Jefferson County's Man of War

Jefferson County's Man of War. . This cannon stands as a rare survivor of Ohio's early military history. Believed to have been forged in Steubenville in the mid-1820s under the direction of General Samuel Stokely for local militia service, this cannon is one of the few remaining pieces that played in active role in the defense of Jefferson County., While largely used by the militia in drills and training, its story took a dramatic turn during the "Irish Row" of 1850, when rival Irish factions , the Fardowners and the Corkonians , clashed over the alignment of Tunnel 8 at present-day Hellbender Preserve. Stolen from the city armory by the Fardowners, the cannon was fired up Market Street at the Corkonians. After several days the Governor called in the state militia to restore peace and the cannon was returned to the city who later used it to restore and maintain peace., By 1860, as Secretary of War John B. Floyd quietly transferred federal weapons southward in the months before the Civil War, citizens of Steubenville raised funds by public subscription to secure this cannon for the city and the Union cause. When war erupted, it became one of the few artillery pieces readily available in the region. The Steubenville Militia hauled it to defend threatened Union strongholds, including Bethany College and Wheeling., The cannon earned lasting fame during Morgan's Raid in 1863. Under Colonel James Collier, the militia rushed it to Wintersville, where nervous defenders mistakenly fired upon the dust-covered 9th Michigan Cavalry thinking their dirty uniforms were the gray of the Confederacy before joining the pursuit of Confederate raider John Hunt Morgan. The militia and cannon soon recovered their honor and fought in the brief engagement near Two Ridge Church. Upon Morgan's escape the Steubenville Militia hauled the cannon with great effort and speed in pursuit. They arrived in Monroeville, Jefferson County at the start of what became known as the Battle of Salineville. The cannon was placed on the high ground in the Monroeville Cemetery and fired upon the Confederates once again. The artillery's fire causing some of Morgan's command to surrender on the spot. After Morgan fled out of range towards West Grove Cemetery and Carroll County, the Steubenville Militia hauled the cannon to Hammondsville and loaded it on the train and was present at Morgan's official surrender., After the war the cannon was put in Riverside Park in Steubenville in a place of pride. However by 1879 it was in ruins and nearly forgotten. The cannon was rescued and restored in the 1880s by the Grand Army of the Republic (the Union Veterans Organization) who used it at reunions and celebrations. As the GAR began to fade they placed the cannon in Union Cemetery. Restored again in 2006 by Eric Hilty, it remains a powerful reminder of Steubenville's enduring commitment to the Union and freedom.