ON the 2d of July, 1863, with a force of about 3,000
men, Morgan crossed the Cumberland River at
Turkey Bend, near Burksville, Ky., and thence onward to
Columbia, Adair County; he crossed Green River in Hart
County, proceeding thence to Campbellsville, in Taylor
County, and Lebanon, Mairon County, reaching the
Ohio River at Bradensburg, Mead County, Ky., sixty miles
below Louisville. There he crossed the Ohio into
Indiana, having traversed that part of Kentucky in five
days. His course in Indiana was from Harrison
through the counties bordering on the Ohio River to
Dearborn County. On the 13th he was at Harrison,
in Hamilton County, Ohio, at 1 p. m., and on that night,
with his entire force, he passed around and through the
suburbs of Cincinnati, through Glendale, crossing the
Little Miami Railroad at daylight in sight of Camp
Dennison, eight or ten miles from Cincinnati, halted and
rested and fed his horses, and at night encamped at
Williamsburg, Clermont County, within twenty-eight miles
of Cincinnati.
On the night of the 14th at 12 o'clock he passed
through or near Georgetown, Brown County. On the
10th, at the same hour, he was at West Union, Adams
County, ten miles from the river; thence he went to
Piketon, Pike County, Jackson, Jackson County, and into
Meigs County. Near Pomeroy he met his first
military obstruction, which, with difficulty and some
loss, he escaped by a ride of four or five miles through
a deep ravine; halted at Chester for some time, and
encamped at Portland, on the bank of the river at
Buffington, where he had originally intended to cross
the Ohio. On Sunday morning when he made the
attempt he encountered the combined forces of the
gunboats and Hobson’s and Judah's command,
and then ensued the “Battle of Buffington,” and
Morgan’s retreat with about 1,200 men, which number
was subsequently much reduced by desertions. He
turned again to Chester, thence to Millersburg, in Meigs
County; then through Athens and Perry Counties, by way
of Chapel Hill and Portersville, he came into
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Morgan County and encamped on Deacon Wright’s
farm in Deerfield Township, at the headwaters of Island
Run, seven miles from Malta. This was done so
quietly that none were aware of his locality until the
next morning.
At 8 o’clock on the morning of Thursday, July 23, he
was at Eagleport, on the Muskingum, where he was able,
through pressing the pilot and the ferry boat into his
service, to cross to the east side of the river.
After his reverse at Buffington, where he lost at least
one-half of his force, including a number of his best
officers, and his harassing march through Meigs County,
his only object appears to have been, as at Buffington,
to recross the Ohio. Thus far he had in this State
eluded a militia of not less than 5,000, besides some
well equipped pursuers; hence his marches by day and
night were made with as much quiet as could be
maintained by a body of 500 or 600 mounted men.
This quiet was observed when he encamped on Deacon
Wright’s farm, and was previously manifested in the
capture of a number of the Zanesville mounted scouts
after dusk near Chapel Hill.
General Morgan was not probably aware at
the time that he had in his retinue “men of choice and
rarest party.”
Mr. Evans was a resident lawyer of
Muskingum County, and had been a resident of Morgan and
at one time a judge of the court of common pleas.
Mr. Fouts was a resident of Morgan County,
of which he had been sheriff.
But to return to the subject of Morgan’s men in
this county. On Wednesday afternoon, July 22, a
special messenger from Zanesville stated that
Governor Tod had telegraphed there that Morgan
was at McArthur, in Vinton County; that his object was
“to strike the (Ohio) river above the reach of our
gunboats, and may visit your place,” and requested
scouts to be sent into Perry and Morgan Counties.
This dispatch produced much excitement in
McConnelsville and along the river above, for it was
apparent that Morgan’s object was to avoid the
larger places in the interior and keep as near the Ohio
as practicable. And as his course tended directly
to the Muskingum it was evident that his objective point
was either McConnelsville or Eagleport, as there was no
ford below and only one above, at Taylorsville, ten
miles below Zanesville. There was a supposition
(afterward confirmed) that he was fully posted as to the
safer place.
The citizens gathered in consultation in crowds on the
streets, rang the bells, and discussed the subject and
the position in which, from injudicious official
arrangements, they were placed, and proposed plans of
offense and defense without having the men or means to
control or effect either, or even to retard his
progress, until the arrival of troops known to be below
and of those expected from above. Old shotguns and
old muskets were in demand, only to be used by old men
and boys who, few in number, thus armed, with others
with axes, started for the west side of the river to cut
down trees across and guard the roads and the fording
places of the river, and by Governor Tod’s
request to look for Morgan.
In the meantime the non-combatants were busily engaged
in storing the silverware, jewelry and other valuables
easy of transportation in places where they supposed
Morgan’s men would not
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look for them. All was confusion, not unlike
“ A herd of beeves, that hear dismayed
The lion roaring through the midnight
shade.”
About the same time in the afternoon a message was
received from Colonel Hill, who had that morning
left Marietta on the steamer “Jonas Powell” with 500 men
well armed and two brass fieldpieces, that Morgan
was between Athens and McConnelsville, and after dark a
report from Zanesville stated that he was at Nelsonville
coming this way.
The first reliable and definite report was by S. C.
Beckwith and some others of the scouting parties
from McConnelsville, who stated that Morgan had
that afternoon passed Millertown, Chapel Hill and near
Portersville, and having come this way was then encamped
at the headwaters of Island Run. This news was in
a short time confirmed, making it certain that Eagleport,
on the river at the mouth of the run, was his object,
which he knew was unguarded.
This information was forthwith communicated to
Colonel Hill (then at Windsor, nine miles
below McConnelsville and seventeen miles below Eagleport)
by C. L. Barker and J. E. Thomas, and
subsequently during the night twice repeated. Yet
although he was thus often and personally urged, and a
full statement of facts presented, he refused not only
to come with his command on the boat but also to permit
Captain Marsh with his company to come up
by land. But about 9 o’clock next day, after
Morgan had crossed at Eagleport, the boat landed
below town and the Colonel with his two fieldpieces and
men passed through and took the Ridge Road to within two
miles of where Morgan had passed nearly two hours
before.
Captain Marsh with his company continued
up the River Road for three or four miles, until he
learned that Morgan had crossed, and the route he
had gone when he left the river, with the intention of
flanking Morgan on his left or of rejoining
Colonel Hill. The latter he only
effected.
The steamer “Powell” awaited Colonel Hill's
return and took him on board without the loss of a man
or material, except a few rounds from his fieldpieces,
the sound of which did not reach Morgan but
produced a perceptible impression on Meloy’s
barn.
Early on Thursday morning, when it became certain that
Morgan intended to cross at Eagleport, all the
“armed” men and boys in town, with the curiosity seekers
and those along the river, went on “the double quick” to
meet the “fearful foe.” At 8 a. m. the sound of his
bugle announced his presence at the river about 200
yards below the ford, the head of his column halting at
or near Devol’s store in Eagleport.
The ford is close to the eastern shore, about one
hundred yards below the dam, and at low-water mark, as
it then was, does not exceed one hundred feet in width,
with a depth for a limited space of not more than four
feet. Fifty yards above the ford the river is
seven hundred feet wide, varying in depth from ten to
forty feet. At low water, Bald Eagle Island
occupies more than three-fourths of the western side of
the river, leaving dry land almost to the eastern shore,
over which the road crosses to the ford.
Immediately opposite the ford on the east is a deep
ravine, crossed by the road, formed by a small stream,
which forms a curve
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and empties into the river some fifty yards below,
leaving a high embankment at and within fifty or
seventy-five yards of the ford, sufficient, in addition
to the deep cut in the road, to have protected and
enabled a small body of well-armed men to prevent its
passage by any number who should hazard the attempt.
The citizen soldiers, aware of the peculiarity of the
ford, and of this protective defense, were there with
rides and shotguns prepared for action.
When Morgan came to the river he had no reliable
pilot for the ford, and being aware of the situation
made no attempt to cross; but when the rides and
shotguns prematurely opened on him, his men, who were
dismounted, responded. The latter were to some
extent protected by their horses, and, with carbines
that were reputed to carry one thousand yards, sprinkled
their bullets freely along the entire line among those
on the east side - Mr. Weaver’s house
receiving a proportionate share - though
apparently they did not positively intend to do any
serious injury to the small number of citizens who were
present. But unfortunately the ferry-boat above
the dam was at Morgan's command, and was
immediately put in use to convey some twenty of his men
over. The rifles, having opened the fight, kept up their
fire, though aware that their missiles fell short of the
mark, and yet confident of their service in the deep and
narrow part when the ford should be attempted.
When it was supposed that a sufficient 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 ready for the charge down
the river, and that charge ended the fight.
Hostilities 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
Fonts, 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 country, and specifically of the eastern
portion. 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
vicinity. At David Weaver’s a fine
stock of liquors was found in the cellar, and as time,
as well as whisky, was of importance to them, the heads
of the barrels 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 apartment of
the house was closely scrutinized, the food already
prepared was soon disposed of, with all the milk in the
cellar. The bedrooms and wardrobes were stripped
of all that the raiders 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 Nelsonville. 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 distance 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” Steamboat 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 consequence of a road being laid out which passed
over the grave, the remains were removed a short
distance. The occasion 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 sending the death-dealing bullet,
but in a short time, when the wounded man was able to
give his version of the transaction 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 hewas 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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oil 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 undaunted courage,
“Where darkness and surprise made conquest
cheap,”
is best told by the principal participant
in the “bloodless victory”:
“ I left Deavertown at 11 o’clock p. m. in company with
Reeves McAdoo
and James Foraker (two boys) and Eli
Longstreth and Doc Longstreth.
At the Baptist Church east of the village 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 passing on toward the river we heard Morgan’s
men approaching, the clank of their sabers telling us
that they were soldiers. I at once called a halt
in 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 demanded 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 Williams and
four men, horses and equipments. 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 matched 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 Helmick, 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 prisoners 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 Captain Williams,
lie seemed somewhat 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 Zanesville, with part of the 86th Regiment on
board, came in sight, when he returned and passed up a
ravine above Weaver’s, crossed McElhiney’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
impression 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 coining.
But after a convenient time the raiders put themselves
out of sight of the troops, who, after a short tramp
over the bill, returned 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
McGune’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 Cumberland, Senecaville 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 Hanna’s
Mills. He kept on through or near Flushing,
Belmont 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 traversed 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 rendered 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 community in all that pertained to his
movements, the following deserves notice: On the day
after Morgan had passed through the county a
party consisting of J. E. Hanna, James M.
Gaylord, Eli Shepard, D. H.
Sheets and one or two others, led by curiosity, made
a trip in buggies as far as Washington, Guernsey County,
following his track. After viewing the locality of
the scrimmage they turned their course toward
Zanesville. As they passed through Concord they
observed some excitement, and that apparently more
notice was taken of their appearance than the occasion
warranted. This was especially observed by Mr.
Shepard, who, when opportuniorty ofered
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 regardless of anything unusual,
but with a disposition to increase the enchantment by
distance. As they were ascending the hill to
Norwich an indi-
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vidual, evidently much excited, approached 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 interrogatories 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
approaching Zanesville, and that the military committee
had called out Captain Marsh’s company to capture
them. On entering the city they found his
statements 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 rations.
In his “Ohio in the War” the literary author, after
leaving Morgan at Buffington and turning him
toward Blennerhasset Island, gives him a pathetic,
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 unobserved, “until at last he found an
unguarded crossing of the Muskingum at Eagleport, above
McConnelsville, and then, with an open country before
him, struck 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 explanation 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 accordance with the
law, had organized the militia of the county into
regiments and companies. The number of companies
for the different townships was: Windsor, three;
Meigsville, two; Manchester, one; Bristol, two;
constituting the 1st Regiment of ten companies.
Morgan, three; Bloom, one; York, one; Malta, two;
Deerfield, one; constituting the 2d Regiment of eight
companies. 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 Burnside,” Governor
Tod ordered the militia from a number of counties
contiguous to the Ohio, named in his proclamation,
to report immediately at camps therein designated, and
“all such forces residing in the counties of Washington,
Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Athens, Meigs, Perry and
Hocking,” were “ordered to
---------------
* "Ohio in the War," pp. 47-48.
** A question might be raised as to the sagacity
displayed in "the shipment of troops to Bellaire," where
the Ohio was not fordable, and only distant a few miles
form Marietta, then protected by the militia of eight
counties, but where the river was fordable at very low
water. Page 235 -
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 Putnam 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 Morgan did - which
assumption the records sustain - Colonel
Putnam must have had command of nearly 15,000 men.
Yet the number of armed men is uncertain. few
being armed in the companies 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.
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