Deer Park - A Courageous Bluff

While many tried to hide their valuables or fled their homes during Morgan’s raid, some families did fight back but through wit rather than force of arms. The Schenck family was able to successfully deceive Morgan himself, saving a family of runaway slaves and two prized horses. 

Continuing from Blue Ash, Morgan and his men moved toward present-day Deer Park, known in 1863 as East Sycamore. This was not where the raiders had intended to go but Morgan’s guide had led them away from their intended rendezvous point in Montgomery. The guide, William Landenburgh, was a farmer from Sharon who had been taken prisoner after exchanging shots with the rebels. While he was released by Morgan, despite threats of death for leading them astray, Landenburgh was later captured by US forces on suspicion of being a rebel. He was eventually released by the commander of Camp Dennison and allowed to return home. 

Morgan stopped, despite not being at his intended destination, for breakfast at the home of the Schenck family. Having prepared for the possible arrival of the raiders, the Schenck’s offered to feed the General and his men but instructed that it would be best to do so outside as there was a child quarantined inside with smallpox. They had closed the shutters, hung a sheet over the door, and had one of the women dress as a nurse. The deception was successful and while Morgan dined on the front lawn, two prized horses and the family of John Henry Thompson remained safe inside. The Thompson family were runaway slaves from Kentucky and following the help of the Schenck family, made a permanent home in the area. Thirty minutes later, Morgan rode away unaware that he was not the only one capable of a successful ruse. 

Today, the John Schenck House remains private property. The home and the tours seventh interpretive sign can be viewed from the sidewalk in front of the home. 

Caholl, Lora Schmidt. Mowery, David L.. The Civil War Guidebook of the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail. Ohio Historical Society, 2014.

Morgan's Raid, Ohio History Central. Accessed October 20th 2021. http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Morgan%27s_Raid.

Morgan's Raid into Ohio, Carnegie Public Library. Accessed October 20th 2021. https://www.carnegie.lib.oh.us/morgan.

Remembering Morgan's Raid, Ohio History Connection. July 13th 2013. Accessed Ocobter 20th 2021. https://www.ohiohistory.org/learn/collections/history/history-blog/2013/july-2013/remembering-morgan-raid.

Hilton, Mark. Deer Park: A Courageous Bluff, September 12th 2017. Accessed October 22nd 2021. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=108238.