20 Facts About Basil Duke

Basil Wilson Duke was a Confederate general officer during the American Civil War.

Basil Duke's most noted service in the war was as second-in-command for his brother-in-law John Hunt Morgan; Duke later wrote a popular account of Morgan's most famous raid: 1863's Morgan's Raid.

Basil Duke took over Morgan's command after Morgan was shot by Union soldiers in 1864.

Basil Duke's lasting impact was as a historian and communicator of the Confederate experience.

Basil Duke wrote numerous books and magazine articles, most notably in the Southern Bivouac.

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Duke's parents died during his childhood: Mary, when Basil was eight, and Nathaniel when Basil was 11; save for an instance in his Reminiscences, he seldom mentioned them.

Basil Duke attended Georgetown College and Centre College, before studying law at Lexington, Kentucky's Transylvania University.

Basil Duke quickly became the leader, despite being only 23 years old.

Basil Duke formed the organization into five companies and sought to acquire the federal arsenal in St Louis for the secessionist movement.

Basil Duke made a habit of placing secessionist flags at prominent locations, looking to start fights with pro-Union forces.

Basil Duke was indicted for arson and treason but managed to escape back into Kentucky.

Once back to Lexington, Kentucky, Basil Duke married Henrietta Hunt Morgan, sister of John Hunt Morgan.

Basil Duke was with Jefferson Davis shortly after the Confederate President fled Richmond.

Basil Duke loved fighting, was steadfast during difficult moments in conflicts, and was described as a "spit-and-polish" officer.

Basil Duke returned to practicing law later that year, with his primary client being the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

Basil Duke served as the Fifth Judicial District's commonwealth attorney from 1875 to 1880.

Basil Duke became greatly involved in writing the history of the Civil War and related topics.

Basil Duke helped to found Louisville's Filson Club in 1884, writing many of their early papers.

Basil Duke was named in the plot to assassinate the posthumously inaugurated State Governor, William Goebel for having allegedly attended a clandestine meeting at Galt House prior to the then state representative's untimely death, along with the U S Senator representing Kentucky, William Joseph Deboe, the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, John Marshall, John McDougal Atherton, Alexander Pope Humphrey, and David W Fairleigh.

Basil Duke was buried beside his wife in front of the John Hunt Morgan grave in the Hunt family plot in Lexington Cemetery.