Morgan's Raid

While the Civil War raged in the South at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Union had camps of soldiers all over the northern states, ready to reinforce the armies fighting in the South. Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan decided to take his 2,000 raiders through Indiana and into Ohio on July 13th, 1863. Their job was to divert as many Union reinforcements as possible to them and away from the front lines.

The raiders pillaged supplies from towns in Ohio and Indiana, drawing the attention of General H.M. Judah arrived as the Confederates were crossing the Ohio River at a ford near Buffington Island. Morgan decided to move his army to Buffington Island. A battle between the 3,000 Union troops and the weakened 1,700 Confederates.

Reports from Union officials and General Morgan were vague, but it is estimated that 52 to 120 Confederates were killed and 800 to 1,200 were captured. With his remaining men, Morgan broke through the Union lines and continued north along the Ohio River, looking for a place to cross. The raiders found a place to cross and got several hundred troops across before Union gunboats arrived to cut off the crossing again. Morgan and his small remaining force that hadn't crossed the river moved west and were surrounded by Union troops at Salineville.

Morgan and most of his command was captured, marking the end of Morgan's Raid. Later, Morgan and six of his men escaped the Union prison and rejoined the Union.

Sites used: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Morgan%27s_Raid
                  http://www.ohiohistory.org/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/morgans-raid


ADHD Version: General Morgan took 2,000 raiders into Ohio to distract the Union Army from the front line. He was captured after getting most of his men out of Ohio and escaped prison to rejoin the Confederate Army.