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Trail of the Great Raid

The following list represents the trail of public monuments and markers commemorating Morgan's Great Raid of 1863. The markers have been researched, constructed and emplaced by various organizations not connected with the Buffington Island Battlefield Archaeological Project. Information and photographs of additional markers will be added as they are collected. Comments or suggestions for additions to this list can be forwarded to buffington@heidelberg.edu.

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

INDIANA

OHIO

(Hamilton County; OHS marker 14) Morgan's Raid
Near this spot on July 13, 1863 General John Hunt Morgan at the head of 2000 Confederate cavalrymen invaded the state of Ohio in a raid that spread panic throughout the southern counties until his capture on July 26.

Peebles
(Adams County; OHS marker 114)
Wickerham Inn, 1800-01
The inn was built 1800-01 by Peter Wickerham, a Revolutionary War veteran. It was used as an overnight stagecoach stop and tavern on Zane's Trace until ca. 1850. Runaway slaves were hidden here when the "Underground Railroad" was in operation. Confederate soldiers, commanded by General John Hunt Morgan, slept in the inn on the night of July 15, 1863, when "Morgan's Raiders" passed through Adams County.

Vinton
(Gallia County; OHS Marker 258)
Morgan's Raid
During the American Civil War 1860-1865, a Confederate cavalry, led by Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan, infiltrated the states of Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southeastern Ohio as a diversionary tactic to draw northern troops from eastern Tennessee. The 2,500 infantrymen passed through Gallia County, Ohio, and reached the village of Vinton on July 17, 1863. The Rebels plundered the town searching for horses, food, and forage. Near this marker, they crossed the covered bridge over Big Raccoon Creek and then burned the 120-foot structure behind them. Area residents were left unharmed and no lives were lost.

Langsville
(Meigs County; OHS marker 345)
Morgan's Raid Route
The Bridge at Leading Creek
General John Hunt Morgan led a force of 2,000 Confederate cavalrymen into Meigs County on July 18, 1863, during a raid north of the Ohio River. More than 50,000 Union troops and militia pursued Morgan across the state of Ohio. At Langsville, in an attempt to delay the Confederate approach, local militia burned the bridge near McMaster's grist mill. This was the first burned bridge encountered by the Confederates on their trek across Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. A young Confederate soldier, shot and killed by a local resident, was buried near this site. After suffering losses at Buffington Island, Morgan surrendered eight days later near West Point in Columbiana County. The surrender field was the northernmost point reached by Confederate forces during the Civil War.

near Pomeroy
(Meigs County; OHS marker 347)
Morgan's Raid Route
The Deaths of Hysell and Hudson
General John Hunt Morgan led a force of 2,000 Confederate cavalrymen into Meigs County during a raid north of the Ohio River. More than 50,000 Union troops and militia had been in pursuit of Morgan across Ohio. Near this site on July 18, 1863, Holliday Hysell and Dr. William N. Hudson were shot and killed by Confederate soldiers. These were the only civilians killed in Meigs County during Morgan's Raid. After suffering losses at Buffington Island, Morgan surrendered eight days later near West Point in Columbiana County. The surrender field was the northernmost point reached by Confederate forces during the Civil War.

near Pomeroy
(Meigs County; OHS marker 346)
Morgan's Raid Route
The "continued fight' near Pomeroy
General John Hunt Morgan led a force of 2,000 Confederate cavalrymen into Meigs County during a raid north of the Ohio River. More than 50,000 Union troops and militia pursued Morgan across Ohio. Colonel Basil Duke wrote that while passing near Pomeroy on July 18, 1863, there was a continual fight for nearly five miles through a ravine. Led by Colonel J.W. Grisby and the 6th Kentucky, with Major T.C. Webber and the 2nd Kentucky in the rear, the Confederate cavalrymen fought local militia who felled trees and fired upon the cavalrymen from the hills and roads. After suffering losses at Buffington Island, Morgan surrendered eight days later near West Point in Columbiana County. The surrender field was the northernmost point ever reached by Confederate forces during the Civil War.

Chester
(Meigs County; OHS marker 336)
General John Hunt Morgan led a force of 2,000 Confederate cavalrymen into Meigs County on July 18, 1863, during a forty-six day raid north of the Ohio River. After a skirmish with the 23rd Ohio Infantry, the Confederates paused to drink and replenish their canteens with cool spring water found in Rocksprings. Nearby, isaac Carleton, a Meigs County native, was shot and wounded by a Confederate soldier. After suffering set backs at Chester and Buffington Island, Morgan surrendered eight days later near West Point in Columbiana County. The surrender field was the northernmost point ever reached by Confederate forces during the Civil War.

Chester
(Meigs County; OHS marker 335)
Morgan's Raid Route
General John Hunt Morgan of Kentucky led a force of Confederate cavalrymen into Meigs County during a forty-six day raid north of the Ohio River. The advance forces burned Benjamin Knight's carding mill and sawmill, the Shade River Bridge, and pillaged local businesses in Chester on July 18, 1863, while waiting for the rest of the column to catch up. This two-hour halt delayed General Morgan's arrival at the ford at Buffington Island until after dark, allowing Union troops to arrive before he could make his escape. General Morgan surrendered eight days later near West Point in Columbiana County, the northernmost point ever reached by Confederate forces during the Civil War.

Rokeby
(Morgan County; OHS marker 316)
Morgan's Raid
In July 1863, Confederate General John H. Morgan led a force of 2,000 cavalrymen across southern Ohio. Morgan's force entered Ohio from Indiana on July 13. A chase ensued as Union cavalry pursued Morgan's men across twenty Ohio counties. Most of Morgan's troops were captured in Meigs County at the Battle of Buffington Island. Morgan, with several hundred cavalry, managed to escape. They raced northeast, fighting skirmishes along the way, and forded the Muskingum at a point near Rokeby Lock on July 23, 1863. As they went, the soldiers raided local farms for food and replacement horses. They were finally captured in Columbiana County on July 26. The raid marked the northern-most point ever reached by Confederate forces. Across southern Ohio, frightened residents burned bridges over fordable streams and buried silver and jewelry to hide them from the marauders.

Old Washington Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near OLD WASHINGTON
Site of skirmish with General John H. Morgan's Confederate raiders

Old Washington Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Morgan's Raiders were here overtaken and defeated by Union cavalry under Gen. Shackelford, July 24, 1863
A memorial to the fortitude and patriotism of our fathers and mothers
Erected, 1927 by Auxilliary No. 28, to sons of Union veterans of the Civil War of Cambridge Ohio

Moorefield Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near MOOREFIELD, OHIO
Platted 1815 by Michael Moore and Gabriel Cane
In the late afternoon of Friday, July 24, 1863, this village was occupied by Confederate Cavalry commanded by Gen. John Hunt Morgan. While Morgan rested on the parlor bed of a local hotel, apparently undisturbed by the nearness of pursuing Union forces, his troopers stripped the vicinity of horses and edibles. Refreshed, the raiders departed late in the day. Shortly thereafter Moorefield became the more willing host to Gen. James M. Shackleford and Union Cavalry. Early morning, the 25th, found the village returning to normal quietude possessed however with exciting memories of its longest day.
No. 4 Harrison County Historical Society 1965

Harrisville Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed through this village July 25, 1863; proceeded northward via New Alexandria pursued, under orders of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf.
Tablet No. 1 Erected July 1913

Dillonvale Morgan Marker - Far Plaque missing.

Smithfield Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops entered Jefferson County here July 25, 1863; proceeded northward via Short Creek Valley, Smithfield and other villages pursued, under orders of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf.
Tablet No. 4 Erected July 1913

New Alexandria Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed through this village July 25, 1863; proceeded northward via McIntire and Cross Creek Valleys and Wintersville pursued, under orders of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf.
Tablet No. 5 Erected July 1913

Wintersville Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed here July 25, 1863; proceeded northward via Richmond pursued by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf., and Steubenville Militia. In engagement here militiaman Henry L. Parks was wounded, died July 27, 1863. Miss Margaret D. Daugherty in Thomas Maxwell's house was severely wounded.
Tablet No. 8 Erected July 1913

Two Ridge Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed here "Two Ridges Church" July 25, 1863; proceeded northward via Richmond pursued by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf., and Steubenville Militia. In engagement here James N. Carney, Federal soldier, W.G. Page, Confederate soldier, wounded; Martin Kean, 9th Mich. Cav., wounded, died August 27, 1863.
Tablet No. 9 Erected July 1913

Richmond Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed through this village July 26, 1863: proceeded northward via Circle Green and Nebo (now Bergholz) pursued by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf., and Steubenville Militia.
Tablet No. 10 Erected July 1913

East Springfield Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed through this village July 26, 1863; proceeded northward via Circle Green and Nebo (now Bergholz) pursued by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf., and Steubenville Militia.
Tablet No. 11 Erected July 1913

Bergholz Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed here July 26, 1863; burned a County bridge and proceeded northward via Nebo (now Bergholz) pursued by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf., and Steubenville Militia.
Tablet No. 12 Erected July 1913

Monroeville Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - Near Gen. John H. Morgan in command of Confederate Troops passed through this village July 26, 1863; proceeded northward toward Salineville pursued by Gen. James M. Shackelford, commanding 14th Ill. Cav., First Ky. Cav., 9th Mich. Cav., 11th Mich. Bat'y, 86th Ohio Mounted Inf., 2d Tenn. Mounted Inf., and Steubenville Militia.
Tablet No. 14 Erected July 1913

near West Point Morgan Marker - FarMorgan Marker - MiddleMorgan Marker - Near This stone marks the spot where the confederate raider Gen. John H. Morgan surrendered his command to Maj. George W. Rue July 26, 1863 and is the farthest point north ever reached by any body of Confederate troops during the Civil War.
Erected by Will L. Thompson East Liverpool, Ohio 1909

near West Point
(Columbiana County; OHS marker 15)
Morgan's Raid
At this spot on July 26, 1863 General John Hunt Morgan with 336 of his Confederate raiders surrendered to Major George W. Rue after spreading panic across southern Ohio for twenty-three days.

WEST VIRGINIA


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