USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 48
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In the morning a considerable quantity of stores aud camp equipage, which they could not carry along with them, was burned, and the troops started on the return with Colonel Irvin. During the day numbers of lancers were seen hovering around them; but they were careful to keep out of reach. They returned to a rauch called Agna Frio, seventeen miles distant, where they stopped and made supper, and laid down for the night. But just after dark they received intelligence that there were three hundred of the enemy in front and six hundred in the rear. Their position was a bad one; and so arms were taken up again, and the men started on, Van Der- veer's company being the advance guard. They marched until two in the morning, momentarily expecting an attack. By that time they were so wearied that they determined to fight all Mexico rather than march any farther. A guard was stationed, and the soldiers laid down in the road and went to sleep. By daylight they were again marching, and were within three miles of Monterey when an express overtook them, and said C'ol- onel Morgan, of the Second Regiment of Ohio, was at Agua Frio, surrounded by the enemy, and unless speed- ily re-enforced would be cut off. The colonel had several companies with him, and was on his way to Monterey. The troops immediately turned about, and started on a
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trot to assist him, going thus for ten long miles, and at every volley stepping quicker. Just before he was reached, or when three-quarters of a mile. off, Van Der- veer's feet gave out, and he borrowed a horse, going on rapidly in advance. When he was a quarter of a mile ahead of the party he suddenly met about one hundred and fifty lancers. Two or three men were with him; but they all judged discretion the better part of valor. The Mexicans stood looking at their enemies for five min- utes, and the Americans gazing at them ; bat, seeing the party approach, the Mexicans rode off. Captain Van Derveer went rapidly up to the brow of a hill, and three hundred yards below it saw Colonel Morgan, with his companies formed in a hollow square, having just re- pulsed one attack, and awaiting another. As soon as the Americans were seen, the command of Colonel Morgan prepared to give them a fire, mistaking them for some of the enemy. When this was seen, the men pulled off their caps, and, swinging them about their heads, gave a hearty hurrah. After this had been done twice, the party at bay perceived the difference between an Amer- ican yell and those of the heathenish Mexicans. They returned the shout, and the new troops charged down the hill at full speed.
" I have seen," says Captain Van Derveer, " per- sons who exhibited joy at an event -- mothers at the res- toration of a lost child ; but the joy of these men exceeded any thing I have ever witnessed. They broke ranks, ran to us, laughed, yelled, and almost tried to hug us. It was then ten o'clock, and they had been marching in square ever since daylight, the enemy harassing them at every moment. Our party soon approached, and the en- emy at the same moment eommeneed a fresh attack upon Morgan's rear. I jumped off my horse, took command of the company, hurried with the remainder of our men to the point of attack, and opened upon them a hot fire. They were in the chaparral, so we could scarcely see them. We had a beautiful little fight for twenty minutes; but the rascals would not stand. They killed Major Graham, the quartermaster, and two artillerymen, and wounded one or two others; but nearly every one of their bullets went over our heads. They always fire too high. We do not know how many of the enemy were killed, as we had not enough curiosity to go into the chaparral for ex- amination; but some friendly Mexicans reported that their loss during the whole expedition, in killed and wounded, was nearly three hundred-a statement which I think exaggerated."
When the enemy retreated, the troops returned for Monterey, Company I forming the advance guard, being fortunate enough to have this post of honor during the expedition. Tiwy arrived safe in Monterey before sun. down. " On the way back, Major Giddings, with five wimpanies of the First Regiment, was met, coming to a-sist their detachment; but they were too late, and were not needed. Captain Van Derveer's company had
marebed eighty miles, and fought the enemy on two meals and four or five hours of sleep. When they ar- rived at Monterey they found that all the troops had left town and gone into the citadel. "The company's tents were lost, and not wishing the men to lie in the open air after so many hardships, leave was obtained, after much solicitation, to go into town. A large and commodious house was selected, which was called the "Butler Bar- racks." It was on the Grand Plaza. The inhabitants, almost to a man, had left the city, and all the other troops were in the eitadel, a mile off, so that it might be said that the " Butler boys" were the only inhabitants of Monterey.
Here the regiment remained during the battle of Buena Vista. The regiment was ordered to that battle- field in anticipation of being needed, but was sent back at once. At the end of the year for which they had enlisted the regimeut was ordered to New Orleans and mastered out, Company I reaching Hamilton about the 20th of June, when a reception and banquet was pre- pared for them in the court-house yard, which drew an immense eoncourse of people, proud to honor their sol- diers, fresh from the field of battle.
Two weeks after, a great Fourth of July celebration was held at Middletown, attended by a large number of the citizens of Middletown and vicinity. A procession was formed at ten o'clock, A. M., under the direction of the marshal, in the following order: Band of music ; the Middletown Guards ; the soldiers of the late and present war; chaplain; the reader of the Declaration and org- tor; the ladies, and a large number of citizens from town and country. The procession marched to a beanti- ful grove on the farm of Mr. Shobal Vail, adjoining town. After prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Lawder, the Dec. laration of Independence was read by Dr. G. E. Wam- pler, which was followed by a highly interesting address by the Rev. Samuel Adams, of Sharon, Hamilton County. After the address, the presentation of a beau- tiful sword, from the citizens of Middletown, to Captain F. Van Derveer, of the " Butler Boys," was made, as a slight tribute of respect to the worth of this meritorious and gallant young officer. David Heaton. EMq., on be- half of his fellow-citizens, presented the sword in a neat and appropriate address, which, did honor to his " head and heart." The reply of Captain Van Derveer was in a happy and appropriate strain. To add still farther to the pleasures of the day was the presentation of a beau- tiful rifle to each Messrs. Francis Collins and Oscar Lor- ing, two of the "boys," who served with honor to themt- selves and credit to their State, in the war with Mexico. The task of presentation was again imposed upa Mr. Heaton.
After the above ceremonies were over. the company repaired to a sumptuous repast prepared by 3 ssrs. . Young & Marlett, of the Union House, to which they did ample justice. The cloth having been removed, re-
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1
John F. Holloway, a young man about the age of twenty-three, died suddenly of fever at the residence of his brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel Raybury, in July, 1847. He had just returned from the hardships of a campaign in Mexico, where he was a member of Captain Van Der- veer's company. He had undergone the dangers and fatigue incident to a soldier's life, and came home to give his friends a hearty welcome. A large and respect- -able procession, together with a military escort of the " Butler Blues," who performed their part well, consid- ering the inclemeney of the weather, accompanied the corpse to the grave.
After the return of the regiment, one of the men, named Leigh, was buried near Miltonville, the funeral being attended by an immense number of people.
In the First Regiment there were many gallant young men, ambitious to distinguish themselves-and attain pro- motion by deeds of chivalry and daring. Among others were Captain Carr B. White and Lieutenant James P. Fyffe, both belonging to the company from Brown County, raised by General Tom Hamer. While the regiment was stationed at Monterey, a misunderstanding arose between the officers on account of White being elected captain over Fyffe, who was thereby relegated to . the first lientenancy. The affair became so serious that, finally, it culminated in Fythe sending White a challenge to mortal combat. The invitation was promptly ac- eepted ; but, on account of the well-known prejudices against dueling of General Taylor, it was determined to await the musteriug out of the regiment, which was. to take place the following June. The original challenge has been lost ; but Lieutenant James F. Harrison, adju- tant of the regiment, bore the cartel, and delivered it to Captain Ferdinand Van Derveer, of the "Butler Boys,' -who acted as second to White. The terms were fully agreed upon at once, every effort to make friends of the parties proving unavailing. The following is a copy of the correspondenee :
" MONTEREY, MEXICO, May 17, 1847.
" DEAR SIR, -In accordance with your request, I hereby give you, in writing, a statement of the prelim- inary arrangements entered into between you and myself
ular and volunteer toasts were drunk, amid the hearty ; concerning an affair wherein Lieutenant Fyfle, and Cap- cheers of the company and the roar of the artillery. tain White are the principals. Time, 1st of June; eight. c'elock in the morning. Place, battle-ground below New Orleans. Weapons, pistols. Distance, fifteen paces. Among these were: "The immortal memory of Lafay- ette ;" " Generals Scott and Taylor -- The glorious vieto- ries which they have achieved place their names high on " Respectfully, your obedient servant, "F. VAN DERVEER. the list of military heroes;" " The Army and Navy- Recent events have demonstrated that they are the two " LIEUTENANT F. J. HARRISON. strong arms of our national defense ;" " Patrick Henry- "Any alterations may be made by consent of both parties. The orator of the Revolution ;" " The surviving soldiers F. V." of the Revolution -- In more sacred reverence should they be held as their numbers diminish." Volunteer toasts were offered by V. D. Enyart, Captain Van Derveer, Miss Sarah Drake, and others.
At the expiration of the term of service of the regi- ment it was ordered to New Orleans, to be mastered out. It was found inconvenient by the parties to go to the old battle-ground, so that it was determined to watch for an opportunity to wipe out old scores on the way North. In the mean time Lieutenant Harrison was com- pelled, on account of illness, to decline acting in the matter. and Lieutenant James Moore, of the "Butler Boys," a brother of Colonel Thomas Moore, of Hamil- ton, was selected by Lieutenant Fyffe to be his second in the affair of honor.
While the regiment was lying at New Orleans Cap- tain White had purchased a pair of long dueling pistols, carrying a very heavy ball. Lieutenant Fyffe had no pistols ; so the parties mutually agreed to use White's .. Neither of the principals had had any experience in practicing with these weapons, and thus went to the field, in that respeet, equally uuprepared. The whole regiment left New Orleans for home about the 10th of June, 1847. One morning, as they were coming up the river, it was ascertained from the captain of the steamer that the boat would lie to for wooding on the Arkansas shore, for probably two hours. It was at onee agreed upon that this would be the proper place to settle all diffi- eulties between the belligerents. It was just after day- break, and very few of the passengers were np as the party quietly went ashore and rendezvoused in an ol! cotton-field a few hundred yards from the river. There were present, besides the principals and their seconds, only Colonel John B. Weller and surgeon Chamberlain, known in the newspapers of the time as "Old Medicine."
The pistols were duly loaded in the presence of all parties, and euts drawn as to the choice of positions, ard who should give the word. Lieutenant Fyffe was placed with his back to the river, giving White the advantage of the eastern light. Captain Van Derveer won the giv- ing of the word. The parties stood at twelve instead of fifteen paces, as at first agreed upon, each with his right. side toward his adversary, and the pistol arm hanging by his side. The arrangements having been completed. Captain Van Derveer gave the command: "Are you ready? One, two, three-fire!" At the word " fire." both parties instantaneously leveled, and discharged their weapons, and both missed. Colond! Weller and Dr. Chamberlain then proposed to the principals to settle their difficulty withont another exchange of shots. This good advice finally prevailed ; explanations were made,
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mutual concessions followed, and, after shaking hands, all parties returned to the boat. It was a matter of great satisfaction to their friends that their duel was a blood- less one. White was afterward colonel of the Twelfth Ohio in the late war, Fyffe colonel of the Fifty-ninth Ohio, and Harrison colonel of the Eleventh Ohio. Lieutenant James Moore died a few years after his return from Mexico. Dr. Chamberlain died about the same time. Colonel Weller died in New Orleans in 1878. Colonel Van Derveer is the only one of the dueling party now alive.
But foar members of the company are now living. Their names are James B. Millikin, General Ferd .. Van Derveer, James Lanahan, and Cicero Birch.
Lieutenant Richmond, one of the "Butler Boys," was colonel of an Illinois regiment in the late war; George Webster was colonel of the Ninety-eighth Ohio, and was killed at Perryville; Alfred A. Phillips, who was a cor- poral in this company, was a major in the Ninety-third Ohio.
The company whose exploits have been mentioned was known as the " Butler Boys No. 1," and another company was afterwards organized here ealled the "But_ ler Boys No. 2.". The first call was made by William P. Young, who afterwards became major of the Fourth Reg- iment, of which the new troops formed a part. His in- vitation for recruits was as follows :
VOLUNTEERS WANTED. BUTLER BOYS No 2.
The President of the United States has made a requisi- tion on the governor of this State for eleven companies-ten of infantry and one of cavalry. An effort is being made to raise one company from this county. Those wishing to vol- unteer now have an opportunity, and are requested to report themselves immediately to William P. Young, in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, and as soon as a sufficient number are enrolled for a company an order will be issued to meet at Hamilton for the purpose of organizing and electing officers. Wor. P. YOUNG.
HAMILTON, April 27, 1847.
They do not appear to have been ou the road before July. They went down the river to New Orleans, and thence to Matamoras. After a pleasant passage, they arrived there ou the 18th of July. They were informed by Colonel Davenport, who was in command at that post, that they were to relieve the Tenth Infantry, which they were willing to do, on condition that they should be relieved in turn by the next troops that ascended the Rio Grande. This, he said, was contrary to his orders. Col- onel Brough protested strenuously against such a course of procedure, on the ground that it was not founded in justice. Colonel Brough immediately caffed a meeting of the officers of the regiment, at which a protest, or rather a request, was drawn up, and signed by the officers, that they should be relieved in turn, which was immediately dispatched to head-quarters. They had preceded the in- diana regiment in crossing the gaff, and were pushing for-
ward to get as near head quarters as possible, when they were stopped there, the Indiana regiment passing up the river. Colonel Brough soon received an answer to the dispatch from General Taylor, stating that the Fourth should be relieved by the next troops on their way up the river. They were then daily expecting the New Jersey battalion, on the arrival of which the regiment would take up its line of march for the upper Rio Grande, and perhaps for General Taylor's head-quarters. That old hero said, in his answer to Colonel Brough, that it was his intention to have some of the troops from each State under his command with him in case of an advance on _San Luis Potosi, which, when he wrote, it was expected would be in the forepart of September.
The day before, the entire regiment was in the high- est spirits, expecting daily to strike their tents, and take up the line of march for the head-quarters of the okt hero, and to accompany him to death or victory; but the next day both men and officers were somewhat chap- fallen. Their curses were not loud, but deep. It was said by many who had viewed the regiment, that it was the best one that had passed up the river. There was considerable sickness in the companies; but it was prinei- pally owing to the change in water and climate: There had been but three deaths in the regiment since it left Camp Ohio.
The " Butler Boys No. 2" were considered one of the best companies in the regiment. Lieutenant Pfeifer had tendered his resignation, and would return'home shortly. It was also said that Lieutenant-colonel Werner was going to resign. He fell from bis horse shortly after their arrival, while on battalion drill, from which he had not entirely recovered. He thought he would not be able to stand the campaign.
Major Young wrote on the 30th of August :
" In two or three days the Fourth Regimeut of Ohio volunteers will be en route for Jalapa. Three thousand men go from General Taylor to join General Scott, and on this line there will be no forward movement. It is supposed that General Taylor will resign and go home this fall, as he will be left only with a garrisoning force on this line.
" We have no newa from General Seott ; but vester- day the Mexicans had a report that he had been com- peiled to fall back to Puebla, and were offering to bet on it two to one. It is not believed. We have had no mail for twenty-one days."
The health of the regiment had been very good, and ouly eight men had died since they entered the service. Daniel Snyder, private, of the " Butler Boys No. 2," died on the 20th of August, at Matamoras. The cop !- pany were in good health generally, and had ennbred very little from the climate.
He wrote again from the camp near Vera Cruz, Sep- tember 19. 1847, that in three-quarters of an hour they would be on their march to the city of Mexico, and
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would, perhaps, have to fight their way from Jalapa to that city. "The last news here, last evening, was that General Scott was in a small plaza in that eity; that Mr. Trist's propositions had all been rejected, and notli- ing to do now but to fight it out. The fighting has been continued so long that we expcet to be up before the city is taken. General Scott has met with great loss. From report, the First Infantry has been cut nearly to picees. I have been searching for the grave of Lieutenant Daniel MeCleary, but have been unable to find it or hear much about such affairs. During the Summer seven hundred soldiers have died in Vera Cruz with yellow fever and vomito. The 'Butler Boys No. 2' are in better health now than since they loft home. I have one of the finest horses in Mexico, and will bring him home with me if he lives till the close of the war. We have every thing that is good in this city, from oysters to sherry-cobblers. There is some difference between this line and the Rio Grande. It is two hundred and eighty miles to the city. and iu fourteen days I expect to be near the Halls."
The brigade, under the command of General Lane, arrived at National Bridge on September 23d, and re- mained for a day. The march was very slow, and when they' would arrive at the city was not certain. General Scott was in the city, but nothing else was positively known. On the 22d one of the train was shot by a party of guerrillas just as the rear guard were leaving the encampment. A battalion of the Fourth Ohio, with Colonel Brough and Major Young, had not yet marched, but were formed and on the road. They fired a round into the bushes; but the Mexicans had departed. The day before they had a chase through the chaparral after a party of laneers, but were left far in the rear. On the 22d, after going into camp, a body of five hundred lancers were seen about two miles to the right, and the cavalry, and a battalion from the Fourth Ohio under Major Young's command, and a battalion from the Indi- anians with Colonel Gorman, and General Lene in con- mand of the whole force, were sent out. The troops marehed about two miles toward Cerro Gordo to head them off, but without success, and returned to camp without fighting. They had had several such fights. The march was very hard on many of the men. Ser- geant Fenter managed to keep up, with hard work. Four of the " Butler Boys" were left at Point Isabel, and one at Vera Cruz. The health of the regiment was good.
The following list of deaths is taken from the muster- roll of Colonel Brough's regiment of Ohio volunteers :
On Muster-roll for July .- Henry Marshall, private; Company A, died June 29; Horace Train, Company E, July 15; Johu J. Clark, private, Company C, died July 6.
On Master-roll for August. - John Prichard, private, Company I, died August 1; Daniel Snyder, private, Company A, died August 19; Laurenz Jetzee, private,
Company A, died August 1; John Croseman, private, Company C, died August 24; Engelbert. Grab, private, Company A, died August 28; Fisher L. Hart, captain, Company C, died August 31.
On Muster-roll for September .- E. IF. Newton, private, Company C, died September 3; Heury Steinnet, private, Company B, died September 16; George Cullman, first lieutenant, Company B, died September 17; W. Jacobs, corporal, Company K, died September 20.
On Muster-roll for October. - Andrew Antrican, private, Company D, died October 12.
Later Deaths. - George Bird, Company G, died No- vember 1; William Boober, Company F, died Novem- ber 3; Daniel Mowry, Company C, died November 5; Jacob Cramer, Company D, died November 5; William Johnson, Company D, died December 1; Amos Smith, Company H, died December 2; Richard George, Com- pany E, died December 5 ; Thomas Moats, Company H, died December 5.
During the Jater months of the season no intelligence was received from them. A letter from Vera Cruz, dated February 1, 1848, was received, in which it was said that the troops had arrived there on the 27th, with the train from the city of Mexico, under the command of Major Caldwell. Captain J. A. Smith left Puebla on the 18th. Before he left all was bustle and excitement, information having been received that they were to be relieved by the Fourth Tennessee Regiment. He re- ceived an order from Colonel Broagh, ordering him to Vera Cruz on regimental business. When he left Puebla the Fourth Ohio was enjoying reasonable health, though there was some sickness, and occasionally a death. The company had lost five men by death on this line -- Jacob Fonte:, Amos Smith, Samuel P. Davis, John Campbell, and Thomas Moats; and Casper Sacks was missing after an expedition to Tlaseala, and was supposed to have been raken prisoner. Fenter died at Vera Cruz on the 10th of January, of the yellow fever. Davis and Camp- bell were dischargeil, and died on their way to Vera Cruz. Smith and Moats died at Puebla.
It was thought that there would be no general move- ment of the army for some time. Captain Smith was told that peace was much talked of at the head-quarters of the army, and it was said that Generals Seott, Butler, Patterson, Lane, etc., had all expressed the opinion that peace would be had within three months; bat upon what they predicated their opinions was not known.
There were a number of officers of the army there going home, some having resigned, and others having been on the recruiting service, though they would preb- ably not sail for several days, as there was a strong northerner blowing at that time.
Captain Smith ieft Vera Cruz on the 8th of Februar .. and arrived at Puebla on the 21st, traveling the greater part of the way with one ofher Anteriein and some Mex- jeans, though they all arrived safe and without interrup-
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tion. The train with which he started from Vera Cruz arrived on the 24th. It left for the City of Mexico on the 26th. Lieutenant-colonel Moore, Captain Kessler, Lieutenant Ressler, and three privates obtained leave to go up to the eity with the train, but did not start until the following day, calculating to overtake it the same evening . When they were at about four miles beyond St. Martine, and about twenty-eight from Puebla, they ' discovered a party of Mexicans in the road before them. Not seeing any arms about them, they did not apprehend much danger, although they had not gone far until they discovered that the whole party of Mexicans were well armed. At this moment one of the party east his eyes to the rear, and discovered that there was another party advancing upon them. At this critical moment Colonel Moore ordered his party to face to the rear, knowing that the only possible chance of escape was to eut their way back to St. Martine. At this time the Mexicans fired upon them, Captain Kessler receiving a severe wound in the left shoulder, which disabled him very much from managing his horse. Colonel Moore ordered a charge. When they arrived within a few paces of the Mexicans, they saluted the latter with a volley from their pistols, and dashed on. Colonel Moore, Lieutenant Ressler, and one other made their way through, but soon discovered that Captain Kessler and the other two were surrounded. The colonel ordered a halt, for the purpose of going to the reseue of the unfortunate party, though it was soon discovered that the whole party would be murdered if they were overtaken ; so they went on in full speed to the village, being followed to the very outskirts of the town by the Mexicans. They immediately went to the alcalde, and put themselves under his protection, and as soon as possible dispatched a messenger to Puebla to inform the American troops of their situation, who arrived there about ten o'clock at night. As soon as possible, Colonel Brough and Colonel Gorman, with several officers and men from both regi- ments, and a few dragoons, were on their way to the rescue. They reached St. Martine about five in the morning, and were informed that Captain Kessler, and two others of the party were missing, and supposed to be killed. They immediately left for the scene of action. but did not succeed in finding the enemy as expected. Previous to their arrival at St. Martine, a party of Mex- icans had been sent out to see if they could discover the fate of the, missing; aud, to the mortification of every American and to the disgrace of every Moxiean, they were found dead, their persons stripped entirely naked, and so horribly mutilated that it was hard to recognize them. Their bodies were brought back. Captain Kessler bad a golden medal with him, which the Fourth Ohio and Fourth Indiana Regiments had made for the purpose of presenting to Brigadier general Lane as a token of the high respect which they entertained for him. This also was taken by the Mexicans. Colonel Moore thought that
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