Muskingum (Great Nuclear War)

Muskingum is an American survivor state on the banks of the Ohio River

History
Following the Great Nuclear War, Washington County, Ohio was thrown into chaos. Looting and rioting occurred all throughout the state, and Marietta was no exception. In order to combat the lawlessness in their city, and in Belpre, the Emergency Council was formed. They enforced strict rationing, martial law, and other safety measures. Local townspeople, sheriff, and police officers were conscripted into a militia. For a while, the county was safe. Crime went down as people attempted to find ways to survive the coming winter. Radio contact with Columbus was attempted, though only scattered intermissions came, none what the Council wanted to hear.

Summer of ‘63
Following the harsh winter brought by the atomic weapons used in the War, many people had died of starvation and hypothermia, approximately 15% of the population. Post-War and post winter, 43,936 natives remained in Washington, with some townships and villages being nearly depopulated. Soon refugees from the surrounding counties flooded in, numbering approximately 6,000, though beyond this, contact had yet to be made with the state government. Soon the Emergency Council decided it was time to send scouts north, and along the rivers.

Scouts/ The Four Horsemen
Four patrols were sent, one to each of the cardinal directions. People took to calling them “The Four Horsemen,”, and each was sent with the meager supplies Marietta could manage. Before the Northern Patrol could be launched, a messenger on horseback rode into Marietta. He wore a national guard uniform, claiming to be Private John Moore of 1092nd Engineer Battalion. The Emergency Council convened momentarily. The Messenger said that Lt. Colonel Jay Thompson sought to claim a more permanent home for the people of his country, and sought to parley with The Mariettans. He further revealed that a large portion of the population had succumbed to the winter, and the southern cities of Newark and Rockport were under attack by raiders.

The Issue was debated for several days, with the majority of people unsure of Thompson’s Motives. The conclusion was reached, that three companies would move to Marietta, and one would move to Mcconnelsville. The Council voted on declaring independence from the United States, and to write into law a constitution.

The verdict was a landslide for independence, and on August 15th, 1963, the new nation was named Muskingum, after the river which flowed through both Morgan and Washington County. Upon Thompson’s insistence, the Emergency Council convened and motioned for the people of Wood County to move across the river into Washington County. The 62,664 refugees would prove difficult for the Muskees to handle, most of them moving into Belpre, Mcconnelsville, and the larger villages. The Wood County diaspora would remain unincorporated for another 15 years.