USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 30
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When it was supposed that a suffi- cient number of the cavalry had crossed, the order, in tones audible to those on both sides, was passed down the rebel lines to cease firing; they were now 1
ready for the charge down the river, and that charge ended the fight. Hos- tilities having ceased, their next desire was for a pilot across by the ford. Soon they ascertained that David Powers, the lock-tender, was well versed in the soundings, and he was induced to occupy the position, crossing and ' re-crossing until all were over.
Among the citizens of the west side who were at Eagleport as lookers-on was ex-sheriff Andrew Fouts, who, good- natured and credulous, was led by means of the southern urbanity and courtesy of Morgan, or some of his officers, to speak of his familiarity with the coun- try, and specifically of the eastern por- tion. He was complacently informed that a horse was at his service, with the promise and penalty to
" Guide as faithful from that day
As Hesperius, that leads the sun his way,"
while his geographical attainments should be required.
As they crossed the raiders gave their attention to the collection of supplies from the several dwellings in the vicin- ity. At David Weaver's a fine stock of liquors was found in the cellar, and as time, as well as whisky, was of im- portance to them, the heads of the bar- rels were removed as neatly as possible with an axe, and it is said that our old friend Charles Kinsell was deputed to ladle the liquor into their canteens with as much expedition as circumstances required. He was kept active during their stay.
At Richard McElhiney's every apart- ment of the house was closely scruti- nized, the food already prepared was soon disposed of, with all the milk in the cellar. The bedrooms and ward- robes were stripped of all that the raid- ers could use, clothing, hats, watches,
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jewelry and cash. In addition a jug of choice liquor, kept for medical purposes, was drawn from its seclusion.
Although Hiram Winchell was in their employ he was not neglected, even losing the hat he was wearing while transporting them across the river in his ferry-boat.
After David Powers was discharged one of the officers with his staff visited his saloon, and lunched on his prepared viands, assisting digestion by use of his entire stock of beer and whisky. When the bill of fare was disposed of, the official presented Mr. Powers with $3 " to purchase another stock."
During their stay on the west side the raiders discovered a man named Henry Kelly on the brow of the hill above the stone quarry, who, with his brother, had followed them from Nel- sonville. Five of the raiders standing on Devol's store steps took deliberate aim at him; three of their shots took effect, killing him instantly. The dis- tance is about 250 yards. The body was brought to Devol's store and a temporary coffin provided, in which, wrapped in muslin, it was placed and conveyed to his late home by Mr. Woodward.
Of the raiders one was killed and two wounded. The " Dime" Steam- boat Company make a possible claim to the killing and wounding, but there is strong presumptive evidence that it was done at the river, and from the east side. The man was killed with a United States rifle, the only one in the citizen corps, by a Mr. Finley, who fired from Weaver's house. This was the cause of the special attention given the house by the carbines. Moreover, blood was found at a certain locality in Eagleport, and the trace followed to the place on
the hill above McElhiney's, where the man had been left with a pillow taken from a house near the ford under his head. Near by was found a rope, which probably had been used to tie him on his horse. The body was buried where it was found. Afterward, in conse- quence of a road being laid out which passed over the grave, the remains were removed a short distance. The occa- sion was used to ascertain the fact that the shot was made by a United States rifle, the ball entering the right hip bone and passing out above the other.
The rebel said to have been severely wounded was found on the day of the fight at the place where he was shot, about three-quarters of a mile from the river, and a short distance west of where the dead man was found. His wound in the breast was made by a ball from a squirrel rifle. When found he was speechless and insensible, with no probability of living only a short time. An individual who owned a squirrel rifle claimed the honor of send- ing the death-dealing bullet, but in a short time, when the wounded man was able to give his version of the trans- action and charged the shooter with robbing him of his pocketbook and gold ring. he discarded the laurels. The man was carried across the river to Devol's store and cared for until he was sufficiently recovered to be sent to Columbus.
The one reported to be slightly wounded was shot from Weaver's with the United States rifle, the wound being the loss of almost his entire nose.
As in most other engagements there were prisoners as well as killed and wounded. Those taken by Morgan were citizen scouts. Those taken from Morgan were armed cavalry-scouts
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
on the lookout for fallen trees or other military impediments, captured while on "the lookout for Morgan " on Island Run on the night preceding his appearance at Eagleport. But the brief, unadorned relation of a feat of un- daunted courage,
" Where darkness and surprise made conquest cheap,"
is best told by the principal participant in the "bloodless victory " :
"1 left Deavertown at 11 o'clock p. m. in company with Reeves McAdoo and James Foraker (two boys) and Eli Longstreth and Doe Longstreth. At the Baptist Church east of the vil- lage the Longstreths left us, going northeast, the other two and myself going southeast. We were soon after joined by Jacob Knopp, armed with an axe. Our equipments then for offense and defense consisted of his axe, one gun for one of the boys and one for myself. We proceeded toward the river, intending to fell trees in order to retard the progress of the raiders as much as possible. We began cutting a tree just west of Helmick's mill, but concluding it would not effect our object, abandoned it. The tree is yet standing and bears the marks of Jacob's axe. This was about 1 o'clock and it was intensely dark. Then pass- ing on toward the river we heard Mor- gan's men approaching, the clank of their sabers telling us that they were soldiers. I at once called a halt m the road, and when they came up within ten or fifteen feet of us I commanded them to halt in a tone of as much authority as I could assume, and de- manded an immediate surrender, at the same time ordering my boys to keep quiet and not to discharge their guns, thus giving the idea that our force was large.
" They were ordered to dismount and give up their arms, which they did with as much grace as though it were in strict conformity with army regulations. The captured consisted of Captain Will- iams and four men, horses and equip- ments. One of the . five men in the rear put the spurs to his horse and escaped. With them was Michael Longstreth, whom they had captured. The prisoners were marched to the mill and guarded until morning. One escaped during the night. Soon after we entered the mill we were visited by John Laughlin, Joseph Hehnick, John Bankes and N. Dietrick. The latter remained with us until morning. About an hour after the capture, and while they were with us, a party of mounted men came up and were halted. They said they were citizens from Zanesville, and passed on toward the river. About daylight a company headed by Colonel Ball came up, who received the prison- ers from me.
" The horses were handed over to the authorities at Eagleport. Some days afterward a man came from Zanesville and demanded the arms. I replied to him that this was Morgan County and not Muskingum. But soon after some parties came from McConnelsville, claiming to have authority, and took the arms.
" I might add that before parting the force that captured him was presented to Captam Williams. He seemed some- what chagrined, but recognized it as the natural consequence of war.
" Thus you have the ' Report ' of our ' bloodless victory' on Island Run, which is at your service.
" Yours respectfully, " THOMAS L. GRAY."
Morgan's stay at Eagleport and on
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the east side of the river did not exceed an hour and a half, and he left with the intimation that he would leave the river at Gaysport and pass thence through Rockville. But about a mile up the steamer "Dime," from Zanes- ville, with part of the 86th Regiment on board, came in sight, when he returned and passed up a ravine above Weaver's, crossed MeElhiney's run a mile from the river and the Zanesville Ridge Road.
When he wheeled about, his advance guard was left in sight of the troops on the boat, who landed under the impres- sion that this was his entire force, and took a favorable position on the side of the hill in the rear of Bell's salt-furnace to await their coming. But after a convenient time the raiders put them- selves out of sight of the troops, who, after a short tramp over the hill, re- turned to the boat and steamed for Zanesville.
After leaving the river Morgan's route led over the hill through Bloom Township, in the vicinity of MeCune's and Reed's. He left Morgan County near the corner of Bloom and Bristol Townships, and of Meigs Township, Muskingum County.
He marched thence through Cumber- land, Seneca ville and Campbell's Station to Washington, Guernsey County. While at Washington, as his men were lying about the streets, resting, he was overtaken by Shackelford, and after some skirmishing for three or four miles was far enough in advance to burn a bridge at Hauna's Mills. He kept on through or near Flushing, Bel- mont County, Harrisville, Harrison County, and Jefferson, to the vicinity of Salineville, Columbiana County, and the most northern part of the State on
the Ohio River between Wellsville and Steubenville. Here. after having trav- ersed two-thirds of the eastern part of the State, on the 26th of July, he changed his route, and with a number of his staff took boarding at the expense of the State at Columbus.
Some time during the summer or fall a slight misunderstanding occurred in reference to the sweeping of the rooms occupied by the prisoners. This, in addition to the sedentary pursuits ren- dered compulsory by the rules of the institution, dissatisfied them, and on the night of the 27th of November they all left.
As an addendum, illustrative of the excitement and credulity of the com- munity. in all that pertained to his movements, the following deserves no- tice : On the day after Morgan had passed through the county a party con- sisting of J. E. Hanna, James M. Gay- lord, Eli Shepard, D. H. Sheets and one or two others, led by curiosity, made a trip in buggies as far as Wash- ington, Guernsey County, following his track. After viewing the locality of the serimage they turned their course toward Zanesville. As they passed through Concord they observed some excitement, and that apparently more notice was taken of their appear- ance than the occasion warranted. This was especially observed by Mr. fShepard, who, when opptuniorty o- fered for a jocular deception, seldom let it pass unaided by his capacity for the development. Without an idea of the cause of the curious glances, they passed at a brisk trot, apparently le- gardless of anything unusual, but with a disposition to increase the enchant- ment by distance. As they were as- cending the hill to Norwich an indi-
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
vidual, evidently much excited, ap- proached the buggy occupied by Mr. Shepard and made some inquiries in reference to Morgan. This developed the idea : he gave an evasive answer and increased the speed of his team, as a manifestation that further interroga- tories were not desirable.
A short distance from Zanesville they were met by a gentleman who informed them that there was great excitement in the city in consequence of a telegram from Concord that a squad of Morgan's men were approach- ing Zanesville, and that the military committee had called out Captain Marsh's company to capture them. On entering the city they found his state- ments verified. There was unusual commotion on the streets, and when they stopped at the Stacy House they were surrounded by the military !
But the immediate appearance of the captain disclosed the fact that instead of being John Morgan's men they were Morgan County men, but anxious, nevertheless, for a distribution of ra- tions.
In his "Ohio in the War" the liter- ary author, after leaving Morgan at Buffington and turning him toward Blennerhasset Island, gives him a pa- thetic, gloomy mention, likening him to a traveler, who, having lost his way, feels it " necessary to go onward with the hope of arriving at some point." unfriended, melancholy, slow and un- observed, "until at last he found an unguarded crossing of the Muskingum at Eagleport, above McConnelsville, and then, with an open country be- fore him, struek out once more for the Ohio. This time Governor Tod's sagacity # was vindicated. He urged
"the shipment of troops by rail to Bellaire," and there, "by great good fortune," Colonel Way, of the 9th Michigan Cavalry, was put on "the scent " of Morgan, after his forces had been reduced to "336 men and 400 horses."*
The truth of history requires the ex- planation of why this crossing of the Muskingum was "unguarded."
By an act of the legislature, April, 1863, the State had been divided into military districts, and in July the sheriff of Morgan County, in accord- ance with the law, had organized the militia of the county into regiments and companies. The number of con- panies for the different townships was :
Windsor, three; Meigsville, two; Manchester, one; Bristol, two; consti- tuting the 1st Regiment of ten com- panies.
Morgan, three ; Bloom, one; York. one : Malta, two; Deerfield, one; con- stituting the 2d Regiment of eight com- panies.
Marion, two; Penn, two ; Homer, two; Union, two; constituting the 3d Regiment, making an aggregate of 2,800 men.
On the 12th of July, 1863, at the "earnest solicitation of General Burn- side," Governor Tod ordered the militia from a number of counties contiguous to the Ohio, named in his proclamation. to report inimediately at camps therein designated, and "all such forces resid- ing in the counties of Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Athens, Meigs, Perry and Hocking," were "ordered to
* A question might be raised as to the sagaeity dis- played in "the shipment of troops to Bellaire," where the Ohio was not fordable, and only distant a few miles from Marietta, then protected by the militia of eight counties, but where the river was fordable at very low water.
*** Ohio in the War," pp. 47-48.
.
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LOCAL POLĂTICS-THE COUNTY PRESS.
report forthwith to William R. Putnam, at Camp Marietta." This order was promptly responded to the next day by Morgan, Malta and Penn, and by the other townships within three days, so that before Saturday night Morgan County was represented at Camp Put- nam by 2,400 men, only 400 less than the full complement for the three regiments.
Now it will be observed that if the other seven counties responded as Mor- gan did-which assumption the records sustain-Colonel Putnam must have
had command of nearly 15,000 men. Yet the number of armed men is un- certain. few being armed in the com- panies which first responded from this county. Some of them reported, on their return, that they were kept on duty with spades and shovels, and in the transportation of hay, straw and other material to impede Morgan's progress from Harmar to Marietta ; and these were only discharged two or three days after Morgan had crossed at Eagleport.
CHAPTER XIV.
LOCAL POLITICS-THE COUNTY PRESS.
POLITICS-ORIGIN OF THE "BRIMSTONE" AND "JUNTO" FACTIONS IN THE COUNTY -THEIR LEADERS-HOW THE JUNTOS TRIED TO PREVENT A BRIMSTONE FROM SERVING AS SHERIFF- A WILY POLITICIAN OVERREACHES HIMSELF-THE LOCAL PRESS-PROGRESS AND INFLUENCE OF JOURNALISM-THE MISSION OF THE COUNTY PAPER-THE FIRST PAPER-" THE MORGAN SENTINEL "-" THE GENIUS OF LIBERTY"-THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ORGAN-THE NEWSPAPER WAR IN MCCONNELSVILLE-DESCRIPTION OF AN EARLY COPY OF THE "SENTINEL"-" MORGAN RECORD "-" VALLEY DEMOCRAT"-" DEMOCRATIC GUARD "-"THE CHRONICLE"-"THE EN- QUIRER"-"THE CONSERVATIVE"-"THE MCCONNELSVILLE DEMOCRAT"-WHIG AND REPUB- LICAN PAPERS-"THE ADVOCATE" -"THE WHIG STANDARD"-CONTENTS OF AN EARLY NUMBER-"THE INDEPENDENT"-" THE MCCONNELSVILLE HERALD"-MISCELLANEOUS PUBLI- CATIONS.
TT should be remembered that at the time our county was organized there was an entire calm in the political at- mosphere of the nation, and partisan names, as previously and subsequently designated, had become obsolete, espe- cially in isolated localities. This atmos- phere pervaded our community, and as a sequence our divisions were controlled by local contingencies .. Selfish and
local interests have probably a con- trolling influence in parties as in other matters. Hence, as before stated, our citizens were divided on the county-seat question ; and being local in interest, local names were given. Those in favor of the location of the courthouse at MeConnelsville were by their opponents called the "Juntos," while those who contended for the East or West had
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
the sobriquet of " Brimstone" bestowed upon them by the eccentric Jonathan Williams," because of the medical use of that article by some of the members of the party, and by these names each party was known and recognized in all the elections, irrespective of county, State or national issues, and each op- posed the other with as much, if not more, vindictive spirit than is now evinced by the partisan politicians of the present day. Each party had its tavern, store, mechanic, and, where practicable, a " Brimstone " or "Junto" doctor. But this " unpleasantness " became somewhat ameliorated as times and circumstances changed, until the presidential election in 1826, when the local names became less prominent. And at the celebration of the 4th of July, 1826, by all parties-including the ladies-after the viands were disposed of and the toasts responded to, the requiem of both parties was sung by L. D. Barker in an original song. "Old Uncle Sam," with the chorus:
" Let Brimstones and Juntos Unite in good cheer, And spend one day together In the course of the year."
Like most other Fourths of July. the morn was cloudy, with slight showers in the evening. On that day, the fiftieth anniversary, while we were celebrating the crowning glory of their lives, John Adams and Thomas Jeffer- son died. But their memory and their names, with those of their compatriots, adorning the brightest page of history, will live as long as the everlasting hills of this continent shall greet the morning sun, or "historie words or breathing statues rise."
A few items illustrative of partisan force and strategy may prove somewhat interesting.
The law of July 5, 1805, required the sheriff-elect, on the reception of his commission from the clerk of the court of common pleas, to give bond within ten days acceptable to the commis- sioners of the county. This law was changed February 2, 1821, and required the bond to be given to the acceptance of the court within the same period. In 1823 Jacob Adams and Edwin Cor- ner were candidates for sheriff; the latter, of the Brimstone party, was elected, but unmindful of the change Mr. Corner executed his bond as re- quired by the law of 1805; but as it was not, as required by the law of 1821, recorded in the clerk's book kept for that purpose, at the expiration of the ten days, the clerk (Dr. S. A. Barker, a Junto) reported to the associate judges that the sheriff-elect had not given bond, whereupon they met and declared the office vacant, and ordered a special election for sheriff to be held on the first day of January, 1824. But Mr. Corner, conscious that he had been fairly elected, was not disposed to try it over again; so when the legislature met, as it did then on the first Monday in December, he obtained the passage of a special act declaring him the sheriff of Morgan County and requiring the judges to accept his bond. They again met, accepted his bond, and passed a rescinding order for the special election. After the adjournmient one of the judges inquired of the clerk what he thought of the proceedings. His reply was: "The people will pay no attention to it ; another election will be held." This was the case; and the election took place on the day named
* Williams was the recognized leader of the "Jun- tos "; his opponent, the " Brimstone " leader, was T. M. Gates, Esq.
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LOCAL POLITICS.
in the first order, although Corner's bond had, or should have, been recorded by the clerk. At this election there were but few votes except for Mr. Adams, who, of course, was returned as elected sheriff. But the governor refused to issue a commission, and for the time being the matter was dropped by the Juntos. Not so with the Brim- stones; they felt disposed to retaliate, and for that purpose, at the next term of the court, the president judge being on the bench, charges were preferred against the clerk and his removal was effected. Amnasa Piper was appointed clerk pro tem. to give time to decide as to the eligibility of another who was afterward appointed.
As it would require more space than the interest of the subject warrants to detail other skirmishes of the two par- ties, we propose, as old Lindley Murray did, to write a sequel.
In the case of the charges against the clerk, attorneys were engaged in the prosecution and defense, and for the prosecution Wyllys Silliman, of Zanes- ville, was employed. At the subse- (quent session of the legislature a United States senator was to be elected, for which office he was a candidate, as was also General Harrison. General Alexander MeConnel was the represent- ative from Morgan. Silliman, with a view of course to placate MeConnel, said to him that the charges against the clerk were trivial and that the judges were censurable for his removal. Al- though this was unnecessary, it served as an additional reason with MeConel why he should support Silliman for senator, although he had not yet com- mitted himself to the support of either. But unfortunately for himself Mr. Silli- man had expressed an opinion directly
the reverse in no very polite terms to a Mr. Robinson, the representative from Coshocton County, who in the interest of Silliman related it to McConnel; this determined his course in the matter, and probably by his vote and influence Har- rison was elected United States senator and placed in "the line of safe prece- dent," or in the current that floated him to the White House.
With the election of Andrew Jack- son to the presidency the local names of the political parties disappeared. The "Juntos" generally identified them- selves with the democrats, and that party carried the county elections al- most without exception until 1845. In that year the whigs, who controlled the legislature of the State, enlarged Morgan County by annexing to it Homer and Marion Townships, thus overthrowing democratic supremacy in county politics. In 1851 the formation of the new county of Noble took from Morgan some of her largest democratic strongholds, and since that time, as a rule, the opponents of the democrats have been in the majority.
In connection with this brief review of the political history of Morgan County the following amusing anecdote is worthy of record. After the annex- ation of two townships from Athens County had been consummated, the whigs, then in power, found the result had not produced the desired majority for their party in the county. The proj- eet of forming the new county of No- ble was agitated, and favored by others besides the inhabitants of the east oud," as, if carried out, it would reduce the democratic strength of the county. While this scheme was being zealously discussed, David Ball, of Malta Town- I ship was nominated by the Whigs to
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
represent the county in the legislature. The " eastenders" favorable to the new county were desirons of knowing how the candidates stood on this question, and one of them interrogated Ball as to his position. Mr. Ball replied in the following terse Quaker language :
" MALTA, OHIO, , 1848.
" FRIEND MCGARRY :- I am with thee in all thy new county projects.
"I am, thine affectionately, " DAVID BALL."
This was a comforting assurance to the friends of the measure, but the other side received it with derision, and made a by-word of it. Though Ball was elected on the strength of this promise it was not until 1851 that No- ble County became a fixed fact.
NEWSPAPERS.
As an adjunct of modern civilization there is no more potent factor than the newspaper press. In nothing evincing the spirit of progress has there been greater advancement during the last half century than in American journal- ismn. Fifty years ago the country had few newspapers that could be consid- ered paying property ; the metropoli- tan journals devoted about as much space to foreign as to domestic news, while country weeklies seemed to con- sider that which happened at home as of no importance whatever, and imi- tated the larger journals in style and contents. The telegraph and railroads, assisted by that enterprising spirit which is inseparably connected with successful journalistic management. have wrought most gratifying results. The weekly newspaper whose support and circulation are confined to a single county no longer ambitiously apes the city daily. It has found its place as
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