“A Calm Still Morning”: Morgan’s Raiders at Salem—July 10, 1863

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Successfully in northern territory, Morgan and his raiders were cut off from any hope of supplies or reinforcements. With this knowledge, Morgan had few options. He could potentially move south, crossing back into Kentucky. This option would perhaps curb any repercussions he might face due to his disregard of previous orders to avoid crossing the Ohio River. However, Morgan was unconcerned about any repercussions. Firmly deep within enemy territory, he determined to send a message to the Union.

From Corydon in southern Indiana, the rebel raiders made their way north. Author Lester Horwitz likens Morgan’s movements through Indiana as a “broken field runner,” zigzagging across the state.

At 9:00 am on July 10, 1863, Confederate Major Thomas Webber, commanding the 2nd Kentucky, received orders to move on Salem, Indiana. As a small contingent of raiders approached the town, they saw a group of militia—roughly 150 men, taking a defensive position outside the town. Without a second thought, the raiders rushed the militiamen, routing them as they fled towards Salem, hoping for safety. First Lieutenant A. S. Welch led the Confederate charge with approximately a dozen men from Company L, 2nd Kentucky. Captain William Jones soon joined Welch, bringing a detachment of Company M, 2nd Kentucky. Opposing the charging Kentuckians, Salem civilians gathered, with nearly 300 home guards. However, when the 2nd Kentucky rushed the small town, those present scattered, leaving many of their weapons in their haste to avoid the raiders. Salem fell to the Confederates without a single shot fired.

Salem, however, was not left unscathed. In the rebels’ wake, the railroad depot, town water tank, and at least two wooden rail bridges were burned. In addition, they also ransacked many of the local shops, taking food, goods, and whiskey. If sawmill owners paid a handsome ransom of $1000 to the Confederates, Morgan guaranteed that their mills would remain unbothered. The damages to the Louisville, North Albany and Chicago Railroad alone amounted to nearly $14,000. The state of Indiana would later reimburse the rail company for the damages.

As the raiders made their way through the Indiana countryside, Captain Thomas Coombs took a moment to observe the landscape. He wrote:

‘Twas a calm still morning. All nature had put on her most attire. The steady breeze from the Sunny South caused the forest through which we threaded our winding pathway to appear a living green. … Ascending a gentle slope to a wide plateau of elevated ground, the eye looked over a beautiful landscape to the west, north and east for miles and miles.  On my right, over fields of waving grain, waiting for the sickle, I could just discern our advance guard in command of Colonel Dick Morgan.

Colonel Morgan and his men made their way toward a large dwelling. As they approached, a volley rang out, killing one of his men. Coombs continues in his account of these events, “The advance was checked but only for a moment. The yell with which our boys went at them was conclusive evidence of their indomitable courage, as well of their certainty of success.” Captain Coombs arrived to the action within ten minutes. Colonel Morgan and his men had all left, but in their wake, the once grand mansion blazed with fire. Coombs concluded saying:

… only the sounds that broke the solemn stillness was the roaring of the flames as they fast encircled the beautiful mansion, and the heart-rending cries of the wife and children. The owner lay mortally wounded on a lounge in the garden surrounded by his wife and children, who had thus at one fell blow been bereft of husband, home and father. … I turned from this melancholy spectacle and rode onward ruminating upon the horrors of this unjust war, and thinking of my far distant home.

Upon leaving Salem, Indiana, the Confederate main column turned east, heading toward Vienna, by way of Canton and New Philadelphia. Scouting groups moved north and east toward Seymour.

There’s very little mentioned about Morgan’s rearguard throughout this portion of the raid. Neither the Rebels or Yankees were totally aware of the other’s position, causing some confusion in Indiana. Morgan’s rearguard played an important role early in the raid, keeping Union General Hobson’s forces at bay while the raiders crossed the Ohio into Indiana. However, once in Northern territory, the raid soon became a game of cat and mouse, with Hobson’s forces never more than 25 miles behind, giving chase to Morgan and his men.