Hi, I'm passing this along for a friend. Many of us realize that John Hunt Morgan's group included our ancestors or relatives. >THE SECOND BATTLE OF BUFFINGTON ISLAND > >On July 19, 1863 Confederate forces under General John Hunt Morgan fought >Union Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and Navy Gunboats while attempting to >cross the Ohio River at the Buffington Island ford at Portland in Meigs >County, Ohio. After having traveled day and night in the saddle for over >two weeks through southeastern Indiana and southern Ohio, the fight near >Portland virtually ended what would become known as "Morgans Raid". >Small as Civil War battles go, the Battle of Buffington Island was >important for several reasons. It was one of only a few Civil War battles >in which all branches of the Armed Forces were involved. There were at >least two future United States Presidents engaged in the battle, >(Rutherford B Hayes and William McKinley). Most important of all, the >Battle of Buffington Island was the only Civil War battle fought in Ohio >and ranks as one of only a few battles fought in the state involving >Federal troops. > >Currently, another battle is being fought over the same ground. The >Shelly Company of Thornville,Ohio is planning to strip sand and gravel >from significant portions of the Battleground. > >Here in southeastern Ohio we have a battle site which is relatively >pristine in its location and development which needs only to have the >necessary recognition to make it a place of education and historical >importance. Although there are twentieth century buildings present, the >ground is relatively unchanged from what it was in 1863. > >The gravel companys latest proposal offered to set aside a few acres of >the land and $100,000 as an appeasement to the public. In return, the >public is reportedly required to drop all litigation or the monies will >be used for the companys legal defense.The offer was reduced to $ 10,000 >and is now completely off the table !! > >No less than 52 Confederate dead were buried on the site by local >residents after the battle and lie today in unmarked graves. Besides >significantly altering the topography of the ground itself by the >stripping process, the Shelly Company may very well mine the very bones >of the soldiers buried there !!!! > >On February 18,1999, the Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the >EPA will be holding a meeting in Pomeroy with all parties involved to >address permits for the mining and shipping of the gravel from the site. >Write your Senators and Representatives to Congress in order to push for >Federal Recognition of the site. One avenue may exist through the >Department of the Interior. > >Contact Mr. Amos Loveday of the Ohio Historical Society Preservation >Office and the Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington Office) urge them not >to compromise our heritage for a few acres of land. The battlefield and >burial sites need to be saved! > >Call or write today: >Amos J. Loveday - Ohio Historical Society Preservation Office e-mail: >[email protected] 1-800-297-2470 or (614) 297-2470 >567 E. Hudson St./Columbus, Ohio 43211 > >Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington Dept): Attn. James Richmond - >e-mail: [email protected] >Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington Dept): Attn. Michael Gheen >e-mail: [email protected] >502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701 > >Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources >Donald Anderson, Director >e-mail: [email protected] >Fountain Square, 1930 Belcher Dr., Bldg. D-3, Columbus, OH 43224 > >Write your Senators: >c/o U.S. Senate, Washington DC 20510 >Your Congressman: >c/o House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515. > >Or join the Buffington Island Battlefield Trust, a non-profit umbrella >organization dedicated to the preservation of the battlefield and burial >grounds of Morgan's Men. For more details, please contact: >Marlitta H. Perkins [email protected] >Tony Ten-Barge [email protected] > >Whatever you do, please do not forsake these brave Kentucky boys that >fought so bravely and died for their beliefs, and for us, their >descendants, and sadly lie buried far from their homes in Kentucky. It is >our responsibility to care for them and see to it that their resting >places are honored and treated with respect and reverence. >Lets not turn our backs on them! Please share your >thoughts/comments/suggestions with me. >For our heritage !! >Marlitta H. Perkins >Spokes person, KY DIV SCV & Morgan's Men Association >Officer, Buffington Island Battlefield Trust >