Civil War tales as they were reported

Brookville Democrat, July 17, 1863

The John Morgan Raid

The knowledge that John Morgan with his band of marauders was demonstrating in this direction, created the wildest excitement among our citizens from one extent of the White Water Valley to the other.

From Sunday until Wednesday, our town was in a perfect uproar and preparations for defense were to be seen in every direction.

On Monday, learning that the rebels were in the vicinity of Sunman's Station, 14 miles southwest of this place, every conceivable mode of conveyance was procured to convey our armed citizens to the locality where it was supposed a collision would take place.

Before their arrival, however, Morgan had commenced his march in the direction of Harrison, Ohio, which place he reached on that day at 11 o'clock and remained until 4 o'clock. His depredations at Harrison were pretty extensive in the way of horses, goods and such other valuables as he could carry away. In his march he is making wholesale work in the way of stealing horses and his men are mounted on the finest stock of the country.

Several of the citizens of this county who happened to be in Harrison and vicinity on the day Morgan passed through, were relieved of their horses by the freebooter and his men.

Mr. Albert Loper of this county who had a considerable amount of money with him, escaped by laying down unperceived in an open field near at hand. 

Morgan burned the bridge across the Miami at New Baltimore after crossing over it.

Note: It's not known if Morgan came as far north as New Trenton, but it's likely some of his soldiers did.

Connersville Weekly Times, July 20, 1863

Doing the Clever Thing

During the Morgan raid in this state, some 40 or 50 citizens of Posey Township, this county (Fayette) responded to the call of Governor Morton, by volunteering to assist in driving the invaders from our soil, a number of them actually abandoning their harvest field, leaving their grain uncut.

These "citizen soldiers" assembled at Dublin, the nearest station on the Central Railway, to take passage for Indianapolis. While waiting for the train, the people of Dublin who are unanimously for the Union, treated them with the utmost courtesy and kindness, supplying them with the best refreshments and insisting on their taking a supply along for future use.

And one or two persons in the village learning the condition in which our volunteers had left their ripe grain, word was passed around among the farmers of the neighborhood, and arrangements were soon made for a general turnout to complete the work of harvesting thus abandoned. 

It was performed in good style; and the Posey Township folks returned from the pursuit of Morgan to find their grain harvested and saved from damage or waste, and no expenses to pay.

The Quakers generally are opposed to war but well know how to do the clever thing, at the right time, in behalf of those who will fight in defense of their country.

Note: Bentonville is the "capital" of Posey Township.

Connersville Weekly Times, March 26, 1863

Morgan Whipped

The great horse thief, John Morgan, was thrashed in splendid style near Milton, Tenn., on Friday. This is, we believe, the first fight Morgan has been in. His business, heretofore, has been to make raids, steal horses, burn railroad bridges and gobble up small garrisons. On Friday he had an opportunity to distinguish himself as a fighting man, if he had any qualities in that line.

He came across Col. Hall, who was out on a reconnoitering expedition, with 1,400 men. Morgan had nearly 4,000. He made an attack and was most disgracefully defeated. Thus has the bloated reputation of one of the greatest braggards in the rebel service, been effectually punctured. Ohio, Illinois and Indiana boys won the victory.

Note: It appears this story was somewhat premature by about 3 months. Facts were optional in those days. 

Another link on this blog to Morgan's Raid