Beckwith's Meet Morgan's Raiders

by Jay Beckwith, June 10, 1934

Morgan's Raid

   Mrs. Frank Beckwith relates a bit about Morgan's Raid up into Ohio during the Civil War. Her name was Mary Criss. She was the daughter of Samantha and James Criss. Their farm lay in the hill tops about a mile from Monroeville, a site which commanded a wonderful view across the valleys and hills.

   Mary says, "It was a fine June morning in 1863 that our worst fears were realized. For a week or more, rumors had been rife that the Rebels lead by John Morgan were going to make a raid into Ohio. Word was spread that they were as far north as Wellsville on the Ohio side of the Ohio River. This particular morning the Rebels were seen on a ridge about a mile away, on Uncle Jim's farm. Here there was some fighting and the dust raised by the action could be seen and the shots heard. Uncle Jim Criss was out watching the fight from his front porch. He recieved a bullet through his hat. Father Criss hid his horses down in a deep ravine where he hoped they would not be found. It seems that Morgan was taking every horse he could find along his line of raid. After this skirmish on Uncle Jim's farm, the Morgan party divided up, the better to secure food for men and horses. They came up the road from Salineville to Monroeville and nineteen of them came down as far as the James Criss farm. Terror seized us as this band of raiders came galloping up to our door. Father stood in the door as they came up and the leader drew his sword and commanded him to surrender. I was then about seven years old and as I stood beside my Father with one arm around his leg, I shook my fist at the ruffians and said, "you shan't harm my Father!"
   "Where's your horses?" demanded the rebels.
   Father said, "I own no horses."
   "Well," said the rebel"how do you grow such nice crops without horses?"
   Father replied, "I hire my team work done because I work on the railroad."

   There was much profanity and the men were desparate looking fellows. They demanded food for themselves. Samantha Criss had the outdoor oven full of bread, baking, and told the men when it was done they could have their fill, and added, "if you will wait, I will get some potatoes, although they are small."
   One rebel said, "Dam the potatoes, we want bread!"
   Now dry weather had made the well dry and we had to carry drinking water from a ravine at least « mile away. When the men found that we had no water supply for them they were furiously angry and there was more profanity. The bread was soon baked and mother gave it to them with a can of quince preserves. They turned their horses into father's clover field and stayed a couple of hours. At the end of this time a loud command was given and every man was quickly into his daddle and they all galloped away. My brother Steve and I were "sick to our stomacks" from the fright, for several days. Over a hill near Lisbon now stands a monument where Morgan surrendered. The day after they visited us. There was one of the raiders who stayed in the backyard and his food was taken to him and he gave orders to the leader who came up to our door. I think this fellow was the Rebel raider, John Morgan."

   The history of Frank and Mary Beckwith, the rearing of twelve children to manhood and womanhood, giving each one the opportunity and encouragement to obtain a High School Diploma, building up the fine home where they now live happily after fifty-eight years of wedded life, their good Christian character--all of this is the background of the Beckwith Reunion and are justly proud of it.

Jay Beckwith, June 10, 1934