Raiders' Revenge

It’s Monday, July 13th, you are 12 years old, you and your family and friends have been keeping up with the happenings of the Civil War going on around you. Most recently you’ve discovered that Brigadier John Hunt Morgan’s Calico Raid began in Tennessee under the direction of General Braxton Bragg, they have come up through western Kentucky and have crossed over the Ohio into Indiana near Brandenburg via two captured steamboats. Next up through Corydon, where the only Civil War battle has been fought in Indiana. They have passed through Salem, Vienna and North Vernon among others. Early on Sunday, July 12, the weary and hungry Raiders entered Ripley County, looting at Rexville and then to Versailles where they plundered the local treasury. Taking many men hostage and commandeering around 500 horses many of which they had reshod by the local blacksmith. Meanwhile, George Ellsworth, Morgan’s top telegrapher sent out deceptive telegraphs telling of Morgan‘s intent to raid Cincinnati as well as embellishing the number and status of the Raiders. They are said to have buried some gold outside of town that they were never able to go back and find. Moving on, through Pierceville and Milan, Morgan found himself in an area known as St. Paul named after the local Methodist Church on State Route 101, Harrison Road, also known as County Road 900 N. Here he found the reverend B. F. Ferris, who was also the Schoolmaster of the one room school house across from the church. Morgan, Basil Duke, and several of his officers stayed in the one room schoolhouse, Morgan sleeping on a blanket in front of the teachers desk while his men slept in the adjacent cemetery. Meanwhile, just a couple of miles away general Lew Wallace who was in pursuit of Morgan was encamped in Sunmansville. Local residents, aware that both forces were near, waiting through the thick humid July night, dare not tell one of the other fearing a bloody battle on their land. By 5 AM the next morning, the Raiders have left the area, taking The Reverend B. F. Ferris and several other men hostage to act as guides, they rode west of Weisberg, Through Hubbles corner, making a stop at Gutzwilers blacksmith shop, looking for horses. By 8 AM the Raiders were entering into New Alsace, where they found about 600 residence along with three blacksmith shops, two beer breweries, 16 saloons, 2 hotels, 5 shoemaking shops, 6 country stores a Sadler shop a casket shop a furniture shop 4 dance halls, a tin store, a couple of Wagonmaker shops, a couple of bakeries and some other trade shops. Taking over the Vogelsang Tavern run by Elizabeth and her niece Philomena, the ravished Raiders ordered breakfast. Across the street other raiders found Eva Margarita Jager, who was alone in her store as she was recently widowed when her husband heard of the death of his son who had been killed at Vicksburg suffered a heart attack and died. They pillaged the store until some of Morgan‘s officers came in to stop them. Meanwhile, the Blettner Tavern and Jacob Gephard’s Tavern were used by Morgan as his headquarters while in town. Staying only a few hours the Raiders departed, Heading north east passing through Dover, Logan and Bright, where they have just stolen the horses of the priest as he was conducting mass. The Raiders have continued up N. Dearborn Rd, And right into West Harrison, where they just crossed the old oak bridge over the Whitewater River, and are currently burning the bridge to slow down their Union pursuers. Your friend, 12-year-old Susie Pruden was the last person to ride her horse across the bridge, she has come to warn you and other Harrison citizens of the impending attack. everyone is busy trying to hide their goods and valuables anywhere that they can find, including the tunnels under the city that are used to transport goods from the river to local businesses. Fortunately, you have inside information because you happen to have a treehouse with a secret passageway allowing you access to the underground tunnels where you can make it out of town before the Raiders arrive! Grab your family, grab your friends and work your way to your treehouse and through the secret passageway to the underground tunnel, you have 60 minutes before the Raiders arrive!