Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio, Part 16

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 882

USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 16
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Piqua were intercepted by the untiring workers and supplied with the comforts of life.

Not only this, but soldiers returning from the front, sick and wounded, found tender nurses in the women of Piqua. Nothing discouraged this patriotic organi- zation, not even the disasters of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Chickamauga. In the hearts of Piqua's loyal women was an abiding faith in the final outcome of the struggle. The last winding-sheet of many a Piqua boy was folded by tender hands and his grave was strewn with flowers by the women of the Aid Society. Night and day they labored, some in mourning for those slain, and others in fear of what the next battle news would bring them. When the end came and the perpetnity of the Union had been established, the society held its last meet- ing and disbanded. Its work had been well done and the City of Piqua to-day is proud of the women who bound the warrior's sash and told him to come back with his shield or upon it, like the Spartan ma- trons of old.

On the 14th of June, 1899, the D. A. R. Chapter of Piqna set up a memorial stone on the site of the last battle fought in the French and Indian War. This spot is near the city. The addresses made on that occasion were as follows: By Rev. A. Ramsey on "The Glories of War," by Judge John C. Geyer in behalf of the sons of the American Revolution, by Dr. C. W. Bennett, who represented the Grand Army of the Republic. C. B. Jamison read an historical paper and James Ward Keyt a paper written for the occasion by the compiler of this work. Again, on Flag day (June 14) 1906 the same society placed

146

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY

a bronze tablet on the west end of the famous Col. Jolin Johnston house with ap- propriate ceremonies. This old house is situated at Upper Piqua and during the War of 1812 was inhabited by Col. John- ston and his family. It was here that he kept a great many Indians from taking part in the contest and thereby saved the unprotected frontiers much bloodshed.

When a postoffice was established at Pi- qua, Arthur Brandon was made postmas- ter, receiving his commission from Presi- dent Madison. I have been unable to se- cure a complete list of his successors, but from 1824 to the present time they have been as follows: James Defrees, John Carson, John W. Gordon, Joseph Housuni, Henry C. Landis, John Marshall, Jonas Ward, Andrew J. Roe, Joseph M. Patter- son, La Roy S. Jordan, J. R. Thorne, Henry C. Graffin, J. W. Shipley, John W. Morris, Joshua W. Orr. Edward N. Wil- bee served as postmaster during a va- caney. The present roster of the postoffice is as follows: Postmaster, J. W. Orr; assistant, William H. Flach ; money order and registry clerk, Arthur L. Redman; general delivery and stamp clerk, Lee F. Rayner; mailing clerks, Forest B. Hunter, Charles H. Folk, O. W. Scudder, Emmet Shane ; special delivery messenger, George A. Reamer; city carriers, Charles C. Fish- er, William M. Fleming, Louis Gabel, Charles H. Gram, H. W. McCabe, James V. Offenbach, Ray R. Shipley, J. M. Stump, Theodore Von Bargen; rural carriers, Harvey Anderson, Frank E. Craft, Charles Heitzman, Clyde DeWeese, William Ship- ley, John P. Wood. The Piqua postoffice is situated in the Conover Building and is one of the best appointed offices in the county.

The present efficient Fire Department of Piqua is the outgrowth of the one organ- ized in 1843. At that time, as recalled by Capt. F. A. Hardy, who is one of the sur- viving firemen of the old days, the equip- ment consisted of an engine called "The Old Row Boat," which was very primitive in build and operation. "The firemen were seated on the top of the machine in two lines with their feet placed together, pul- ling on the brakes as though they were rowing a boat." A "bucket brigade" worked in conjunction with the old fire service, and the old leather buckets used by the men were laboriously but effective- ly handled on many occasions.

The city government of to-day has the following roster: Mayor, J. C. Hughes; president of council, J. H. Clark; auditor, Bert A. Reed; treasurer, George H. Run- del; solicitor, E. M. Bell. Members of council-John E. Anderson, A. M. Bow- dell, George M. Peffer, Conrad Kalbfleischı, Michael Kerrigan, A. J. Licklider, Anson Mote; board of public service-Bland S. Levering, John G. Hagan, W. F. Robbins; board of public safety-W. K. Leonard, Dr. J. W. Prince; board of review-Will- iam Suff, Otto Simon; sinking fund and tax commissioners-Albion Thoma, John H. Young, W. L. Catterlin, George W. Berry; board of health-Dr. R. M. Shan- non, W. W. Buchanan, W. T. Caldwell, Dr. J. H. Lowe, H. T. Dettman ; board of edu- cation-Oscar Fisher, Dr. W. J. Prince, Charles C. Jelleff, Mrs. Frances Orr, E. P. Brotherton, Otto Von Bargen ; chief of po- lice, Frank Gehle; chief of fire department, P. J. Caulfield; city engineer, H. E. Whit- lock.

In other chapters will be found mention of the banks, schools, churches, the press,

147

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

fraternal orders and the several industries of the city. I realize that the present chap- ter does not fully cover the history of the City of Piqua, but its salient features have been given with all the accuracy attainable and is thus submitted to the reader. For a city that came out of the backwoods a century ago, Piqua has made a commend- able growth in all lines, reaching out in every direction, having within her borders

handsome public libraries, a complete Memorial Hospital, commodious banks, churches, schools, and other publie insti- tutions. It does not require the wisdom of a seer to predict still further advance- ment, nor to place the "Border City" on the banks of the Miami in the front rank of the growing municipalities of the Union. Piqua has a fame distinctly her own.

CHAPTER X.

MIAMI IN THE WARS

The War of 1812-Employment of the Indians by England-Battle of Tippecanoe-Te- cumseh-Services of Col. John Johnston-Results of Perry's Victory on Lake Erie-Miami Heroes of the War-The War of the Rebellion-Prompt Enlistments -The Gravity of the Struggle Realized-Miami Soldiers on Many Battlefields- Eleventh Ohio Volunteers-Forty-Fourth Infantry and Eighth Cavalry-The Sev- enty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry-Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry-One Hundred and Tenth O. V. I .- The One. Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment- Spanish-American War Volunteers-Roster of Veterans.

Oh! once was felt the storm of war, It had an earthquake's roar, It flashed upon the mountain height And smoked along the shore; It thundered in a dreaming ear, And up the farmer sprang, It muttered in a true bold heart And a warrior's harness rang. Brainard.

The part taken by the people of Miami county in the War of 1812 was one of ex- citement. While no battles were fought within its limits, its patriotic citizens sprang to the call of arms and performed their allotted duties in an earnest manner. This war, brought on by the aggressive and tyrannie policies of England, was des- tined to blacken the frontiers with all man- ner of crimes. Its inhumanities were ac- centuated by the employment of Indians who, tiger-like, in their hunt for white victims, swept down upon the settlements of Ohio and left behind them a trail of fire and blood. The boasted fame of Eng- land received a blot which has never been

wiped out. Those who steered the Georgian monarchy through that struggle covered themselves with disgrace which remains to this day. Not content with meeting the armed forces of the young Republic in the field, the British ministry connived at the brutalities perpetrated by the Indians. Some of the red captains were made com- missioned officers by the King and actually wore the uniforms of his generals.

I shall not discuss the causes which led up to the War of 1812. It was not until 1813 that the Miami border felt the shock of war. The siege of Fort Meigs, which took place that year, was the incentive that turned Tecumseh and his warriors upon this fair region, which had just be- gun to blossom under the influences of civ- ilization. The late Dr. Coleman, Sr., in his interesting reminiscences writes : "Ru- mors were in circulation of combinations among the various tribes of the Northwest

148

149

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY

and South, under the leadership of Tecum- seht and his brother, the Prophet, backed by British influence. Our Government wanted more of their lands, but they re- fused to sell. With a view to bring them to terms, an expedition was fitted out in 1811. It was organized at the Falls of the Ohio and consisted of the Fourth United States Infantry and some two or three regiments of mounted Kentucky volun- teers, all under the command of Gov. Har- rison of Indian Territory. They proceed- ed into the Indian country in a northwest- erly direction, striking the Wabash River near the present site of Lafayette, the In- dians falling back and accumulating their forces, but still declining to treat. While in camp six miles north of Lafayette, the Indians made a night attack, attempting to storm the camp, but were finally re- pulsed after a most desperate hand-to- hand fight with tomahawk and bayonet."

This engagement is known as the battle of Tippecanoe, and it was the defeat of the Indians on this occasion which sent the storm of savage warfare hurtling through the forests of Ohio. Tecumseh, who led the Indians . in this battle, chafed under his overthrow and resolved to deluge the whole frontier in blood. Of this scarlet chieftain, perhaps one of the greatest that ever wielded a tomahawk, much has been written, and since some of his warriors entered Miami County and shed some of her settlers' blood, I may be pardoned for giving some of his history here.

It has been asserted that both the Anglo-Saxon and Creek blood ran in the veins of Tecumseh, but the better opinion seems to be that he was wholly a Shawnee. Col. Johnston, the Indian agent at Piqua, and Stephen Ruddell, of Kentucky, who

for nearly twenty years was a prisoner among the Shawnees, possessed ample op- portunities for knowing the lineage of Te- cumseh. They both assert that his father was Puckeshinwa, a member of the Kisco- poke and Methoataske, his mother being of the Turtle tribe of the Shawnee nation. The parents of Tecumseh came from Flor- ida to the north side of the Ohio about the middle of the eighteenth century. The father was killed in the Battle of Kanawha in 1774, leaving six stalwart sons and one daughter. Tecumseh was the fourth son. His name means "the Shooting Star," and he certainly was a swift meteor of destruc- tion.

Some diversity of opinion has prevailed as to the birthplace of Tecumseh, but it has been established that he was born in the valley of the Miamis on the banks of Mad River, a few miles below Springfield, and within the limits of Clark County. Ruddell says that the chief was born in 1768, which probably is correct, which would make him forty-three years of age at the beginning of the War of 1812, when he was in the full prime of savage man- hood. He is supposed, though little more than a boy, to have taken part in the re- sistance offered to General Clark during that officer's campaign against the Indians in this county in 1782.

Early in life Tecumseh conceived the greatest plan that ever entered into the brain of an Indian. In this he was ably seconded by his brother, the Prophet, who was a gigantic fraud, but whose devilish incantations and wild sorcery gave him great control over the superstitious sav- ages. Tecumseh's scheme was to unite all the red tribes against the whites; if he could accomplish his purpose he would

150

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY

bring into the field an army of warriors that would prove irresistible, and he proudly hoped that this tremendous force, sweeping forward as a unit, would put an end to American domination in the West. To this end lie and his one-eyed brother visited all the tribes, going as far south as Alabama, Tecumseh stirring them up with his native eloquence and the Prophet filling their hearts with his boasted proph- ecies direct from the Great Father. The conspiracy was worthy the brains of its inventors. But it was not to succeed.

Tecumseh was stricken down at the height of his fame at the battle of the Thames in Canada, October 5, 1813, and with him died all hopes of a great Indian confederacy. His body was not found after the battle. The accepted story that this great warrior was slain by Col. Richard M. Johnson is based on fiction, as it is not known at whose hands he fell. The one bright spot in Tecumsehi's life is his hu- mane treatment of white captives, but in spite of this he is largely responsible for the deluge of blood that overwhelmed the frontiers during the War of 1812.

The personal appearance of this re- markable man was uncommonly fine. His height was five feet nine inches. His face was oval, his nose handsome and straight, his mouth beautifully formed like that of Napoleon I., his eyes clear, transparent hazel, with a mild expression when in re- pose or in conversation; but when excited in his orations, or by the enthusiasm of conflict, or when in anger, they appeared like balls of fire ; his teeth were beautifully white, his complexion a light brown or tan. He always stood very erect and walked with a brisk, elastic step. He al- ways dressed in Indian-tanned buckskin,

wore a frock reaching to the knee, a belt of buckskin, in which were his silver-mounted tomahawk and knife, short pantaloons con- nected with leggings and moccasins, with a mantle thrown over his left shoulder. He was a general in the British army and one of the finest looking Indians that ever lifted a hatchet. Such, in brief, was the man feared by the early settlers of Miami County.

A number of our early settlers volun- teered for service in the war. The border was in a state of suspense and fear, espe- cially so after the murder of the Dilbones, an event already described. But for the efforts made by Col. Johnston in keeping the neutral Indians at Piqua during hostil- ities, the county might have been the scene of more than one massacre. At one time he had four thousand at his place and such was his power over them that they were prevented from taking the warpath.

Perry's victory on Lake Erie practically put an end to the war in the West and peace soon came back to the Miami set- tlements. The settler felt safe when he could place his rifle on its pins above the door and cultivate his fields without hav- ing to guard against Indian surprise.

Captain James Blue and Charles Wol- verton were among the first citizens of the county to lead men toward the seat of war. Wolverton, hearing of the murder by the Indians of a man named Rush, marched after the savages, came upon their camp near Greenville and killed a few, including some squaws. The whites scalped their victims. A Covington com- pany forayed along the Stillwater, but did not come to an engagement with the ene- my. A few other forays were undertaken by the whites, but none of them were killed.

151

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Among the men of this county who served in this locality during the war were Cap- tains Reuben Westfall, E. Kirtly, William Barbee, Sr., Charles Wolverton, Jacob Mann, William Luce, Gardner Bobo, Charles Hilliard, John Williams, Conrad Flesher, Robert Reed, Moses Patterson, James Patterson, Timothy Titus and John Johnson. The roll of the privates includ- ed Joseph Marshall, Joseph Culbertson, William and James Shackelford, Aaron and John G. Telford, William Barbee, Jr., David McClung, James Youart, Aaron Tullis, Andrew Thompson, James Brown and Samuel Mackey.

These men, with a host of associates equally brave, stood between the scattered homes and Indian invasion during the whole period of the war. They were ready at all times for the most exacting and hazardous duty. But for them, roving bands of Indians might have swept across the county carrying destruction in their wake. The cemeteries of the county, to- day, hold the remains of these defenders. They are gone, but their deeds are not for- gotten. Fortunately for the inhabitants of the county, the seat of hostilities was beyond her borders, but this does not de- tract from the services of her patriotic volunteers.

THE MEXICAN WAR.

The part played by this county in the War with Mexico was very small. Not over five men enlisted from within her bor- ders. No regular command was raised here. The few who went served in a com- mand raised at Dayton. This command did not see much real fighting in the Land of the Montezumas, but did some hard marching and took part in various side campaigns. One of the survivors of this

little group of Miamians is the venerable Captain Frank Hardy, of Piqua, who has reached his ninetieth year. Captain Hardy is also a veteran of the Civil War, but his memory is bright and he relates with much vim some recollections connected with his service in Mexico. The Mexican War, owing to the slavery question, was not popular in this county, which fact no doubt discredited enlistments herc.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

In no county of the state were the por- tentous events that preceded the War of the Rebellion watched with more interest than in Miami. In the first place the peo- ple were opposed to human slavery. In early days a part of the "underground railroad" was operated in the county and more than one slave escaping from inhu- man masters was concealed and steered to freedom. Therefore, when the South sought as a pretext for dismemberment the election of Abraham Lincoln, the people of Miami County prepared for what they re- garded as inevitable. The first shot di- rected against Fort Sumter had hardly ceased to echo in the North before enlist- ments began within the county. Men of every walk in life came forward and of- fered their services to the National Gov- ernment. There was no hesitation. Deep seated in the minds of all was the convic- tion that Secretary Seward's "breakfast spell" was to become at least an all day's job. The mettle of the South was well known. Men who had worshiped for years at the shrine of Calhoun, Yancey and Toombs, who had conspired in the shadow of the Capitol, were not embarking in war as child's play. It was to be a death grap- ple between Puritan and Cavalier, between

152

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY

the men of the North and the men of the South, Americans all, and brothers of the same blood.

Parts of six regiments were raised in Miami County during the war. These were the Eleventh, the Forty-fourth, the Sev- enty-first, the Ninety-fourth and the One Hundred and Tenth and One Hundred and Forty-seventh commands. Apart from these, organizations of men from this county enlisted in other regiments, while not a few took service in the navy. The story of the soldiers of the county is al- most the story of the war. They proved their valor on some of the most hard- fought fields of the Rebellion-at South Mountain, Antietam, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Monocacy, Petersburg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Stone River, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chat- tanooga, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Res- aca. Kenesaw Mountain, Nashville and other places, witnessing at last the glories of Appomattox.

I shall give in detail the services of these regiments, beginning with

The Eleventh O. V. I.

The Eleventh Ohio Volunteers was first enlisted for three months, pursuant to President Lincoln's first call for troops for the suppression of the Rebellion. It was mustered into the three years' service June 20, 1861. Miami County furnished five full companies-B and F from Piqua, D, H and E from Troy. The men were in the full vigor of early manhood, types of western strength, patriotism and intelli- gence. The regiment first rendezvoused at Columbus and then proceeded to Camp Denison. It remained in its second quar- ters till July 7, when it received orders to pack up and move towards the seat of

war. Its colonel was Charles A. DeVil- liers, who soon afterward left the service. Crossing Ohio, the Eleventh reached Point Pleasant. It made a night march over Sugar Loaf Mountain and had some ex- perience in picket duty on the sacred soil of Virginia. August 18, 1862, it moved to Parkersburg, and thence to Alexandria, near Washington, D. C., where it en- camped. August 27th it was thrown for- ward to Manassas, where the Confederates had taken position. Previous to this, how- ever, the Eleventh had seen some excit- ing service in West Virginia, where it had encountered the enemy at Hawk's Nest, Cotton Hill and Gauley Bridge. These minor engagements had to a degree tested the mettle of the men and they were ready for the greater events in store for them.

At Manassas the regiment crossed Bull Run and checked the enemy, who had driv- en back Taylor's New Jersey troops, but the Confederates, advancing in heavy force, forced the Unionists toward Fair- fax. During the retreat the Eleventh act- ed as the rear guard. Remaining a short time within the lines at Washington, on the 29th of Angust the regiment occupied Munson's Hill, and on the 6th of Septem- ber it took up its march for Maryland in pursuit of Lee, who had crossed the Poto- mac with his army. On the 12th the enemy was found holding a bridge over the Mo- nocacy near Frederick. Three Union col- umns were formed, with the Eleventh in the center. The enemy was driven back and the bridge taken and two pieces of artillery were lost. Led by Col. Coleman, the regiment marched forward, recaptured the cannon and hurled the Confederates from their position. After a night at Mo- nocacy the Eleventh crossed a spur of the

153

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Blue Ridge, debouched into Middletown Valley and on the 14th advanced up the slopes of South Mountain, occupied by Garnett's division of General Lee's army. On this day was fought the battle of Southi Mountain, the prelude to Antietam.

The principal fighting done by the Eleventh on this memorable occasion took place on the summit of the mountain at a place since known as Wise's Field. Their advance was met by a fire from all sides. The regiment was surrounded by a growth of mountain lanrel and the enemy was pro- tected by a stone fence and was hard to dislodge. The regiment, after some des- perate work, advanced on a charge, drove the Confederates from their position and held the ground. Many acts of individual bravery occurred among the ranks of the Eleventh on that day. Night put an end to the fighting, and Lee, failing to hold his position, fell baek upon Sharpsburg, where he and MeClellan were to meet in the bloodiest one-day's battle of the whole war.

The Eleventh was attached to the Ka- nawha Division, Second Brigade. On the morning of the 17th of September, 1862, Company F was sent out on the skirmish line with instructions to keep a close watch on the enemy. Captain Teverbaugh had hardly issued his instructions when the enemy, from his works below the bridge, on Antietam Creek, opened a lively fire. Company F was ordered to withdraw and moved to the right to act as a reserve to · Company C. The bridge across the ereek being an important point, General Burn- side, who commanded that wing of the army, was ordered to carry it. The bridge was a stone structure, twelve feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet long, with three

arches. Six thousand Confederates were in position across the stream, and the bridge was swept by their artillery. Skir- mishers were thrown out and the Eleventh moved forward. Simmons and MeMullins' batteries were raining their deadly mis- siles among the Southern ranks, who, in turn sent volley after volley from their muskets and artillery in the faces of our advancing troops. Bravely the men strug- gled forward, but in vain. The steady stream of canister poured from the rebel eannon forced the line to waver and finally fall back. In this forward movement Col. Angustus H. Coleman, of Troy, received a wound which caused his death in a few hours. In advance of his men, cheering them on and closing up their broken ranks, he fell with his face to the foe.

Colonel Coleman was one of the bravest men in the Union Army. He was the son of Dr. Asa Coleman, one of the early pio- neers of the county. He received his mili- tary education at West Point, and at the opening of the war was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He recruited a company of men within forty-eight hours and pro- ceeded to Columbus with them April 26, 1861. At the reorganization of the Elev- enth for the three years service he was elected major of the regiment and was pro- moted to lieutenant colonel January 9, 1862. A fine disciplinarian, he was the man of the hour and was a favorite with his troops. In his heroie death at All- tietam the country lost a true soldier and a useful patriot.

The failure to carry the bridge across Antietam Creek forced Burnside to call for reinforcements, but none were sent. The order was repeated to carry the bridge at all hazards. The lines were reformed

154

HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY

for another assault. The Eleventh re- sponded nobly. They had replenished their empty cartridge boxes and moved forward again. It was to be death or the bridge. Despite the rain of missiles from the rebel gunners, the Unionists rushed on, reached the bridge and heroically gained the prize. In these desperate assaults the regiment took a prominent part. There was no bet- ter set of fighting men in Mcclellan's army. After taking the bridge the regi- ment advanced along the slope. Lee at- tempted to cut Burnside off and Burnside told MeClellan that he must have more men and guns. MeClellan said he liad none to spare and the troops were com- pelled to fall back to the bridge. The hard- est work done that day at Antietam was performed by the Kanawha Division. Burnside's bridge was the key to the whole affair. To lose it was to imperil Lee's whole army, and it is to the glory of the Eleventh that it did much to make victory on that part of the field certain.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio, Part 16

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 882

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 882