Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) to Elhanan M. Mast
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.083 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 July 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Informs his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Mast, that he received a letter from his son, Joseph. Joseph was not at Vicksburg when the surrender took place because he moved with Sherman's corps to a location near Black River to monitor the movements of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. Reports that Colonel Benjamin P. Runkle is in pursuit of Confederate General John H. Morgan through Ohio. Writes, "Our community on last monday week was thrown into great commotion on the receipt of the news of the entry of Morgan into the State of Ohio. The Independent Companies of Militia were generally called out by Governor Tod... it was quite amusing to see some of those home guards squirm under the call." Mentions that their friend John S. Petty recently stayed with him. Petty was a paroled prisoner who was captured in the hospital at Champion Hill. Updates him on news of Horace Happersett, a family friend.
During his July 1863 raid through Ohio and Indiana, Confederate General John H. Morgan captured supplies and soldiers, disrupted railroads, and destroyed bridges. Symbolically, Morgan's Raid was terrifying to many who feared Southern invasion of Union soil.
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