The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-12-24
Wheh War Came
IngO Ohio

story of how Gen. Jahn HI. Morgan,
of the Confederate Ahny, brought a
taste of the Civil War hto the North
The fighting, devastato Jon and de-
struction so far all had been in the |
southern states.
Morgan's plan was 4 daring and a |
brilliant one and but for high water
would have been SUCCESSFUL. Morgan
had orders to go whS. he pleased in
Kentucky, capture 4 Louisville, but |
was forbidden to cross the Ohio
River. The raid ito the North was
his own idea ndIwas in defiance of
orders. ~ Al
He crossed X d.mbAana River
July 2, 1863, With 346q rAen, had
sharp skirmisH with JydaAs csvahg
then was half way tq colapbSs- De-
fore Judah cbuld get his forces re-
organized. Next day he had fight
with a Michigan regiment at the
crossing of aGreen River, withdrew
and found another place to cross.
Morgan the4 hurried through Camp
bellstown I'd Lebanon and on to
Springfield I All in Kentusky9. ThssS
the southena general madef fdifefly
for Brandenhurg, go nFle4 Belov
Louisville on he Ohio Rfer!N
He already had sent spi Is into Ohio
and had expert kelegraphers tapping
the wires to keep Uniformed about the
strength and intentions of the enemy
and of its movements against him.
Morgan did not aackle Louisville
but captured train Afrom Nashville
while waiting 80 mi les from it to
cross the river. He cane to the Ohio
River July and captnred two pack
ct boats-the 81. j. McCombs" and
the "Alice Dean.
The Confederates we're about to
cross the river when N Indiana regi-
ment on their own SIDE of the river
began musket fire-aided by an old
cannon mounted on wagon wheels.
Two of Morgan's regiments already
were across the Ohfb when the little,
tin-armored Springfield" came down
river, suddenly slowed and began fir
ing. 1t did not stop the raiders.
The North hadathought little about
Morgan's raid hntil his men got
across the Ohie River. Then con-
sternation and amor spread fast and
wide. Fear was felt for Indianapolis
and the state atreasury. Cincinnati
feared for its banks and Columbus
was scared ABOUT the Ohio treasury
there. Alarm spread all the way to
the Great Lakes.
The raiders rapidly crossed In
diana, burning bridges, looting town
and overcoming small forces which
opposed it. Monday, July 13, Nor
gan reached Harrison, on the In
diana-Ohio line Only 1000 men
were left of Morgan's army. The
rest had been killed or captured in
skirmishes.
Morgan's men skirted Cincinnati,
crossed the Little Miami (Pennsyl-
vania) Railroad and arrived at Will
iamsburg, Clermonta County, by four
o'clock that afternoon.ss They burned,
destroyed or confscated everything
as they went along. They had come
80 miles from Sunman, Indiana,
where they had crossed the river, in
35 hours. The southernefs bivouaced
at Williamsburg that night and
Morgan slept in KainIS Inn, where
the towns lone bank now stands.
Next morning the lanhlord's daugh-
ter found burningF candle set on
Morgan's bed with tie covers wrap
ped around it so thaf the place would
be fired when the flame burned down.
Northern militia were thrown
around the capital at Columbus and
more We're scattered here and there
in the state. They were to head off
Morgan in front or to pursue the
raiders from behind. All through
southern Ohio companies We're mus
tered and hurried in special trains to
points of danger. Horses and cattle
were hurried to hiding in the woods
and silver plate, jewelry and valu-
ables We're buried. Many families
fled their homes TO places believed
more secure. One spinster took her
carriage horse into the house and
stabbed it in the parlor, locking and
bolting all doors and windows. Nor
gan's men then We're 40 miles away
and never came nearer.
Soon more than $4,000 militia, call
ed out by Governor Tod, were ready
to close in on Morgan's men from all
| parts of the state. The raid now had
become chase.
Horses and muchk plunder were
taken by the soldiers of both sides
but most was blamed on Morgan's
men. Anything not nailed down was
taken, calico being the most popular
loot. Most men had bolt of it tied
to their saddle.
Ohio militia were as crazy as the
raiders. Ohio soldiers followed Nor
gan and chopped trees down and laid
Il