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 58
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The end of Morgan's raid is soon told. He and his officers were immured, by order of General Halleck, in the Ohio Penitentiary, from which the general and six of his fellow officers escaped on the 27th of November. He was killed before the close of the war.
During his expedition Butler County had in the State service fourteen companies and twelve hundred and two men. There were paid for them $3,220.73. In 1864 the Legislature appointed a commission to examine and pass upon the claims for damages to property in this raid. This county claimed for damages done by the United States forces $4,818; damages done by other Union forces, not under command of United States offi- cers, $666; amount allowed for the first, $4,175, and the second, $516.
Some of those who were unfriendly to the war formed a Mutual Protection Company, but it did not meet with much favor, and was.soon abandoned. Secret political societies for the same purpose flourished.
Citizens of Ross, Reily, Hanover, and Morgan Town- ships, in Butler County, Ohio, met at the township house in Okeana, on the 17th of July, 1863. The meet- ing was organized by electing John J. Owens, president, William Kinnard, vice-president, Jolin W. Agnew, sce- retary, and . J. B. Vanlew, assistant secretary. The object of the meeting was stated by the president to be for the purpose of organizing a company for the mutual protection of person and property.
The citizens of Whitewater and Springfield Town- ships, in Franklin County, Indiana, were invited to . participate. A committee of one from each township and one from Indiana was appointed to report to an adjourned meeting to be held at Auburn, on Monday, July 20th, at two o'clock, P. M.
The meeting recouvened at Auburn, pursuant to ad- jourument, and the committee appointed by the former meeting, through the president, reported the following :
" We, the undersigned citizens of the townships of Ross, Reily, Hanover, and Morgan, in the county of But- ler, in the State of Ohio, and of the townships of Spring- field and Whitewater, in the county of Franklin, in the State of Indiana, having been fully convinced of the importance and necessity of protecting persons and prop-
erty from invasion, by both foreign and domestic enemies of-our country, and her laws, do hereby organize our- selves, for the purpose of mutual protection, into an -independent company, to be known by the name and style of the Butler County Mutual Protection Company, and to be governed by a constitution and code of by-laws to be hereafter adopted by a majority of those signing this declaration of their determination to protect and defend the rights of our citizens, and to sustain and up- hold the supremacy of the laws."
The following named gentlemen were appointed a committee to circulate this paper for signature: John W. Owens, John G. Agnew, and John Cregmile, of Reily Township; C. W. Lane, Washington B. Davis, and W. R. Cochran, of Hanover Township; James Gaultney, Joseph Davis, and Samuel Lloyd, of Morgan Township; John Frost, Daniel Brosius, and A. D. Knox, of Ross Township; Dr. A. B. James, Jaines Burtonshaw, and John Davis, of Springfield Township, and John Hall, Wm. Mitchell, and John Jacques, of Whitewater Town- ship, Franklin County, Indiana.
S. D. Lloyd and W. B. Davis the next week wished the newspapers to say that they did not desire to have anything to do with: the "Butler County Mutual Pro- tection Company" for the townships of Hanover, Ross, Reily, and Morgan. They believed that the laws when enforeed were sufficient to protect persons and property, and did not care about seeking any new modes of redress under the lead of men known to sympathize with rebell- ion and riot. "The Constitution as it is, and the en- forcement of the laws," was their motto.
An encampment was held in Hamilton in August. 1863, which for more than a week muade the town alive with the sounds and paraphernalia of war. It was held on the grounds north of town, between the railroad and the Miami River. No spot could have been found in the State better adapted for the purposes. It was a square tract of land of sixty acres, bounded on all four sides with running water, and with a level plain in the center, well adapted for the purposes of drilling aud parade. The camps of the various regiments were pitched on the lower grounds along the sides, and the various head-quarters placed conveniently on higher ground.
The number in attendance was very large. Five reg- imental organizations were complete; the Seventh, Eighth, Niuthi, Teuth, and Sixty-first, and eight companies of the Thirty-fourth, and two companies of the Sixty-fifth, also two companies of cavalry. The officers and sergeants of the reserve militia were out in- large foree, and occu- pied the ground on the east side of the square. The volunteer organizations ocenpied the north and west side of the square.
The camp was under command of Colonel Len. A. Harris, and puder unis supervision the discipline and drill of the camp progressed rapidly. Up till Monday even-
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ing the officers and sergeants of various organizations were massed into companies, and thoroughly instructed by competent drill masters. The programine of each day was as follows: Guard mounting at seven A. M .; company drill from nine to eleven A. M .; battalion drill from three to five P. M .; dress parade at six P. M. On Sunday the company drill was omitted, and divine services held at ten A. M. and three P. M .; battalion drill followed at four P. M. that day, and the usual dress parade. Monday afternoon the men of different regi- ments began pouring in, and that night the entire ground of the camp was specked with their shelter tents and their gleaming camp fires. Tuesday morning the drilling began at five o'clock and continued with short intermis- sions all day. At three P. M. battalion drill was held, and at five P. M. a grand review. For the purpose of review the regiments were organized into two brigades, with Colonel Fisher of the Eighth in command, and re_ viewed by the commander of the post. The brigades were arranged in two lines on the east side of the grounds, facing west, and when passing in review marched entirely round the square. The music of several brass bands, and of many field bands, the neat uniforms of most of the men, the gleaming of arms, made the review a fine scene. Most of the marching was well done, and several army officers present expressed surprise at such correct marching and evolutions after so brief a drill. Many . of the companies were unarmed. The Seventh Cincin- nati bore the palm in marching and in the manual of arms, as the regiment was an old and thoroughly drilled one. Much was said in praise of the Butler County volunteers, especially of Companies A, of the Sixty-first, and A, of the Sixty-fifth. Taken altogether the review was a grand success, and satisfied the immense crowd that came to see it.
Wednesday morning the company drills were con- tinued, and at four P. M., September 2d, the encamp- ment was ended.
Jerome Falconer died Saturday night, August 15th, 1863, at cleven o'clock, at the residence of his father in this city. He had languished seven months and fifteen days since receiving his terrible wounds at Stone River, December 31, 1862. His remains were buried from the Presbyterian Church at ten A. M., Monday, August 17th, with military honors.
He had gone in his boyhood to serve in the ranks of the great Upion army, and fell at Stone River, pierced with two wounds. He fell into the hands of the enemy, and remained a prisoner until the capture of Murfrees- boro by our forces. For more than six mouths he was at his father's house in this city, receiving the most tender care and the most skillful medical and surgical treatment. Bat his wounds were too deep for the physician?' art, and each surgical operation, each day's nursing ended in the temporary relief, but not the improvement of his case. He gradually grew worse, till he sank into the
sleep that knows no waking. His youth and extreme sufferings enlisted the warm sympathies of our citizens, and a large concourse followed the body to its resting- place.
As a means of aiding the soldiers, fairs were held almost everywhere. The one in this county was very successful in 1863. The two grand novelties of the week were the wood procession and the exhibition at Sohn's Hall.
The wood procession was made a principal feature of the fair. The appeal to the farmers in the county had been general, and the response was glorious and honore- ble to old Butler. The weather was bad. A storm of sleet and rain set in early in the day, but at ten o'clock the teams began to straggle in and deposit their contents in the vacant lot adjoining Beardsley's hat store, where the Opera House is now. Soon after ten a procession from Reily, not. less than four squares in length, came down High Street, and St. Clair, Morgan, Milford, Hanover, Ross, and Liberty added their delega- tions, till the lot was packed with wagons, and the new arrivals began unloading on High Street, filling both sides of the street with huge ricks of wood nearly a square in length. As a drenching rain fell during the whole time, there was no music or ceremony, but the citizens mounted the wagons, helped unload, and hurried the donors off to shelter. A fine dinner had been pre- pared in a room of Sohn's building, where a sumptuous diuner was served. After a pleasant time at dinner the wagons began to rattle out of town, and at dusk there was no sign of the wood procession but the huge piles, which alinost blockaded High Street.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the ladies, nothing daunted, began pressing their preparations for the Soldiers' Aid Fair, with a vigor worthy the patri- otie cause. The subscriptions were, in many instances, remarkably generous. Some poor persons, in the depth of their gratitude to the brave and suffering soldiers, gave almost their last dollar. Stone remarkable instances oreurred where even little boys had given the pennies in their savings-banks, amounting to more than some wealthy persons owning splendid farms had given.
In the third year of the war conscription was used to fill up the wasted ranks of the Union forces. The fol .. , lowing officers were appointed to carry out the draft: Captain John Mills, of Dayton, Provost Marshal; M. P. Alston, of Fairfield, Commissioner of Enrollment; Dr. Schenck, of Franklin, Examining Surgeou.
After these meetings had been held, a local writer in- dulged in the following observations:
"The medical examiner, and other members of the board of curollment, have had a busy time in the last three weeks, prescribing for a new and singular maliy. Hardly new, either, as it swept over portions of this State a year sines, bat its present visit has been unpar- alelled in violence and extent. It very singularly spared
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old men, women, and children, and wreaked its violence on males between the ages of twenty and forty-five. The patients were seized with a strong desire to overhaul the dates in old family Bibles, to rub up and irritate old scars and other bodily ailments, to practice hollow coughs, to have fits, blindness, deafness, and every malady known in medicine, and some not found there. Its universal characteristic is paleness, and shuddering at the mention of swords, guns, or battle-fields.
"The crowd of afflicted throng to the office, and are only kept at a respectful distance by the bayonet. The surgeon is compelled to make short work of most cases, although occasionally giving a few words of explanation to some applicant who is disappointed to learn that he is not as ill as he might be. Most are cut off with a brief 'that will do, sir; next.' Perhaps 'next' is a great stal- wart fellow, who begins with a long string about ail- ments beginning before his birth, but is stopped with, 'I don't care, sir, what happened before you were born; what is the trouble now? When he drawls out, 'That was what. I was going to tell you; when my mother came to this country she got skeered at the shootin' of guns when we landed, and I never could stand shootin' since.' 'That is no ground for exemption.' 'They ex- empted me before, docter.' 'I. can't help that; next.' 'But, doctor, what shall I do? I never can stand shootin'.' ' You have heard of Rarey, I suppose. When he found a horse that could n't stand firing he so placed him that he could casily manage him, and then shot over him till he got used to it, and he never minded it afterward. We'll Rarey you -- place you in the front rank, with a few bayonets behind you, and after you have been shot at a while, you will get over your nervousness. That will do; next.'"
Two persons were arrested in Hamilton for opposing the war. One was Dr. MeElwee, and the other George Donges. . Dr. MeElwee was the conductor of a news- paper, and in it some violent expressions had been found. Donges had hurrahed for Jeff. Davis. We give the trial of Donges, who is still a resideut of this place :
He was charged with violation of Order No. 38.
"Charge .- Publicly declaring sympathy with the rebel euemies of the United States Goverment, contrary to De- partment General Orders, No. 38, and violently assaulting a loyal citizen, who reproved such declaration of sympathy.
"Specification .- In this, that on or about the eighteenth day of April, 1863, the said George Donges, at the city of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, did publicly huzza for Jeff. Davis, and on being reproved for the same by one Peter Kregenhofer, a loyal citizen, did violently assault said Kregenhofer, strike him in the face with his fists, knock him down with a sIng-shot, and kick him in the face, seriously wounding and bruising bim, the said Kregenhofer.
"To which charge and specification the prisoner pleaded as follows: ' Not guilty.'
" Finding and sentence .--- The commission, after mature deliberation on the evidence adduced, find the aceused, George Donges, of Butler County, Ohio, as follows: Of the specification, 'guilty;' of the charge 'guilty.' And the commission do, therefore, sentence him, the said George Donges, of Butler County, Ohio, to four months on Johnson's Island, or such other place as the command- ing general shall direct, there to be made to do such hard work as the post commander shall direct.
"The fiuding and sentence of the court are approved by General Burnside, and he disposed of the case by ordering that
"The prisoners, George Donges, citizen of Butler County, Ohio, and Johu McElwee, citizen of Jasper County, Illinois, will also be delivered by the military commander of Cincinnati, Ohio, into the custody of the commanding officer on Johnson's Island, who is charged with the execution of their sentence.
By command of
" MAJOR GENERAL BURNSIDE.
"LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant General.
" Official, W. P. ANDERSON, Assistant Adjutant General."
Upon Vallandigham's return from the South and from Canada he made his first appearance in Hamilton. His seizure had been a grave mistake on the part of the government, as it made a martyr of him, and his arrest upon his return would have been a still greater error. But the authorities had learned wisdom, and he harangued the faithful to his heart's content without interruption. It was feared that there would be interference by the soldiers, or by zealous Republicans, in which case there would undoubtedly have been bloodshed. Every thing, however, passed off peaceably. The result of the election was an increased majority for the opposers of the war in this county, but through the State no such result prevailed. Lincolu. and not MeClellan, carried the electoral vote. This opposition to the war was car- ried on to the end, and for five or six years after its close the local leaders of the p.rty denounced the results. Time has healed these wounds, and most of those who distinguislied themselves during the war and the post- bellum period, in violent denunciation of what was done, have accepted the results with equanimity and patience.
The One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment, Na- tional Guard, was the third complete, or nearly complete, regiment that went out from this county. It was one in- tended only for oue huudred days' service. It was organ- ized uear this city on the 2d of May, 1864, and was sworn into the United States service on the 16th of the same month. Ou the 18th it received marching orders for West Virginia, and reached Charleston, ia that State, on the 21st of May, reporting to Colonel Ewart. Six companies were immediately sent to Camp Piatt, and for to Ganley Bridge. At these points they relieved the Second, Third, and Seventh regiments of Virginia cavalry. The only duty the regiment was called upon
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to perform was guarding government stores, and accom- panying trains to and from the main bodies of the national forces in that portion of Western Virginia. The posts were posts of supply. At the conclusion of their terms of service the regiment was promptly relieved, mustered out, and transported home. Many of the men joined other regiments, and went out again.
Following is a list of the officers and non-commis- sioned officers of the regiment:
Colonel .- Thomas Moore. Lieutenant-colonel .- James E. Newton. Major .- Jolin F. Bender.
Surgeon .-- Moses H. Haynes. Assistant Surgeon .- James S. Ferguson. Adjutant .- Lafayette Traber. Quartermaster .- Henry P. Dore.
Chaplain .- Jeremiah Geiger.
Company A.
Captain .- James E. Stewart.
First Lieutenant .- James A. Kennedy.
Second Lieutenant .--- Charles M. Dexter.
Sergeants .- James T. Longstreet, John C. McCracken, Charles Moore, John W. Craig, Samuel Gath.
Corporals .- George W. Saddler, Joseph Hayden, Samuel McDonald, Richard Butler, Jacob A. Zeller, Abner L. How- ren,'Cyrus D. Cross, John J. Wright, Jr.
Deserted .- Jacob Haus.
Died .- George S. Smith, August 14, 1864, at Brownstown.
Company B.
Captain .-- Edward T. Jones. First Lieutenant -S. W. Woodruff.
Second Lieutenant .- Crossley Vaughn.
Sergeants .- David Mercer, James Scott, Isaac Erven, J. T. De Armond, L. G. Farr.
Corporals .- Levi Nease, Morris Jones, Cornelius Stough- ton, T. G. Caldwell, Alonzo Buell, James E: Bebb, Theo. Fields.
Killed .- John Beihlman, by scouting party of Company G, June 25, 1864.
Company C.
Captain .-- John Koenger.
First Lieutenant .- Jacob Kurz.
Second Lieutenant .---- Phil. Winkelhaus.
.
Sergecds .- J. H. Kevers, Louis Woraner, Henry Slein, Ernst Blum, Michael Link, Willison Wollenweiber.
Corporals .- Jacob Bender, Charles Friebel, Henry Over- meier, Jacob Hammonn, John C. Jalirans, Peter Gratz, Peter Kriegenhoffer.
Deserted .- Isaac Jackson, Frank Schodel.
Company D.
Captain .- B. F. Bookwalter. First Lieutenant .- A. W. Eckert.
Second Lieutenant .-. A. P. Richardson.
Sergeants .- James Ray, William F. Wilson, M. O. Bean, Job Inman, John Jacobs.
Corporals. - A. B. Crist, Amos D. Kumler, John Smith, Samuel Rose, Brown Wilson, William F. Jacobs, Elliott Huffman, John Hunsicker.
Company E.
Cuplain .- George C. Warvel. First Lieutenant .- Benjamin F. Banker. -
. Second Lieutenant .-- John Busenbark.
Sergeants .- D. D. Evans, Amos Potter, II. H. Long, Isaac Gebhart, Frank Courthwait.
Corporals .- Henry V. Williamson, Nelson Lucas, Philip H. Kumler, Austin I .. Kumler, Henry Carney, Samuel D. Weaver, Albert Potter, Augustus Courthwait.
Deserted .- Ed. Jones, Van Buren Vance.
Company F.
Captain .- John C. Lewis.
First Lieutenant .- James F. F. Imley. Second Lieutenant .- Samuel S. Garver.
Sergeants .- John S. Chapman, Adam P. Brewer, George W. Anderson, Archibald Laurie, Luther P. Huston. Corporals .- Harry Bobbinmyer, Jolm P. Stone, Leonard W. O'Brien, Benj. F .- Randolph, Timothy E. Scovey, Hiram G. O. Dair, George B. Watson, Daniel W Fitton.
Company G.
Captain .-- David B. Kerr.
First Lieutenant .- Thomas H. Robertson.
Second Lieutenant .- William E. McKecknie.
Sergeants .- William Kohr, Frank Banker, Comly . P. Ben- nett, Jocl K. Webster, Henry Reed.
Corporals .- Samuel Wickel, A. G. Clendenning, Jacob Servis, Frank Erwin, John Taylor, William S. Holmes, Thomas D. McAdams, Arthur Wilson.
Deserted .- Leonidas II. Butler, Peter Blazor, James Brash- ear, Thomas A. Kennard, Alfred Keys. Samuel Ralston, James Ross, Jackson Sweeney, Langsdon Sheaff.
Company H.
Captain .- James A. Stevens. First Lieutenant .- L. D. Keil.
Second Lieutenant .- Levi Jameson.
Seregants .- A. M. Murray, W. R. Woodside, H. R. Weble, Joseph Bonaker, Ira Stevens.
Corporals .- John Earhart, Hosea Samuel, G. W. Robin- son, James B. DeCamp, S. D. Thurston, William Stevens, J. H. Kcil, O. P. Morey.
Company I.
Captain .- Samuel K. Wickard.
First Lieutenant .-- Philip II. Waity.
Second Lieutenant .- Henry C. Gray.
Sergeants .- Playton P. Rees, James P. Martindale, Miles J. Spoor, Freeman P. Applegate.
Corporals .- William B. Wallace, Thomas J. Woodruff, Samuel J. Dunwoody, John D. Scott, Joseph Walty, Rufus Cone, Richard Colc.
Company K.
Captain .- Daniel D. Zeller.
First Lieutenant .- Washington B. Davis.
Second Lieutenant .- Matthew T. Whipple.
Sergeants .- Alexander B. Emerick, A. C. Cumler, W. T. Roll, W. N. Bailey, A. U. Miller.
Corporals .- William Cochrane, D. D. Beals, Daniel Wick- ard, Edwin Ross, Abraham Rumple, J. G. Knox, J. D. Gos- horn, F. M. Kumnler.
Died .- William Sterrett, August 15, 1864; W. J. Williams, August 14, 1864.
Much ought to be said, in however brief a summary of the war, viewed locally, of the noble efforts of those citi- zens who stayed behind in upholding the hands of the government and in lessening the sufferings of individuals and families. Relief committees were begun at the out-
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break of hostilities in almost all localities; and in thou- |. by the city band and the glee club, and eloquent ad- sands of families the kindly ministrations of neighbors dresses of great ability by L. D. Campbell and by Messrs. Millikin and Moore. They were happily worded and enthusiastically received. ; helped to take off the keen edge of poverty. The relief system lasted through the whole war, fairs being held iu connection with it. At one of them, held in Hamilton, At night the whole population were cut about the court-house. Men, women, and children swarmed; brill- iant fireworks were set off under the direction of Brook Saunders. ten thousand dollars and over was realized. A com- mittee of citizens was appointed by the government, in each county, to aid in the work of recruiting, and as per- sons on whom it could rely for assistance. Those in this county in 1863 were: N. C. McFarland, chairman; Israel Williams, secretary ; Alexander F. Hume, Henry Beardsley, and J. M. Millikin. Others were joined with these, and preceded and followed them. To all these the greatest gratitude is due. In the darkest hour of the nation's trouble they formed a rallying point for the faithful.
The end was at last to come. The heroic exertions of four years were crowned with success, and Rich. mond was ours. The Telegraph of Hamilton had the following head lines :
"Victory-Richmond Ours and Garrisoned by Negro Troops-Petersburg Evacuated-Davisa Fugitive-Lee in Full Retreat-Grant in Full Pursuit-Four Days' Heavy Fighting -- Complete Union Success-The Great Here- after has Come -- Where's Vallandigham ?- Where's the Chicago Platform ?-- Where's Mcclellan ?"
A celebration was held on the Friday following the evacuation of Richmond. The day rose brightly, and seemed of itself to impart gladness to all hearts. At sunrise a national salute from the court-house square spoke joyfully, and this was followed by many pealing bells for the space of an hour. Very early in the day it was manifest it was to be a jubilee, and soon the streets were filled with people whose eyes and cheerful faces told their gladness.
At ten o'clock a very large congregation assembled in the Presbyterian Church, where a sermon was delivered by the Rev. J. J. Thompson, pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, from Exodus xv, 1, 2, 21. The reverend speaker drew a most striking parallel between the cause of the Confederacy and the cause of Pharaoh, and the total destruction which overtook them both, manifestly by the hands of the Lord." He closed by referring to the fact that while they were then worshiping Sumter's dishonored flag was honored and floated over the bat- tered walls, upon the ocean breeze; Maryland had washed out their stains, Louisiana and Tennessee had found mooring in the Union docks, and Georgia, Vir- ginia, and the old North State desired to join their sis- ters. A new and higher destiny awaited them. Let all say, " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlast- ing to everlasting, and let all the people say Amen." .
In the afternoon the whole population were abroad, and flags decorated nearly the whole city. At three o'clock P. M. a great crowd assembled at the court-house, where, after the thundering of cannon, music was given
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