Morton C. Hunter
Encyclopedia
Morton Craig Hunter was a U.S. Representative
from Indiana
.
and knew the hardships of growing up in a pioneer home. His father John Hunter was a soldier in the War of 1812
and his Irish immigrant grandfather served in the Revolutionary war
. Morton Hunter graduated from the law department of Indiana University
at Bloomington in 1849.
After graduating he immediately married and practiced law in Bloomington. In 1858 he was elected to represent Monroe County
in the State house of representatives.
In the summer of 1862 in response to Lincoln's call for volunteers, he organized the 82nd Indiana Infantry
. On August 27, 1862 he was commissioned a colonel
by Governor Oliver Morton
. At the Battle of Chickamauga
when Confederate Gen. Longstreet
routed the right wing of the Army of the Cumberland, Hunter on his own initiative was the first officer to form a new position on Horseshoe ridge that was to become the line that saved the army from destruction. His commanding officer John Connell wrote of Hunter's stubborn resistance on that ridge "which truly and most fortunately changed the fortunes of that disastrous day, and saved the army from worse than defeat.". In the Battle of Missionary Ridge
Hunter's 82nd and the Ohio 99th
were the first two regiments to attack Bragg's center with orders to halt after taking the Confederate line below Missionary ridge. Not content to be subjected to murderous fire from the high ground, the attacking units charged the ridge, and Hunter's 82nd was the first of his division to gain the summit and occupy the confederate works. The initiative of his and Ohio units collapsing Bragg
's center what the pivotal moment of the battle. For his gallantry that day, Hunter received the commendation of his commanders. He was later promoted to command his regiment's brigade (First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps) under Gen. George Thomas
and led his unit on Sherman's March to the Sea
. At the end of the war he received a brevet commission as a brigadier general of volunteers. He was honorably discharged June 24, 1865.
Hunter was elected as a Republican
to the Fortieth
Congress (March 4, 1867-March 3, 1869).
Hunter was elected to the Forty-third
, Forty-fourth
, and Forty-fifth
Congresses (March 4, 1873-March 3, 1879).
After leaving office he operated a quarry in the Indiana limestone district.
He died in Bloomington, Indiana
, October 25, 1896 and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Biography
Morton Hunter was born in Versailles, IndianaVersailles, Indiana
Versailles is a town in Johnson Township, Ripley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,113 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Ripley County.-Geography:Versailles is located at...
and knew the hardships of growing up in a pioneer home. His father John Hunter was a soldier in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and his Irish immigrant grandfather served in the Revolutionary war
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Morton Hunter graduated from the law department of Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
at Bloomington in 1849.
After graduating he immediately married and practiced law in Bloomington. In 1858 he was elected to represent Monroe County
Monroe County, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 137,974 people, 46,898 households, and 24,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 306 people per square mile . There were 50,846 housing units at an average density of 129 per square mile...
in the State house of representatives.
In the summer of 1862 in response to Lincoln's call for volunteers, he organized the 82nd Indiana Infantry
82nd Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 82nd Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 82nd Indiana Infantry was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana and mustered in for a three year enlistment on September 8, 1862 under the command of Colonel Morton...
. On August 27, 1862 he was commissioned a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
by Governor Oliver Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton , commonly known as Oliver P. Morton, was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Indiana. He served as the 14th Governor of Indiana during the American Civil War, and was a stalwart ally of President Abraham Lincoln. During the war, Morton suppressed the...
. At the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
when Confederate Gen. Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
routed the right wing of the Army of the Cumberland, Hunter on his own initiative was the first officer to form a new position on Horseshoe ridge that was to become the line that saved the army from destruction. His commanding officer John Connell wrote of Hunter's stubborn resistance on that ridge "which truly and most fortunately changed the fortunes of that disastrous day, and saved the army from worse than defeat.". In the Battle of Missionary Ridge
Battle of Missionary Ridge
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...
Hunter's 82nd and the Ohio 99th
99th Ohio Infantry
The 99th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 99th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Lima in Allen County, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on August 26, 1862 under the command of Colonel Albert Longworthy...
were the first two regiments to attack Bragg's center with orders to halt after taking the Confederate line below Missionary ridge. Not content to be subjected to murderous fire from the high ground, the attacking units charged the ridge, and Hunter's 82nd was the first of his division to gain the summit and occupy the confederate works. The initiative of his and Ohio units collapsing Bragg
Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg was a career United States Army officer, and then a general in the Confederate States Army—a principal commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War and later the military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.Bragg, a native of North Carolina, was...
's center what the pivotal moment of the battle. For his gallantry that day, Hunter received the commendation of his commanders. He was later promoted to command his regiment's brigade (First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps) under Gen. George Thomas
George Henry Thomas
George Henry Thomas was a career United States Army officer and a Union General during the American Civil War, one of the principal commanders in the Western Theater....
and led his unit on Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
. At the end of the war he received a brevet commission as a brigadier general of volunteers. He was honorably discharged June 24, 1865.
Hunter was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fortieth
40th United States Congress
The Fortieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1867 to March 4, 1869, during the third and fourth...
Congress (March 4, 1867-March 3, 1869).
Hunter was elected to the Forty-third
43rd United States Congress
The Forty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1873 to March 4, 1875, during the fifth and sixth...
, Forty-fourth
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
, and Forty-fifth
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congresses (March 4, 1873-March 3, 1879).
After leaving office he operated a quarry in the Indiana limestone district.
He died in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, October 25, 1896 and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals