-----Original Message----- From: Sterling Forsythe [mailto:sforsythe@unicomp.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 6:55 AM To: TNSUMNER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [TNSUMNER-L] Battle of Buffington Island Dear List Managers: Please consider whether this is appropriate material for your respective mailing lists, and post accordingly. Thank you for your consideration on this. Sterling Forsythe **************************************************************************** ********* >From the KYWBTSVETS-D-request@rootsweb.com: > Subject: [KYWBTSVETS-L] Buffington Island, OH Preservation > Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 20:35:12 -0500 > From: Glenn Belcher <commander@inetone.net> > To: KYWBTSVETS-L@rootsweb.com > > 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: > ajloveday@aol.com 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: jimr@mail.orh.usace.army.mil > Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington Dept): Attn. Michael Gheen > e-mail: mikeg@mail.orh.usace.army.mil > 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701 > > Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources > Donald Anderson, Director > e-mail: Don.Anderson@dnr.state.oh.us > 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 cchase6@hotmail.com > Tony Ten-Barge Tony.TenBarge@alliedsignal.com > > 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