Morgan's Raid-- Montgomery, Ohio-- Part 2-- How to Have Your Horses Stolen and Still Come Out Ahead

By the time the Confederates got to Montgomery, the two columns were desperately seeking replacement mounts and spread out across the countryside. Some horse were just taken and in other instances, a trade was made (the unarmed farmers didn't have much choice).

One farmer, Nicholas Todd was hit particularly hard, losing four horse and a buggy. But, after the Kentucky horses regained their strength, Todd found out that two were thoroughbreds. After the war, he and his son began racing the traded horses as trotters and won many races. After that, many of Todd's descendants gave up farming altogether and operated racing stables.

Not only that, but the state of Ohio paid Todd $650 for the horses and buggy the raiders took.

Not a bad case of horse trading under duress.

Another farmer, William W. Fletcher, had a similar experience and had two horses taken only to find one was an exceptional trotter. Afterwards, he took home lots of racing cups and money for his loss. AND, the state reimbursed him $300 for his claim.

Now, this is an interesting story.

This information from"The Longest Raid of the Civil War" by Lester v. Horowitz.

How Could You Say making the Best of a Bad Situation? --Old B-Runner

Morgan's Raid-- Montgomery, Ohio-- Part 1

I guess I'd better get around to doing this account which I take from "The Longest Raid of the Civil War" by Lester V. Horowitz. My buddy Denny lent it to me and I have to return it this week at the Lincoln Highway Association's National Conference in Dixon, Illinois.

So, I'd best get cracking.

I drove through Montgomery, Ohio, several times back in a visit in Match. The first time was when I found out there were TWO Buffalo Wild Wings on US-22, Montgomery Road, that goes through the town. I went to the one way south and Denny and his group were at the one way north.

Anyway, pretty town that has been around a long time, since 1795 with lots of landmarks including a church that is featured on a Mort Kuntsler painting of Morgan's Civil War Raid. The old "3-C Highway (Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland) goes through it and it is today US-22.

Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's raid passed through town during its three-week raid through Indiana and Ohio in July 1863. That makes the town one of the few northern ones occupied by Confederate troops during he war.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner