Clio Logo
As Gen. John H. Morgan's raid into Indiana and Ohio came to a close, he tried to cross the Ohio River into WV. Reaching Buffington Island ford late on July 18, 1863, he waited until the 19th to cross. Union troops and gunboats blocked his escape and splintered his men, leading to the capture of over 700 Confederates. The battle was the only naval action in WV waters.

Battle of Buffington Island Historic Marker

Battle of Buffington Island Historic Marker

General John Hunt Morgan

General John Hunt Morgan

1. Swick, Ray "Buffington Island." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. July 12, 2018. Web. Accessed June 15, 2020. https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/704

2. "Battle of Buffington Island." Ohio History Central. Web. Accessed June 15, 2020. http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Battle_of_Buffington_Island

3. Carroll, Greg "Morgan’s Raid." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. August 1, 2017. Web. Accessed June 15, 2020. https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2052

Image Sources(Click to expand)

West Virginia Archives & History, http://www.wvculture.org/history/markers/sesqui/battleofbuffingtonisland.html

e-WV: Encyclopedia of West Virginia, https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2052