Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-29
How the News of the Proximity of
Morgan and his Band Was Receiv-
ed al Warren.

The news that the rebel Morgan and
his gang of horse thieves were in Column
biana county en- Sunday morning, appar-
emily moving in this direction, was r%eceiv-
ed here on Sunday afternoon at about >
O'Clock, Conductor Crawford coming with
a locomotive from Youngstown 20 notify
the citizens of this place. The bells were
rung, the cannon brought out, and the
quiet of the Sabbath gave place TO the
hustle and hurry incident to the gather
ing of armed men TO defend all that they
held most dear. A few messengers were
sent into the surrounding country,
but the notice was not general, neverthe-
less, but a few hours elapsed before
the stalwart farmers, each bearing the ri
fe he-well knew how to use. came pour
ing in, and all night, and in the morning
long after the news of the capture of the
rebel crew was confirmed, the stream was
unceasing.
At the sound of the cannon, the citi-
zens met together on the public square,
and a committee Of five were appointed
to suggest the best method of proceeding,
and they were 10 report as soon AS conve-
nient. They were o re:sdy. and re-
ported as follows:
That all men who could provide them
selves with horses and were willing 10 act
as cavalry, should report themselves at 6
o'clock TO Colonel R. W. Railiff, of the
I'd o. V. c., that all who would act AS in
fantry should report to Colonel J. F. As
per, late of the 9TH o. V. l., at the same
hour, and that the cannon should Ice in
charge of Lieut.. W. B. King and Thomas
Douglas. Colonel RatIiff directed that
couriS $ be sent ont on all the roads
leading towords Salem and New Lisbon,
and stationed at a distance four or Eve
miles apart, to be ready to bring any news
they might receive.
At 10 o'clock, news of the
capture of Morgan and the remnan of
his band was received, and the squirrel
hunters who first came in from the sur
rounding country, began to leave for their
homes, but through the night and the
next forenoon others were coming in and
going out, and it was not until late on
Monday afternoon that all had gone.
Two trains on the Atlantic & Great
Western came in from the east. filled
with men from the eastern part of the
county and western Pennsylvania. A
company of cavalry, commanded by Cap
tain Caldwell, formerly Of the I'd Ohio
Cavalry came from Pennington. An
other, commanded by Captain Pryor, (al-
so late of the I'd o. V. c. came from
Newton Falls, and from the same place
were a large number of infantry, and we
are told, one piece of artillery. well man
ned.
The news was received IN Mecca at 10
o'clock, and in four hours Captain A. W.
Jones was ON hand with about one hun
bred men, including two chaplains and
one surgeon. Niles, Girard Mineral
hlSe, anu bue tOHAshAPS
and Liberty sent large d%etachments to
Columbiana and towards New Lisbon, and
there was not a township but turned out
its men nobly. There could not have
been less than two thousand armed men
who reported themselves at this place
between the hours of 8 P. NJ. on Sunday,
and II A. NJ. on Monday.
When it is considered that the farmers
are in the midst of their harvest, that Ia
borers are scarce, and thousands of acres
of grass and grain will be injured by de-
lay in harvesting, the alacrity with which
the citizens of the county responded to
the sudden call upon them may well be
a source of pride to all concerned.