Save Ohio's Civil War Battlefield : Buffington Island
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State of Ohio
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Sponsored By:
Freinds of Buffington Island -
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For The People,
One hundred & thirty seven years ago, as the guns roared at Gettysburgh an event of lesser fame was taking place.
On July 2, 1863 Confederate General John Hunt Morgan began his Great Ohio Raid. On approval from his superior, Gen. Braxton Bragg he was to enter into Union held Kentucky and attack Louisville. This movement was to divert Union troops from Tennessee in an attempt to help Gen. Bragg free Tennessee from the Union.
Crossing the Cumberland River, Morgan led his 2500 men brigade into Kentucky. But instead of attacking Louisville, he opted to disobey his orders and cross the Ohio River. After which, Morgan and his men led the Union on a two-week raid through the tip of Indiana and across the entire southern half of Ohio. During this time, 50,000 union troops were diverted to catch Morgan. Morgan made his way to Buffington Island on the 19 of July 1863.
Seeking to cross the ford across the Ohio River there, the Union army finally caught up with Morgan.
The battle took place on the morn of the 19th, with the Union cavalry, gunboats guarding the ford and the forces of nature against him (severe rain that month had caused the river to rise). Morgan was defeated, he lost half his force there in dead & wounded, only himself & 400 others to escape and be captured a week later.
Buffington Island is located in Meigs County, Ohio, on the Great Bend of the Ohio River. This is situated in the southeastern corner of Ohio.
This battlefield is significant for many reasons.
1) It is one of the few battles that all branches of the service were involved
2) Two future presidents rode with the Union that day
3) Daniel McCook was mortally wounded there
4) It is Ohio's only Civil War battlefield
Today this battlefield sets almost as it did then, the opportunity for it to be a teaching center, or park are very great. This is not just an issue over preserving a very historic and valued place, but of ethical issues too. Over 60+ men are buried on the battlefield in unmarked graves, without any idea where the are. These are men from both sides of the war that rest now where they gave their most for what they thought was right.
Now, this would be fine if the park system owned the land, but it doesn't. A gravel company owns this very prestigious piece of land and has filed a claim to build a gravel operation on the site.
They have agreed to set aside 40 acres that will not be touched, where most of the soldiers are presumed to be buried. But as said before no one can account for all their whereabouts. This is very wrong in the fact that if they are all found, they will be reentered in a "safe" place where they will lose the ONLY identity these men have. Also, the fact that the men that aren't found may one day be dug up, and if not seen, will be shipped down the river with the rest of the gravel. This is a very sad thing.
We have to draw a line,People. Is commerce so great that we are willing to sell our history? If so, whenever progress inches closer to our historical sites, will they be plowed over, just to be only known forever more in books? Can anyone fathom building condos at Gettysburgh? Can anyone say yes to destroying the Serpent Mound of Ohio or bulldozing Fort Ancient (also in Ohio) over, just because the view is nice? Can you ever imagine, the year 3000 we go out to Pearl Harbor & drag the Arizona out of her grave? This would be around the same time line as this is taking place, mind you. Oh yeah, it'd go " well, we needed to dock our cruise liners and geeeez it was always leaking that oil." Yep, don't laugh it could happen. Land will only get scarcer & the fight will grow more difficult to save our heritage. We need to say" No" to this at Buffington Island. We have too much history to lose, but, the men there have the most to lose. For without Buffington Island they might as well not exist, they will no longer stand for much of anything if they do not have something to represent them.
We do not want to lose another piece of our precious and ever-dwindling historical resources. The men of Buffington Island should be allowed to continue their rest, unmolested. The Gravel Company should be compensated for their loss of the use of the land, and the people of the U.S should keep the battlefield, and care for it with pride, knowing the right choice was made.
Signed,
Friends of Buffington Island
If you would care to know more on Buffington Island Email me at [email protected]
One hundred & thirty seven years ago, as the guns roared at Gettysburgh an event of lesser fame was taking place.
On July 2, 1863 Confederate General John Hunt Morgan began his Great Ohio Raid. On approval from his superior, Gen. Braxton Bragg he was to enter into Union held Kentucky and attack Louisville. This movement was to divert Union troops from Tennessee in an attempt to help Gen. Bragg free Tennessee from the Union.
Crossing the Cumberland River, Morgan led his 2500 men brigade into Kentucky. But instead of attacking Louisville, he opted to disobey his orders and cross the Ohio River. After which, Morgan and his men led the Union on a two-week raid through the tip of Indiana and across the entire southern half of Ohio. During this time, 50,000 union troops were diverted to catch Morgan. Morgan made his way to Buffington Island on the 19 of July 1863.
Seeking to cross the ford across the Ohio River there, the Union army finally caught up with Morgan.
The battle took place on the morn of the 19th, with the Union cavalry, gunboats guarding the ford and the forces of nature against him (severe rain that month had caused the river to rise). Morgan was defeated, he lost half his force there in dead & wounded, only himself & 400 others to escape and be captured a week later.
Buffington Island is located in Meigs County, Ohio, on the Great Bend of the Ohio River. This is situated in the southeastern corner of Ohio.
This battlefield is significant for many reasons.
1) It is one of the few battles that all branches of the service were involved
2) Two future presidents rode with the Union that day
3) Daniel McCook was mortally wounded there
4) It is Ohio's only Civil War battlefield
Today this battlefield sets almost as it did then, the opportunity for it to be a teaching center, or park are very great. This is not just an issue over preserving a very historic and valued place, but of ethical issues too. Over 60+ men are buried on the battlefield in unmarked graves, without any idea where the are. These are men from both sides of the war that rest now where they gave their most for what they thought was right.
Now, this would be fine if the park system owned the land, but it doesn't. A gravel company owns this very prestigious piece of land and has filed a claim to build a gravel operation on the site.
They have agreed to set aside 40 acres that will not be touched, where most of the soldiers are presumed to be buried. But as said before no one can account for all their whereabouts. This is very wrong in the fact that if they are all found, they will be reentered in a "safe" place where they will lose the ONLY identity these men have. Also, the fact that the men that aren't found may one day be dug up, and if not seen, will be shipped down the river with the rest of the gravel. This is a very sad thing.
We have to draw a line,People. Is commerce so great that we are willing to sell our history? If so, whenever progress inches closer to our historical sites, will they be plowed over, just to be only known forever more in books? Can anyone fathom building condos at Gettysburgh? Can anyone say yes to destroying the Serpent Mound of Ohio or bulldozing Fort Ancient (also in Ohio) over, just because the view is nice? Can you ever imagine, the year 3000 we go out to Pearl Harbor & drag the Arizona out of her grave? This would be around the same time line as this is taking place, mind you. Oh yeah, it'd go " well, we needed to dock our cruise liners and geeeez it was always leaking that oil." Yep, don't laugh it could happen. Land will only get scarcer & the fight will grow more difficult to save our heritage. We need to say" No" to this at Buffington Island. We have too much history to lose, but, the men there have the most to lose. For without Buffington Island they might as well not exist, they will no longer stand for much of anything if they do not have something to represent them.
We do not want to lose another piece of our precious and ever-dwindling historical resources. The men of Buffington Island should be allowed to continue their rest, unmolested. The Gravel Company should be compensated for their loss of the use of the land, and the people of the U.S should keep the battlefield, and care for it with pride, knowing the right choice was made.
Signed,
Friends of Buffington Island
If you would care to know more on Buffington Island Email me at [email protected]
305 Signatures
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Dennis M
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Joey S
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Anthony William C
- Comments
- We must preserve our Heritage at all costs!
- State of Residence
- Pennsylvania
- Organization
- Civil War Heritage Foundation
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Gerald S
- Comments
- It should be saved.
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Robert L H
- State of Residence
- Massachusetts
- Organization
- United Transportation Union
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Antonio Suau F
- State of Residence
- Spain
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Ginny M
- State of Residence
- MD
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James R. P
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Martin G
- State of Residence
- Ohio
- Organization
- none
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Carol J
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martin b
- Comments
- please save it.
- State of Residence
- Illinois
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MAGGIE G
- State of Residence
- CA.....ORIGINALLY FROM PA
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julie
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William R. B
- Comments
- Int.,Edward L Buffington,131 Reg.Gar., Corp.
- State of Residence
- Pa.
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Martha H
- Comments
- My great grandfather who served in the 2nd Ohio Cavalry was there.
- State of Residence
- Michigan
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Dennis C
- State of Residence
- Ohio
- Organization
- South-Western City School District
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Jon B
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Susan E. W
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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ROBERT & GINA S
- Comments
- THIS IS A PART OF HISTORY THAT U CAN NEVER GET BACK ONCE DESTROYED,DONT LET IT HAPPEN!!!
- State of Residence
- WEST VIRGINIA
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WILLIAM L H
- State of Residence
- SIDNEY,OHIO
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Peggy D
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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TOM W
- State of Residence
- ohio
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Steven S
- State of Residence
- OH
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PATRICIA B
- Comments
- PLEASE PRESERVE THIS PART OF HISTORY.
- State of Residence
- IOWA
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Brenda B
- Comments
- I agree with every word in this petition. We the people need to band together to keep our historic sites in tact and protected from big corporates,( or individuals) who would sell out their own family for the love of money!
- State of Residence
- Michigan
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Allan R
- Comments
- this is a disgrace to any Veteran
- State of Residence
- oh
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Marty K
- State of Residence
- California
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Brandon Allen H
- Comments
- For God's Sake people, let the men Rest In Peace!
- State of Residence
- Ohio
- Organization
- 76th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Co. H. "Licking County Volunteers"
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Joseph G. K
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DOUG L
- Comments
- THIS IS A HISTORIC TREASURE
- State of Residence
- OHIO
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Alan M. D
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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John T. H
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Aaron R. D
- Comments
- This battlefield is vital to the people of Ohio as well as the history of Ohio. The patriach of the largest family to serve their nation (the McCook family) was mortally wounded here, two presidents Hays and McKinley fought here, and John Hunt Morgan's Raiders were nearly stopped here. Many men from both North and South gave their last full measure of devotion fighting on this ground for a cause they believed in, and we must show that they did not die in vain. We must stand up for the cause to save the battlefield, we must rise together against the destruction of the battlefield and help save the ground that the men from both North and South laid so costly a sacrifise upon the altar of freedom.
- State of Residence
- Ohio
- Organization
- McCook House Civil War Museum; Historian
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Robin B
- Comments
- I am a decendent of a Buffington
- State of Residence
- Arizona
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Greg M
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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JEFF S
- Comments
- THE GRAVEL CO. SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BUT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL RESPECT AND THEMSELVES CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY
- State of Residence
- MARYLAND
- Organization
- STIKE CONTRACTING
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william h
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Rebecca S
- Comments
- It is very important to save this piece of history. I would love to help in any way possible. Don't give up the fight.
- State of Residence
- Brown County ,Ohio
- Organization
- Member of the Civil War Preservation Trust
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Frank C
- State of Residence
- Ohio
-
Ken R
- Comments
- Save our History!
- State of Residence
- McDonald, Ohio
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Michael F
- Comments
- Ohio's only Civil War battlefield is as important as the Ohio Generals who won the war for the Union ie: Grant, Sherman. We need to save this important piece of Ohio and Civil War history.
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Stephen and Virginia F
- State of Residence
- Ohio
- Organization
- K.W.V.A. chapter #137
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Judy S
- Comments
- We Must not let this happen!!!!!!!
- State of Residence
- Ga. orginally from Oh
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Kristy S
- State of Residence
- Georgia
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Jayne A. P
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Michelle
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BO T
- Comments
- I REENACT WITH THE 36TH VIRGINIA THERE
- State of Residence
- WV
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Karen Denise R
- Comments
- Our history needs to be preserved for future generations to see.
- State of Residence
- California
-
Rebecca
- State of Residence
- Ohio
-
regan
- State of Residence
- ohio
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305
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