Newburgh Raid - The Raid

The Raid

They crossed the Ohio River on July 18, with Johnson and two subordinates, Felix Akin and Frank A. Owen, sharing one boat and the rest of the force crossing via a flatboat. Prior to crossing, Johnson strategically placed two "Quaker Guns", actually made of stovepipes, charred logs, and the axles and wheels from a broken wagon, on hills that had a view of Newburgh, and vice versa. Johnson was unable to find enough firearms for all of his force, but was able to acquire enough horses for each man to receive a mount. Johnson allowed each of his men to decline to join him on the raid, but to a man they all wanted to accompany him.

The only defenders available for Newburgh were eighty soldiers convalescing at a makeshift hospital that was the Exchange Hotel, under the care and command of a Colonel Bethel, a Union medical officer. This hospital was itself a tempting prize for Johnson, as it had medical supplies, commissary items, and arms for 200 soldiers that were meant for two future companies of the Indiana Legion; all of which Johnson's forces needed. Fifteen miles away, five companies of the Indiana Legion were being raised, but would not be available to defend Newburgh until after the Confederates withdrew.

Johnson had crossed the Ohio River in a direct manner. The first stop for his men was the Bethel warehouse, a tobacco warehouse that also held 75 loose sabers and 130 pistol/holster sets. Now armed, his men went to the Exchange Hotel. When Johnson opened the door, he was immediately aimed at by Union rifles, but quickly informed the Union soldiers that they were surrounded and had no hope for success. The Union major in charge of the convalescing troops had told them not to resist, allowing Johnson a swift victory. Meanwhile, some of Johnson's men had captured Colonel Bethel. Johnson lent Bethel a spyglass to view the "cannons". John said to Bethel he would "shell this town to the ground" if resistance was made. This caused Bethel to tell his men to offer no resistance. After securing the items he desired, Johnson paroled the captured Union officers and soldiers, and returned to the Kentucky soil. Newburgh had become the first town in a Northern state to be captured.