Basil W. Duke
Basil Wilson Duke (May 28, 1838 – September 16, 1916) was a lawyer in Kentucky and a Confederate general officer during the American Civil War. Afterward, he achieved renown as a historian. His most notable role in the war was second-in-command to his brother-in-law John Hunt Morgan. Duke later wrote a popular account of what was called Morgan's Raid (1863). He took over Morgan's command in 1864 after U.S. soldiers killed Morgan. At the end of the war, Duke served among Confederate President Jefferson Davis's bodyguards after his flight from Richmond, Virginia, through the Carolinas.
Basil W. Duke | |
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Duke in uniform, c. 1862 | |
| Birth name | Basil Wilson Duke |
| Born | May 28, 1838 Georgetown, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | September 16, 1916 (aged 78) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Buried | Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Allegiance | Confederate States |
| Service/ | Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Unit | 2nd Kentucky Cavalry 9th Kentucky Cavalry |
| Commands held | Morgan's Raiders |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War
|
| Other work | lawyer, lobbyist, writer |
Duke has had lasting influence as a historian who recounted the Confederate experience. As a historian, he helped to found the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky, and started efforts to preserve the Shiloh battlefield. He wrote numerous books and magazine articles, most notably in the Southern Bivouac. At his death, he was one of the last few high-ranking Confederate officers. Historian James A. Ramage said of Duke, "No Southerner was more dedicated to the Confederacy than General Basil W. Duke."