Yes, they were beat they had been on the run for days, weeks.
I have been in Ohio, its no fun, course I live in Mich. So we are not friends with Ohio any way - GO BLUE.
It at first was a small detachment of Union boys that held them (Morgan) from the river.
We should also mention the "Fighting McCooks" whom were Union guys from the area. Who helped and some died.
Point being they (Morgan's Command) was just pooped out.
Yes if they had made just one more push they may have made it to the river, at first there was not alot ahead of them as mentioned but they were asleep in the saddle.
They (Morgan's) people had to rest.
A small detachment of Union Boys held them in place.
Now you can start talking of gun boats and all that but the point being if they had been able to push thru that very thin Union line
instead of hunkering down.
It might have worked.
Morgan left a rear guard (at Buffington Island) as everyone knows and was captured just days later.
The end of the Great Raid.
Gaus