According to a number of historical sources, Newburgh was a prominent stop on the Underground Railroad between the mouth of the Little Pigeon River and Lake Michigan. On July 18, 1862, Newburgh was the first town north of the Mason-Dixon line to be captured by the Confederate forces during the American Civil War in what would come to be known as the Newburgh Raid. Colonel Adam "Stovepipe" Johnson, with a partisan band, crossed the Ohio River and confiscated supplies and ammunition without a shot being fired. The Confederates would have been unable to shell the city (as promised) had Newburgh put up a fight. The Confederates' cannons were an assemblage of a stove pipe, charred log, and wagon wheels. The raid convinced the federal government that it was necessary to supply Indiana with a permanent force of regular Union Army soldiers to counter future raids.David Eicher, The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War (2002) pp 310-311. Many of the structures used in this raid are still standing, including the Exchange Hotel.
According to a number of historical sources Newburgh was a prominent stop on the Underground Railroad between the mouth of the Little Pigeon River and Lake Michigan On July 18 1862 Newburgh was the first town north of the Mason-Dixon line to be captured by the Confederate forces during the American Civil War in what would come to be known as the Newburgh Raid Colonel Adam "Stovepipe" Johnson with a partisan band crossed the Ohio River and confiscated supplies and ammunition without a shot being fired The Confederates would have been unable to shell the city (as promised) had Newburgh put up a fight The Confederates' cannons were an assemblage of a stove pipe charred log and wagon wheels The raid convinced the federal government that it was necessary to supply Indiana with a permanent force of regular Union Army soldiers to counter future raidsDavid Eicher The Longest Night A Military History of the Civil War (2002) pp 310-311 Many of the structures used in this raid are still standing including the Exchange Hotel