Gen. John H. Morgan

Confederate General John Hunt Morgan was expelled from Transylvania University for boisterous behavior. He fought in the Mexican War with Zachary Taylor, became a successful hemp manufacturer, then joined the Confederate army.

In 1862, he led a band of Confederates to capture a small federal garrison in Gallatin, Tenn., north of Nashville. The goal was to cut off Union supply lines. Gallatin was a vital hub for supplies between Louisville and Nashville.

Morgan’s men captured the Union soldiers, burned the depot and destroyed an 800-foot railroad tunnel by setting fire to a train loaded with hay and pushing it into the tunnel, which eventually collapsed.

Source: The History Channel