Save Ohio's Civil War Battlefield : Buffington Island
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
State of Ohio
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Sponsored By:
Freinds of Buffington Island -
More Info at:
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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Edward F
- Comments
- this needs more Publicity,,, I never new there was a battle in Ohio
- State of Residence
- Georgia
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William Ferlin C
- Comments
- It would truly be a shame to lose such a field and to desecrate the graves of heroes of the Civil War!
- State of Residence
- Michigan
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Thomas D
- State of Residence
- OH
- Organization
- Sunny Hill Farms, Inc.
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Ronald R. Goodwin, S
- Comments
- Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places; one of the top 20 endangered ACW battlefields and still the state of Ohio doesn't lift a finger to stop the destruction of this wonderful site. Typical of State Governments...a total waste of tax dollars by the taxpayers
- State of Residence
- OH
- Organization
- historian/archivist
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Darrell C
- Comments
- These are American Soldiers, no different than any other Soldier that has fought for Freedom. These Soldiers are the same as our Soldiers that fought in WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam and last but not least, The Soldiers that fought for OUR FREEDOM! The Revolutionary Soldiers. Gov. Taft, would you let someone dig up your family to have a few rocks????
- State of Residence
- Kentucky
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Adam T F
- State of Residence
- Kentucky
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brian b
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Sean P. G
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david h
- Comments
- very wrong
- State of Residence
- ohio
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Gail Buffington S
- Comments
- It's part of my heritage
- State of Residence
- Nevada
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J.E. Scates J
- Comments
- If not us then who.....Save our history people
- State of Residence
- Arkansas
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Geoff W
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Jeff H
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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James P. G
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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John J
- State of Residence
- OH
- Organization
- Johnston Photography
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JERRY D.SILLS S
- Comments
- REMEMBER THE POWER OF THE VOTER AT THE NEXT ELECTION!!!!
- State of Residence
- OHIO
- Organization
- BYRNES BATTERY, 2nd KY.CAV.
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Jim F
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Chris D. T
- Comments
- It is an honor to sign this! I too have a petition to preserve Ohio from the awful WTI incinerator in East Liverpool: http://www.petitiononline.com/vrn04/petition.html ...so please take a moment to read and sign this as well! Thank you!
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Jeff S
- Comments
- We can't let this happen
- State of Residence
- Georgia now, but Born & Raised a Buckeye
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Christien C
- State of Residence
- South Hadley, Massachusetts
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John B
- Comments
- As my father ,John F. Brisbin,a Civil War expert -history teacher from Lansing Eastern High School, Lansing Michigan=head of the history department - 1908-1991 he taught ther vfor thirty years and would have been very interested in Buffington Island. Dad taught the Civil War as a living item ,we studied most of the battles and learned most of the trench warfare involved. I wish you great success in your petition as so many historical venues are destroyed-a part of our heritage
- State of Residence
- Originally Michigan now Alberta. Canada
- Organization
- Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Confederacy
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john l
- Comments
- too late ground breaking and plant set up taking place really sad
- State of Residence
- ohio
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Howard H
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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David H
- State of Residence
- CO
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James A. D
- Comments
- Save our history !!
- State of Residence
- Ky
- Organization
- 2nd Ky. Inf.
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A B
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Harley B
- State of Residence
- TN
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John G
- Comments
- Don't lose this piece of history. Once it is gone, you can't get it back!
- State of Residence
- Georgia
- Organization
- Co. A, 125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Re-activated)
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Jason J
- State of Residence
- ohio
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Jeff M
- Comments
- My family is from Morgan County and I am currently working on a book that includes sections on Morgan's Raid
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Shirley S
- Comments
- Hope it helps to sign this.
- State of Residence
- Ohio
- Organization
- President of Owensville, Ohio Historical Society.
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Ray K
- State of Residence
- Missouri
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Robert K
- Comments
- В
- State of Residence
- ohio
- Organization
- В
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Kevin L. C
- Comments
- This sight should be saved all of it.To remember the fallen men from the south as well as the north. Americans cannot forget its history or its places that makes it america
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Karin D
- State of Residence
- ohio
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James and Kathrine E
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Deb L
- Comments
- We must strive to save this very rare piece of history!!!!
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Larry D Stivenson j
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Keith B
- State of Residence
- Illinois
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Mrs. Penny A. W
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Keith C. R
- Comments
- Please save this important piece of history
- State of Residence
- South Carolina
- Organization
- Sons of Confederate Veterans - member
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Larry D
- Comments
- Please preserve our heritage associated with the Civil War. How else will future generations learn the true nature of this war? Without present day parks and the like, the future generation will only repeat past mistakes
- State of Residence
- TX
- Organization
- Sons of Confederate
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Travis D
- State of Residence
- TX
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Kendra L
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Kent E. G
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ken w
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Kevin W
- Comments
- Save the land!
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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Kathleen E. W
- State of Residence
- Ohio
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lou p
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Mehran A
- State of Residence
- New Jersey
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305
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