William Dorsey Crump is an historical person, as are the members of his family, the Clay family, and many others in the story. In the case of Robert Breckinridge and William Lloyd Garrison, I have quoted them directly from their own speeches and writings. I have relied extensively on Basil Duke’s first-person account, Morgan’s Cavalry, for much of the detail about Morgan’s movements and battles, as well as insights into Morgan’s thinking and character. Thanks to the National Park Service staff at Shiloh National Battlefield for their assistance in charting Morgan’s movements during the battle. Many other first-person sources are cited. However, in most cases the speech of historical individuals in the story is my own invention, and not intended to reflect the character or speech of the actual persons, which is largely unknown.
Luther and his slave family, along with Jenny Morton, Hiram Johannsen, and the events and staff at Kentucky Penitentiary are my own invention, though based on accounts of others.
Luther’s story is a composite of many first-person slave diaries and accounts. There is little accurate information on the treatment of slaves at Ashland, the Clay plantation, nor any extant record of a roster of their slaves. Many thanks to Eric Brooks, curator at Ashland, for his kind assistance on the plantation, the battle, and information on the Clay family.
Will had other brothers and sisters who were left out of the story. Julia and Albinia actually did none of the things in the story, but their characters are based on real women, Pauline Cushman and Delia Webster, who did carry out most of those actions.
Pvt. William D. Crump served in Co. C, 3rd (later designated the 7th) Kentucky Cavalry under Morgan. He enlisted in Central Kentucky (possibly Taylor County) on September 10, 1862. He was captured on July 19, 1863 Meigs County, Ohio, near Buffington Island. He was imprisoned at Camp Morton on July 23, 1863 where he is listed as age eighteen, 5’8” tall, light complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes. His residence is listed as Louisville and his occupation as farmer. He was transferred to Camp Douglas and arrived there on August 22, 1863. He was transferred to Pt. Lookout on March 2, 1865 and exchanged at James River, Vancouver, March 10, 1865. He appears on a list of patients at the Confederate Wayside Hospital in Farmville, VA, on March 15, 1865. Sources: Morgan’s Light Brigade by Dr. Dwight Watkins, Compiled Service Record for William D. Crump under 3rd Kentucky Cavalry.
William D. Crump later became a judge and founder of Lubbock and Shallowater, Texas. Will’s involvement in the earlier Lexington Rifles is fictional. He has no known living descendants.
His father Robert Crump was a farmer and merchant in Louisville. The real Albinia died in Cincinnati; no one knows the date. Julia, in the story, was a sister named Sara in real life—her name was changed to avoid confusion with Will’s mother. Sara and Albinia moved in with Lydia in Cincinnati after the war and faded from records. Albinia married a butcher.
Ben Drake, Jesse Davis, Tom Logwood, Archie Moodie and James West were all actual members of the Lexington Rifles, and served courageously under Morgan.
For all my African American readers, please note that the scenes and descriptions of mistreatment of slaves in the book are in the interests of historical accuracy, and in no way reflect an intent to disrespect African Americans. These incidents are based on biographies, letters, and notes concerning events that actually happened in the time period, though the characters are fictional. I believe we can rejoice in how far we have come from those days, yet look forward to how much more there is to do, as the divided races and groups in our country come together to reach “Across the Great Divide”.
The Civil War killed more Americans than World War II, World War 1, Vietnam War, and the Korean War combined—620,000 men. Some estimates are even higher—750,000 men. The Battle of Gettysburg alone killed more men than the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Mexican War combined. In 1860, the population of the United States was 27,489,561 free and 3,953,760 slaves. Twelve-and-a-half percent of the population were slaves. Approximately one in five adult white males in the United States at the start of the war died in the war. More men died of disease than bullets. Fifty-six thousand men died in captivity, many no better off than concentration camp survivors of World War Two.
Let us strive together never to repeat it.