Buffington Island (St. Georges Creek )

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Buffington Island (1863)

War:

American Civil War

Also known as:

St. Georges Creek

Date(s):

19 Jul 1863

Location:

Meigs County, Ohio, US

Outcome:

Union victory

Description:

Brig. Gen. Edward H. Hobson, USA
Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan, CSA

Each side had a brigade, but Morgan’s was about 1,700 men while the Union had around 3,000.

Morgan lost about 800 men but only inflicted 25 casualties.

On July 13, Morgan’s raiders crossed into Ohio at Harrison, pursued by several columns of Union cavalry under overall direction of Brig. Gen. Edward H. Hobson. His expedition had turned from a raid into a race for survival, and Morgan’s men had started first and were more tired than their pursuers. Morgan’s goal now was to get to where he could ford the Ohio back into Kentucky, and then move through friendly territory (most of his men were Kentuckians) back to the Confederate lines.

But the pursuit was relentless, and the Ohio was high because of summer rains. Not only couldn’t Morgan cross the swollen river, but Union troops could use riverboats to get ahead of the tired Confederate horses. On July 19, Kautz’s and Judah’s brigades attacked Morgan near Buffington Island. A gunboat blocked the ford, while the blue-clad horsemen were fresh, having been delivered by steamers. Morgan’s men were in a narrow valley, and he reacted well tactically: he ordered the advance guard to get away, while the rearguard bought time. But the plan relied on the men fighting, and they were exhausted and demoralized. Resistance collapsed, and about half the force was captured, including all the remaining wagons and guns.

Morgan led the remnants away to the east.

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Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.

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