Morgan and his raiders entered Ripley County from Jennings County on Sunday, July 13, 1863. Their first stop was at Rexville in Shelby township, where a general store was looted. From Rexville they marched to Versailles where they were met at the new courthouse by a hurriedly summoned band of the militia and citizens. The raiders seized the guns belonging to the militia and broke them against the corner of the courthouse, which at that time was not completed. The Deputy County Treasurer, B. F. Spencer, had buried the county funds for safety from the raiders. The treasurer’s office was looted and it is reported that several thousand dollars was taken by the raiders. Private citizens having funds or valuable jewelry and silverware hid them in a safe place. Many housewives hung their jewelry in the bean vines and other secret hiding places. Horses were hidden as well as possible in advance of the raiders, as they constantly seized fresh horses, leaving worn out nags, occasionally, in their stead. Housewives were ordered to prepare meals for the marauding cavalry and feed was appropriated for their animals, all available supplies were used or carried away. The detachment, to be known forever in American history as Morgan’s Raiders, did not march in a compact body but followed a general course in scattered units, the central force of about three thousand men, containing the leaders–John Morgan, and his two lieutenants.