Edward H . Hobson Edward Henry Hobson ( July 11 , 1825 – September 14 , 1901 ) was a merchant , banker , politician , tax collector , railroad executive , and an officer in the United States Army in the Mexican - American War and American Civil War . He is most known for his determined pursuit of the Confederate s during Morgan ' s Raid . Early life and career . Hobson was born in Greensburg , Kentucky . His father , Capt . William Hobson , was a steamboat operator and merchant . Hobson was educated in the common schools in Greensburg and Danville , Kentucky , and at the age of eighteen , went into business with his father . In 1846 , he enlisted in the 2nd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and served in the Mexican - American War . He was soon promoted to first lieutenant and fought in the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847 . He was mustered out of service four months later and returned home , where he resumed his mercantile business . He became a director of the Greensburg branch of the Bank of Kentucky in 1853 , and served as its president from 1857 until 1861 . He was married to Katie Adair , a niece of Kentucky Governor John Adair . Civil War . With the outbreak of the Civil War , Hobson organized and became Colonel of the 13th Kentucky Infantry , serving at " Camp Hobson " ( near Greensburg ) until he moved southward with General Don Carlos Buell ' s army in February 1862 . He commanded his regiment at the Battle of Shiloh with such success that he was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln for promotion to brigadier general . Before receiving this commission , he took part in the Siege of Corinth in Mississippi . Hobson then commanded a brigade at Perryville , but was soon relieved of his field command due to the poor condition of his troops . Finally receiving his commission as brigadier general , he was placed in charge of Union troops in his home state of Kentucky and ordered to watch the movements of Confederate Brig . Gen . John Hunt Morgan . In July 1863 during Morgan ' s Raid , Hobson with three brigades pursued Morgan through Kentucky , Indiana , and Ohio . He inflicted a severe defeat upon the raiders at the Battle of Buffington Island , where he captured most of Morgan ' s men . He was then appointed to the command of General Ambrose Burnside ' s cavalry corps , but owing to impaired health , he was unable to serve in that role . Hobson again commanded troops in repelling Confederate raids at Lexington , Kentucky , later in the war . Ironically , Hobson and about 750 men of the 171st Ohio Infantry were captured by Morgan in June 1864 near Cynthiana , Kentucky . He was able to negotiate his release . He commanded a brigade of Kentucky mounted infantry and cavalry at the Battle of Saltville in October . He mustered out of the service in August 1865 . Postbellum activities . Hobson returned home and engaged in business . He joined the Radical Republicans and unsuccessfully ran for clerk of the state Court of Appeals , a bitterly divisive campaign that foreshadowed the following year ' s elections for Kentucky ' s governor and congressional seats . His support of the controversial Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments cost him the election . Hobson was a candidate for the U . S . House of Representatives from Kentucky ' s 4th District in 1872 , but again was defeated . He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880 , serving as a vice - president of the convention , and was a strong supporter of Ulysses S . Grant ' s candidacy . President Grant rewarded Hobson by appointing him the district collector of internal revenue . In 1887 , he became president of the Southern Division of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway . He became very active in the Grand Army of the Republic , and died in Cleveland , Ohio , at one of their encampments . He was buried in the family graveyard in Greensburg , Kentucky . Hobson ' s Federal style brick home in Greensburg ( built by his father in 1823 ) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Of interest , the General ' s house was recently purchased by Erna Hay , who is currently restoring the house . An Internet journal of the restoration project can be found at