USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > Steubenville > Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th > Part 25
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and did things better. This surprised the cavalryman who lowered his gun and said "Why what on earth is the matter with you?" Surles replied, "If I have to tend office all day and go round mending wires all night, I don't care how soon the whole thing goes to destruction." Thinking that they had met an overworked operator who was in a bad humor, the cavalrymen rode away advising them to bear up, thit things would soon be better. The "repairs" were then quickly finished by a large section of wire being rolled up and hidden in a neigh- boring cornfield. They returned to the hotel with the conviction that if they cap- tured a train the next morning, word to that effect could not be sent from Atlanta. But the next morning brought a sad dis- appointment. Instead of the expected en- gineer there was word that he had been sent to another road to assist in trans- porting troops in anticipation of the battle of Pittsburgh Landing. There was not an engineer in the party and to forcibly im- press one was out of the question. There was but one thing to do, ummely get back to the Union lines as quickly as possible. The Jefferson contingent waited until the next morning. the others having preceded them. They left Atlanta on a mixed truin, and stopped an hour at Big Shanty, of which we shall hear more later. While there they watched a Confederate instruction camp, and after starting away n brakeman came into the car saying "We've got some Yankees out here." Thinking the first party might have been captured Holliday and Hawkins stepped out to investigate but found only strangers. They arrived at Chattanooga in the evening where the party separated as the more perilons part of their journey was before them. Two went towards Tracy City and Manchester, and Holliday and Hawkins went by train to Stevenson, where they began their foot travel through the mountains passing the university at Sewanee. They were helped by a Union man who urged them not to re- turn South. After traveling some forty miles farther and meeting with a series of
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adventures they reached the Union lines, where they met their comrades.
Not discouraged by his first failure An- drews was determined to make another ef- fort with a larger foree, this time taking an engineer along. He had a conference with General Mitchell on April 7th, the day of the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, when further plans were matured. It was too late to attain the special object of the first expedition, but could East Tennessee be isolated there was good chance of the cap- ture of Chattanooga which was the key to all that region. None of the original four from this county volunteered in the second expedition, one reason among others being that some of them at least had lost confi- dence in the ability of Andrews to conduct such an enterprise successfully, and the re- sult proved they were right, although any- body might have failed. Orders were sent to the three Ohio regiments of Sills' bri- gade to have a man selected from each company for the second expedition. Cap- tain Sarratt was not asked to select one as he was opposed to any of his men going, but William Pittenger had volunteered through other sources, and Charles P. Shadrack from Company K. On the eve- ning of April 7 the party met with their leader abont a mile east of Shelbyville, Tenn., where plans were made and the company broke into small detachments, to reassemble four days later at Marietta, Ga,, a railroad station a few miles north of Atlanta. Afterwards Andrews changed the meeting time to a day later, the first fatal error. Some failed to reach the rendezvous, but twenty gathered there including their leader. Tickets were purchased and the party boarded the northbound train for Chattanooga the next morning, dressed, it is scarcely necessary to say, in citizens' clothes. Passing Kenesaw Mountain, de- signed to become historic, Big Shanty, eight miles distant was reached, where the train stopped for breakfast. The con- ductor, engineer and many of the passen- gers got off, when Wilson W. Brown and William Knight, engineers of the party,
mounted the engine with a fireman, un- coupling the rear coaches leaving three empty baggage or box cars attached to the engine, into which the raiders tumbled. The train was off in a flash, and everything promised success, although the morning was wet, and the road blocked by delayed trains, of which the raiders knew nothing. The previous day was fine and all trains were on time. They stopped for wood and water, telling everybody that they were rushing powder through for Beauregard, and also delayed to cut telegraph wires and tear up ties for bridge burning. At Etowah, about fifteen miles north they saw the Yonah, an old locomotive with steam up. but did not disturb it, and at Kingston, thirty miles north, were delayed over an hour. Four miles above King's they stopped to ent the telegraph and take up a rail when they were startled by the whistle of a pursuing train from the south. When the situation at Big Shanty was realized W. A. Fuller, the train conductor, and Anthony Murphy, a machinist started after the raiders, on foot amid the somewhat derisive laughter of the crowd. Finding a hand car they used it, but just before reach- ing Etowah they were ditched by the break in the track made by the raiders. They reached the town, however, where they took the "Yonah," and securing some soldiers started to Kingston. Here they arrived four minutes after the raiders had left, and getting another engine and car started ahead. The race for life was now on, and although the raiders had broken a rail the pursners stopped in time to avoid a wreck. Another feat of the kind was attempted and with proper appliances might have succeeded, but there was not time to do the work, and the rail was only beut. The raiders dropped two of their three cars, but the pursners pushed them ahead to Resaca, where they were dropped. The raiders stopped now and then to ent a tele- graph wire in order that no word might be sent ahead, and ties were tumbled out the rear end of their box ear to wreck the pur- suing train. There never was a race of that
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kind before or since. As the pursuers had to stop to pick up the ties the raiders had time to get some wood and water, and an attempt was made to fire some of the bridges, but what would have been effort- ive the day before was now prevented by the rain. The trains ran through Dalton and the tunnel north of the town, but the situation was now becoming critical. The men got on the tender, and after the last ear had been set afire it was dropped in the middle of a covered bridge, but the Con- federates pushed right in and pushed the car ont. Within eighteen miles of Chattu- nooga fuel give ont, steam went down and the "General," the engine which carried the party wus "dead." It was believed then and since by those competent to judge that had the party kept together and made for the mountains all or nearly all might have esenped. as they were strong enough to keep their pursners at bay. But the fatal order was given for every man to look out for himself, the company was con- verted into a disorganized moh which was hunted down like rabbits. Every man was captured and treated as a spy. Andrews and seven others, including Shadrack, were exeented, among whom was supposed to be Pittenger, but he lived to endure the worst horrors of southern prisons and afterwards wrote a full history of the enterprise. Eight of the renmining fourteen made a daring and sneressful attempt to escape, and the others remained in prison nutil, by special efforts of Secretary Stanton they were ex- changed in March, 1863. They were roy- ally received at Washington, and were the recipients of rewards and promotions.
THE MORGAN RAID.
The second instance to which we have referred is the celebrated Morgan raid which furnishes the only battles fought on Ohio soil during the war. In June, 1563, General Bragg in command of the Con- federate forces in Kentucky considered himself in a very critical position, and de- sired to retreat to some point near Chatta-
nooga, where he could fight a battle on his own ground and conditions. But with Rosecrans at his rear and Burnside and Judah on his Hanks, such a retreat would be extremely hazardons, unless indeed the Federals could have their attention oreu- pied in some way that would prevent them from closing in on him. This task was in- trusted to Gen. John 11. Morgan, a dashing cavalry lender, who with a comparatively small force seemed ubiquitons, aud cer- tainly gave the Federals plenty of occupa- tion. Much of his success was due to the fact that he operated in a territory with which he was entirely familiar and among a people where he could find plenty of sympathizers, so he was as difficult to catch as the Irishman's flee, and the Federals wore as helpless as Spanish gens d'armes in the homes of mountain brigands. But Morgan's snecess led him to evolve a greater scheme, which was to invade the North and this draw Burnside after him, while he would make n grand raid, living off the country, and perhaps form a june- tion with Lee, who was already marching into Pennsylvania. Bragg pronounced the scheme chimerical and forbade its execu- tion. But Morgan, although he claimed the privileges of a regular soldier when raptured, was a sort of free lance, and working his way northward he reached Brandenburg a short distance below Lonis- ville on the Ohio River on the night of July 7. Here were seized two steam-boats, with which he crossed the Ohio the next day, and landed on the Indiana shore with about 3,000 cavalry or mounted infantry and four pieces of artillery. A diversion towards Louisville prodneed a seare in that city which detained there a couple of gun- boais that might have brought his enter- prise to naught. As there were no organ ized troops in front of him the raid at first was n sort of pienie, and some of the scenes of pinnder related by Basil Duke, Morgan's biographer, partake strongly of the Indierons. One man carried a bird cage with a couple of canaries in it for two days. Another carried a chafing dish until an
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MAIN STREET, SMITHFIELD
MAIN STREET, RICHMOND
FINDLEY STREET, LOOKING NORTH, TORONTO
SUTHERLAND MILL, AT DILLONVALE
SITE OF HOWELLS CABIN, WILLS CREEK NEAR STEUBENVILLE
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officer made him throw it away, and one slung seven pairs of skates about his neck. These instances might be multiplied in- definitely, although it must be said in justice to the invaders that there was little of that wanton burning and senseless destruction of private property which so often marks the track of a moving army. Several surprises awaited them. One was the number of men they met al- though they carefully avoided the large cities, and another was the richness of the country, the fields of waving grain, the gardens and the orchards made the country at that season of the year seem like para- dise. In contrast with the south every- body seemed prosperous with everything to eat and wear. From what they had heard at home they had been led to believe that the discontent at the north was gen- eral and that there would be uprisings in their favor, but of that there was none, and Duke somewhat plaintively remarks, "the 'Copperheads' and 'Vallandighamers' fonght harder than the others." Morgan carefully kept away from the railroads ex- cept when he crossed them to ent wires or burn bridges, and felled trees and placed other obstructions across the highways to hinder pursuit as much as possible. Then as he passed through the country he would drop his jaded and worn out horses and take the best stock on the farms. so he was able to move with a celerity only checked by the endurance of his men. There was no organized force in front of him, and as those behind could not catch up he had a pretty free course. It must be remem- bered that Indiana and Ohio were not then gridironed with railroads to anything like the extent as at present. A portion of the 23d corps of mounted infantry followed Morgan from Kentucky, but for the rea- sons given could not overtake him until he was brought to bay. Nevertheless he created quite a scare. His force was greatly exaggerated and Governors Mortou of In- diana and Tod of Ohio, called ont the state militia, in which call Jefferson County was not included, it not being supposed that
Morton would reach here. But he was quicker than the militia, and by the 13th he was within thirteen miles of Cincinnati, which city was considerably alarmed. But he had no notion of trying to enter the city, and marched almost directly east to Buff- ington Island above Pomeroy, where he was brought to bay and attempted to cross the river in which he signally failed. In the engagement here, Judge Daniel MeCook, father of the late George W. MeCook and brother of Dr. John MeCook, of Steuben- ville, was killed, he having already lost two sons in the war. Here between 600 and 700 prisoners were taken and about 300 managed to get across the river into West Virginia while Morgan with 1,100 retreated back into the country closely pursued by Hobson's cavalry. It was now a race across the country, and Morgan's force probably did not exceed 600 when he entered this county at Adena on the western border on the early morning of Saturday the 25th. He had spent the previous day in Harrison County which he entered from Guernsey passing ahont six miles southeast of Cadiz, reaching Georgetown about three miles from Adena at 7 in the evening, where he remained until 10 p. m. when he moved on, spending the night between there and Adena.
Smithfield was the next towu, distant six miles from Adena in an air line, and abont nine miles by two different roads, one via York and the other via Mt. Pleas- ant road, which veered to the west before reaching the latter town. Firing was heard in the direction of Adena, and as it was known that Morgan was in the neighborhood with Shackleford close he- hind him the martial ardor of the citizens was aronsed, and a company of forty armed men marched out to meet the invaders. They had no officers and not knowing by which road Morgan would come some of them took the York road and others the Mt. Pleasant. The rebels had taken the latter, intending probably to go down Short Creek to the river and attempt to cross at Warrenton, but changed their minds and
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went northward towards Smithfield. Here prevent any news of their movement. and the late Joseph MeCleary related a hair breadth escape with the bullets whistling around him. they met the squad from that town, and unceremoniously took most of them pris- oners, breaking their guns aud putting their leader, Captain Collins, on a mule. Thus they marched through the maiu street of Smithfield, and compelled Cap- tain Collins and his associates to annonnce to the people that these were Hobson's men, and to give them plenty to eat and trent them well. The citizens in their loy- alty brought out a plentiful supply of pro- visions, which they freely gave to their . reached this section there was no organi- linngry enemies, and did not discover the deception until it was too late to remedy it. Morgan moved on with a supply of fresh horses, allowing his prisoners to escape, and when Hobson's men appeared in the afternoon, tired and hungry, they found the larder swept clean. A black man was shot here in the arm.
The next point was New Alexandria, which was reached about noon. Here the raiders were only four miles from the river, but for reasons which will appear later they turned north towards Wintersville. The raiders began plundering the store of J. C. Gralnm at New Alexandria but Mor- gan stopped them and directed Mr. Graham to close his store. At one o'clock p. m. a dis- patchi received in the city announced that Morgan had crossed the Steubenville and Indiana railroad at Alexandria station, seven miles from Steubenville, where he out the telegraph wires and burned two bridges. He then marched up Dry Fork, halting on Nathan Porter's place and tak- ing him prisoner, releasing him the follow- ing day, and stopping for a late dinner at the houses of John Hanna and John Stone. Mrs. Hanna fled to a wheat field but Mor- gan sent for her telling her thint she would not be harmed as all they wanted was something to eat. Mrs. H. pointed out where the provisions conld be found, and while the General took a short sleep which he badly needed the meal was prepared. He thanked Mrs. Hanna and offered to pay her. Anyone suspected of going toward the river was taken into custody to
While all this activity was going on. back in the country business was practically suspended in the city in order that pre- parations might be made to repel, and if possible capture the invaders. As has been stated Governor Tod's proclamation call- ing out the Ohio militia did not include Jefferson County, so that when the raiders zation to oppose them. On Friday after- noon, when it was apparent that Mor- gan was heading this way, the sound of the old Court House bell brought the citizens together and a temporary militia organization was formed, with Captains Frank Prentiss, Walden, Bur- gess and Boals iu charge. That snue evening . Major-General Brooks arrived with three regiments of Pennsylvania mi- litia and established his head-quarters iu the old C. & P. passenger station at the foot of South street with Joseph C. Doyle, the local railroad agent, as temporary train dispatcher. Colonel James R. Porter's regiment was the first to arrive and was moved to Warrenton, fourteen miles below the city, a fact which doubtless enused Mor- gan to turn northwurd from Short Creek to Smithfield. Colonel Bemis's regiment enme next, and was stationed at Ingrange. now Brilliant, and Colonel Gallagher's regiment was posted first at Mingo and then at Rush Run, midway between War- renton and Brilliant. Thus the fords were guarded and a train to which was attached a locomotive with steam np, stood ready to move the forces from one point to un- other as might be needed. It will be seen that Morgan was thus forced np the Dry Fork road which strikes the pike at the west end of Wintersville a little less than five miles from Steubenville. On Saturday Col. James Collier was placed in command of the Steubenville militia by General Brooks, and Morgan's conrse being now pretty well known at 2 p. m. they marched
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out the old plank road in the direction of Wintersville, between 500 and 600 strong, with one piece of artillery, a six pound ean- non which now rests in the G. A. R. lot in Union cemetery. The force would have been larger had there been arms for them. Between 5 and 6 o'clock the advance of Captain Prentiss's company reached the Dry Fork road with Morgan's force just ahead of them. His rear guard had been deployed in the adjoining field, and as the detachment advanced it fired a volley. One bullet struck Henry L. Parks, son of the late James Parks, in the abdomen. He lingered until Monday morning the 27th when he died amid universal regret.
During this or subsequent firing Miss Margaret Dougherty standing nt a window in Thomas Maxwell's house at the forks of the road beyond Wintersville was ac- cidentally shot in the region of the lungs by a rebel bullet which passed through her body and came out at the shoulder. She was supposed to be mortally wounded but recovered, and is still living. It was of course Morgan's aim to get away, and he continued on towards Richmond, but his rear guard was again overtaken by the mi- litia at Two Ridge Presbyterian church where a skirmish occurred. In the mean- time a detachment of Colonel Shackleford's 9th Michigan cavalry under Major Way came up, and the Steubenville commander mistaking them for rebels had the cannon trained on them. A shot was fired, for- tunately without effect, but in the Two Ridge skirmish one of the cavalrymen was mortally wounded and afterwards buried there. One of Morgan's men, W. G. Page, was also wounded, but was tenderly cared for nt Benjamin Coe's, and when he re- covered took the oath of allegiance. James Nelson and Martin Kane, two of the Michi- gan men were also wounded, but recovered.
Morgan reached Richnnond about 7 p. m., but did not halt long as Way with his men, althongh their horses were jaded, were too close behind. He rested awhile in the neighborhood of Fairfield hamlet, while his scouts examined the rond leading down
Island Creek to the river six miles above Steubenville. But Brooks had been ahead of him, and on Saturday evening Porter's regiment was moved from Warrenton to Island Creek while Gallagher and Bemis were placed further up to intercept him if he, should make for Shanghai, (now Empire) Yellow Creek or any upper ford. There was nothing to do but move on in the direction of East Springfield, picking up fresh horses by the way, and robbing citizens of money. They took five horses from William Huscroft and $180 with other things. At East Springfield they stole twenty-five horses, and it is estimated that between New Alexandria and that place at least $15,000 worth of horseflesh changed hands.
At East Springfield Morgan turned to the right following the road to Monroe- ville in Brush Creek Township, and about six miles distant encamped for the night on Herdman Taylor's farm on the Middle Fork of Yellow Creek just west of Nebo now Bergholz. Here he burned the county bridge across Yellow Creek, and got an- other fresh supply of horses. The 9th . Michigan arrived about 11 p. m., and camped on the hill above. There was some picket firing but no attack. About 3 o'clock Sunday morning, Morgan broke camp and started for Monroeville in Brush Creek Township near the Columbinna County line, Taylor accompanying him for about three miles. He was followed by the Michigan Cavalry who overtook him at Monroeville, and captured his carriage with horses and several prisoners. The first charge was made by Company II, Cap- tain Rice. Eight men were killed in this charge.
While Morgan was nt East Springfield, Jolin K. Miller, a well known citizen of that place concluded to have a little fun, and meeting the rebel chief gave him a large amount of misinformation as to the sur- rounding country and condition of affairs. Morgan, who began to be suspicious, and- denly inquired, "Are you acquainted with this country ?" to which came the prompt
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reply "Yes sir, every foot of it." "Then lized. He was in a cul de sac, and uncon- mount that horse, yon are just the man I ditional surrender within a few hours was inevitable. His fertile brain conceived a plan by which he might possibly keep out of a northern prison. We will let Basil Duke, his historinn, tell the story : want" was the order. This was more than Miller bargained for, but there was no room for argument, so he mounted the steed and went along with the party. When they trotted across Yellow Creek bridge which they afterwards burned he gravely ordered them to halt and informed them that there was $10 fine for trotting neross that bridge. When they got into the fight beyond Monroeville Miller was between two fires, and asked leave to retire, which was granted, and he returned home, not caring l'or any more military experience.
From Monroeville, Morgan started in the direction of Salineville several miles to the northeast over the Columbiana County line. He may have hoped to strike the river abont Wellsville, but the probability is that he no longer had any direct object except to elude his pursuers as long as possible. In the meantime his right was flanked by Shackelford's force which had been fol- lowing him for four weeks, composed of one Tennessee and one Kentucky regiment and the 86th Ohio Mounted Infantry. With him were the Steubenville militia which had left Richmond at midnight, and by rapid marching had kept within support- ing distance of the cavalry, and operated as sconts with great advantage in prevent- ing Morgan from escaping by cross roads to the Ohio River. Morgan did not pass through Salineville, but about a mile and a half from that place he was overtaken by a detachment of Michigan cavalry near a Mr. Burson's. The rebels ran through a cornfield on their left and through the woods below Monroeville, coming out on the Mechanicstown road above Monroe- ville. Here they met the remainder of the Michiganders and in the ensuing fight one rebel was killed, several wounded and 240 prisoners taken.
It was now evident to Morgan, if it had not been before, that the game was up. He knew that Lee had retreated Trom Penn- sylvania and that the wild scheme of form- ing a junction with him could not be rea-
"Aware that he was not likely to get such terms as he wished from any officer of the regular troops that were pursuing him, unless he might happen to hit upon Woolford, who was as noted for generosity to prisoners (if he respected their prow- ess) as for vigor and gallantry in the field, he looked around for some militia officer who might serve his turn. In the extreme eastern part of Ohio (where he now was) he came into the "district" of a Captain Burbeck (of New Lisbon), who had his militia under arms. General Morgan sent a message to Captain Burbeek under the Hag of truce requesting an interview with him. Burbeck consented to meet him, and after a short conference General Morgan concluded a treaty with him by which he (Morgan) engaged to take and disturb nothing and do no sort of damage in Bur- beck's district ; and Burbeck on his part covenanted to guide and escort Morgan to the Pennsylvania line. After riding a few miles, side by side, with his host, General Morgan espying n long elond of dust roll- ing rapidly upon a course parallel with his own abont a mile distant and gaining his front, thought it was time to act. So be interrupted a pleasant conversation by suddenly asking Burbeck how he would like to receive his ( Morgan's) surrender. Bur- beck answered that it would afford him inexpressible gratifiention to do so. "But." said Morgan, "perhaps you would not give me such terms as I wish." "General Mor- gan," replied Burbeck, "Yon may write your own terms and I will grant them." "Very well, then," said Morgan, "it is a bargain, I will surrender to yon." He ae- cordingly formally surrendered to Captain Burbeck, of the Ohio militia, upon con- dition that officers and men were to be paroled, the latter, retaining their horses, and the former, horses and side arms.
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