Portland in Meigs County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Buffington Island

War Reaches Ohio

— John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail —

Buffington Island Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 9, 2017

1. Buffington Island Marker

Inscription.

Buffington Island. War Reaches Ohio. After thirty-eight days of raiding for supplies, damaging bridges and rail lines, and drawing the pursuit of Union troops, Morgan's men arrived here on the evening of July 18, 1863. His objective was to reach the Buffington Island ford where his troops could safely cross the Ohio River into West Virginia., As a dense fog and darkness settled in, Morgan received word from his scouts that the crossing was blocked by an undetermined force hidden in trenches. Not wanting to attempt a crossing at night or leave behind the wounded, Morgan decided to camp for the night. They would wait until dawn to confront the forces before crossing onto friendlier soil. Morgan did not realize that Union forces were closing in on him from all directions., The next morning the Battle of Buffington Island began. This was the only Civil War battle in Ohio and the most significant battle fought north of the Ohio River. It was here that 3,000 Union artillery, infantry, and cavalry, accompanied by U.S. Navy gunboats, caught up with Morgan's 1,800 Confederate troops. , Morgan's Raid in Ohio , By 1863, the Civil War, which most thought would be over quickly, had bogged down into a long fight between the states. On the heels of the great Battle of Gettysburg and the surrender at Vicksburg, Morgan brought the war into Ohio. Racing through Indiana, he crossed into southwestern Ohio on July 13, bringing over 2,000 veteran raiders with him. Morgan's objective was to divert the attention of Union troops away from their normal duties and strike fear in the civilian population. , [Photo captions] , Top left: John Hunt Morgan - Riding into Ohio through Harrison on the Indiana-Ohio border on July 13, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and his men embarked on a raid through southern Ohio. , Bottom left: Major General Ambrose Burnside - Department of the Ohio commander Major General Ambrose Burnside ordered several thousand troops to pursue and stop Morgan. But that would prove a much harder job than he expected. , Top right map:Route of the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail

After thirty-eight days of raiding for supplies, damaging bridges and rail lines, and drawing the pursuit of Union troops, Morgan's men arrived here on the evening of July 18, 1863. His objective was to reach the Buffington Island ford where his troops could safely cross the Ohio River into West Virginia.

As a dense fog and darkness settled in, Morgan received word from his scouts that the crossing was blocked by an undetermined force hidden in trenches. Not wanting to attempt a crossing at night or leave behind the wounded, Morgan decided to camp for the night. They would wait until dawn to confront the forces before crossing onto friendlier soil. Morgan did not realize that Union forces were closing in on him from all directions.

The next morning the Battle of Buffington Island began. This was the only Civil War battle in Ohio and the most significant battle fought north of the Ohio River. It was here that 3,000 Union artillery, infantry, and cavalry, accompanied by U.S. Navy gunboats, caught up with Morgan's 1,800 Confederate troops.

Morgan's Raid in Ohio
By 1863, the Civil War, which most thought would be over quickly, had bogged down into a long fight between the states. On the heels of the great Battle of Gettysburg and the surrender at Vicksburg, Morgan brought the

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war into Ohio. Racing through Indiana, he crossed into southwestern Ohio on July 13, bringing over 2,000 veteran raiders with him. Morgan's objective was to divert the attention of Union troops away from their normal duties and strike fear in the civilian population.

[Photo captions]
Top left: John Hunt Morgan - Riding into Ohio through Harrison on the Indiana-Ohio border on July 13, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and his men embarked on a raid through southern Ohio.
Bottom left: Major General Ambrose Burnside - Department of the Ohio commander Major General Ambrose Burnside ordered several thousand troops to pursue and stop Morgan. But that would prove a much harder job than he expected.
Top right map:Route of the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail

Erected 2013 by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio History Connection, and the Ohio Civil War Trail Commission. (Marker Number 25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail in Ohio series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 18, 1863.

Location. 39° 0.136′

Buffington Island Marker on right. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 9, 2017

2. Buffington Island Marker on right.

N, 81° 46.447′ W. Marker is in Portland, Ohio, in Meigs County. Marker can be reached from Ohio River Scenic Byway (Ohio Route 124) south of New Portland Road, on the right when traveling south. Located within the Buffington Island Battlefield Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56998 OH-124, Portland OH 45770, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Surprise Encounter (here, next to this marker); Confusion and Panic (here, next to this marker); Attack from the West (here, next to this marker); Modern Day Buffington Island (here, next to this marker); Path of Destruction and Damage (here, next to this marker); Capture in Columbiana County (here, next to this marker); Escape from the Ohio Penitentiary (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Buffington Island (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

Marker within the Buffington Island Battlefield Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 9, 2017

3. Marker within the Buffington Island Battlefield Memorial Park

John Hunt Morgan image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. John Hunt Morgan

Riding into Ohio through Harrison on the Indiana-Ohio border on July 13, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan and his men embarked on a raid through southern Ohio.

Ambrose Burnside image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

5. Ambrose Burnside

Department of the Ohio commander Major General Ambrose Burnside ordered several thousand troops to pursue and stop Morgan. But that would prove a much harder job than he expected.
Photo by Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries Published by E. & H.T. Anthony, in 1863.

Buffington Island Battlefield entrance sign. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 9, 2017

6. Buffington Island Battlefield entrance sign.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 484 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4, 5. submitted on September 14, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on September 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.