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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
00027914962
1S00
Glass
Book
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
Faithfully yours ,
Um. J. Gleason .
L
HISTORY
.
OF THE
CUYAHOGA COUNTY
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS
MONUMENT.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS FROM ITS INCEPTION TO ITS COMPLETION. - DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMORIAL STRUCTURE, AND ROLL OF HONOR.
BY WILLIAM J. GLEASON.
32
PUBLISHED BY THE MONUMENT COMMISSIONERS, CLEVELAND, O IN2.4.
ITT . CqG5
COPYRIGHTED 1894, ' BY WILLIAM J. GLEASON.
All rights reserved.
THE
IMPERIAL
D'PRESS
CLEVELAND
THE CLEVELAND PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO.
DEDICATION.
LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE UNION SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, BY WHOSE VALOR AND UN- FLINCHING PATRIOTISM OUR COUNTRY WAS PROTECTED AND PRESERVED.
THE AUTHOR.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS. MONUMENT COMMISSIONERS.
WM. J. GLEASON. PRESIDENT.
LEVI F. BAUDER, -
SECRETARY.
J. B. MOLYNEAUX, J. J. ELWELL, CHAS. C. DEWSTOR,
EDWARD H. BOIIM,
LEVI T. SCOFIELD, JAMES HAYR,
EMORY W. FORCE,
R. W. WALTERS,
JAMES BARNETT,
M. D. LEGGETT.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WM. J. GLEASON, CHAIRMAN. JAMES BARNETT, J. B. MOLYNEAUX, JAMES HAYR. LEVI T. SCOFIELD, LEVI F. BAUDER, SECRETARY.
LEVI T. SCOFIELD, ARCHITECT AND SCULPTOR.
THE PERPETUAL COMMISSION,
ELECTED JULY ISTH, 1894 :
WILLIAM J. GLEASON, . PRESIDENT. JOSEPH B. MOLYNEAUX, SECRETARY.
J. J. ELWELL, M. D. LEGGETT, JAMES PICKANDS.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
CHAIRMAN.
WILLIAM J. GLEASON. JOSEPH B. MOLYNEAUX, - SECRETARY. J. J. ELWELL ..
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Author Frontispiece. FACING PAGE-
Northeast View of Monument 13
Statue of Liberty
23
Bronze Infantry Group, " The Color Guard "
34
Bronze Artillery Group, " At Short Range "
14
Bronze Cavalry Group, " The Advance Guard" 54
Bronze Navy Group, " Mortar Practice " 67
Bronze Panel in Face of Pedestal-Infantry Group
-Artillery Group
74
-Cavalry Group
96
-- Navy Group
113
Bronze Capital to Shaft 120
Infantry
Emblem in Capital
1 30
Artillery 142
Cavalry
152
..
Navy
162
..
Quartermaster "
172
Signal Service "
..
182
Engineer
192
Ordnance
=
Bronze Doors, North and South Entrances 212
202
" The Beginning of the War, in Ohio ". 215
" The Emancipation of the Slave "
22S
" The End of the War; or, The Peace - Makers at City Point "
23.5
Bust of Brigadier - General James Barnett 248
Captain W. J. Woodward 255
Colonel W. R. Creighton 265
..
Captain William Smith
279
Captain Levi T. Scofield 2.5.5
Captain W. W. Hutchinson
VIII
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING PAGE-
Bust of Lieutenant - Colonel Mervine Clark 308
Major J. B. Hampson 318
Medallion of Major - General James B. McPherson 328
Surgeon Charles A. Hartman 338
Brigadier - General J. J. Elwell 351
View of Monument from Southwest 355
Medallion of Major - General A. C. Voris 362
Major - General Emerson Opdycke
372
Brigadier - General J. S. Casement . 382
Major - General Alex. McD. McCook 395
Major - General W. B. Hazen 100
66 Hon. Edwin M. Stanton 408
Major - General J. B. Steedman 416
Major - General M. F. Force 42.4
Brigadier - General George W. Morgan 432
Panel Commemorating Northern Ohio Soldiers' Aid Society and Sanitary Commission 438
Lucy Webb Hayes in Field Hospital at Frederick, Md., after Battle of Antietam, 1862 462
Governor William McKinley . 494
Ex - Governor Joseph B. Foraker 505
Major William J. Gleason 556 Captain Levi F. Bauder 563
Captain Joseph B. Molyneaux 564
Captain Edward H. Bohm 568
Captain Levi T. Scofield 572
Colonel Emory W. Force
576
General James Barnett 5SI
General J. J. Elwell 582
Colonel Charles C. Dewstoe 586 Sergeant James Hayr 591 Dr. R. W. Walters 592
General M. D. Leggett . 597
Northwest View of Monument 611
INTRODUCTORY.
T HE Memorial structure to perpetuate the memory of the Union Soldiers and Sailors of Cuyahoga County is now a reality. It is also and equally a Monument to the patriotic citizens who were obliged to remain at home, and made great sacrifices to furnish the ways and means and moral support, without which the War could not have been sustained nor the country saved. It is a Monument to patriotism at home and in the field. It is an object lesson of vast importance in nationality, personal courage, and sacri- fice, for coming generations of American youth. It will speak to the unborn millions who will not have seen one of the participants of the War it commemorates, and who will people this goodly land, of the noble work done by their patriotic ancestors when the Republic in its infancy was in great danger. The child will ask the meaning of the Monument, and will be told the story of Lincoln and Grant, of Sherman and Sheridan, of Meade and Thomas, of Hancock and Custer, of Farragut and Porter, of Hayes and Garfield, and of the brave men who followed and fought with them for their country and its liberties. This is the lesson of the Moment, and fully justifies its erection by the patriotic people of Cuyahoga County to whom it belongs.
If at times we have faltered in our fifteen years of wearisome work because of great obstacles which ob- structed our way, after all it must be remembered that it has always been so with work of this kind. It may be said that while no people have higher appreciation and respect for important national events and for pure
ยท
Y
INTRODUCTORY.
and noble manhood than the Americans, no people on the face of the earth are so backward in building mon- uinents of the character of ours. They are proud and delighted with them when finished, but very slow in their construction.
Monuments can neither add to reputation nor insure immortality. Good works alone have immunity from death and forgetfulness. Right action, noble deeds, heroic conduct are immortal without monuments made by human hands. Words and names alone, though cut in stone and engraved in bronze, mean nothing if they tell not the story of "well done, good and faithful serv- ants." Lincoln said in his immortal speech at Gettys- burg: "The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it will never forget what these Soldiers did here." The many monuments on the battlefield of Gettysburg add nothing to the famne of the men who died there for their country. They only tell where, when, and why they died. The magnificent Cleveland Monument, so laboriously and patiently con- structed, rescues nobody personally from obscurity nor ultimately from that oblivion which surely awaits the builders and all those whose names are inscribed on its walls. It is only a record of their deeds.
"The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour,
The path of glory leads but to the grave."
Incidental to the accomplishment of our undertaking, it became necessary to engage in a few legal battles to carry our mission to success. When we were ready to commence the construction of the Memorial, we were compelled to meet our BULL RUN in the lower Courts. After a brief rest, and the re-forming of our lines, a test of strength and authority before the Supreme Court of the State brought about our GETTYSBURG. A final
INTRODUCTORY.
appeal to the United States Court resulted in the com- plete and unconditional surrender of our opponents. APPOMATTOX had been fought and won.
The Memorial is strikingly original in its character and design. It is not alone a Monument to the valor and heroism of the gallant Union Soldiers and Sailors of our County and to the noble services of the Women's Aid Society of Northern Ohio, but it is a National Memo- rial of the War of the Rebellion as well. Every feature in it is strictly American, and vividly portrays the scenes and incidents of the mnost destructive conflict of ancient and modern times. It is highly creditable to the genius and brilliant skill of the Architect and Sculptor, who gave his time and splendid ability during the entire accomplishment of the work without any reward except the appreciation of the Commission and the gratitude of his comrades and fellow-citizens.
The superb Memorial was appropriately dedicated on the anniversary of the Nation's Independence-July 4th, 1894. Most impressive exercises marked this crowning event. Hundreds of thousands of people turned out in gala attire to lionor the occasion. The day was made memorable by scholarly addresses from America's most noted statesmen and orators; by patri- otic songs rendered by the future patriots and citizens of our Republic-the children of our public schools ; by the prayer and benediction of noted divines, and by the spirited rendition of intensely patriotic poetry. Amidst the reading of the immortal Declaration of Independence, the booming of cannon, under a canopy of myriads of the glorious flag of freedom, in the pres- ence of thousands of the brave survivors of the Civil War bearing their battle-scarred flags, together with the finest procession of citizen soldiers, civic societies, trade and manufacturing representations, with our lovely city lavishly decorated as never before in its
XII
INTRODUCTORY.
history, that, all combined, made up the most notable demonstration ever held in the great State of Ohio, the handsomest tribute to patriotismn in the world was for- mally turned over to the free use, benefit and admira- tion of present and future generations.
Now that the people may freely view the exquisite Memorial in all its historic accuracy and architectural grandeur, the slight temporary opposition to the struct- ure and its unrivaled site has happily ceased. The peerless work of the Designer and of the Commission meets with the unqualified and hearty approval of all of our citizens, as attested by the earnest words of sincere commendation heard upon every side from the thousands who daily visit the Memorial-our own peo- ple as well as strangers-to admire its manifold beauties: the interior and exterior, the lovely surroundings-all true to the events and time it commemorates.
Notwithstanding all that the Commission have had to contend with, we console ourselves with the pleasing reflection that others have had similar difficulties, with- out our corresponding triumph. We have been remark- ably fortunate in successfully finishing the loving work committed to our care within our lifetime, and by the same men who originated the enterprise.
We are glad to be able to say that our task is com- pleted. With gratitude and thanks to God for life and success, we gladly surrender to those who come after us the trust we have tried faithfully to carry out, conscious of having discharged our stewardship to the best of our ability. To our successors in office we say, guard sacredly this grand and beautiful Memorial, which has been to us a work of love and patriotism.
WILLIAM J. GLEASON,
President Monument Commission.
CLEVELAND, O., July 15th, 1894.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT, CLEVELAND, O.
(View from Northeast.)
LEVI T. SCOFIELD, Architect and Sculptor.
I.
IN the War of the Revolution, Ohio was unknown, being then but a wilderness of forest, uninhabited by civilized man. A generation later there existed the pioneer settler and patriotic white man, who served in the defense of the Nation in the second war with Eng- land and shared in the triumphs of Lundy's Lane and the Naval victory of Lake Erie. Thirty-three years later the sons of the Buckeye State bore a conspicuous part in the gallant victories of the Mexican War. But fifteen years after that memorable event it was reserved to the patriot Soldiers of Ohio, in common with all others of the Northern States, to participate in the mighty struggle for the preservation of the Union, in the fiercest and most sanguinary Civil War known in the history of the world. The grateful memory of the people everywhere has prompted the erection of endur- ing monuments and engraved tablets that shall tell the marvelous story and perpetuate the name and fame of the deserving soldier and the heroic dead.
The idea of erecting a Monument to commemorate the valor and patriotism of the Union Soldiers and Sailors of Cuyahoga County, State of Ohio, in the War of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865, was first proposed by Comrade Wmn. J. Gleason, at a meeting of Camp Barnett, Soldiers' and Sailors' Society, held in the Crocker Block, Cleveland, Ohio, on the evening of October 2211d, 1879. The original resolution introduced by Comrade Gleason was as follows:
" Resolved, That the President of the Society be and he is hereby directed to appoint a Committee of three, whose duty it will be to
14
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
formulate a plan for the erection of a suitable Monument or Memorial to commemorate the Union Soldiers and Sailors of Cuya- loga County."
After an agreeable discussion among the Comrades of the Society, the project was unanimously and enthusi- astically approved ; whereupon President Charles C. Dewstoe appointed Comrades Win. J. Gleason, Edward H. Bohm and Joseph B. Molyneaux as the Committee.
At this time arrangements were being perfected for a grand reunion of all ex-Soldiers and Sailors of Cuya- hoga County, to be held in Case Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, October 30tl1, 1879. The Committee named were re- quested to report to this meeting the feasibility of the undertaking and a plan for carrying it out. The Com- mittee hield a meeting, discussed several modes of pro- cedure, and finally adopted the plan proposed by Comrade Gleason. His colleagues requested him to reduce it to writing and report the same to the General Reunion for action, the plan being as follows:
"To the Union Soldiers and Sailors of Cuyahoga County.
"COMRADES :- The undersigned Committee, appointed by a meet- ing of ex-Soldiers and Sailors held in the City of Cleveland, Wednes- day evening, October 22nd, 1879, to take into consideration the feasibility of the erection of a Monument and a plan for carrying it out, submit the following report :
" For the purpose of perpetuating the memory of the men of Cuyahoga County who responded to the call of patriotism in the War of the Rebellion, we favor the erection of a Memorial Monument. Believing that the people of this county appreciate the gallantry and heroism of the Soldiers and Sailors who represented them in the Union Army and Navy in the years of the Rebellion, and feeling that the record made at that time by the men who went from their midst redounds to the glory and is the common heritage of the people of this county, we favor the building of a Monument by the entire people of Cuyahoga County. To accomplish this result, we recommend that our Senator and Representatives in the General Assembly of Ohio draft a bill, and use their influence in its passage by the Legislature, authorizing the levying of a tax on all of the property of the county, amounting to three-tenths of a mill on the dollar, to be paid in three equal annual installments, said money,
15
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
when so raised, to be placed in a special fund, to be known and designated as the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monu- ment Fund; said fund to be applied to the erection of a suitable Monument that will stand for ages as a memorial to our county, and be a perpetual reminder to the present and future generations of the sentiment entertained by all loyal people for the volunteer Soldiers and Sailors who risked their lives in defense of a free, united country. We further recommend that the Convention of ex- Soldiers and Sailors appoint a Committee of seven ex-Soldiers, who will have all plans submitted to them, and also have sole charge of the erection of the Monument.
" We would earnestly recommend that the Monument be located in the center of Monumental Park, in the City of Cleveland.
[Signed.]
" Respectfully submitted, "WM. J. GLEASON, "EDWARD H. BOHM, "J. B. MOLYNEAUX,
"Committee Camp Barnett, Soldiers' and Sailors' Society. "Cleveland, O., October 30th, 1879."
The General Convention, held in Case Hall, October 30tl1, 1879, at which more than twelve hundred ex- Soldiers and Sailors were registered as being in attend- ance, unanimously adopted the plan proposed by the foregoing Committee. The Convention thereupon elected Comrades Win. J. Gleason, Edward H. Bolum, Emory W. Force, W. F. Goodspeed, E. H. Eggleston, Levi T. Scofield and Edwin Andrews a permanent Committee on the erection of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.
This Convention was presided over by Comrade James Barnett. The principal speakers on the occasion were Comrades James A. Garfield, James B. Steadman and William H. Gibson.
Subsequently, at the request of the Monument Com- mittee, State Senator and Comrade Thomas J. Carran drafted and introduced the following bill in the Ohio Senate :
16
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
"[Senate Bill No. 126.]
"AN ACT
"To authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Memorial Tablet, commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and to purchase a site therefor.
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County be and they are hereby authorized to levy a tax upon all the taxable property of said county, not exceeding three-tenths of one mill, not more than one-tenth of which shall be levied and collected an- nually, for the purpose of erecting a Monument or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the bravery and valor of all the Soldiers and Sailors from said county, who were killed in any of the battles fought in the service of the Republic of the United States, or who died from wounds or disease received or contracted in such service, and purchase a suitable site therefor.
"SEC. 2. All plans and specifications for such Monument or Tablet, and the site thereof, together with the contract for the erec- tion of which, shall be approved by the Commissioners and the Committee on Monument of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of said county ; but the building thereof shall be supervised by, and the expense thereof paid upon vouchers approved by said Com- missioners; provided, however, that the cost and expense of such Monument or tablet and site shall not exceed the amount of said levy.
"SEC. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
" THOS. A. COWGILL,
"Speaker of the House of Representatives. "R. G. RICHARDS, "President pro tem. of the Senate. " Passed April 2, ISSo."
It will be noticed that Senator Carran's bill added the County Commissioners to the Monument Com- mittee, requiring their approval of the plans and speci- fications, and that the building of the Monument should be under their supervision. When the tax was about to be levied for 1881, County Auditor and Comrade Levi F. Bauder discovered a clerical error in Senator Carran's bill, whereby the tax therein provided for would require thirty years for its collection, instead of
17
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
three years, as intended. To correct this error, Senator Carran introduced the following amended bill early in the session of 1881 :
"[Senate Bill No. 247.] "AN ACT
"To amend section one of an act entitled, 'An act to authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and to purchase a site therefor.'
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That section one of said act be so amended as to read as follows :
"Section 1. That the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County be and they are hereby authorized to levy a tax upon all the taxable property of said County, not exceeding three-tenths of one inill, not more than one-third of which shall be levied and collected annually, for the purpose of erecting a Monument or Memorial Tablet, com- memorative of the bravery and valor of all the Soldiers and Sailors from said county, who were killed in any of the battles fought in the service of the Republic of the United States, or who died from wounds or disease received or contracted in such service, and purchase a suitable site therefor.
"SEC. 2. Original section one is hereby repealed.
"SEC. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
"THOS. A. COWGILL,
"Speaker of the House of Representatives.
"R. G. RICHARDS,
"President pro tem. of the Senate.
"Passed February 4, ISSI."
II.
T HE Monument Committee reported progress at the Annual Reunion of the Soldiers and Sailors of the county, and were, by resolutions adopted thereat, continued in their work. From the formation of the Committee its meetings were held in the office of County Auditor and Comrade Levi F. Bauder, on his invitation. He represented the County Commissioners as their Clerk, and was, on regular motion, chosen Secretary at the joint meetings of the Committee and Commis- sioners. At the Reunion held June 17th, 1882, his term as County Auditor having nearly expired, he was elected a regular member of the Monument Committee. Subsequently, he was elected its permanent Secretary.
Comrade Edwin Andrews, of Rockport Township, a member of the original Committee of seven, died in ISS3, sincerely regretted by all of his associates.
At the Annual Reunion held in Chagrin Falls, June 20th, 1884, Comrades James Barnett and Charles C. Dewstoe were, by resolution of Comrade J. J. Elwell, added to the Committee. On the same date, by resolu- tion of Comrade Dewstoe, Comrades J. J. Elwell, Joseph B. Molyneaux, James Hayr and R. W. Walters were. added to the Committee. The original Committee, to- gether with the additions thereto, were continued at each Annual Reunion ; reports of progress being regu- larly submitted and approved.
A number of meetings were held by the Committee in the Fall of 1884 and in the Spring of 1885. The most important one took place February 28tl1, 1885. At this meeting the Chairman of the Committee pro-
19
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
posed the propriety and necessity of requesting the Legislature to give authority to raise an additional levy of five-tenths of a mill on the taxable property of tlie county, so that a suitable Monument might be erected. His views met with the hearty approval of all of the members of the Committee. Comrade Dewstoe offered a resolution to carry out the Chairman's recomenda- tion, which was unanimously adopted. At this meeting, on resolution of Comrade Elwell, a Subcommittee of five was appointed on legislation, with instructions to prepare a bill for raising the additional tax levy, said Subcommittee to report to the General Committee March 28th, 1885. The Legislative Committee, consist- ing of the Chairman and Comrades Elwell, Bauder, Dewstoe and County Commissioner B. F. Phinney, carried out the duty assigned them. The bill, as drafted, was approved by the General Committee. It was trans- mitted to Senator and Comrade A. J. Williams, by whom it was promptly introduced and passed into law. The bill was as follows:
"[Senate Bill No. 446.] "AN ACT
"To amend section one of an act entitled, 'An act to authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monu- ment or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and to purchase a site therefor,' passed April 2, 1880 (vol. 77, p. 368), as amended February 4, 1881 (vol. 78, p. 316), and to amend section two of said original act.
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That section one of an act entitled, 'An act to authorize the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County to build a Monument or Memorial Tablet commemorative of the deceased Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and to purchase a site therefor,' passed April 2, 1880, as amended February 4, 1881, be amended so as to read as follows:
"Section 1. That the County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County be and they are hereby authorized to levy a tax upon all the taxable property of said county, not exceeding five- tenths of one
20
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
inill on the dollar of the valuation of said property, in addition to any tax heretofore levied under said act, not more than one-fifth of which shall be levied and collected annually, for the purpose of erecting a suitable structure commemorative of the services, patriotism and valor of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Union Army and Navy in the War of the Rebellion, who enlisted from Cuyahoga County, and either were killed, died of wounds or of disease con- tracted in said service, or subsequently died residents of said county, and to purchase a suitable site therefor, and the funds heretofore collected under said act shall be applied, together with that raised under and pursuant to this act, to the purpose aforesaid.
"SEC. 2. That section two of said act, passed April 2, 18So, be amended so as to read as follows :
"Section 2. All plans and specifications for said structure, and the site therefor, together with all contracts for the construction of the same, shall be submitted to and approved by the Commissioners of said county, as well as by the Committee on Monument of Soldiers and Sailors of said county, and the building of said struct- ure shall be supervised by, and the bills of expense for the same paid upon vouchers approved by said Commissioners. Provided, however, that the entire cost and expense of such structure, includ- ing the site therefor, shall not exceed the levy heretofore made when increased by the levy authorized by this act.
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