On July 23, 1863, General John Hunt Morgan entered Guernsey County with 600 Confederate cavalrymen, the remnant of a 2,000-man diversionary raiding force that had crossed Kentucky, Indiana, and southern Ohio. Morgan’s forces stopped in Old Washington on the morning of July 24 for rest and provisions. Three pursuing Union cavalry units under Brigadier General James M. Shackelford assembled on Cemetery Hill to the south and opened fire on the Confederates in town, and the raiders returned fire. In the exchange, three Confederates were killed, several were wounded, and eight were captured. Outflanked, Morgan continued northeast to Columbiana County, where he surrendered two days later. The three Confederate dead are buried in the cemetery behind this site.

Photo: Jamie Abel

Photo: J. J. Prats

Photo: J. J. Prats

Old Washington, Ohio · USA