USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2 > Part 55
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KIRBY SMITHI.
Morgan's first raid was a forerunner of Kirby Smith's threatened siege of the city. The suni- mer of 1862 was certainly a gloomy one through- out the country and Cincinnati at the thresh- hold of the seat of war was particularly despond- ent. McClellan's philandering in the Peninsula had been stopped, Pope had proved himself un- satisfactory, Chattanooga was in the hands of Bragg and Cincinnati it had been proved was subject to invasion at any moment. The news came that Kirby Smith had left Knoxville and with1 1,200 soldiers and 30 or 40 pieces of artil- lery had marched straight for Kentucky. He passed the Federal forces at Cumberland Gap and marched until he reached a point 15 miles from Richmond before he met with any opposi- tion of any consequence. Here he drove before him a cavalry regiment which hurried back to Richmond and Lexington with the first authen- tic news of his approach. Almost on the heels of the fugitives came the pursuers and on Au- gust 29th he scattered the few raw militia that were put forward to oppose him. General Man- son, who commanded the Federal troops, formed line after line only to see each broken and driven back as Smith's troops charged. Finally the rout became complete. Whole regiments were captured and immediately paroled and every road, lane and by-way leading into Lexington was filled with fugitives or paroled prisoners fell- ing the story of the disaster at their doors. Maj- Gen. H. G. Wright, an able and experienced officer who had been put in command of the new department consisting of Kentucky and the States north of it, instituted Angust 19th under
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the name of the Department of the Ohio, saw that it was impossible to hold Lexington and he immediately evacuated the place and fell back on Louisville. The railroads hurried their stock to the Cincinnati end of the road and it was thought that here too would come the Federal army defeated at Richmond. On September Ist the news came that Gen. Kirby Smith with his army had entered Lexington in triumph and had been received with great enthusiasm by the Southern sympathizers, many of whom up to this time had kept their feelings to themselves. The people of the city thronged the streets and shouted their welcome from every door and window. The bells of the city were rung and the town gave itself up to rejoicing. This fact together with the information that the troops had retreated to Louisville threw Cincinnati into consternation. 1
The news of the battle of Richmond reached this city late Saturday night, August 30th. At first its real significance was not understood. The Sanitary Commission and others made prep- arations to give relief to the wounded and the papers discussed the management of the battle. All the amateur war critics of the town collected together Sunday afternoon and spent their time in criticising Buell.
LEW WALLACE IN COMMAND.
By Monday afternoon it was known that there were no troops between Kirby Smith and Cin- cinnati and that that conqueror was already be- ing received with enthusiasm in Lexington. The pen of man would not suffice to describe the sud- den shock that had come upon the people. What had so long been feared had come to pass and the rich Queen City of the West was almost in the hands of the victorious marauders from the South. Something had to be done and done at once. The Council of course met and passed resolutions pledging the faith of the city to pay expenses. The mayor was authorized to suis- pend business and summon every person within the city whether alien or citizen to its defense. General Wright was assured of the desire of every one within the limits of the city to assist in its protection. By nine o'clock in the even- ing the man who was to save Cincinnati, even at the expense of much adverse citicism, Gen. Lew Wallace, presented himself and was met at the Burnet House by the mayors of the three cities, Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. Wallace was known as a vigorous, active, young volunteer officer never afraid to take responsi-
bility and entirely confident of his own resources. He had risen to the highest rank attainable in the army. He was supposed to be as well quali- fied as any man in the service to cope with such a situation.
MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED.
By two o'clock in the morning after the con- ference with the mayors and a few army offi- cers in the towns, a proclamation was issued which placed the city under martial law and to which, severe as it may seem, the city was in a large measure indebted for its preservation. This proclamation which was read by the citi- zens at their breakfast tables was as follows :
"PROCLAMATION."
"The undersigned, by order of Major-Gen- eral Wright, assumes command of Cincinnati, Covington and Newport.
"It is but fair to inform the citizens that an active, daring and powerful enemy, threatens them with every consequence of war; yet the cities must be defended, and their inhabitants must assist in preparations. Patriotism, duty, honor, self-preservation, call them to the labor, and it must be performed equally by all citi- zens.
"First. All business must be suspended. At nine o'clock to-day every business house must be closed.
"Second. Under the direction of the Mayor, the citizens must, within an hour after the suspen- sion of business (ten o'clock A. M.), assemble in convenient public places ready for orders. As soon as possible they will then be assigned to their work. This labor ought to be that of love, and the undersigned trusts and believes it will be so. Anyhow, it must be done. The will- ing shall be properly credited, the unwilling promptly visited. The principle adopted is, citi- zens for the labor, soldiers for the battle.
"Third. The ferry-boats will cease plying the river after four o'clock A. M., until further or- ders.
"Martial law is hereby proclaimed in the three cities ; but until they can be relieved by the mili- tary, the injunctions of this proclamation will be executed by the police.
"Lewis Wallace, "Major-General Commanding."
The scenes which followed have been described by many who took part in them. T. Buchanan Read, the poet, a volunteer aide under General Wallace, tells us that the people rose to swell
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the ranks and crowded into the trenches with alacrity. Maj. J. V. Guthrie was put in charge of the working parties and Maj. Malcolm Mc- Dowell commanded the citizen soldiers. Of course there were a few timid creatures who feared to obey the summons. Some were affect- ed by sudden illness and had to be hunted out from back kitchens, garrets, cellars, closets and from under beds by armed men with fixed bayo- nets. One lover of peace was found dressed in his wife's clothes scrubbing at the wash tub; he did excellent work in the trenches. Men of every class, bankers, lawyers, merchants, artists and poets all took their turn with musket, pick or spade. Mr. Howe, the venerable historian, tells us that on the morning after the city was put under martial law he found the streets full of armed police in army blue who compelled all without respect to age to report to the headquar- ters of their respective districts for enrollment. At every corner stood a sentinel and it was im- possible to traverse the streets without a pass. The Irish police seemed particularly vigilant in handling their old enemies the colored men. Al -. though the negroes had been among the first to volunteer their services to the mayor, they were hauled from hotels, barber shops and other working places bare-headed and at times half dressed and driven at the point of the bayonet into the squads preparing for the drill. The negroes afterwards were organized into a work- ing brigade and did most effective service in the trenches back of Newport under the control and leadership of Judge William M. Dickson. The landlord of the famous Dumas House, the retreat for so many colored people, Colonel Har- lan, led the corps down to Broadway on its daily march to labor and, rough-clad and vari-colored as they were, they were never surpassed in the contribution they made to the preservation of the town. Breastworks, rifle-pits and redoubts were hastily traced out back of Newport and Covington and there guns were mounted and pickets thrown out. By daybreak of the second day a pontoon bridge stretched from Cincinnati to Covington and wagons filled with lumber and other materials were crossing the bosom of the Ohio.
THE MARCH OF THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS.
Governor Tod had hurried to the scene of danger at the carliest warning and immed- iately wired his adjutant general to send all available troops without delay. He also ordered 5,000 stand of arms with 50 rounds of anummi-
tion and other ammunition for guns of different character. His proclamation to the people of the border warned them of the threatened in- vasion and recommended that all loyal men in the different counties form themselves into mili- tary companies and regiments to beat back the enemy. They were directed to gather up the arms in the counties and furnish themselves with ammunition and were told that the service would be of a few days' duration and that the soil of Ohio must not be invaded by the enemies of the government. Governor Tod sent reassuring tele- grams to Secretary Stanton expressing confi- dence that the Rebel force would be successfully met and he ordered the Little Miami Railroad guarded as far up as Xenia. The response from the various counties was instantaneous. Preble, Butler, Warren, Greene, Franklin and many others telegraphed offers of men and by night of September 2nd the Governor answered that all armed men would be received. They were directed to report at Cincinnati to General Wal- lace, as late as the 5th. Railroad companies were instructed to pass such men at the expense of the State, while troops residing in the river counties were directed to remain at home for the protec- tion of their own neighborhood. By daybreak of September 3rd began the advance of one of the most remarkable bodies of armed men known since the days of the Crusades. An almost end- less stream of sturdy men coming in files and in- dividually, in all kinds of costumes and armed with all kinds of firearms, but usually the deadly rifle, poured in from the rural districts of Ohio and Indiana. These were the famous Squirrel Hunters, so long celebrated in verse and song. The church and fire bells were rung throughont the State and mounted men carried the news in every direction. The scenes of the Revolution with the gathering of the "Minute Men" were rivaled by these Ohio farmers. It seemed, says one writer, "as if the whole State of Ohio were peopled only with hunters and that the spirit of Daniel Boon stood upon the hills beckoning them into Kentucky. The pontoon bridge over the Ohio which had been begun and completed between sundown and sundown groaned day and night with the perpetual stream of life all setting southward. In three days there were ten miles of intrenchments lining the Kentucky hills mak- ing a semicircle from the river above the city to the banks of the river below : and these were thickly manned from end to end and made ter- rible to the astonished enemy by black and frown- ing cannon. The city above and below was well
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protected by a flotilla of gun-boats impro- vised from the swarm of steamers which lay at the wharves."
The pontoon bridge which had been built tin- der the direction of Wesley M. Cameron from coal barges anchored firmly in position side by side and covered with timbers and bridge planks, was wide enough for four wagons to pass abreast and for two whole days the stream of men and teams passing over this novel structure was con- tinuous. The Squirrel Hunters as they arrived at the different depots were taken to the Fifth street market house where they were fed at the expense of the citizens and from this point they were hurried to the front. By September 5th the Governor announced that no more volunteers would be needed. He had already telegraphed General Wright the day before of the sending forward of 20 regiments and that 21 more were in process of organization. About 15,000 men it is supposed had assembled for the defense of the city by this time and the gathering was suffi- cient to justify the proclamation which the Gov- ernor issued from Columbus as follows :
"COLUMBUS, September 5, 1862.
"TO THE PRESS :
. "The response to my proclamation asking vol- unteers for the protection of Cincinnati was most noble and generous. All may feel proud of the gallantry of the people of Ohio. No more vol- unteers are required for the protection of Cin- cinnati. Those now there may be expected home in a few days. I advise that the military or- ganizations throughout the State, formed within the past few days, be kept up, and that the mem- bers meet at least once a week for drill. Re- cruiting for the old regiments is progressing quite satisfactorily, and with continued effort there is reason to believe that the requisite num- ber may be obtained by the fifteenth instant. For the want of proper accommodations at this point, recruiting officers are directed to report their men at the camp nearest their locality, where they will remain until provision can be made for their removal. Commanding officers of the several camps will see that every facility is given necessary for the comfort of these recruits.
"David Tod, Governor."
Despite the fact that no more volunteers were needed, the work of those already in the ranks did not cease. Judge Dickson's negro brigade continued piling up fortifications and 3,000 white citizens of every rauk and station in life handled
the spade by the side of the negroes, each earn- ing his promised dollar a day. The militia or- ganizations were kept up and the drilling con- tinued without interruption. The trenches were regularly manned, picket lines were thrown out and a scouting service organized.
Whatever Kirby Smith might have done had he approached Cincinnati with the same dash that had characterized his movements at Lex- ington, his delay of a few days put this city out of danger. It is now well known that he was never ordered to attack the city but merely to make a demonstration against it. Of course this was not known at the time and for a day or so the citizens were in momentary expectation of an assault. As this did not come, some of the citizens became restive under the measure which had been provided for their protection. The ces- sation of business was regarded as a hardship and the closing of the schools, bake shops and drug stores was of course an oversight. This was corrected by the issuing of an order of the mayor, relaxing somewhat the strictness of the original order. This was done with the sanc- tion of General Wallace and read as follows :
"First. The banks and bankers of this city will be permitted to open their offices from one to two P. M.
"Second. Bakers are allowed to pursue their business. "Third. Physicians are allowed to attend their patients.
"Fourth. Employes of newspapers are allowed to pursue their business.
"Fifth. Funerals are permitted, but only mourners are allowed to leave the city.
"Sixth. All coffee-houses and places where intoxicating liquors are sold, are to be closed and kept closed.
"Seventh. Eating and drinking-houses are to close and keep closed.
"Eighth. All places of amusement are to close and keep closed.
"Ninth. All drug-stores and apothecaries are permitted to keep open and do their ordinary business.
"George Hatch, Mayor of Cincinnati."
The Evening Times newspaper took occasion to criticise General Wallace in his preparations and concluded the communication by denounc- ing the whole business as a big scare. Within an hour or two General Wallace suppressed the paper but shortly afterwards revoked his order to this effect and the Times appeared the next day as usual.
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On September 6th, General Wallace was re- lieved of the command of Cincinnati and sent across the river to take charge of the defenses and on this day another order was issued, per- mitting the resumption of all lawful business, excepting the sale of liquor, until the hour of four P. M. daily. Druggists, manufacturers of bread stuffs, provision dealers, railroad, ex- press and transfer companies and persons con- nected with the public press and all persons do- ing business with the government were permitted to pursue their vocations without interruption. This order was issued by N. H. McLean, assist- ant adjutant-general and chief of staff, by com- mand of Major-General Wright.
With the resumption of business, the city pre- sented a less warlike aspect and the conviction became stronger that there had been no real occasion for alarm. Once more there came an awakening. Henry Howe tells us that he with others of his own guard on the evening of Tues- day night, September 9th, were at an improvised armory in the old American Express Building on Third near Broadway. It was a starlight night and the air was soft and balmy and every- thing seemed peaceful. Three hours after mid- night there suddenly shot high in the air, from a signal tower three blocks to the cast, a rocket. This was followed by the pealing of the fire bells. A little later John D. Caldwell, the well known pioneer, passed him and gave him the news that Kirby Smith was advancing on the city and that the military were to muster on the landing and cross the river at sunrise. It was not Kirby Smith but General Heath with a detachment of Confederates probably a little more than 10,000 in number, but the news of this movement was sufficient to alarm the whole State. Early in the morning of September 10th, Governor Tod noti- fied the people of Northern Ohio of a telegram from General Wright received at two o'clock that morning. He directed that all armed men be sent immediately to Cincinnati. By six o'clock in the morning the militia began crossing the river. The Public Landing was crowded with armed citizens in companies and regiments while the steamboats, some of which had been con- verted into gun-boats, were receiving bales of hay for bulwarks. The pontoon bridge was a moving panorama of newly made warriors and wagons of ammunition hurrying to the hills beyond which were the foe. As the soldiers passed through . Covington, they were greeted with silence. There were no smiles and no cheers in this town which had furnished so many
recruits to the Southern armies. No better ac- count of this last outpouring to the South can be given than that furnished by Mr. Howe. His experience was that of thousands of others who were equally unused to the hardships of war. To him the way up the hills seemed to have no ending and the boiling September sun poured upon them like a furnace. Clouds of limestone dust from the road filled their nostrils and throats and made them look like a party of millers. The universal cry was for water, none of which was at hand. When they reached the top of the hills about 500 feet above the Ohio, the regiment halted and broke ranks while the officers galloped ahead. Within five minutes they came cantering back with the order to fall into line quickly. The colonel called "You are now going into battle! The enemy are advanc- ing! You will receive sixty rounds of car- tridges ! Do your duty, men! Do your duty!" This was suspected by some as a ruse to test the courage but no sign of humor was visible among the men gathered around. The only aspect was that of weary faces, dirty, sweaty and blowzy with the burning heat. One of the captains directed his men to put in the ball first and powder on top. Fortunately some one whis- pered into his ear and he announced: "Gentle- men I was mistaken ; you must put the powder in first and ball on top!" This was a specimen of the officers of that motley company. They pressed forward again until they reached the line of earthworks with Fort Mitchel on the right and rifle-pits extending for hundreds of yards on the left. The forts and pits were filled with armed citizens and but few green soldiers in their new uniforms. Here Mr. Howe was greet- ed by a fellow private and in the person of a tall and slender person in glasses he recognized his attorney, John W. Herron. In front about a mile away was the forest and here were sup- posed to lie concealed the unknown thousands of the war experienced foe. The tired and dusty men waited for hours in expectation of an at- tack, too exhausted to fight or even to run. They were moved about from place to place always in plain view of the threatening forest. When night came on they were obliged to extinguish their camp fires and they slept on hay in the open air with their loaded muskets at their sides and with doubled guards and pickets. Re- veille sounded at four o'clock and from that carly hour they lay behind the fence, regiments to the right of them and more in the rifle-pits and far beyond the artillery in Fort Mitchel. It was
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not all play as the constant picket firing going on in front showed. The popping of the guns continued all through the day and some of the men were wounded and some killed. Once in a while glimpses of skirmishers were had in the neighborhood of the woods. A furious thunder- storm drove the inexperienced soldiery to their tents of blankets and brushwood. They were all soaked to the skin and their cartridges were largely destroyed. Just as the storm was clos- ing, a tremendous fusillade was heard on the right and the officers called to their men to turn out as the enemy were upon them. Fortunately this proved to be a false alarm and the only re- sult was the driving back of their own sentinels anxious to escape their careless firing.
As a matter of fact the attack never came. General Wallace ' gradually pushed the Rebel . pickets back and by the 11th those in authority knew that the danger was over. On the 12th it was learned that the enemy had hastily re- treated and on the 13th the returning march of the Squirrel Hunters began. By this time thou- sands of regular soldiers had been pouring into the city and had spread over the hills and the militia were no longer needed. The return was an ovation. The landing was black with men, women and children and the crossing of the pontoon bridge was accompanied with cheers and the booming of cannon.
The sick captain, who had suffered from an attack of cholera in the moments preceding the expected attack of the enemy, had now recovered and with freshly shaven face, spotless collar, bright uniform and with drawn sword he led his dust covered soldiers through the streets and amid cheers of the multitude smiled to the ad- miring women and waving of kerchiefs. Weary and dirt begrimed, they were in a tedious, cir- cuitous march duly shown off by their officers to all their lady acquaintances until night came to their relief, kindly covered them with her mantle and stopped the tomfoolery. "The lambs led forth to slaughter thus returned safely to their fold because the butcher hadn't come." ( Howe's Ohio, Vol. I, P. 777.)
By Monday, the 15th of September, the city resumed its accustomed labors. General Wal- lace issued a farewell proclamation in which he paid the citizens a well deserved compliment. Despite the criticismis of the time, it is now clear that the city owes an eternal debt of gratitude to him for his readiness to accept responsiiblity and his determination to save the city at any cost.
The enemy had remained before Cincinnati
for eight days and at no time exceeded 12,000 in number. The troops were under the immediate command of General Heath. Long after the war Kirby Smith said that of course he could at one time have entered Cincinnati very casily "but all hell could not have got him out again."
During the siege and for some days after- wards it was thought that the enemy might really have in mind the crossing of the river at some point above and the swooping down upon the city at its undefended part. Col. Basil Duke had already made an attempt to cross the river at Augusta but was driven back by the Home Guards.
The operations farther south where Buell and Bragg were watching each other finally recalled to the latter's assistance all the soldiers of the South that had been in the neighborhood of Cin- cinnati and this city was relieved from any fur- ther apprehension until the following summer.
The following is a partial list of those who held official position at this time: On the staff of General Wallace,-chief of staff, Col. J. C. Elston, Jr .; chief of artillery, Maj. C. M. Wil- lard; aids-de-camp, Captains James M. Rose, A. J. Ware, Jr., J. F. Troth, A. G. Sloo, G. P. Edgar, E. T. Wallace; volunteer aides, Col. J. V. Guthrie, Lieut .- Col. G. W. Neff, Majors Mal- colm McDowell, E. B Dennison, Captains James Thompson, A. S. Burt, T. Buchanan Read, S. C .. Erwin, J. J. Henderson and J. C. Belman. Negro Brigade,-commandant, Judge W. M. Dickson. Fatigue forces,-in charge, Col. J. V. Guthrie; Camp Mitchel,-Captain Titus; Camp Anderson,-Captain Storms; Camp Shaler,- Major Winters. River defenses,-in charge of R. M. Corwine. Commandant at Cincinnati,- Lieutenant-Colonel Burbank ; provost marshal,- A. E. Jones. In charge of laborers on fortifica- tions,-Aaron F. Perry, assisted by Benjamin Eggleston, Charles Thomas and Thomas Gilpin.
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