Kentucky’s Civil War leaders …
Shackelford was glad to see him, but
Morgan couldn’t return the compliment

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 37th in a series about Kentucky’s officers and battle leaders during the Civil War.)

Union Gen. James M. Shackelford made his Civil War claim to fame during the summer of 1863. That’s when he effectively ended Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s raids, capturing the Kentucky cavalry giant near Lisbon, Ohio.

Shackelford, a native of Lincoln County, studied and practiced law until the outbreak of the Civil War. He raised the 25th Kentucky Regiment of Infantry and was made colonel of the regiment. He was in the engagement at Fort Donelson, but lost his health and was obliged to resign his office in 1862.

Some time afterward, President Abraham Lincoln issued him special orders to raise a regiment of cavalry for Union service, which he accomplished in four weeks, choosing 1,200 first-class men who embodied what was known as the 8th Kentucky Cavalry. About this time, another Kentuckian – William Davenport – went to visit President Lincoln, and, on gaining an audience, stated his business:

“I have come to know if you would like to have Gen. (John Hunt) Morgan captured?” Davenport asked.

“I know of nothing,” Lincoln commented, “that would suit me better.” “Then,” replied Davenport, “we have a boy in our neighborhood, Col. James Shackelford of the 8th Kentucky Cavalry. If you will make him brigadier general, I guarantee that he will capture Morgan inside of six months.”

The President not only heard, but heeded, and on March 17, 1863, Shackelford was promoted to the position of brigadier general. In June 1863, Morgan started upon his memorable raid through Kentucky, Indiana and Iowa, and Gen. Shackelford started his pursuit. After a chase of 30 days and nights he came up with Morgan near Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, Sunday morning, July 26, and captured him with the remnant of his command.

Morgan and Shackelford had been fellow officers in the Mexican war. When the capture was made, Shackelford addressed Morgan in the following manner:

 “Gen. Morgan, I’m glad to see you!”

The latter replied, “I have no doubt of it; but, damn it, I’m sorry I can’t return the compliment.”

Shackelford’s wife was dying in 1864 and would leave behind four small children. The general felt it his duty, at the termination of the war, to resign although offered by the President the rank of major general. Consequently, he resumed the practice of law in Evansville, Ind., taking an active part in politics in the meantime. In 1880, he was elector of the State of Indiana at large, and by the Electoral College, selected and carried the vote of Indiana for James Garfield. In 1888, he was elected president of the Electoral College, and discharged the duties incumbent upon him with dignity. On March 26, 1889, he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as United States Judge for the Indian Territory.

Shackelford became attorney for the Choctaw Nation in 1893. He died in 1907 at the age of 80 and is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.