The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-18
THE MORGAN RAID.
Capt. Rankin Contributes Some Interesting
Points About Ohio Cavalry Troops.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In several
recent issues of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
/ have noticed number of articles written
about this raid, and with your permission
will give you summary of the part taken
by the Cd and 9TH Ohio Cav.
In the latter part of June and in July,
1863, these two regiments were brigaded to-
gether under Col. A. V KautZ, of the I'd
Ohio, commanding with Headquarters at
Somerset, KY, which is four miles north of
Stigall's Ferry, on the Cumberland River.
On the 4th of July, 49, started in pursuit
of John Morgan on his famous raid through
Kentucky. Indiana and Ohio. They fol-
lowed in his wake, arriving al Brandensburg,
KY. on the Ohio River, in time to exchange
few shots with Morgan. who had not lett
the river on the Indiana side.
There being no means of ferrying the ONO
River at that point, the column was headed
for Louisville, Ky.-they following the river
to that point, distance of 40 miles-where
they were furnished transports, not to be
carried to Madison, Ind, so miles up the
river nor to Cincinnati, 100 miles above
Mad son. nor to Portsmouth, no miles above
Cincinnati, as some of your correspondents
say but to land them at Jacksonville, Ind,
immediately opposite. Louisville, and from
there they struck the trail of the raiders and
! followed them to Burlington Island, march
ing every foot of the way.
What was done at Burlington Island by
these two regiments will give in the words
of Col. late Gen. A.V. Kau;z, of the Regular
Service, as was given to The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE some years ago, In communica-
tion from his pen. He said:
"The first time was allowed to take the
was some four miles in advance of HObson's
command, when / suddenly came upon Nor
CAMS command drawn up in line-of-battle
facing the river: the gunboats guarded his
| front at once formed a line-of-battle with
| the I'd and 7th Ohio Cav, and with one
piece of artillery, when we fred volley
| ito their rear, which they never returned,
but threw away their arms and broke for
| the woods and hills and rayines."
If there was any more firing at Buffing-
! toms Island after that / never knew OF 1t.
You will observe that the I'd and 18th were
not thrown out as skirmishers, as some OF
your Correspondents say, bat formed line-of-
| battle, with no skirmishers.
/ will here relate circumstance that /
have never seen in print, that occurred with
Sergeant of the 9Th Mich. Cav, which is q
coincident of a statement made of Sergeant
OF the 9th Mich. in your issue OF the 10Th
ult.
The Sergeant was hunting for stolen prop
erty thrown away by the raiders He was
going up dark, wooded ravine, when he
suddenly came upon BAIL Duke, his staff
and escort when someone said to him:
"Yank, if you will send commissioned
officer up here we would like to surrender
The Sergeant reported the fact TO Col. Gar
rard, of the 9TH Ohio Cav, who at once sent
Adj't T. F. Allen and Commissary of Sub
sistence John McCOlgin, both of the 18th,
and in few minutes the Johnnies came
marching in to the number of 40.
make the prediction that Morgan could
have been captured before he covered 100
miles of Ohio territory had Gen. Kautz been
allowed to take the advance as soon as the
raiders struck Ohio.
This is made for the reason that in the
County of Hamilton, the first County he
struck in Ohio, there were three companies
raised, A, Il, and c.; the second County
Clermont, from which Co. ID was raised, the
next County, Brown. from which Co. f my
own company was raised.
The next County was Adams, from which
Co. F was raised; from the next Counties
Scioto Jackson, and Vinton, came Co. G
from Gallia, l. and NJ; from Meigs, Co. X
from Washington, Co. H making distance
on the Ohio River of $50 miles, and through
all these Counties Morgan passed. ] should
have mentioned above that Athens furnished
Co. /.
1t will be readily seen that with the knowl
edge these men had of the country roads ant
by-ways they would soon have been in hi
front As Gel. Kauiz several times asked
the privilege Of taking the advance, it will
10 T. Il
he said: 1.-The first day ! was allowed t
take the advance brought Morgan to bay.
The reader will readily see from what ma
terial these forces were made when YOU TAX
into consideration the march from the 4th @
g Juiy to the 19th.-R. c. RANKIN, Captain, Co
: L, 18th Ohio Cav.