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Reenactment Recalls Morgan's Raid This article appeared in The Cincinnati Post on April 26, 2003

Post Staff Report

There will be clattering hoof beats and thundering muskets in Montgomery, Ohio, this afternoon. They'll be followed by protests over stolen food and valuables.

When all the noise is over, the city will have remembered an important part of its Civil War past.

The city and the Montgomery Landmarks Commission have put together a day of activities to remember Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan's raid into Union territory, which has been described as one of the boldest cavalry operations of the Civil War.

During the 24-day foray, Morgan and his men raided more than 6,500 homes and businesses in Kentucky, Southern Ohio and Indiana. When they made their march on Hamilton County, on July 14, 1863, Montgomery lay defenseless.

Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside had thousands of troops, but they were 15 miles away, in Cincinnati. Another Union contingent was up north, protecting Hamilton. About 600 wounded and sick troops lay barely able to get out of their beds a few miles away at Camp Dennison.

It was against that backdrop that Morgan, who was from Lexington, Ky., and his raiders thundered into Montgomery, stealing horses, fresh bread and other provisions.

Accounts say a group of the raiders were repelled by a woman with a rifle at the Crain home at Remington Road and Main Street.

Historians have considered the raid significant, and the Ohio Bicentennial Commission selected eminent Civil War painter Mort Künstler to do a painting of Morgan's Raid.

Künstler set his painting in the historic downtown district of Montgomery because "It was a small rural town during the Civil War. Morgan's raid on the town in 1863 is well documented and many of the period structures remain."

"I was impressed with the 19th-century charm of the Universalist Church on Montgomery and Remington roads." Künstler said. "Its appearance remains much as it was during Morgan's Raid."

Built of sun-cured bricks about 1837, it was one of the few churches of its time in Ohio with round brick pillars. The Crain-Conklin home is also featured in Künstler's painting.

The village blacksmith, William Crain, built the Federal architecture-style home about 1820.

The artist will be in Montgomery today to sign limited edition prints of the painting.

A book signing and symposium also are planned.

Historic buildings standing at the time of Morgan's Raid will be identified with authentic 1863 Union flags designed and made by fourth-grade Montgomery Elementary School students.

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