First and Only Time in Indiana

—John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail —

Early Saturday morning, July 11, General Morgan and his raiders followed the roads northward from Lexington toward Vernon. At Vernon, Morgan demanded the surrender of the town, but was rebuffed. The Home Guard commander responded that the town was swarming with troops, and that it was Morgan who should capitulate. No agreement was reached and a message was sent to Morgan asking for a two-hour delay - time needed for the women and children to be removed. During the lull, additional Federal troops arrived in North Vernon, raising the total to approximately 2,000. Morgan, already aware of the pursuing Union cavalry, learned of the reinforcements to the north and realized he was in a precarious situation.

As darkness fell, Morgan retreated toward Dupont, to the southeast. General Lew Wallace and 1,300 men arrived in North Vernon at 9 p.m. Wallace set up headquarters in a red brick house (still standing) at the southwest corner of Vernon Square. The incident at Vernon would represent the only time that Morgan was stopped and turned back in Indiana.

As Morgan fell back toward Dupont, an incident occurred in Vernon to become known at the "Battle of Finney's Ford". In the dark of thenight, nervous northern defenders lined the Muscatatuck River, when suddenly they heard loud splashing noises. Assuming the clatter was created
by Morgan's Raiders, the defenders bolted to action, only to lose their way and fall over the bluffs. Several were injured before it was learned the noise was the result of a local farmer herding his animals across the shallow river; and the the "Battle of Finney's Ford".

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Show me all markers in:  North Vernon, IN  |  Jennings County  |  47265  |  Indiana  |  United States of America

Jennings County Veterans Memorial
Jonathan Jennings
New Survey Markers Set
Morgan's Raid
Vernon Historic District
Muscatatuck Park
Hannah Milhous Nixon
Kellar Grist Mill
Grouseland Treaty Line
Dupont: Fourth Night in Indiana Historical

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