles, when you go home, if it is any source of gratification to you, tell Mother you killed brother Tom.”

John Hunt and Thomas Morgan knew Charles before the War, when they had been friends.

Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside was very upset with Hanson for being paroled on the spot at Lebanon, telling Col. Hanson he should have waited until he got to City Point. Burnside put Hanson under arrest and sent him to Louisville to do provost marshal duty. Hanson objected, stating he was a paroled prisoner and should not be forced to perform such duty. His objections were overruled and Hanson was forced to take the post under penalty of court martial and arrest if he refused. Burnside sent Hanson to Camp Nelson without arms where he was then given garrison duty and finally notified that he was officially exchanged.

On Dec. 29, 1863, Hanson was promoted to colonel and given a new command, the 37th Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry. In March 1864, Hanson and the 37th were ordered to Columbia for the purpose of moving into eastern Kentucky to pursue John Hunt Morgan and his raiders.

Hanson’s brigade fought Morgan and his troops through Mt. Sterling and on toward Cynthiana. At Saltville, Va., Hanson suffered a severe hip wound that damaged part of his spine. He was treated at Emory and Henry Hospital as a Union prisoner and was moved to College Hospital in Lynchburg. On Oct. 12, it was reported Col. Hanson had died. The Colonel was surprised as he was very much alive, despite his severe wound.

An officer with John Hunt Morgan’s command charged Hanson with cruelty to Confederate prisoners and demanded he should not be paroled. The charges were not upheld, however, and Hanson was transferred to Libby Prison in Richmond, Va., where he was finally paroled March 6, 1865.

After the war, Hanson returned to Kentucky and made an unsuccessful run for Congress. He then moved to Paris and resided there until his death on Nov. 8, 1875. Hanson was regarded as a truly great soldier and worthy of praise. In the November 16, 1875, issue of the Kentucky Yeoman, the paper declared Hanson “a fine disciplinarian, and was very popular of his soldiers. He had a great dash and decision of character ... Few men had finer social qualities, and no one better deserved the high character that he enjoyed for honor and integrity. Of a quick, active intellect, a lively, vivacious disposition and possessed of much ‘Bon Hommie’ and a fine sense of humor … he had great popularity. He was a brave, gallant gentlemen, and a true friend, a kind husband and affectionate father.”