USA > Ohio > Roster of surviving members of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, 1861-1865, with a brief historical sketch of the regiment. January, 1891 > Part 1
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M.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01479 4843
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/rosterofsurvivin00cinc
ROSTER 1
OF
SURVIVING MEMBERS
OF THE
FOURTH REGIMENT
OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
1861-1865
WITH A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE REGIMENT
JANUARY 1891.
CINCINNATI : CHAS. H. THOMSON, PRINTER, 66 W. FOURTH STREET. 1891
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1658592
Printed by Chas. H. Thomson, Son of " Sandy " Thomson, Quarter-Master Serg't of Regiment.
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XEROXED -1972
Gift of C. G. Dawes , Chicago. MAR 2+ 1911
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PREFACE.
COMRADES OF THE FOURTH OHIO CAVALRY :
The sketch of our Regimental History and Roster of the Survivors of those who at any time served in our Regiment is presented to you with a due sense of the incompleteness of the work. As most of you know, the efforts to make up the Roster began two years ago, without any idea that it would assume the present proportions. We have on our roll more than five hundred names of those who have served in our Regiment. It may be con- sidered somewhat singular that after so many years there should be so large a number of men living from one regiment. In ex- planation of this, I may say that it is roughly estimated that the names of about 1,800 men were at different times borne on the rolls of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Another fact, to which you can all testify, is that, as a rule, all of those who enlisted in the Fourth were boys or very young men. It is thus not singular that, in spite of the vicissitudes of the service, so large a portion survive.
The brief sketch of the history of the Regiment has been made up from data furnished by Adjutant OSMOND O. SMITH,
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Preface.
Major JAMES THOMSON, and our honored President, Colonel JOHN KENNETT, who continues to take the deepest interest in all that concerns the Regiment, which he organized.
The papers which follow are deemed of sufficient interest to justify their publication as part of the history of the Regi- ment, as they describe events in which we took a most active and honorable part.
LUCIEN WULSIN,
CINCINNATI, Dec. 20th, 1890.
Late Private Co. A., Secretary 4th O. V. C. Ass'n.
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5.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
1861-1865.
O N the 5th of August, 1861, Colonel John Kennett, of Cincin- nati, received from Major General John C. Fremont author- ity to organize the Fourth Ohio Cavalry.
The regiment was composed of ten companies raised in Cin- cinnati and vicinity, Hamilton, Dayton, Lebanon, South Charles- ton, Ironton, etc., and was rapidly assembled at Camp Gurley, near Cumminsville, Cincinnati. The staff officers were :
Colonel, JOHN KENNETT. HENRY W. BURDSALL.
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Major,
JOHN L. PUGH.
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Adjutant,
JAMES E. DRESBACH.
Surgeon, - LUCIEN A. JAMES.
Assistant Surgeon. THOMAS McMILLAN.
Chaplain, LABAN C. CHENEY.
At Camp Gurley the regiment was uniformed, received horses, some arms, and was drilled. On November 23d, 1861, the regi- ment, numbering 1,070 men, moved to Camp Dennison, where it remained until the 6th of December, then moved to Camp Ken- nett, at Jeffersonville, Ind.
On the 27th of December, 1861, by order of General Buell, we crossed the Ohio at Louisville and advanced into Kentucky to
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Historical Sketch of the
Munfordsville, on Green River, whence, with the Third Division of Infantry, under General O. M. Mitchell, the Fourth took the ad- vance, and, with considerable scouting and skirmishing, steadily pressed the rebels southward.
Bowling Green was entered February 20, 1862, and on the 27th Nashville was surrendered to Colonel Kennett by the Mayor of the city, Mr. Cheatham. Crossing the Cumberland on March 5, 1862, the Fourth went into Camp Andrew Jackson, some eight miles south of Nashville. From here there was scouting, a fight with John Morgan, then an advance, resulting in the capture of Shelbyville, Fayetteville, and Murfreesboro.
From Shelbyville the regiment moved in three detachments. The first, under Captain Robie, fifty-eight men, fought and defeated over 200 rebel cavalry, chasing them to McMinnville. The second detachment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Burdsall. blew up the Manchester powder mills, and the third detachment, under Colonel Kennett, moved to Tullahoma, in hot pursuit of the rebel cavalry under John Morgan.
On the 13th of March, 1862, the Fourth, by a forced march of fifty-seven miles in two days, appeared before Huntsville, Ala., and, by a timely fire of small arms, wounded the fireman of an escaping locomotive, causing the engineer to stop and surrender. thus blocking the road, giving us seventeen locomotives with steam up, ready to follow the first, a large number of cars, and eight hundred prisoners.
From Huntsville there was scouting, marching, and advances in various directions ; the regiment taking a prominent part in cutting the line of rebel communications, which led to the evacu- ation of Corinth by the rebels. From Huntsville we marched to Athens, had a sharp fight with Scott's rebel cavalry, losing two killed and eight wounded. Attacked Vienna ; marched on to Decatur, meeting there Colonel Turchin with the Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry. We next moved on Winchester, where we fought the Texas Rangers, and returned to Huntsville,
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Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
the entire Third Division turning out under arms to receive the regiment.
In August and September, IS62, 420 recruits were raised in Cincinnati for the existing companies and to form Companies L and M, entirely of new men. They were assembled at Camp Dennison, and left that place September 26, 1862, for Louisville. A detachment, Companies L and M and sixty-two men, left Louisville on October 9th, escorting an ammunition train to General Buell at Perryville, and joined the regiment on October 18, 1862, at Danville, just after the capture of the men of Com- panies A, C, D, and H at Lexington by John Morgan on Octo- ber 17th.
Leaving Danville, Ky., the regiment was at Crab Orchard on October 19th, Danville again on the 21st, Lebanon the 22d, Munfordsville the 31st, Bowling Green November 2d ; scouting and skirmishing around north of Nashville November 5th, and ยท went into camp south of the city November 10th.
Lieutenant-Colonel Burdsall resigned his position on the 23d of November, leaving Major Pugh in command of the regiment. Colonel Kennett being in command of the First Division of Cavalry.
During the early part of December the monotony of camp life was relieved by an occasional scouting expedition and brush with the rebels ; one, on December 12th, resulting in the capture of twenty prisoners.
The grand advance of General Rosecrans on Murfreesboro began on December 26th. The Fourth, being assigned to a posi- tion on the right flank, had a skirmish with the enemy at Frank- lin. On the 29th we had a sharp fight with Texas cavalry, Com- pany M losing two killed, one wounded and several prisoners, and other losses.
There was skirmishing all of December 30th, followed by the battle of Stone River on the 31st, our regiment forming part of right wing under General McCook and suffering the reverses of
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Historical Sketch of the
that part of the army. A part of the regiment, while guarding McCook's ammunition train, was charged by rebel cavalry and driven across Stone River, then rallied and drove the rebels from the train. Also had another brush in the afternoon. The day's work resulted in many killed, wounded, and missing.
January Ist found us posted on the right flank, from which position we were shelled and driven back. The afternoon of the Ist was spent in scouting, which duty was continued on the 2d and 3d. On the 5th we marched through Murfreesboro, did some skirmishing, and, on January S, 1863, went into permanent camp near that place.
Pugh's commission as Lieutenant-Colonel was received on the Ioth ; also, Robie's as Major. Colonel Kennett, having tendered his resignation, started for Ohio on January 25th.
On February 4th the regiment started on a reconnoitering expedition and had a brush with the rebels at Liberty, driving them. Captain Mathews received his commission as Major on February 12, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Pugh's resignation became known on February 24, 1863. Captain Eli Long, of the Fourth Regular Cavalry, assumed command of the regiment as Colonel on February 26th. ("The Colonel knows his business and will do the regiment good.")
The regiment participated in a fight at Bradyville on the 2d of March, in which Captain Rifenberick was wounded in the hip, the regiment losing one killed and two wounded and captur- ing nearly 100 prisoners, three wagon loads of new saddles and camp equipage.
On April 3d the regiment participated in a fight at Snow Hill. Captain G. W. Dobb received his commission as Major on the 7th.
An expedition to McMinnville on the 21st resulted in driving out the rebels and capturing a locomotive and cars, which we destroyed ; also destroyed depot, cotton gins, bridges, etc. We became engaged with the forces of Morgan, Wheeler and Whar- ton, and at dawn on the morning of May 22d charged the rebel
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Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
camp at Middleton, took it, and with it many horses, arms, and eighty prisoners.
Colonel Eli Long assumed command of the Second Brigade of Cavalry on June 9, 1863, Lieutenant-Colonel Robie commanding the regiment. On June 24th a general advance was made toward Chattanooga, the Fourth being on the left of the army. Engaged the enemy at Elk River July 2d, arriving at Huntsville, Ala., on July 13, Athens the 17th, Pulaski, Tenn., the 21st, Fayetteville the 27th, Winchester August 3d, Stevenson August 22, Bridge- port the 23d, Raccoon Mountains September 4th, Lookout Valley the 5th. Fight in Broomtown Valley on the 9th ; some killed and wounded in the regiment. On September 20th we were engaged on the right of the army in the battle of Chickamauga, in which the regiment lost thirty-two men. September 23d we moved up the Tennessee River to guard fords above Washington. Wheeler's cavalry crossed below us. The regiment attempted to get around the rebel column to join our forces below and ran into the head of Wheeler's column in the night, but backed off. The Second Bat- talion separated in the darkness and succeeded in joining our cav- alry below in pursuit of Wheeler. The First Battalion marched, via Dunlap and Pikeville, back to Chattanooga. The Second Battalion, with the brigade, chased Wheeler across the country, having frequent bouts, by way of Murfreesboro and so down into Alabama, and gave up the chase. The first Battalion was sent up the river again to guard fords and picket the country, where it remained until November 7th, when it marched southward, reach- ing Bridgeport on the 9th. We rejoined the Second Battalion and brigade on the 14th, near Woodville, Alabama. On the ISth we moved to Paint Rock River to guard the bridge, remaining here until December 27th. Moved to Huntsville on December 30th, and to Pulaski on January 3, 1864.
January 5th the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. We marched on foot to Spring Hill, thence by cars to Nashville. February I we were at Louisville, arriving in Cincinnati on February 5th,
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Historical Sketch of the
and were given thirty days' furlough. March 15th we left Cin- cinnati for Louisville, were in Nashville on the 17th, left there April 12th and marched on foot to Columbia April 15th. From Columbia details went back to Nashville and drew horses ; being remounted, we broke camp May 21st and marched to join Sher- man in the advance on Atlanta; were at Pulaski May 23rd ; crossed the Tennessee River at Decatur, Ala., and had a skirmish at Courtland on the 27th, with Roddy. At daybreak of May 29th Roddy attacked the brigade, near Moulton, Ala., and after a hot fight we drove him pell mell, with loss to the regiment of ten . wounded, one dying. We were at Lookout Mountain June 2d. at Rome, Ga., the 4th, at Cartersville the 7th, joining division on the left flank of Sherman's army. Had an engagement with Wheeler at Noonday Creek on the 15th. Skirmishing on the 19th, also on 23d. July 3rd passed around the left of Kennesaw Moun- tain, through Marietta, driving the rebels through Roswell and across the Chattahoochee River. July roth crossed the Chatta- hoochee, and on the 18th went on a raid around Stone Mountain and tore up several miles of the Augusta & Atlanta R. R. Joined in a feint to support Stoneman's raid around Atlanta July 21st. Participated in Kilpatrick's raid around Atlanta August 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st. Severe fight at Jonesboro on the 19th. Severe en- gagement at Lovejoy's Station on the 20th ; being surrounded, we charged with sabers. Colonel Long, commanding brigade, was wounded twice. Regimental loss, twenty-four men and four officers. Colonel Long was made Brigadier-General. August 3Ist we were on the flank of Sherman's army, flanking At- lanta. At Jonesboro on September 2d; moved north on the Ioth to Cross Keys, Ga. At Nashville October 27th, Louisville November 9th. Lieutenant-Colonel O. P. Robie was made Colonel on November 15th. General Long assumed command of the Second Division on the 16th. Drew horses on the 18th. Colonel Robie resigned on November 30. Moved south Decem- ber 2d. In Nashville December 11th, Major Dobb in command.
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Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
Picketing the Cumberland River from Nashville to Gallatin on the 13th. At Nashville on the 20th, Franklin the 22d, Nash- ville the 25th. Major Dobb mustered as Lieutenant-Colonel December 30, 1864.
January 12th we left Nashville for Eastport, Miss., reaching Gravelly Springs and permanent camp January 25th. Remained here until March 12, when Wilson's memorable "raid " began. Engaged in a fight April Ist, at Montevallo, with Forrest's forces. On April 2d, participated in a hard fought battle at Selma, Ala. Lieutenant-Colonel Dobb was killed ; also, Captain Robie. of Company G. Lieutenant Argo, Company F, wounded ; six men killed, forty-four wounded. General Long was wounded in the head. We took 2,700 prisoners and over one hundred siege and field guns. Our forces charged the works dis- mounted. Regimental force in battle, sixteen officers, 318 men ; loss, fifty-two. We left Selma April 8th and were at Montgom- ery on the 14th and Columbus on the 17th, where the Fourth Division charged the rebels and took nearly a hundred guns and many prisoners. This was after all fighting was over in Vir- ginia. Reached Macon April 20th. Rumors of armistice be- tween Grant and Lee, and on the 24th we learned that Lee had surrendered. April 30-" Satisfactory assurances have been re- ceived from Sherman that all hostilities are at an end," Johnston having surrendered on the 26th. On May 23d we moved for Nashville. Major James Thomson joined the regiment and took command on the 27th, he having been captured on Kilpatrick's raid. We arrived at Chattanooga June Ist and at Nashville on June 15. Regiment was mustered out early in July, 1865, at Nashville.
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[Prepared for and read before the Loyal Legion.] 1
CHASING JOHN MORGAN IN 1861-2 AND THE CAP. TURE OF HUNTSVILLE, ALA.
BY CAPTAIN W. E. CRANE.
L ATE in the winter of 1861-2, when the movement on Fort Donelson was begun, Buell began his movement on Bowling Green. The Third Division had the advance, and was com- manded by General O. M. Mitchell, or "Star Mitchell," as he was called in those days. February 10th, Mitchell broke camp at Bacon Creek, Ky., made a forced march to Bowling Green, driving the rebel, Hindman, before him, and, on February 22d, started for Nashville. The Fourth Ohio Cavalry, his advance regiment, was before Nashville on the evening of the 23d, and received from the Mayor the surrender of the city. The Third Division went into camp, and the Fourth Ohio Cavalry was placed eight miles in front, at the outposts on the Murfreesboro pike.
The cavalry of Buell's army had not received that attention requisite for the most efficient service, and the Fourth Ohio was no exception. There were no carbines in the regiment-only sabers and some unreliable revolvers. One company, however (that of the writer), was armed with Colt's revolving rifles. These had been secured some weeks before, while the company was on special duty at Upton, Ky., by requisition on Louisville, accompanied by considerable diplomacy, etc .- the etc. to be lit- erally translated, and not given too liberal a construction. I say the company was armed with this formidable weapon. Perhaps it were better to say loaded. The horse certainly was loaded when the trooper mounted with this instrument slung on his back, clanking saber at his side and pistol in holster. It was
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Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
cruelty to add the canteen and haversack! But in those days we had no " S. P. C. A."
About three o'clock of the afternoon of March 8th, the Colonel came to our headquarters and said he wanted the company to mount and go in pursuit of a body of rebel cavalry said to be in the neighborhood. Just as the order was issued an orderly from Mitchell's headquarters rode up excitedly and reported that John Morgan had captured the regimental wagon train, on its way to camp with supplies, burned the wagons, and taken off teamsters, horses, and mules. And this only one mile from camp-almost under our noses ! Our Colonel's blood was up in an instant, and in a stentorian voice he shouted : "Company C, turn out with your rifles !" This "with your rifles " had a flavor of business about it, and the response was not only quick, but nearly unani- mous. Evidently there was to be "music in the air," and there was an anxiety to have the rifles come in at the right moment with the bass. Four other companies were ordered out. Then came the command, " Company C, forward with your rifles?" and we dashed forward up the pike towards Nashville. The report received was not a "grapevine." Something near two miles from camp, in the middle of the pike, were the ruins of our wagon train-some wagons still burning, and some in ashes. The team- sters and animals were gone, and no signs of friend or foe.
As we afterwards learned, the attacking party were Lieuten- ant-Colonel Wood, with a body of Mississippi cavalry, and John Morgan's command. They had first quietly taken in the pickets. and then made a dash from the woods on the train, capturing, with the teamsters, Captain Braiden, an aide of General Dumont's. General Mitchell, himself, barely escaped capture, having ridden along the pike about the same time. A halt was called and the road examined, to see which way the enemy had gone. The trace was found leading east through the woods. One company was sent back for reinforcements, and, with them, to strike into the timber from the regimental camp to try and intercept the raiders.
14 Chasing John Morgan and the Capture of Huntsville.
The original party, headed by Colonel Kennett, dashed into the woods, and then occurred a chase, the parallel to which has sel- dom been seen. "Forward !" was the word, and forward it was. The woods became a thicket, some times apparently impassable ; but the horses, spurred by their riders, dashed at headlong speed through the trees, through the underbrush, thorns scratching the face and hands, projecting limbs tearing the clothing and bruising bodies. Down hill and up hill, through marsh and bog, over logs and across streams, leaping obstructions, shouting, screaming, yell- ing, and hurrahing, away we went-mud and leaves flying, and dead limbs crushing under our horses' feet. Now the trail is lost, and there is a halt to look for footprints. How much of a start the raiders have can not be known, but the trail must be fresh. Soon it is found, and the horses gallop on, as full of spirit as their excited riders. When the tracks disappear in the forest leaves, the rebel course is marked by plunder lost or cast aside-over- coats, canteens, saddles, blankets, the woods are full of them. Now and then an abandoned horse is seen. Finally we strike a narrow pike, follow it a mile or so, and learn that Morgan and Wood have divided their forces, only the smaller part having taken the course we are pursuing. We were after Morgan and the main body, so we turned back. It was precious time lost, but the trail was again struck, where they had crossed the pike, and once more a plunge into the cedar and timbers.
For miles the trees were so thick and the foliage so dense that it became impossible for us to ride other than single file. But, retarded as was our speed, the chase became hotter and more ex- citing than ever. The Yankee blood of the hunters was at fever heat, and they determined to run the game to cover. The sight of an abandoned horse (and the hard-pressed enemy was now leaving his own as well as our animals ) .was the signal for a yell that the pursued might have heard and trembled at miles away. Then spurs were clapped into horses' flanks to urge them still faster on. And thus the column-if column that could be called
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Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
which column was none-swept, dashed, plunged onward. Occa- sionally a trooper was dismounted by a projecting limb, and as he clambered out of the way the sympathetic cry was wafted back from some comrade : "Say, what infantry regiment does you 'uns belong to?"
Now the Colonel's voice rings shrilly through the forest with the same old talismanic " forward !" The refrain was taken up, sent back along the column until the rearmost rider hears it and shouts a returning echo, " We are coming, Father Abraham !" No cowardice there. No lagging behind from choice. Every man was straining nerve and muscle to get ahead. We were fast gain- ing on the enemy, and they knew it, trembling at every shout wafted to their ears. They grew desperate, dug the rowels into their horses, cursed their prisoners, threatened them, shot them to make them keep up, and wounded one poor fellow to the death. These facts were gleaned afterward.
We had gained rapidly and thought them almost within grasp. But " the best laid plans of mice and men," etc. Desperation nerved them, and they flew down the pike, scattering the stones behind. But we ran them into the net prepared. The detach- ment that had gone off later from the camp struck the pike op- portunely, and received the enemy warmly as we drove them into their arms. A brisk engagement followed, partly hand to hand. The fight was soon over, the enemy being routed, scattered, and driven in every direction. At the onset, Morgan, with his staff and a lot of blooded horses, broke away and escaped over Stone River. Our command being united and ready to move, an in- ventory of affairs and effects was taken. The enemy left four dead on the field, four sound captives in our hands and two wounded. Of the ninety-four horses taken, we recaptured seven- ty-five ; of the forty-eight teamsters, thirty-one ; and also Captain Braiden. A number of rebels were wounded, but not seriously, and escaped. One of the two wounded prisoners-Warfield by name-was related to one of the most prominent and wealthy
16 Chasing John Morgan and the Capture of Huntsville.
families of Cincinnati. The other was a Mississippian, by the name of Love. The writer visited the two in the regimental hospital that night. Love had a terrible wound and knew it was mortal, but his last breath was spent in cursing and execrating the " Yankees" in the most horrible and vile language that tongue could utter.
The chase being over, the command returned-all except the company with rifles, who were to continue the pursuit. Pushing on again we struck Murfreesboro pike, near Lavergne, and got on the heels of one detachment, but these, knowing the country, broke for the cedars and escaped. We saw no more of them, and returned to camp at eight P. M., after a ride of about thirty miles, part of this on a keen run. This was the first real "fight" the Fourth had engaged in, and, being so successful, the regiment plumed itself on having fairly started in to help bend that famous " backbone" of the rebellion which was to be so thoroughly broken at a later day.
About a month after the events just related, the Fourth Ohio Cavalry had the honor of capturing Huntsville, Ala., the " Queen City of the Mountains." About the middle of March, 1862, Gen- eral Mitchell's division of Buell's army left Nashville and pushed south to Murfreesboro, thence to Shelbyville, following the rebel Johnson, who had destroyed all bridges behind him. From Shel- byville a rapid advance was made to Fayetteville, then a hot-bed of secession. Turchin's brigade, with Simonson's battery and the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, had the van. The Fourth broke camp early on the morning of April 9th, at the loyal town of Shelbyville, with a three o'clock reveille and timely " boots and saddles." Passing by the infantry and Simonson's guns, the regiment rode briskly on to Fayetteville, through the town, over the stone bridge at Elk River, and camped on the same spot where General Jack- son had camped fifty years before, in 1812 ; a spot convenient, pleasant, and historic. News of the victory at Corinth reached us on the 10th, and there was enthusiastic joy, and joyful enthusi-
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