Berlin Crossroads

Berlin Crossroads. Trouble at the Crossroads. As Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan's Confederate raiders left Jackson on Friday, July 17, 1863, they were in good spirits and singing songs. Although they had burned a mill near Berlin Crossroads, a small town located on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, they soon received reports of a large Union force on the heights above this small town., The force consisted of 1,500 raw and untrained Ross County militiamen, commanded by Union Colonel Ben P. Runkle. They had hurried down from Chillicothe to intercept Morgan, killing a few of the raiders as they approached the crossroads. Morgan brought up his artillery and fired several shots at the militia. After multiple charges by the raiders, the Union force broke and retreated over the hill seeking cover., Runkle and his men held up Morgan's main column for more than three hours, a delaying action that provided precious time to the pursuing Union cavalry. Around 2 pm, Morgan headed his forces east., [Photo captions] , Top left: The "undrilled" militia force from Ross County found it difficult to hold their position and, in the words of their commander, "impossible to take the offensive" against their experienced Confederate opponents at Berlin Crossroads. , Bottom left: Battle of Berlin Heights , (1) Union recruits totaling 1,500 under Colonel Benjamin Runkle arrive from Chillicothe during the early morning hours of July 17, 1863, and are in position by 5 am; (2) At 11 am, Confederate Kentucky First Brigade under Colonel Basil Duke arrive with General Morgan accompanying (3) Two Confederate scouts sent into Berlin are shot; (4) Confederate Parrot gun battery shells Union position for nearly an hour; (5) Union troops retreat; (6) Confederate attack at noon; (7) Union withdrawal by 2 pm. , Text: Edd Sharp , Illustration: Bev Kirk