Confederate Brigadier John Hunt Morgan and about 500 remaining raiders narrowly escaped pursuing Union forces under Brigadier General James M. Shackelford and survived an artillery barrage near Georgetown. The Union troops and horses were exhausted, while Morgan's Raiders had been able to draft fresh animals as they rode across eastern Ohio, leaving the following Union troops with the Confederates' worn-out mounts. Although Shackelford had Morgan in his sights, he had to rest his forces for several hours. Morgan and his men entered Harrisville around 6:45 am on July 25, 1863. Needing to stay ahead of Shackelford's forces and keep them guessing, Morgan could not delay. Citizens had prepared meals for the approaching Union troops, but Morgan's men rounded up nine horses from the townspeople and took the food intended for their pursuers before heading east out of Harrisville after a quick meal.