View of the entry of Morgan's Raiders into Washington, Ohio, from Harper's Weekly, Saturday, August 15, 1863. In July 1863 Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan lead approximately 1,400 calvarymen on a 13 day raid through southern and eastern Ohio. At the Battle of Buffington Island, 750 men were captured and 300 escaped across the Ohio River. Morgan and 400 men headed north after the battle and were captured in Columbiana County, Ohio. Ohio Historical Society Collections.

The Battle of Buffington Island was the only major Civil War engagement fought in the State of Ohio.

On July 13, 1863, Brigadier-General John Hunt Morgan, a Confederate cavalry leader, entered Ohio to continue their raid through the northwest states. The raiders continued through southern and sourthesst Ohio in attempt to reach the Ohio River and cross into West Virginia. They reached the town of wartime Portland but were soon outnumbered by Union forces under Brigadier-General E.H. Hobson. Union General Ambrose Burnside also had sent Northern soldiers and gunboats to patrol the Ohio River. Morgan’s men attempted to cross the Ohio River at a ford near Buffington Island. The Confederates succeeded in getting a small number of men across the river before Union gunboats and soldiers under Hobson and Judah surrounded the raiders. A battle ensued at Buffington Island. Many of the raiders were captured but Morgan escaped up river until he was captured at Salineville.

Source:

Ohio History Central http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=470

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