March 28, 2024

stars-storyCome explore Civil War History where you will experience the sound of canons and swords clashing with the most Raiders covering the most ground, a 60-mile trail, since General John Hunt Morgan and his 2,500 Raiders left Tennessee. Their journey took them through Kentucky, then into Indiana and shortly after that headed across southern Ohio during the summer of July, 1863.

At The Third Morgan’s Raid Reenactment being held in Vinton and Meigs Counties, the event depicts the only raid conducted in Ohio by the Southern forces which rallied all four aspects of the Union military measure with Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and Naval troops. The Battle of Buffington Island on the Ohio River, near Portland, Ohio was the only major Civil War Battle in Ohio.

The event is set for September 14 through September 18, 2016.

The five-day journey begins Wednesday, September 14, at Wilkesville, OH located at the edge of Vinton County and will end on Sunday the 18th with the Battle of Buffington Island near Portland, OH in Meigs County.

This year the exciting component of the event planned is that it is being held the same week of the Pomeroy Stern Wheel Festival. Riverboats will transport infantry and canons to the battle site to complete the military aspect of the event. This is the first time to have the addition of the infantry disembarking from boats along the river. For the Festival schedule of events view these sites: https://www.facebook.com/pomeroysternwheel/ and www.pomeroysternwheel.org
Costume Workshops, dance classes, the play “Hide the Horses” presentation, and school programs are being planned for the upcoming months. During the week of the event in September, there will be several military balls, and opportunities to visit one of the Union infantry encampments on the banks of the Ohio at Mason City, WV, as well as the camp sites of Morgan and his Raiders.

This Civil War Living History event here in Southeast Ohio is the second leg of the Morgan’s Raid Trilogy:

Part 1 – April 29-May 1, 2016 hosted at Cynthiana, Kentucky,
Part 2 – The Pursuit in Ohio September 14-18, 2016 hosted at Vinton and Meigs Counties in Ohio and Mason City, Mason County, WV and
Part 3- Morgan’s Final Victory Battle, September, 2017 hosted at Cynthiana, KY.

The Ohio portion of the trilogy is being sponsored by the Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation.

For more information on Morgan’s Raid Reenactment and schedule of events visit: www.morgansraidreeanctment.com