Advice: Don't give up on Civil War surrender site

& lt;a href=mailto:leigh@vindy.com & gt;By NORMAN LEIGH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
N A REMOTE PATCH OF ground more recently known as a rendezvous point for illicit sex stands a key symbol of Columbiana County's Civil War legacy.
A large stone marker along state Route 518 south of Lisbon notes that on July 26, 1863, Confederate raider Gen. John Hunt Morgan and his force surrendered nearby.
The act followed more than three weeks of fighting, pillaging and spreading panic through several states. The marauders' advance was the farthest north that any Confederate unit penetrated during the war.
A host of activities this year will observe the bicentennials shared by the state, county and Lisbon. Yet nothing appears planned for the 140th anniversary of Morgan's daring 1,000-mile invasion.
More should be done to recognize the county's role in the episode, says one county official.
"Without a doubt, we haven't had any type of effort to capitalize on the historic value" of the event, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said.
Possible events
Promotions, tours, observances and re-enactments are among the possibilities, Hoppel added.
Right now, though, it's hard to even get the grass mowed regularly at the monument site.
A bathroom building at the state rest area in which the massive stone stands was shuttered in 1998 after it gained notoriety as a meeting place for homosexual men.
Although the state is responsible for maintaining the lot, grass is allowed to grow high and litter accumulates there.
"It's a shame," Atty. Timothy Brookes of East Liverpool, said of the neglect.
Re-enactment site
A Civil War enthusiast, Brookes recently stood near the monument site and gestured toward the surrounding fields where a re-enactment was held to mark the 100th anniversary of Morgan's surrender.
A boy then, Brookes attended the event, which sparked his lifelong interest in the war.
Clutching a cavalry sword, Brookes optimistically noted that Morgan's Raid is not altogether forgotten.
Thanks to state and federal dollars and to the efforts of Civil War buffs like Brookes, a heritage trail marking Morgan's path is being established. The trail could spark new interest in the raid, Brookes said.
Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana already have their portions of the trail identified.
About 65 markers will be installed early next year on Ohio's nearly 550-mile leg, said George Kane, Ohio Historical Society facilities management director.
Three of the markers will be in Columbiana County, including one near the stone monument.
"Because Morgan surrendered there, it's one of the key points on the trail," Kane said.
End of the raid
Columbiana County "is in a unique position, being at the end of the raid," Kane said. "They should think about this in the role of their county's history and take advantage of it."
The trail "can be an important part of their cultural tourism package. It's something that can really benefit a community," he added.
Other areas through which the trail passes already are capitalizing on it.
A development group in Indiana has created tour guides and audio tapes for motorists traveling that trail segment.
Harrison, Ohio, where the invaders crossed into the Buckeye State from Indiana, features the pathway on its Web site.
Charles Clark, president of the county historical society, said that at a future meeting of the group he'll bring up the idea of doing more to memorialize Morgan's Raid here.
"Sometimes you need a spark plug to do something," Clark said. "We haven't had anybody do that."
& lt;a href=mailto:leigh@vindy.com & gt;leigh@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;