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On July 13, 1863, John Hunt Morgan's Confederate Cavalry began a daring raid through the State of Ohio that lasted
for nearly two weeks. Morgan's men entered the state near Cincinnati and ravaged a large number of farms and
properties while eluding capture and traveling east through southern Ohio. Union pursers under Brigadier General
Edward Hobson chased Morgan to the Ohio River near Bufffington Island where additional Union troops under General
Kautz and Judah lay in wait. Morgan and his men tried to ford the Ohio River near Buffington Island on July 19.
While crossing, they were attacked by Union Gun boats and infantry forces. Although some of the men made the
crossing safely, Morgan and several comrades were forced to retreat from the Ohio shore. This Southern Chameleon
and nearly 400 of his men escaped the attack leaving 700 of their own men as prisoners of war and over 100 dead
or wounded.
By July 23rd, Morgan and his men were seen traveling through Guernsey County. They were spotted at Cumberland, Point Pleasant, Buffalo, Senecaville and Lore City. Weary and tired, the Confederate Raiders rested in the town of Washington (now Old Washington). Soon the Union pursuers under General Shackleford arrived at Old Washington. Morgan fled as many of his men set up a skirmish line with their foe. Three of Morgan's men, whose names remain forever a mystery, were killed and buried in the Old Washington Cemetery. Morgan again escaped. He was finally surround and captured near Salineville in Columbiana County on July 26th. He was imprisioned in the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, only to escape in November of 1863. He was shot in the back nearly one year later near Greenville, Tennessee by Union forces under General Gillum. Morgan remains a famous Cavalier to this day. Folklore and mysterious stories continue to tell the tale o |