Putnam, William Rufus, 1812-1881.

William Rufus Putnam, Jr., (1812-1881) grandson of Marietta founder Rufus Putnam, played an important role on the Ohio home front during the Civil War. Serving as commander of the militia at Camp Marietta and as chairman of the Military Committee of Washington County, he directed the training and equipage of all regiments organized in Marietta. During Morgan's Raid in 1863, he directed the operations of the militia engaged in repulsing the Confederates from Southeastern Ohio.

While the State of Ohio made important contributions to the Union cause during the Civil War, it was, for the most part, spared the fear and destruction of direct military action. The only exception occurred in July of 1863, when Confederate General John Hunt Morgan invaded southern Ohio with about 2,000 cavalrymen. Pursued through twenty counties, Morgan's men stole property, tore up railroads, and destroyed buildings, bridges, and farms. During the course of the raid, it was believed that the rebels would try to re-cross the Ohio River at one of the fords near Marietta. Militia from Washington, Monroe, Noble, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Hocking, and Athens counties, totaling 12,000 men, reported to Colonel William R. Putnam at Camp Marietta. Putnam organized these unarmed, unequipped men into battalions, and sent them to guard area roads, railroads, bridges, and fords. Many of them participated in a battle at Buffington Island, Meigs County, where approximately 1,000 of Morgan's cavalrymen were captured. Morgan and the remainder of the rebel forces made their way north, and were captured in Columbiana County on July 26, 1863. The route of Morgan's Raid did not pass through Washington County, largely because the militia accomplished their mission of obstructing Morgan's movements and preventing further destruction of property.

Morgan's Raid was the longest sustained cavalry raid of the Civil War, covering about 1,000 miles of territory. While it was not a significant episode in the history of the war, it was a major event in southern Ohio.

From the guide to the William Rufus Putnam, Jr., Civil War Collection, 1861-1866, 1861-1866, (Marietta College Library)