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Of the last to fall before the invincible foe was George J. Runyon, one of the dauntless band who rode with Morgan. After a lingering and painful illness, on the evening of June 5, 1915, he fell asleep. In the Soldiers' Home at Peewee Valley, Ky., that peaceful and beautiful haven where "the boys who wore the gray" may spend the evening of life, he closed his eyes on earthly scenes to open them in the "morning land." George J. Runyon, son of Asa R. and Mary Gilman Runyon, was born in Mayslick, Mason County, Ky., September 14, 1842. He enlisted in Company F, 3d Kentucky Cavalry, C. S. A., Col. R. M. Gano commander, under Gen. John Hunt Morgan. The first battle of importance in which George Runyon participated was that of Perryville and later that of Lexington, Ky. Many battles in which he followed this brave commander were fought in his native State, and then followed one of the most daring of Morgan's achievements, the battle of Hartsville, Tenn. He was taken prisoner July 5, 1863, at Woodburn, Ky. Escaping from prison, he was retaken five hours later. He was a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Louisville, and other noted prisons and was exchanged February 5, 1865, at Atk's Landing, on the James River below Richmond, He served in the trenches at Lynchburg, Va., and was engaged in gathering supplies for Lee's army when the surrender was made at Appomattox. And now, his earthly battles over, he has "fought the good fight" and "crossed over the river," where he sweetly rests "under the shade of the trees."
SOURCE: Confederate Veteran Magazine, August, 1915.
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