Captains Samuel Taylor and Henry Clay Meriweather and a company of men were sent ahead to Brandenburg to secure boats for Morgan’s crossing of the Ohio River, while in route the detachment created havoc in West Point. The Confederates soldiers burned the L&N Railroad bridge across the Salt River. As a train approached the bridge the engineer derailed it to keep it from plunging into the water. The Confederates quickly attacked the train, capturing much needed supplies.
The action of Morgan’s men in West Point was quickly reported to the Union authorities in Louisville. A steamboat that had been heading for the city saw the Confederates and turned around. The boat soon arrived in New Albany and sounded the alarm. By midnight the alarm bells in Louisville were ringing calling the militia to arms. No one knew for sure how many men were in West Point. Concern quickly became panic, as the citizens feared Morgan was at their door. To make matters worse cannons were being fired in Jeffersonville, Indiana, already frighten people feared a battle was raging across the river. Fortunately, the cannon were only an alarm calling the Indiana Home Guard to action.
As quickly as they came Taylor and Meriweather left. The Union high command had no idea exactly where Morgan’s command was or what he was going to do. The feint into West Point further confused the situation giving Morgan more time. The Union authorities were forced to send soldiers to West Point, they had to sure that Morgan did not cross the Salt River and ride for Louisville.
It would take Morgan 17 hours to cross the Ohio at Brandenburg, the confusion caused by Smith and Meriweather at West Point bought a few more hours allowing the Confederates to get across the river before the slow moving Federal infantry could stop them.
Morgan, approaching the Ohio River, sent Captains Samuel Taylor and Henry Clay Meriweather and 130 men ahead to Brandenburg to secure boats for the crossing. It is unclear when Morgan’s men entered the town of West Point.
A Louisville newspaper reported that Morgan’s were in town. Another report by a packet boat helped spread the alarm. The boat was headed for West Point when those aboard saw Confederates the craft quickly reversed course and returned to New Albany. By midnight, alarm bells in Louisville were calling the militia to arms. No one knew how many of Morgan’s men were in West Point. Concern quickly became panic, the citizens fearing that Morgan was at their door. To make matters worse, cannon fire could be heard from Jeffersonville, Indiana. The already frightened populace feared a battle was raging across the river. Fortunately, the cannon fire was only an alarm calling the Indiana Home Guard to action.
As quickly as they came, Taylor and Meriweather left West Point. One reason for their rapid departure was Fort Duffield. The fort located on the heights above town was manned at the time and had several pieces of artillery. If Morgan’s men had been bold enough to attack they would have found a warm reception waiting for them.
The reports of Confederates as close as West Point further confused the Union high command. The Federals had no idea where Morgan was or what he was going to do. The feint into West Point further confused the situation, giving Morgan more time. Union authorities were forced to send soldiers to West Point to make sure that Morgan did not cross the Salt River and ride for Louisville.
It would take Morgan seventeen hours to cross the Ohio River at Brandenburg. The confusion caused by Smith and Meriweather’s incursion into West Point bought a few more hours, allowing the mounted Confederates cross the river before the slow moving Federal infantry could stop them.
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