USA > Ohio > The history of the state of Ohio; from the discovery of the great valley, to the present time > Part 71
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The militia of Ohio rescued Western Virginia from the rebels. The militia of Ohio utterly destroyed the most formidable cavalry raid which the rebels undertook during the war. And when the fate of the nation seemed suspended on the results of a single campaign, Ohio, at scarcely more than a day's notice, sent forty regiments into the field. The fathers and mothers of Ohio, with intense emotion, sent their sons forward to the conflict. They saw them often, through the incompetency of their officers, lan- guishing in inaction, or led to needless slaughter. Still they continued without a murmur to present their precious gifts to the nation. Almost every home mourned a loved one lost. Thou- sands of the noblest young men of Ohio were buried on distant battle-fields. Weeping and lamentation could everywhere be heard. But religious zeal inspired them. The war was a holy war. Upon its issues depended the question whether this broad continent should be devoted to religion, education, and freedom, or whether it should be dismembered and broken into antagon- istic fragments, where anarchy and ignorance should hold high carnival.
One of the most memorable events of the war was the entire destruction of Morgan's band of raiders within the limits of Ohio. John Morgan, a Kentuckian, who had obtained much renown for his reckless daring, was abundantly endowed with both the vir- tues and vices of men of his class,-free livers, gamblers, with no God but one to swear by, and no religion. The rebel government entrusted him with an army of twenty-five hundred men and four pieces of artillery, for a secret and rapid raid, burning and plun- dering through northern Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.
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These well-mounted and thoroughly-armed dragoons left Sparta, Tennessee, on the 27th of June, 1863. Some of the horses were thin in flesh, but they said that they should soon get fresh steeds in the fat pastures of Indiana and Ohio. The com- mand was divided into two brigades. One was led by General Morgan, and the other by Colonel Johnston. With flying banners the rebel host marched directly north, and entering Kentucky, crossed the Cumberland River near Burkesville.
.But a rumor of the contemplated raid had reached the govern- mental authorities. On the same day, June 27, the second and seventh Ohio cavalry, and the forty-fifth mounted infantry, with a howitzer-battery, under command of Colonel Woolford, left Somerset, Kentucky, to watch the movement of the raiders, and. head them off if possible. A clear, bracing air, which it was a luxury to breathe, invigorated the patriot troops. A cloudless sky over-arched them and a gentle breeze caressed the glorious banner which was borne aloft at the head of the column.
. Their route, through a beautiful but sparsely settled country led them to Jamestown, near the Cumberland, about thirty miles in a northerly direction from Burkesville, where the raiders crossed the river. And here let me state the great difficulty and often the impossibility of obtaining perfectly accurate accounts of the minute details of such an expedition. The official reports often vary materially. In an account of this raid some years ago, for Harper's Magazine, under the title of " Heroic Deeds of Heroic Men," I received many letters from officers engaged in the work of arresting them. There was often a very marked contradiction in the representations which these letters gave. All agreed in the accuracy with which the general movement was described, but in the unimportant particulars there was diversity. I here give an account of the raid, availing myself of all the criticism which that article called forth.
At Jamestown the patriot troops halted for further orders. On the 2d of July General Carter, then in command of the Union forces at Somerset, was startled by the sound of clattering hoofs in front of his tent. To hasten to the door was the work of an instant. There stood a horse panting and reeking with foam. His rider was a woman. Her habit was torn and bespattered with mud, her veil gone, and her hair, disheveled by the wind, floated to her waist.
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"Can I see General Carter ? " she exclaimed. "I am in haste ; every moment is precious."
"I am General Carter," he replied. "What can I do for you ? "
"Listen," she said; "John Morgan, with two brigades, has crossed the Cumberland near Burkesville and is now marching on Columbia."
" How do you know ? "
" Oh believe me," she earnestly exclaimed. "My home is in East Tennessee. A Union scout came to our house early yester- day morning and told me. My husband is in the army. I have no boys. So I took my horse and come to tell you myself."
The news brought by this noble woman led to an armed recon- noissance, which was sent out under Captain Carter, in the direc- tion of Columbia. With only a small force he advanced toward the enemy. He, however, soon met a much larger force, by which he was quite overwhelmed. Captain Carter fell, mortally wounded. Reinforcements came to the succor of the overpowered patriots, and, though they struggled with great bravery, they were so entirely outnumbered that retreat became inevitable. Whole volleys of musketry responded to their few rifle shots, and a park of artillery opened its murderous fire upon their thin ranks. Still, without serious loss, they retreated with rapid march to join their patriot friends who were stationed at Jamestown. Courier after courier was dispatched to General Carter imploring help. The report of the lady being thus confirmed, the pursuit of John Morgan and his band of desperadoes was now commenced with great vigor.
The rebel general had the advantage of the patriot forces by two days' march. Morgan infused his own tireless energies into his men. Not allowing his troops to lose an hour, even for plun- der, he pushed rapidly forward toward Green River, one of the important tributaries of the Ohio, which flows through the heart of the State of Kentucky. The rebel raiders, in their sweep through the state, were largely augmented by reckless adventurers, who, without any moral or political principles, were eager to join in any expedition which promised wild adventure and plunder. The cool, wary, crafty rebel chieftain, Basil Duke, aided the impetuous Morgan in the reckless enterprise. It was said that Duke furnished the thinking brain, and Morgan the impetuous
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hand, which guided and nerved this lawless band, as it swept a tornado path of destruction through three states.
Colonel Orlando H. Moore was in command of two hundred patriot troops stationed at Tebb's Bend, on Green River. This was the only force to retard the advance of the rebels upon New Market. On the 2d of July scouts brought in the report that Morgan's band was advancing in full force upon the Bend. Undaunted by the vast superiority of the rebels in numbers, Colonel Moore, as soon as he received the news, mounted his horse and rode over the surrounding country to select his own battle field. About two miles from his encampment he found a spot which suited him. The site chosen for the morrow's battle was truly beautiful. It was a lawn of level ground, carpeted with velvety turf and thick with trees, which, without the slightest impediment of underbrush, were waving in all the luxuriance of June foliage-a spot which the silvery river
" Forsakes his course to fold as with an arm."
All night long the men relieved each other in the arduous work with spade and pick in throwing up intrenchments. Rifle-pits were dug. A barricade of felled trees was made to check cavalry charges. Breastworks were thrown up, to stand between the bosoms of the patriots and the bullets of the rebel foe. On the night of the 3d the gallant two hundred took possession of these hurriedly-constructed works, to beat back a small army of more than as many thousands.
" Theirs not to reason why, Theirs not to make reply, irs but to do and die."
With not one word of murmuring, and with no. one straggler, these heroic men planted themselves behind their frail redoubts to wait the oncoming surge of battle. All were prepared to meet, and with God's aid were determined to repel, the charge from the foe, however numerous that foe might prove to be. There was but little sleep in that patriot encampment that night. The men, grasping their arms, lay down in the trenches, and thought of home, wife, children and friends. Memory was busy with the days which had fled, while stern yet anxious thought dwelt upon the future of to-morrow. The next day was the Fourth of July. That thought alone helped to make them heroes. Who could tell how
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many then and there would be called to put on the martyr's crown ?
With the first rays of the morning sun came the first balls from the rifles of Morgan's sharp-shooters. Soon a shell came, with its hideous shriek, plump into the little redoubt, wounding two men. With this hint of what they might expect if obstinate, Morgan sent a flag of truce with Major Elliot, demanding an immediate surrender of the entire force under Moore's command. Colonel Moore replied : " Present my compliments to General Morgan, and say to him that this being the Fourth of July, I can not enter- tain the proposition." Then turning to his men, he said : "Now rise up, take good aim, and pick off those gunners."
At those words the patriots opened a calm, deliberate, and deadly fire. The numerous trees and the intrenchments they had thrown up afforded them very efficient protection. Gradually the little redoubt became nearly encircled by the rebels. Still no one thought of yielding. Colonel Moore was everywhere, encouraging and inspiring his men with his own enthusiastie patriotism. The heroic band still loaded and fired with fatal precision, though
"Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the left of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered."
No hand trembled. No heart faltered. For God and the flag they fought and bled. The battle raged with unabated fury on both sides for four hours. At last the enemy retreated, leaving his dead on the field. The rebel army, thus checked and discom- fitted, relinquished the prey they had hoped to grasp, and by a circuit avoiding New Market, continued their plundering raid.
The conquerors, exultant over their achievement, with new zest celebrated the Fourth of July. They were entitled to unusual joy, for they had contributed another triumph to the memorable day ..
Meanwhile the patriot pursuers pressed on. At Bradfordville they received the first reliable news of the raiders. Morgan had been so delayed by the unexpected resistance he encountered at Tebbs' Bend, that he reached Lebanon only thirty hours in advance of the avenging patriots on his track. At Lebanon there chanced to be a small band of United States troops. Around these the militia of the region were speedily rallied. They presented a brave
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but unavailing resistance to the raiders, who greatly outnumbered them.
As the patriots retreated before the foe, three hundred of them were taken prisoners. The rebels goaded these unhappy cap- tives at the point of their sabers to run at the double-quick to Springfield, a distance of twelve miles. If any lagged through exhaustion, he was forced on by saber-thrusts and menaces of death. One unfortunate young man found it impossible to keep up with his merciless captors. The wretches knocked him on the head as a warning to the rest, and left him in the middle of the road to be trampled into a shapeless mass by the hoofs of the thousands of horses which composed their column.
When they arrived at Springfield the prisoners were paroled, after having been first robbed of every dollar. Their hats and coats were also taken from them and transferred to the persons of the ragged rebels. On the 6th of July the patriot troops reached Bardstown only twenty-four hours after Morgan had left that place. Here General Hobson joined the national troops, which were under Colonel Woolford. He brought with him four brigades of Kentucky cavalry and two pieces of artillery. General Hobson, by virtue of his superior rank, now took command. The patriot troops, greatly exhausted by the impetuous pursuit, en- camped for the night near Sheperdsville. The horses were about used up. They had been under the saddle for several days and nights, with scarcely an hour for rest.
A night of repose was very refreshing to the wearied men and horses. But at the first bugle call in the morning every man sprang to his saddle, and again they pressed eagerly forward in the pursuit. Scouts reported Morgan on his way to Branden- burg, where he intended to cross the Ohio River into Indiana. His plan, as declared by spies, was to pass through the rich southern counties of Indiana and Ohio, ravaging as he swiftly rode, and thus circling round into Virginia, where he hoped to join Lee, and with him to make a raid upon Washington.
The patriot pursuers, both officers and men, resolved to indulge in no rest until this scheme was rendered abortive by the capture of the rebel chief. The marauding band reached the Ohio River successfully and exultantly. They seized upon two steamers, with which they crossed the stream. The torch was then applied to the steamers, and they were burned to the water's edge. Just
1
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as the Union army reached the river they saw the last of Morgan's cavalry galloping out of sight. The whole of the 9th of July was occupied in crossing the river. At night the troops went into camp to get strength for the long and arduous toil still before them.
After entering Indiana the rebels soon gave marked indications of the policy they intended to pursue in their invasion of the Free States. Wherever they appeared horses were impressed; shops entered and robbed; laces and ribbons were stored away in capa- cious pockets for lady-loves at home; mills were burned, unless instantly ransomed by the payment of a thousand dollars. And any man who ventured to offer resistance or remonstrance was sternly shot down upon the spot. The demons of theft, murder, arson, brooded over the guerrilla band, and urged them to every conceivable excess.
At the little town of Vernon, Indiana, the rebels found their path effectually blockaded. Colonel J. H. Burkham resolved to make a stand there and give fight to the foe. The force in the town consisted of only about one hundred citizens. The Home Guard had been sent away some days before in pursuit of Morgan when he was at Salem. About three hundred patriot troops, under Colonel J. H. Burkham, were guarding the two very long and high bridges just outside of the town.
Brigadier General Love was at Seymour, about sixteen miles west of Vernon, with about two thousand militia. Immediately upon hearing of Morgan's whereabouts, he hastened to Vernon. Being the superior officer he assumed command.
In the meantime, while these hurried movements were taking place, Morgan arrived with his raiders, and sent in a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of the town. "Come and take it," was the intrepid reply. The women and children were removed to a place of safety. Every effort was made to defend the place to the last extremity. A company of sharp-shooters had already come in from North Vernon, about two miles distant. At daylight, General Lew Wallace was reported as near at hand, with about three thousand five hundred men; as the senior officer, the com mand passed to him.
Morgan now concluded that the better part of valor was dis- cretion. Deciding not to risk an encounter, his men turned aside from the town, and putting spurs to their horses rode rapidly on.
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HISTORY OF OHIO.
The militia of course could not pursue them. But the mounted Union troops, scarcely a score of miles in their rear, pressed for- ward with the utmost eagerness in the exciting race. On, on Morgan's men rode, through the lower counties of Indiana, wan- tonly plundering articles which only encumbered them, and strewing their path with the wreck of articles thrown away.
The rebels had greatly the advantage over their pursuers. In every town they passed through they seized all the fresh horses, leaving their jaded steeds behind or shooting them. Many of the bridges they burned, so that the patriots had either to ford or swim the streams or build new bridges.
On the night of the 13th of July General Hobson ordered his troops into brief encampment at Harrison, on the boundary line between Indiana and Ohio. His horses and men were alike worn down. For four days and nights they had toiled along with scarcely an hour allowed for repose. That night all slept soundly. The rebels were encamped scarcely fifteen miles in advance of them, near the suburbs of Cincinnati. Incredible as the state- ment may appear, it is positively asserted that Morgan, in disguise, entered the city, and in company with a traitor friend there, attended a ball given by one of the ladies of the place.
The rebels rested but a few hours in the vicinity of the Queen City of the West. They were not strong enough to venture into its streets. Onward they rushed, plundering stores and dwellings, burning bridges, and destroying railroads. Thus they left their desolating track through the rich counties of Southern Ohio.
When near the little settlement of Jaspar Mills, in Fayette County, the citizens collected, and cutting down trees built a bar- ricade in the road. Morgan came up and contemptuously opened fire upon the little band, expecting to scatter them as dogs dis- perse the flock. But these determined men fought bravely, and for four hours held the raiders at bay. In the meantime the pur- suers were rapidly gaining upon them.
It is difficult for any one sitting by his own quiet fireside to form any conception of the anxiety and terror which pervaded the rural homes of Ohio, as clattering horsemen dashed through the streets, exclaiming, " Morgan's raiders are at hand, and you are di- rectly in their path." Physicians, lawyers, clergymen, all joined in repelling the invaders wherever there was any reasonable chance of making any effectual resistance. At this point the rebels were
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compelled, after the loss of several hours, to abandon their con- templated route through the town, and by a circuitous road to press on their way.
Crossing the Scioto River the rebels reached Jackson, in Jack- son County. When near that place the farmers threw up a barri- cade, and again, by this timely check, the raiders lost two hours. The flight and the chase now became intensely exciting. The country in this region is quite level, intersected by many small streams, but all fordable at this season of the year. These rivu- lets added much to the beauty of the landscape, while they pre- sented but little obstruction to the march. The weather through- out the whole pursuit had been delightful. A cloudless sky, an invigorating breeze, with plenty of food for man and forage for horses, animated the spirits of both parties.
The patriots had now drawn so near their flying foes that they could almost hear the clatter of their horses' hoofs. It was evi- dently the plan of Morgan to advance directly through Chester, on Shade River, to the Ohio. Not far from Chester, on the banks of the Ohio River, was the island of Buffington. At this point the river was fordable, and here Morgan intended to cross the Ohio into Kentucky, where he would find sympathy and support.
But the raiders were now evidently in a state of great alarm. General Hobson was close upon their rear. General Judah, who had left Portsmouth, at the mouth of the Scioto, with a fresh band of horsemen, was vigilantly keeping between the rebels and the river to cut off all retreat in that way. Almost abreast, in parallel roads, but a few miles apart, the two hostile bands rushed along their race-course to see who should first reach the ford. With Morgan it had become a matter of life or death.
Morgan, anxious only to escape, was very desirous to avoid a battle. The patriot officers, knowing that the rebel force was not in one compact mass, but scattered in a long line of many miles, were endeavoring to drive them all together, that they might at one blow capture the whole band. There were frequent skir- mishes with the militia, who were pressing closely upon the flanks of the invaders. Every day several of the invaders were wounded and occasionally one was killed. Many of the rebels from sheer exhaustion were unable to keep up with the march, and straggling. behind, were picked up by the patriots. They represented the rebels as in excellent spirits; that they were confident that they
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would continue their raid successfully until they crossed the Ohio and took refuge in Virginia. There they hoped to be joined by a large force under General Lee, and to make a brilliant march upon Washington.
The hotly-pursued and weary band reached Portland, about thirty miles from Pomeroy, late in the night of Saturday, July 18. It was "a night of solid darkness." A small barricade had been hastily thrown up at the ford, which was defended by only two or three hundred infantry. Morgan could easily have brushed them away, and could have continued unopposed across the stream, shallow in the summer drought. But fortunately he did not know how feeble the defenders were; he could not reconnoiter in that Egyptian darkness. And it was too hazardous, under those cir- cumstances, to ·venture upon a night attack. Thus two or three hours, so precious to him, were lost.
The people of Marietta, quite an important town a few miles further up the river, heard of the march of Morgan toward Buf- fington. The town was thrown into intense excitement. Mer- chants and clerks, gentlemen and laborers, were all eager to bear a hand in the chastisement of the audacious raiders. Captain Wood, of the Eighteenth Regulars, had been stationed at Marietta, as a recruiting officer. He was persuaded by the eager citizens to take the command and lead them to the fray. At one hour's notice these heroic men started from their homes for the field of deadly battle and of blood. Their only uniform was the halo of patriotism with which each one was enveloped. Their arms were such as they could most readily grasp.
The party from Marietta reached Buffington on Saturday after- noon. Rumors of Morgan's near approach increased every moment. Captain Wood found here a steamer aground, loaded with flour and with but two men on board. The rest of the crew had left. The steamer and its cargo would have been a precious prize for the rebels. Captain Wood seized the steamer, threw enough flour over to lighten her, got up the steam, and ran her out of the range of Morgan's guns.
The river road, by which Morgan came, runs very close along the banks of the stream. On this same road General Hobson's command were in close and eager pursuit, but a few hours behind. About two miles back from the shore there is a long, low range of hills over which there is a road leading to the river near the
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island. About three hundred yards above this road there was a private road, leading into some large corn-fields, and separated from the public mountain road only by a large wheat-field.
The rebels encamped in the corn-field on their arrival at this point opposite the island. After a few hours of rest they were all ready to accept the wager of battle with the Union troops, who they knew were pursuing them. The rebels had planted their artillery on a swell of land which commanded the road over the hills along which General Judah's troops were advancing. During the night this patriot force had been pressing forward as with tireless sinews. About dawn Sabbath morning they came abreast of the corn-field where the rebels were encamped. A heavy river fog intercepted the view. The men could scarcely see a rod before them. The patriot troops were first made aware of the presence of the enemy by the whistling of Minié and pistol balls over their heads. The road was narrow, with fences on both sides, and an impenetrable vapor veiled everything from view.
The Union troops, undismayed by the sudden assault, returned shot for shot. But when Morgan opened fire with his artillery, the bursting shells threatened great slaughter, and General Judah ordered the bugle to sound a retreat. Just as the trumpet peal gave its unwelcome voice the sun declared himself on the side of liberty and suddenly dispersed the fog. The patriot troops were thus enabled to get the artillery of their command into line. The banner of our country was unfurled to catch the fresh morning breeze as it came down the Ohio, and to gleam in the first rays of sunshine which came bursting through the clouds.
Exhilarated by the enthusiasm of the moment, the order to retreat was recalled, and instead of it the bugle sounded the in- spiriting order to "charge the enemy." With loud cheers the patriots rushed upon the solid battalions of the foe. The fight was desperate. Many prisoners were taken on both sides. In the furious charge made by the patriots death reaped a large harvest from the rebel ranks.
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