Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-08-05
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morgan,s Raid through. morgan Comfy.
! MoCoNHELsvlLLn, Quo, July 9glh, 1869,

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Morgan's Raid through Morgan Comfy.
. .4.- Agt fJis1 --T fl l,j9i gesyea. !. m
MoCoNNELsvlLLE, oMo, July 2sih, 1863.
EDIroR STATEsMAN:--Regard for the truth oi
history seems to require further statement Of
facts connected with the. ."grest raider's'' pass.
age through this county, as we'll 90 those Of
been officially stated, by himself, In bis report
to Gov. Tod. ''A "1E oiIhfy1iA
On Wednesday evening. the 22i Of July, re.
ports Of the approach Of MoEgan's band reached
this place, and scouts we're sent out on the roads
southwest. Before midnight II was knoton by
portion of those scouts that Morgan had passed
PoFtersville, near the west line Of this county,
aud was heading toward Eaglesport. These
facts we're dispatched to this place, and thence
with all haste to Windsor, at which place they
were delivered to Col. Hill, who, with his com.
mand, had arrived on the steamboat "Jonas
Powell" some hours previous. Col. Hill re-!
ceived this positive information before three
O'Clock A. NJ, on the 23d.l Why he did not
leave there before seven o'clock isto those "out
side of military circles" q perplexing question.
Early after daylight news came down that Nor.
gan was on the west side of the river at or near
Eagesport.- Citizens, with such arms as they
could procure, rushed up on both sides Of the
the invaders In check until the forces under COL
Hill, who had long been Justly expected, .shonld
arrive. The numbers, pluck and energy were
there, but the squirrel and bird guns could
not avail against the long range and mimic ball
arms of the enemy. i5-f
Rumor with her hundred tongues, proclaimed
that the citizens were driven back, and that the
rebels were cfoeslng and moving down In this
direction, and yet no boat or soldiers from be-
| low. Between eight and nine O'Clock, the cheer
| ing news came up that the forces were diaem-
| barking mile below town. In O short time
after landing, the artillery with their support-
inp columns Of sturdy and well armed Infantry,
dsshed into our town at ddouble quick" pace,
and presenting q "business likev appearance
which was most gratifying to our citizens. One
peace of artillery With the larger portion OF
the infantry proceeded rapidly up the river,
while the other piece with its supporting COM
many we're thrown forward up the ZAnesville
ridge road 80 as to intercept the raiders II they
should attempt to,move from ther river eastward.
Within one hour alter they got on their way,
and when they had proceeded about three miles
up the ridge road, they had reliable information
from the front, that the main body of Morgan's
forces had crossed the Zinesville road about
| four miles in advance, and were moving east.
ward, but that rebel skirmishers 10 considerable
numbers had been thrown out south Of Morgan's
line Of march, and were thieving amongst the
farmers of that vicinity. rrHe.. .slf l,.
| At point near five miles from this pla e,
two citizens who had been up the road come
distance In advance, returning met our artille
ry and their supports, and reported that they
| had seen rebel scout who had eDdeavored to
draw them forward to point near which was
situated O thicket OF bushes, and that his press.
ing invitation had been declined. Immediately
a halt was commanded, the word ''unlimber'
given, and at once that fashionable and (.c
Il YOUR correspondent delightfuD process OF
"shelling the woods" was commenced. Nov
must again refer to points of time. At least
two hours had elapsed from the time that the
main body of Morgan's men he'd crossed the
| Zanesvile road before the shelling had com
| menced, and that half an hour more had passed
lbefore the troops from the river came upon the
ridge road and united with those who came d.
j recily up that road. Shortly after uniting all
moved forward and took position on the right
| 10 field and fred at intervals. If, upon fe-
ceiylng the dispatches from this place at the
time he did receive them, aud the truth Of which
i he was not warranted In disregardng, Col. Hid
had promptly moved up With hls command,
he could have been at Eaglesport In time
to have captured Morgan or repulsed him
/ and thrown him back upon Shackleford, who
vas oae In his resr, and thus secured his de.
struction. II he had moved promptly up, the
forces sent up the ridge road alone could have
been in position, In case Morgan succeeded 10
crossing, to have crushed him In the defles be.
fore he could have reached the ridge eroad, and
thus have secured that victory which was due
/ TO the occasion, and the honor of which Col.
| Hill should have seized on behalf of his COM
mand. and the patriotic citizens of the valley.
In the Ohio STATE Journal Of the 18th inst,
find the official report Of Col. Hill, addressed
20 Gov. Tod. This report, 90 far as II pretends
to give ON account Of what transpired after HE
command passed this place, is In direct con.
Alct with all the material facls connected with
/ the case. s, s-. 49, -.
The readers of that report will be surprised
TO learn that, except akirmishere, Morgan's
forces had crossed the road and moved east.
ward, at least two hours before Col. Hill came
| mn TO the ridge road that he did not succeed
in fauklng him that he did not open upon
him that he did not throw bis entire force in
| to confusion that the enemy did not throw
| away their arms or clothing, etc In short,
that Col. Hill did not see MoFgans forces, fight
them, rout them, flank them, or pursue them ;
\ and these negative facts are known TO hunereds
who were Witnesses Of what took place there.
Col. Hill's report is simply an attempt 70 COM
pliment himself at the expense OF Truth, honor,
and military propriety. : 'u5 90 3-1s' '-'sA
Col. Hill gives no report of killed, wounded
i or missing on either eide. Mr.sAndrew Fouts,
an old citizen Of this county, who was pressed
into the rebel service as guide, and went with
| thou, 90 for 90 CunabeplAnd. has retusned with
out any knowledge Of Col. Hill's reported bat
tie. Hon. Judge Evans, Of Putnam, who was
taken prisoner some distance west Of the river,
and was vito them when they crossed, and for
twenty miles east, may be referred to for proof
| of much have stated.
win only add, that IL any portion Of the
foregoing should be deemed of interest to your
readers, 1t 70 at your disposal.
| AN EYEWITNESS. q