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REMINISCENCES
OF THE
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY
M. L.
Gc 973.74 Oh3re 1796364
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
2
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01084 2943
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY Camp Putnam, Marietta, Ohio, May, 1861
Reminiscences
of the
Cleveland Light Artillery
Cleveland Cleveland Printing Company 1906
111
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/reminiscencesofc00clev
1796364
CHAPTER I.
THE ACORN FROM WHICH GREW THE OAK.
The First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery -whose guns thundered on nearly all the great battle- fields of the War for the Union, 1861-5-owed its ex- istence to a process of evolution. It was the result of a growth during a period of more than twenty years.
The Cleveland Grays, an independent military com- pany, was formed in 1837. It was composed of active, intelligent, patriotic young men who displayed from the first a laudable pride in the organization, and an ambition to bring it up to the highest possible standard of excellence. Their most praiseworthy efforts were rewarded by a full measure of success, and the com- pany was soon celebrated far and near for its fine appearance, excellent drill, and perfection of military discipline.
In 1839, for the purpose of field instruction, the Grays held an encampment on a vacant lot at the present corner of Superior and Erie streets. As com- . pared to its proportions of today, Cleveland was then scarcely more than an overgrown village, and the territory in the vicinity of the spot designated above-now covered, and for miles beyond, with busi- ness houses and dwellings-was almost in its primeval state. By invitation of the Grays, Major Fay's Light Artillery Company, of Buffalo, famous in those early days for its skill in the art of gunnery, was present at the encampment. The fine evolutions of this com- mand and its proficiency in working and handling artillery attracted much attention and awakened a lively interest in that arm of military science.
The Grays caught the artillery fever and at once
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
decided that they would have a gun squad. No sooner said than done, and nine members of the company were detailed for that purpose, as follows:
David L. Wood, Frank Krieger,
Edward S. Flint,
F. H. Utley,
Edward A. Scovill,
James A. Craw,
Richard Dockstader,
James B. Wilbur,
C. J. Merriam.
David L. Wood was appointed Sergeant of the Gun Squad. He had formerly lived in Buffalo and had served as a gunner in Major Fay's company, but had removed to Cleveland and was an active and zealous member of the Grays. A six-pound iron gun was ob- tained and mounted on a carriage which, as well as the caisson, was of home manufacture, made at the ex- pense of the company. The early drills were held in a large barn situated on Erie street opposite the ceme- tery. The building was owned by the Ohio Stage Company, which, before the days of railroads, was op- erating its lines of public conveyance. These premises were used for five or six years, when more commodious quarters were provided.
In 1840 there was a great gathering at Fort Meigs- a military station at the rapids of the Maumee river, near Perrysburg, Ohio, built by General William Henry Harrison in 1813. A number of military companies from various parts of the West attended the meeting-among them the Cleveland Grays with its gun squad. The members of both organizations distinguished them- selves by their accuracy in drill and their soldierly bearing, for which they bore away a large share of the honors.
Stimulated by their success to greater exertions the young artillerists continued their practice with the greatest assiduity, attaining a perfection that was in the highest degree creditable, and they fairly deserved the plaudits that were so freely bestowed upon them whenever they appeared in public. Valuable instruc-
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
tion and assistance were received from members of Major Fay's company, before mentioned. The drill was in the French style of tactics then in vogue, and gen- erally known as "flying artillery."
In 1845 the gun squad "seceded" from the Grays, forming a separate organization known as the Cleve- land Light Artillery, with two 12-pound guns, and a large increase in its active membership. David L. Wood was chosen captain. Among those who at this early day belonged to the company were James Barnett, W. E. Lawrence, Seymour Race, W. H. Hayward and W. E. Standart, all of whom remained in active mem- bership and were prominent during the war as members of the First Ohio Light Artillery.
The increase in the company, both in size and equip- ment, made it necessary to have better quarters. An armory was built on Bank street, in the rear of what is now the block next north of the Mercantile National Bank, and the company evacuated the old Erie street barn. It was at this time fully organized as a mounted battery of two pieces, with caissons, harness, and every- thing complete, all of which equipment was provided at private expense, as were also the uniforms of the men. Whenever the battery appeared on public occa- sions or went out for field practice all expenses includ- ing the use of horses were borne by the company.
On September 10, 1846, a large military encamp- ment was held at Wooster, Ohio, in which the Cleve- land Light Artillery was invited to participate. The company, fully mounted and equipped, made the march from Cleveland to and from that place, the distance both ways being something over one hundred miles. This would not have been considered much of a march during the war, but it was the first campaign of the company, and was a great event in those days. During their stay at Wooster the artillerymen received the highest encomiums for their excellent appearance and drill.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
July 4, 1847, a great river and harbor convention was held at Chicago. The artillery accepted an urgent invitation to attend, going by lake on the steamer Sultana, a boat famous at that day, commanded by Captain Gilman Appleby. While there the company gave several exhibitions, acquitting itself with such credit as to win unstinted praise. The effect was to stir up the military spirit in Chicago to such a degree that a light battery was at once organized there. The Cleveland company furnished an instructor and other- wise assisted in equipping the battery.
The Chicago company owed its existence in a great measure to the Cleveland Artillery. It grew and prospered, and early in the war became the nucleus of the First Regiment Illinois Light Artillery, as the Cleveland company did of the Ohio regiment. Indeed, it may fairly be said that the influence of the Cleve- land Artillery was a wide-spread, and a potential factor, through the removal of its members from time to time, in awakening an interest before the war in that arm of the military service. During the war there was no in- considerable number of artillery officers who entered the army from other states, whose first instruction was received years before, while members of the old Cleveland battery. Its complement of men was usually from seventy-five to one hundred, and during the twenty years and more of its existence many of these dropped out of the ranks and were widely scattered, their places being filled by others. The seed thus sown produced an abundant crop of artillerymen.
General Barnett tells that in the fall of 1863 he was directing the march of some artillery through one of the valleys between the mountain ranges near Chat- tanooga. The weather was cold and wet and the roads wretched. He came upon a Missouri battery stuck fast in the Tennessee mud. Gun carriages and caissons were sunk to the hubs and obstinately refused to budge an inch, despite the floundering efforts of the panting
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
horses and the picturesque profanity of the drivers. Animals and men were wet and bespattered, and about equally discouraged. The captain, in a despairing con- dition, sat on his horse surveying the scene, apparently caring little whether there were any stars left in the old flag or not. Gen. Barnett doubled teams with him and at length succeeded in "yanking" him out of the mire. In conversation with him the general learned that the captain was an old-time member of the Cleve- land artillery, and it was in consequence of what he learned in that company that he was induced to raise a battery and go to war in earnest.
In October, 1847, A. S. Sanford was elected captain of the Artillery and continued in that position for four years. David L. Wood was then again chosen and continued in command until a short time before the breaking out of the war.
The Cleveland Light Artillery was so successful and popular that in 1851 it was doubled in strength and its armament was increased to four guns. At this time there was no organization of the militia of Ohio, and very little had been done by the state authorities to foster and encourage the military spirit. Few could then have believed that ten years later the tocsin of war would be sounded, and that more than three hun- dred thousand men from Ohio alone would march to the tented field-and not for holiday or "feather-bed" soldiering, either. It is safe to say that Ohio will never again be found in a state of such unreadiness- but may the good Lord deliver us from any more war! The survivors of the First Ohio Light Artillery will all devoutly say Amen to this. Like all the rest who served in the Civil War, they know when they have had enough.
After much urging and coaxing the state authorities did at length consent to lend a helping hand. When the Cleveland Artillery was enlarged to a four-gun battery the state furnished the guns and harness. The
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
company supplied everything else, including caissons, uniforms, and equipments of every kind. It still re- tained its status as an independent organization. In fact there was no law of Ohio authorizing artillery companies in any shape, and the small aid that was grudgingly extended to the Cleveland battery was more of a gratuity than anything else.
But the company continued to prosper just the same. Its membership was composed of excellent material, including young men from many of the best families of the city. All were earnest and ambitious in their efforts and they soon reached a high state of skill and efficiency in handling their guns and in all the details of the tactics in which they were instructed. They had showy uni- forms for public occasions, with plenty of red in them, suggestive of sanguinary scenes, and presented a really gorgeous appearance when parading the streets. They won the applause of the multitude, the smiles of the fair, and admiring yells from the small boys. For in those ante-bellum days a cannon on wheels was re- garded with unspeakable awe; and a man in military dress awakened the liveliest emotions in the popular mind.
In February, 1852, the company was first called upon for military duty. On the 17th of that month a serious riot occurred at a medical college situated at the cor- ner of Prospect and Ontario streets. The trouble grew out of the exposure of some human bones from the dissecting room. A citizen who imagined them to be the remains of his daughter, whose body he thought had been stolen for dissection, gathered a formidable mob of excited people and moved upon the college with the avowed purpose of razing it to the ground and of hanging the doctors and students to the nearest lamp posts. The sheriff soon found that he had more on hand than he could manage and ordered out the Light Artillery to his assistance. The members of the com- pany responded with alacrity and promptly appeared
9
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
upon the ground, unlimbering their pieces they double shotted them in full view of the rioters, who were warned that if they did not instantly disperse the guns would be fired. The men stood at their posts, ready to fire at the word, but the rioters broke and fled from the scene, in a state of confused demoraliza- tion. For precautionary reasons the battery remained on duty, "holding the fort," for forty-eight hours, by the end of which time the excitement had abated and there was no repetition of the hostile demonstration.
This incident clearly showed the value of such a body of trained men, to meet emergencies liable at times to arise in a rapidly growing city, where sudden excitement, often without reason, leads unthinking men to acts of lawlessness, which set the civil authorities at defiance. The company had fairly won its first vic- tory, fortunately a bloodless one. Its members were highly complimented for their prompt response to the call and their cool steadiness in the face of the excited mob. It was an occasion to test the stuff they were made of, though not to be compared with the scenes of carnage that some of those men faced without flinching in after years.
The people of Cleveland began to feel a pride in the Light Artillery, and to give the company sub- stantial support and assistance. Again it became neces- sary to have more commodious quarters, and sufficient funds were contributed by the citizens and the mem- bers of the company to build a new armory. The building was erected in 1852, near the present junction of Ohio and Hill streets. The use of the ground on which it stood was given by Mr. John Walworth.
The fame of the company went abroad throughout the land and invitations were received from far and near to attend large public gatherings. In 1852 an excur- sion was made by lake to Sandusky, at the request of citizens of that place, by whom the artillerists were handsomely entertained. In September of the same
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
year the anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane was celebrated by an immense assemblage of people with great pomp and ceremony at Niagara Falls. The Cleveland Light Artillery, accompanied by a large number of its friends, went by steamer to Buffalo. There the horses were hitched to guns and caissons and the company marched to the Falls, attracting much atten- tion along the route. The battery took an active part in the celebration, dividing the honors with Major Fay's "crack" Buffalo company of artillery. In 1853 the Cleveland company attended by special invitation a large encampment of the New York state militia at Syracuse, commanded by General Swan. The battery was warmly received and was a prominent feature of the encampment.
The Ohio street armory was occupied for two or three years when, the location being for various rea- sons undesirable, it was decided to move once more. Quarters were secured near the business center of the city, in a brick building on Frankfort street, a few rods west of Bank street, occupied after the war by Montpellier's Variety Theater. Here the battery continued to abide until it went to the "front" in 1861.
At this time the company was in better condition than ever before. In good quarters, with full bat- tery equipment and fine uniforms, and in an admirable state of discipline, it was everywhere recognized as a model organization. On February 22nd, 1856, the Light Artillery and the Cleveland Grays, upon invitation of the Rover Guards of Cincinnati, attended a great mili- tary gathering in that city, to celebrate the anniversary of Washington's birthday. There were present a large number of the best drilled and equipped independent companies of Ohio and other states. None of them surpassed the Cleveland contingent in excellence of drill and martial bearing.
During the next three or four years annual encamp-
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
ments were held for practice in gunnery and field evolutions, and in the various duties of camp life. Frequent excursions continued to be made, in response to invitations received from all parts of the country. The citizens of Cleveland showed their increasing ap- preciation of the high standing of the company and the honor it had conferred upon the city by tendering its members occasional banquets which were largely attended, and were occasions of much social enjoyment. These unsought recognitions were most gratifying to the artillerymen and incited them to the utmost efforts to "go on unto perfection."
It should be borne in mind,-as a fact in the highest degree creditable to the company-that during all this time, embracing a period of twenty years, the large ex- penses pertaining to the organization, such as the pur- chase of uniforms and equipments of every kind, the building or rental of quarters, the cost of transporta- tion and the employment of horses, were cheerfully paid by the members of the company, with some assist- ance from time to time by the citizens of Cleveland. The state furnished no part of the equipment except the guns and harness, and these only for a portion of the time.
Below is given a complete roster of those whose names were borne upon the roll of the company at different times during these years. The names of the nine originally detailed from the Grays to form the Gun Squad have already been given. The list which follows embraces all who joined and served in its ranks from that time until the reorganization of the battery under the militia law of Ohio. The older residents of Cleveland and vicinity, who were familiar with its people of thirty and forty years ago, will recognize in this roster the names of many who are now, or were in the past, distinguished as honorable and public-spirited citizens, who attained high positions in business, professional or political life. A large
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
part of the old members of the Light Artillery are now dead. A considerable number of these made the supreme sacrifice of life upon the altar of patriotism, during the War of the Rebellion. Some of those whose names appear removed to other parts of the coun- try and rose to prominence in the various walks of life. Some, including two of three of the detail from the Grays in 1839, yet live in and around Cleveland, commanding the highest respect and esteem of their fellow-citizens.
These gray-haired survivors have long had an or- ganized association to perpetuate the memories of "auld lang syne." Regularly each year, on Washington's birthday, they meet around the social board and recall reminiscences of the past. They hold in tender re- membrance their comrades who died for their country, and upon the annual recurrence of Decoration Day they never omit to strew flowers upon the graves of those who sleep in the beautiful cemeteries of Cleveland. The association is gradually diminishing in number, as one by one its members yield to the infirmities of age, but as long as any of them remain these yearly gather- ings will be continued.
The list of members of the old Cleveland Light Ar- tillery is as follows, including all whose names were on its roll from the beginning till the reorganization under the state law, in 1860:
Andrews, J. S.
Bennett, James
Adams, S. E.
Bennett, John A.
Abbey, H. G.
Brown, J. C.
Ashcraft, S. F.
Burwell, H. F.
Adams, M.
Berry, William
Barnett, James
Bradford, Charles
Bond, M. P.
Beardsley, Clint.
Bond, T. N.
Babcock, C. H.
Brown, Ben.
Bynnar, C. E.
Beardsley, E. S.
Benjame, John
Bills, George W.
Bliss, Stoughton Bingham, Henry
Bocking, R. C.
Bradburn, Charles
Blake, I. W.
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Berry, Alfred Baldwin, N. A.
Gardner, O. S. Grimshaw, J. W.
Hayward, W. H.
Harmon, J. C.
Beckel, F.
Hill, James Higby, Charles
Broat, J. H.
Harbeck, J. S.
Burkhardt, J. H.
Houghton, D. W.
Cowan, William
Haskill, J. R.
Cowan, John.
Hilliard, William
Calkins, G. W.
Haidenburgh, J. H.
Casement, John S.
Ingersoll, John
Craw, James A.
Jones, Samuel
Crawford, Randall
Johnson, J. W.
Coon, John
Krauss, G.
Cowdry, C. W.
Kelley, George
Cowdry, J. M.
Kittell, William
Craigen, William
Krieger, Frank
Cate, William
Lawrence, W. E.
Champlain, Wm. A.
Lyon, W. A.
Chapman, W. H.
Langell, S. F.
Craig, William
Lucas, M.
Crawford, Frank
Leonard, Charles
Chapin, E.
Lewis, E. H.
Curtis, A. F.
Lewis, S. J.
Clayton, D. B.
Marshall, Alex.
Crable, John
Machette, Thomas H.
Cummings, B.
Merwin, A.
Dockstader, Richard
McDole, N. K.
Dockstader, W. J.
McOmber, J. H.
Dunham, C. H.
Merriam, C. J.
Dexter, B. F.
Miller, W. L.
Douglass, R. B.
Miller, James
Dunn, J. E.
McMurphy, P. F.
Dumont, W.
Mastick, H. A.
Ensworth, J. W.
McIlrath, James
Ensworth, Jere
Matthews, H.
Eddy, F. H.
Marshall, Geo. F.
Eldridge, George D.
Newell, N. M.
Edgarton, W. P.
Noble, H. M.
Flint, Edward S.
Nelson, S. N.
Freeman, J. H. Feickert, C.
Pickersgill, William.
Geer, Hezekiah
Palmer, Horace
Green, J. M.
Perry, J. S.
Gerlacher, J.
Paddock, T. S.
Gruninger, Fred
Nelson, N.
Potts, W. H.
Beck, D. D. Bull, John Born, C. P.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE
Potts, R. C.
Sanford, E.
Pynchon, J. B.
Sanford, Nelson
Patrick, C. L.
Sanford, J. R.
Pratt, D. M.
Sturtevant, S. C.
Price, David
Stevenson, M.
Prentiss, W. W.
Smith, Pard B.
Pelton, F. S.
Sweeny, Thomas T.
Race, Seymour
Stevens, W.
Rice, Percy W.
Sheldon, W. B.
Reese, C. S.
Silsbee, S.
Redhead, N. W.
Story, J.
Ruple, D. S.
Smidt, N.
Robinson, J. T.
Schent, D.
Robison, W. S.
Shields, J. C.
Ruff. Peter
Taylor, D. C.
Rodder, C. B.
Thompson, T. J.
Russell, C. L.
Towner, W.
Scovill, O. C.
Umbstaetter, D.
Scovill, Edward A.
Utley, F. H.
Standart, W. E.
wood, David L.
Standart, W. L.
Walworth, John
Standart, S. H.
Walworth, William
Standart, Geo. W.
Whittemore, M. C.
1
Simmonds, W. R.
Whittemore, H. L.
Sholl, W. H.
Warmington, William
Seymour, Belden
White, N. D.
Strong, J. T.
Winslow, John
Sterling, J. M. Jr.
Wilbur, J. B.
Sterling, E.
Wehl, V.
Simmonds, S. J.
Weidenkopf, N.
Selden, C. A.
Werlig, A.
Sturges, S. B.
Wilson, F.
Before entering upon the reorganization of the Ar- tillery, it will be fitting to pay deserved tribute to the memory of David L. Wood, who served as its com- mandant for seventeen years, and to whose zeal and ability the company was so largely indebted for its honorable and successful career. He was born in Litch- field county, Connecticut, August 14, 1817. While yet a lad his parents removed to Buffalo, where he learned the trade of a printer. Early in 1839 he removed to Cleveland and at once identified himself with the Grays. His connection with Fay's Artillery Company
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
in Buffalo, nis detail from the Grays as sergeant of the Gun Squad, and his subsequent services in the battery have already been mentioned. Under the law passed in 1859 to organize the militia of Ohio he was appointed by Governor Chase to the responsible posi- tion of Quartermaster General of the state. So faith- fully and efficiently did he discharge the duties of the position that he was reappointed by Governor Den- nison and was at the head of that most important de- partment of the state executive when the war broke out in 1861. He displayed great energy and ability in fitting for active duty the troops that so rapidly re- sponded to the call. But the true military spirit was strong in him and nothing could satisfy him but ac- tive service in the field. He resigned his position at Columbus and having been by the President commis- sioned a captain in the Eighteenth United States In- fantry-"Regulars"-he went to the front in Decem- ber. His regiment was afterward assigned to Thomas's corps, Army of the Cumberland. In the historic cedar thicket at Stone River, where the Eighteenth was so fearfully decimated, he was severely wounded. When partially recovered he asked to be placed on such duty as he could perform and was put in charge of a re- cruiting station at Marietta, Ohio. When John Morgan made his famous raid into Ohio, Captain Wood took command of a hastily organized company and joined in the pursuit of the rebel troopers, bearing an honor- able part in the action at Buffington Island. Soon after this, although still suffering from the effects of his wound, he applied for permission to rejoin his regiment in the field, but it was not granted by reason of his disability and he was placed on the retired list.
He went to Cleveland where he was several times elected a Justice of the Peace. In 1876 he removed to New York, in the hope that the climate might prove more favorable to his failing health. He grew worse, however, and in April 1881, he returned to Cleveland.
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He was almost immediately prostrated by severe illness, which terminated fatally a few days later. On May 2nd he died, sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends, and particularly by his old comrades of the Cleveland Light Artillery, with whom he was so long and in- timately associated.
Many will remember that for two or three years be- fore the war, as the fast-growing sentiment against slavery became more active and aggressive in the North, there were mutterings that boded ill for the peace of the nation. Those whose ears were alert heard sounds that seemed to presage the fierce conflict that finally burst upon the country in all its savage fury. These "signs of the times" had the effect, everywhere, to arouse the state authorities from their lethargy and measures were taken to encourage and promote the organization of military companies. In 1859 the Legis- lature of Ohio passed a militia law. The friends of the Cleveland Light Artillery had for years been hammer- ing at the law-givers, urging the importance of state aid to such organizations. At last the idea found its way into the minds of the state officials and members of the Legislature, that an emergency might arise when a few serviceable cannon, and trained men to use them, would be found "mighty handy." So in the new law they authorized the formation of artillery companies, each to consist of a captain, lieutenant, two sergeants and twenty privates, with one gun and cais- son. The law further provided for the organization of artillery regiments, each to contain not less than six of such one-gun companies.
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