Confederate Raider Morgan at Large
Thunderbolt of the Confederacy Raiding Way Through Sothern Indiana Whereabouts Unreported WAR NEWS
Lee in Full Retreat From Pennsylvania
After being repulsed by Union forces outside the town of Gettyburg, following abattle lasting three days, General Robert E. Lee has retreated with hisw command south across the Potomac River. Lee’s army is thought to be heading into the northern part of Virginia to reorganize following severe losses. Casualties were heavy in the battle and may have totaled 25,000 dead and as many wounded on the Confederate side. Despite the appearance of full retreat, several Union units have be dispatched to guard against a sudden thrust by the rebels toward Washington.
Meade’s Army to Regroup
There apparently will be no pursuit by General Meade’s army at this time. After absorbing close to 45,000 casualties he will regroup, resupply and receive replacement soldiers. ___________________
Victorious End at Vicksburg
General Ulysses S. Grant’s capture of the Mississipi city of Vicksburg has effectively cut the Confederacy in two. The successful two month siege has removed the last Confederate strongpoint on the Mississippi River, placing the entire river under Union control. Rebel General Pemberton and some 30,000 officers and men were surrendered along with the city on July 4th. ___________________
On Other Fronts
In middle Tennessee, Union forces under Gen. W.S. Rosecrans continue to slowly manuver keeping a wary eye on the movements of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg in an attempt to move closer to Chattanooga. ___________________ General Herman Haupt has been selected to be in charge of the newly created United States Millitary Railroad. Haupt has had a
long experience in the construction and maintenance of railroad equipment and track. ___________________ Eight Ohio men who participated in a raid in Georgia last spring under the leadership of James J. Andrews have escaped their captivity and returned to Union lines in Tennessee. They are the among the first recipients of a new medal that has approved by Congress. It is called the Congressional Medal of Honor. The medals were presented recently by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in a private ceremony in Washington. ___________________
LOCAL NOTICES ________________________________
Village Council to Meet An emergency meeting of the village council will be held next Tuesday evening July 14th to discuss the ability of the village to defend itself in the event it is set upon by raiders. The meeting will take place at the Market House at 7:00 in the evening.
Missing Pig
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Molly Patterson
reports that one of her pigs is missing. The swine apparently made good its escape whenthe rest of the pigs got loose from her yard on Sycamore Street. Village officials have had to deal with Mrs. Patterson’s wayward pigs in the past and have threatened to cook and eat the next escapee captured due to the poor repair of Mrs. Patterson’s sty.
Corporal Keen Funeral to Be Held Friday Corporal Peter Keen late of the 37th Indiana Volunteer Infantry will be laid to rest in Glen Haven Cemetery on Friday, July 10th with full military honors. Corporal Keen fell on the last day of December at the Battle of Stones River near the town of Murfreesboro in Tennessee. His body had been buried near the battlefield but has been removed and returned at the request of the family for burial here. Services will take place at 10:00 in the morning at First Presbyterian Church followed by a procession to the cemetery.
Ladies Aid To Meet The Harrison Ladies Aid Society will meet next Thursday evening at half past six in the downstairs meeting room of the Trinity Methodist Church. They will be rolling bandages and packaging other medical supplies to be sent to local troop units serving in the Union army.
Battle Way Through Kentucky A cavalry force the size of which is estimated to be between 2,000 to 4,000 strong is currently moving through southern Indiana. The force under the command of General John Hunt Morgan, noted cavalry commander and raider has moved from the southern part of Kentucky fighting small battles and skirmishes along the way.
Crossed Ohio River Moving Through Indiana
Several days ago after threatening Louisville, Morgan effected a crossing of the Ohio River some miles below the city, capturing several river steamers and using them to transport his command to the northern shore of the river. The objectives of this invasion are yet to be determined as several courses of action are open to the raiders. Morgan could head north toward Indianapolis or he could turn east toward Cincinnati. There are even thoughts that Morgan may be trying to head east to join up with General Lee’s Confederate Army currently retreating from Pennsylvania.
Wallace Put in Charge of Hunt Union General Lew Wallace has taken command of the forces in Indiana and is trying to bring Morgan to bay. Some looting and taking of horses has been reported but the column is moving so swiftly that it is hard to get accurate reports of their route or actions that may have occurred. Telegraph reports place the raiders in many places at once creating a quandry for the Union pursuers as they seem unable to deter their movements. ___________________
Congregation Purchases Building for Church
Local German Protestants have decided to purchase a building to be used as a church. The building located at 414 Broadway will be used as the new home of the United Evangelical Church. It will serve a growing congregation that had been attending the Hill Churcn on North Dearborn Road.
Cincinnati Ready to Repel Raiders General Ambrose Burnside has been placed in command of the Union forces in and around Cincinnati. He has positioned his men to defend the city and is prepared to move to cut off the threat of General Morgan should he move in their direction. General Burnside, known for his striking set of chin whiskers is a former commanding general of the Army of the Potomac until being relieved by General Joseph Hooker this spring. ___________________
Governor Race Takes Turn The acrimonious battle being waged by former Congressman Clement L. Vallandingham has reached new levels of contentiousness. The Ohio Democratic Party has nominated him for the office of governor in the November elections. This despite the fact that he currently is residing in Canada. He was previously convicted by military tribunal of violating General Order 38 which loosely defines treasonous acts against the Federal government. Instead of serving a prison sentence, President Lincoln commuted his sentence to banishment within the lines of the states currently in rebellion. After spending afew weeks in the South, Vallandingham made his way to Canada where he remains an outspoken critic of the policies of President Lincoln and his conduct of the war. The Democratic Party nominated him as an affirmation of their antiwar views with regard to the war. Some of the supporters are known as Copperheads due to their propensity to wear a penny in their lapel as a symbol of their beliefs. ___________________
Corn Drill Makes Improvements
The Campbell brothers have been working on improving the corn drill that they
received a patent for and feel that they have just about perfected their invention. The Campbells have been working on their invention for several years at their shop on Market Street.
New Year Brings Regular Train Service to Town Mayor Benjamin Bookwalter is pleased to announce that regular passenger service will be available starting on January 1, 1864. Currently the Cincinnati Indianapolis Railroad passes through the town of West Harrison thrice daily but do not stop unless flagged down. Regular service should decrease the trip to Cincinnati to a few hours rather than an all day affair by coach. Passengers will board at the station south of town near the Simonson farm. The route of the railroad follows the former route of the Cincinnati Whitewater Canal to Valley Junction and the Whitewater River northwest through Indiana. ___________________
High School Completes Inagural Year
The high school completed its first year of operation housing all twelve grades. The older students are educated on the upper floor and the elementary grades are taught on the first floor. Recess finds the girls on one side of the schoolyard with the boys on the other. The idea for ahigh school was originally promoted by former Mayor, William F.Converse. The school represents the first high school in the county outside of Cincinnati. ___________________________________
Circuit Court To Visit Village The Circuit Court judge will be in the village on Tuesday next. He will be hearing the pending cases since his last visit. Court is in session at 9:00 in the morning at the Market House. All having business before the judge should present their cases to the clerk at 8:00 that morning. ___________________
Garard House Improves
The Garard House near the corner of Main and Market Streets has recently completed its renovation. The dining room now features a new french motif with dark green brocade and brown accent stripes and woodwork.
Mrs. Jane Miner the proprietor is especially proud of the new look.
Dry Season Takes Toll on Farmers The unseasonably hot weather has made a lot of farmers concerned locally for some of their crops. The hot and dry weather while good for making hay has had a bad effect on other crops such as corn. The eastern part of the state has received more than ample rain as their streams are running unseasonably high. However in our corner of Ohio and just across the line in Indiana farmers are being forced to use more stored grain for feed as the grassland dries and withers under the July sun. ___________________
Much Concern About Ice Supply As Hope Melts
Abraham Loos owner of Loos Meat Market, is concerned about the hot weather also. His concerns stem from the dwindling supply of ice in the icehouse behind his business on Market Street. The yearly supply has dwindled by more than half and he is worried that winter will not come fast enough to allow the townsmen to cut ice blocks from the river to store in the ice houses about town for next year’s needs. ___________________
Public Outcry Over Cannon
There has been a certain amount of public scorn over the Village Council’s decision to not fire Old Jesse at the recent Fourth of July observance. Council had decided that firing the signal gun acquired seven years ago may lead to a panic among the citizens given the state of the war at this point. Those who attended the celebration said that the event lacked something without the boom of the cannon starting the races and contests. Council may relent as the traditional firing at midnight of the new year is always looked forward to. At any rate certainly further discussion will be most likely in council’s future.
$1 180th Year, No. 28 Copyright Register Publications, 2013