Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1, Part 26

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 26

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The regiment marched for Lexington, Ky .; on the 8th of October, and remained there. un- dergoing a thorough course of instruction. until about the ist of December, when it inoved to The tooth lost, during its term of service. 65 men killed in action, 142 wounded, 27 died of wounds, 108 died of disease, 325 captured by Richmond. It was engaged in work on the for- tifications until the 26th of December, when it moved to Danville, and on the 3d of January, [ the enemy, and 85 died in Rebel prisons. It

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participated in the battles of Lenoir Station, Knoxville, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca. Dallas, Etowah Creek, Atlanta, Columbia, Franklin, Nashville, Town Creek, and Wilmington.

The One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry (three years) was organized at Toledo in August, 1862, and mustered in September 5 and 6 of that year. It was an out-and-out northwestern Ohio command, made up of men from Wood, Lucas, Sandusky, Fulton, Williams and Defiance counties.

There were upward of 300 men from Wood county in the regiment, represented mainly in Companies B, D, I, K and A. Lt .- Cols. B. W. Johnson and Thomas C. Norris, of the regiment, were Wood county men, as were also Capts. O. P. Norris, J. E. McGowan (became major ist U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery), John Yeager, Deming W. H. Day (who later rose to the rank of gen- eral), Wesley S. Thurstin (became adjutant of regiment) and William H. Beal. Among other commissioned officers of the regiment from Wood county were: Lieuts. John Bader, George H. Van Blarcum, Rudolph Williams, Daniel W. Poe, Alexander Rowland, Moses Dubbs. John H. Campbell, J. D. Bolles, John M: Woodruff, J. A. Chilcote, Thomas Walter, Lewis Dienst and Myron G. Brown (Constantine Beal became a lieutenant in the ist U. S. H. Art.). Company B was recruited largely from Milton, Weston, Perry and Middleton townships; Company D. largely from Weston and Washington townships; Company I enlisted in Perrysburg. Plain. Center, Bloom and Perry townships; Company K, mostly from Plain and Center townships.

The leading officers of the ILIth, successively, were: John R. Bond, Isaac R. Sherwood, Colonels; B. W. Johnson, Moses R. Bailey, Isaac R. Sher- wood, Thomas C. Norris, Lieutenant-Colonels; Moses R. Bailey, Isaac R. Sherwood, Thomas C. Norris, Benjamin F. Southworth. Henry J. McCord, Majors. Five days after muster the command is found at Covington, Ky., and, September 18, at Crittenden, driving out Kirby Smith's cavalry. At or near Frankfort, on Oc- tober S, it had another brush with the Confeder- ates, so that, on May 29, 1863, when it was or- dered to Glasgow, Ky., to become a part of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, its members possessed experience in warfare. Beyond the pursuit of Morgan's cavalry, the capture of a detachment of his dare- devils, and participation in the affairs at Scotts- ville and Tomkinsville, the regiment was engaged

only in strategic movements until about the mid- dle of November, 1863, when its long term of brilliant service may be said to have commenced.

After the capture of Morgan the regiment rendezvoused at New Market, Ky .. preparatory to the march to East Tennessee. On September 2, it forded the Big Emery river, and arrived at Loudon, Tenn., on the 4th. The regiment re- mained in Loudon until November 14, and took part in the movement north of New Market to check the Rebel advance from Virginia; it also took part in several forced marches, scouts and skirmishes along the Tennessee and Holston rivers.

. The advance of Gen. Longstreet's army ap- peared in front of Loudon on the 22nd, and con- siderable skirmishing was kept up between the two armies. On the 14th of November, the command marched to Lenoir; but meeting rein- forcements here, a countermarch was ordered, and the Second Brigade was ordered to march to Huff's Ferry, three miles below Loudon, and prevent the crossing of Gen. Longstreet's troops. Owing to the almost impassible condition of the roads, it was nearly dark before arriving at the ferry. On a high bluff, about half a mile from the river, a brigade of Rebels was encountered. The Second Brigade was immediately formed in single line, and ordered to charge. The charge was successful. In it the ILIth lost only a few wounded, as it was on the right flank of the bri- gade, and partially under cover of dense woods. The brigade stood to arms all night in the pelting rain, without food or shelter. At daylight. the entire division fell back, and the mith covered the retreat. At Loudon creek a brisk skirmish took place between the regiment and the 6th South Carolina Sharp Shooters, composing Gen. Longstreet's advance. The stand was made to enable Henshaw's Illinois Battery to get its cais- sons up a hill above the creek. In this engage- ment the frIth lost four killed and twelve wound- ed. On this night all camp and garrison equip- age and transportation were destroyed. and on the morning of the 16th, at three oclock, it moved out for Knoxville, Tennessee.

At daylight on that morning. Lieut. O. P. Norris and fifty-two men. of Company B, of the regiment, were captured by the Rebels while on picket. Of these fifty-two stalwart inen, thirty- six died of starvation and exposure in Anderson- ville prison. Campbell's Station was selected by Gen. Burnside as the point to which to give battle to Gen. Longstreet. In this engagement the ILIth occupied the first line, directly in front of two batteries of Rebel artillery, and was for

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six hours exposed to the shells of the enemy's concentrated fire. The loss in killed and wound- ed was very light, as the enemy used percussion shells, which mostly fell in the rear of the first line. The regiment marched with the command into Knoxville, a distance of six miles, having been three nights without sleep, food or rest, and having participated in three separate engage- ments. It passed through the siege of Knoxville, occupying the fort on College Hill, and lost six men killed and wounded. After Gen. Long- street's retreat, it took part in the skirmishes at Blain's Cross Roads, Danville, and Strawberry Plains, and occupied an outpost six miles in front of the city when Gen. Schofield fell back the second time on Knoxville. It protected the cross- ing of the Second Division at Strawberry Plains, on the 21st of January, 1864, losing one man killed. On February 9, Gen. Schofield arrived at Knoxville, and took command of the depart- ment. On the 24th of February, the Second Division marched to Strawberry Plains ; on the 27th crossed the Holston river, and, marching some distance, counter-marched at night as far back as Mossy creek. On the 14th of March, the regiment moved to Morristown, East Tennes- see. On the following day it was on the picket line, and had a brisk skirmish with the Rebel cavalry. The ILIth was moved back to Mossy creek, and there remained until April 26, when it was marched to Charleston, a distance of one hundred miles. This it accomplished in four days, arriving at Charleston on the 30th. From this point it marched to Red City, Ga., arriving May 6. At this point the Army of the Ohio united with the left wing of Gen. Sherman's army to participate in the Atlanta campaign. It marched to Tunnel Hill, May 7, and on the fol- lowing day skirmished into a position in front of Buzzard's Roost. On the 9th, in the advance on Rocky Face Mountain, the regiment was assigned the front line of the skirmishers, and during an advance of three-quarters of a mile lost nine men killed and wounded.

On the evening of the 15th, the regiment ar- rived in front of Resaca. The brigade made a charge on the enemy's works the next day: the IlIth had but seven companies engaged, three companies being in the rear, guarding transpor- tation. Out of the number engaged, seven men were killed and thirty wounded. The regiment took part in the second day's fight at Resaca. After an unsuccessful assault at midnight upon the Federal lines, the Rebels retreated. On May 16 the regiment participated in the pursuit ; had a skirmish with the Rebel cavalry, on the 20th,

and captured six prisoners. On the 27th a bri- gade of Rebels made an advance on the Federal lines, the ILIth was ordered on double-quick. made a charge, and broke the Rebel lines. Iul this engagement the regiment lost fifteen men, killed and wounded.

It took part in the entire siege against At- lanta: was actively engaged in the siege of Kene- saw, the battles of Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Dallas, on the Chattahoochie river, near Nico- jack Creek, Decatur, Peachtree Creek, and in the siege of Atlanta and the skirmishes at Rough- and-Ready, Lovejoy's Station and Utoy Creek. It started on the Atlanta campaign with 3So men, and of this number lost in killed and wounded 212. It moved from camp at Decatur, Ga., Oc- tober 4, against Gen. Hood's forces. During its camp at Decatur, it had made a reconnoisance to Stone Mountain, where it encountered Rebel cavalry, and lost a few of its men. Its line of march was to Allatoona Pass, thence into Ala- bama, going south as far as Cedar Bluffs, where in a skirmish with Rebel cavalry one officer and three men of the regiment were captured on picket. It next marched to Rome, Ga., where a brisk skirmish took place ; thence moved to Resaca, arriving November 1, 1864.

At Resaca the regiment took the cars and moved to Johnsonville, where it remained until November 20, when it was again moved by rail to Columbia, Tenn .. to assist in checking Gen. Hood's advance. It participated in the skirm- ishes at Columbia, and was detailed to remain in the rear to guard the fords of Duck river while Gen. Thomas' army fell back on Franklin. The regiment guarded a wagon train to Franklin, and was twice attacked, but each time it repulsed the enemy. The regiment at night marched by the outposts of Gen. Hood's army in bringing up the

rear. £ It arrived at Franklin on the morning of

November 30, and was immediately assigned to the front line of works, on the left flank of the Second Division, 23d Army Corps, to the right of Franklin turnpike. In the fight on that day the regiment, out of 180 men engaged, lost 22 men killed on the field and 40 wounded. Many were killed by Rebel bayonets. The contest was so close that once the flag of the regiment was snatched from the hands of the color-sergeant. but the bold Rebel was killed instantly. The troops on the immediate left of the ilith fell back during the charge, and the Rebels, holding this part of the line for an hour, poured an en- filading fire along the line of the whole brigade. Owing to the large loss of officers in this and

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previous engagements, a detail from other regi- ments was necessary to command the companies.

On December 1, the IIIth marched back to Nashville, where it was assigned a position in the line of defenses on the left. It was severely en- gaged during both days of fighting in front of Nashville. In a charge on the second day it captured three Rebel battle-flags, and a large number of prisoners. The loss was seven killed and fifteen wounded. The regiment took part in the pursuit after Gen. Hood. It was marched to Clifton, Tenn., where, January 17, 1865, it took transports to make the campaign of North Carolina. It took an active part in the capture of Fort Anderson, and in the skirmishes at Mosby Hall and Goldsboro. After the surrender of Gen. Johnston, the regiment was removed to Salis- bury, N. C., where it remained until ordered home for muster-out. The IIIth re-enlisted as veterans, in February, 1864, in East Tennessee. Again, in October, 1864, after the Atlanta cam- paign, more than two-thirds of the regiment re- enlisted as veterans. The strength of the regi- ment at muster, in September, 1862, was 1,050 men. During its long term eighty-five recruits were assigned, making in all 1, 135. Of this total, 252 were killed, or died of wounds, 200 died of disease, 234 were discharged for disability, and 401 were mustered out, a few men being unaccounted for.

The Sixty-seventh Infantry (three years) origi- nated in the consolidation of the nucleus of the 45th and that of the 67th. It was mus- tered in between October 2 and December 17, 1861, and on September 1, 1865, received the remnant out of the 62nd Infantry, so that at muster-out, December 7, 1865, it repre- sented three regiments. The officers of the reg- iment, successively, were: Otto Burstenbinder, Alvin C. Voris, Cols; Alvin C. Voris, John R. Bond, Henry S. Commager, Lewis C. Hunt, Henry West, Lt .- Cols; John R. Bond, Henry S. Commager, Edwin S. Platt, Lewis Butler, Thos. J. Platt, Majors. Many of the flower of Wood county's young men served in the 67th, repre- sented mainly in Companies H, B, and K. Among the commissioned officers from the county were Capt. John B. Spafford. and Lieuts. John J. Parsons, Geo. N. Parsons, Henry J. Carter, Peter Bell, J. H. Whitehead and C. D. Lindsay.

Entering West Virginia, in January, 1862, the men received their first lessons in war, so that in March following, under the dashing Gen. Shields, they were able to render good serv-

ice at Winchester, against Ashby's Rebel cavalry. On March 22nd the regiment reported to Gen. Banks, in Winchester, and soon engaged the enemy, driving them till past night fall, as far south as Kernstown. The regiment lay on their arms all night, and on the next inorning were the first to engage the enemy. After the infantry fighting had been fairly opened, the 67th was ordered to re-enforce Gen. Tyler's brigade; to do which it was necessary to pass over an open field for three-fourths of a mile, exposed to the enemy's fire. The regiment executed the movement on the double-quick, and came into action in splendid order. It lost in this action fifteen killed and thirty-two wounded. Until the last of the next June, the 67th endured the hardships of marches up and down the valley, over the mountains and back again, from the Potomac to Harrisonburg, from Front Royal to. Fredericksburg, from Fredericksburg to Manassas. from Manassas to Port Republic, and from Port Republic to Alexandria.

On June 29, the regiment embarked on the steamer " Herald " and barge .. Delaware," and started for the James to re-enforce Gen. Mc- Clellan. In the night of the 30th, when near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, in a very heavy gale, the hawser, by which the barge was towed. parted, leaving the barge to toss about in the trough of the sea. Men, horses, arms. and camp and garrison equipage, were carried over- board and lost. At Harrison's Landing the regi- ment campaigned with the Army of the Potomac till the evacuation of the Peninsula, when it went to Suffolk, Va., with only 300 men for duty out of 850 which composed the regiment at the organization. The regiment enjoyed here its first opportunity for rest and drill; and, in the last of December, was transferred to North Caro- lina, and then to Hilton Head, where it arrived February 1, 1863. The regiment shared in the Charleston expedition, landing on Cole's Island, April 2. For seven months the regiment heroic- ally endured all the hardships, privations and dangers of the siege, taking part in the attack on Fort Wagner, and sustaining heavy loss. The regiment re-enlisted, and returned to Ohio in February, 1864. At the expiration of their fur- loughs the soldiers of the 67th returned to the field, reaching Bermuda Hundred. Va .. under Gen. Butler, May 6, 1864. On May oth, the 67th was detached to guard the right thank of the roth Corps, that had gone to the railroad at Chester Station to destroy it from there to Pe- tersburg. A section of artillery was sent with the regiment, and they were placed on the turn-

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pike from Richmond to Petersburg, about eleven miles from the former place, with orders to hold the position at all hazards. During the night re-enforcements arrived, and next morning the Rebels made a general attack upon them. The 67th maintained its position from first to last, presenting an unbroken front to four successive charges. A section of the Federal artillery, for a short time, fell into the hands of the enemy, but was recaptured by a portion of Company F. May 10, 1864, will always be remembered as a sad but glorious day, by the 67th. Seventy-six officers and men were killed and wounded in that battle.

On May 20, a portion of the Union lines hav- ing fallen into the hands of the Rebels, the 67th, with other regiments, was designated to recap- ture it, which was done by a charge, in which the 67th lost sixty-nine officers and men killed and wounded. The Rebel Gen. W. H. S. Walker was wounded and captured, his sword passing into the hands of Col. Voris as a trophy. On August 16, four companies of the 67th charged the rifle pits of the enemy at Deep River, and at the first volley lost a third of their men; but before the Rebels could reload the rifle-pits were in the possession of the Federal troops. On October 7, 13, 27, and 28, the regi- ment engaged the enemy, with a loss of over one hundred men. During the spring, summer and fall of 1864, the 67th confronted the enemy, at all times within range of their guns; and it is said by officers competent to judge, that during the year it was under fire two hundred times. No movement was without danger; firing was kept up for days, and men wore their accoutrements for weeks at a time. Out of over 600 muskets taken to the front in the spring, three-fifths were laid aside during the year on account of casual- ties.

In the spring of 1865, the 67th participated in the assault on the Rebel works below Peters- burg; on the 2d of April it was foremost in the charge on Fort Gregg, and at Appomattox C. H. was in at the death, bearing her battle-flag proudly in the last fight the Union forces made against the army of Northern Virginia.

The One Hundred and Forty-fourth Infantry (one hundred days' service) was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, May 11, 1864, out of the 64th Battalion O. N. G., of Wood county, and the 19th Battalion O. N. G., of Wyandot county, with Samuel H. Hunt, Col. : Frederick R. Miller, Lieut. Col .; and Marquis D. L. Buell, Major.

Miller and Buell were both Wood county men, and also Quartermaster John H. Reid. Com- pany C was mainly a Wood county organization,. composed of men principally from Bowling Green and vicinity ( Plain and Center townships ). Its. officers were Capt. Jeremiah Kitchen, Ist Lieut. Samuel J. Lamb, and 2nd Lieut. Thos. J. Avery. Company F was composed of men mainly from Perrysburg, with some from Middleton and Web- ster townships. Its officers were Asher Cook, Capt. ; Andrew Bloomfield, Ist. Lieut. ; and Frank S. Tyler, 2nd Lieut. Company B was mainly from. Washington, Plain, and what is now Weston townships. It was commanded by Capt. Luther Black. Company E, commanded by Capt. Philip Smith, assisted by Ist Lieut. Abraham Keefer and 2nd Lieut. John D. Muir, was made up of men principally from Freedom, Webster, Bloom and Perry townships. Company I was made up of men, in main from what is now Grand Rapids and Weston townships, and was. officered by John McKee, Capt. ; Geo. Weddell, Ist Lieut. ; and Geo. Kimberlin, and Lieut. Com- pany K-of which Philo W. Hathaway was cap- tain; Benj. Bacon, Ist Lieut; and Dr. Edwin R. Sage, 2nd Lieut. - was made up of men chiefly from Montgomery township.

Ordered to report to Gen. Wallace, at Baltimore, Md., the command was moved rapidly, and, arriving at rendezvous, Com- panies G and K were detached for duty on the fortifications, and the other companies quartered at Fort McHenry. Thence Company E was sent forward to Wilmington, Del .; Company B to Camp Parole, near Annapolis, where. a few days later it was joined by Companies G. and I. This battalion remained at camp under the com- mand of Capt. I. Black until July 7. when it was ordered to join Gen. Wallace at Monocacy Junction. On July 9, Companies B, G and I were present at Monocacy Junction, when Gen. Early's advance was checked, losing in the engagement about fifty men in killed, wounded and prisoners. Wal- lace was defeated there, and, in every particu- lar, the affair was very discouraging to the gallant Ohioans, whose esprit de corps deserved better fortune. The regiment moved to Washington, on July 13, thence to Leesburg, en route to Win- chester, Va. At Snicker's Gap, orders were re- ceived to return to Washington, but it was imme- diately dispatched to Shenandoah. On the day that Hancock and Birney were repulsed at Deep Bottom, Va., a detachment of this regiment was attacked near Berryville, Va., by Mosby's guer- rillas. The two field pieces, worked by Mosby's skilled artillerists, created consternation in the

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ranks of the new regiment, but the men rallied, returned the fire and drove the guerrillas to flight. In this affair, the 144th lost five killed, six wounded and sixty prisoners. The muster- out took place August 24 and 31, 1864, when it was reported that the regiment lost 125 killed, wounded and prisoners, during its short term of service, and that many of the captured men had died in Andersonville and other prisons.

The Forty-ninth Infantry ( three years ) was organized at camp Noble, Tiffin, from August 15, to September 22, 1861. Its leading officers, successively, were: William H. Gibson, Joseph R. Bartlett, Colonels; A. M. Blackman, Levi Drake, Benj. S. Porter, Samuel F. Gray, Luther M. Strong, Joseph R. Bartlett, Milton F. Miles, Lieut. - Colonels; Levi Drake, Benj. S. Porter, Samuel F. Gray, Luther M. Strong, Joseph R. Bartlett, Milton F. Miles, J. Kessler, Geo. W. Pool, Majors.

Wood county was largely represented in Com- pany H, and had men in Companies A, C, K and F, and likely some few in others. In the com- mand were a number of commissioned officers · from Wood, among them: Lieut .- Col. Miles, Capt. Francis R. Stewart, and Lieuts. John J. Fry, Silas W. Simons and Geo. W. Vail. The regiment was mustered August 20, 1861. Company C, mustered September 1; E, August 22 ; F, August 26 ; G, September 3 ; H, August 30; I, August 26, and K, September 9. All came in after the regiment was received into the U. S. service. By September 21, 1861 (the command being then eleven days in Camp Dennison), it moved to Louisville, Ky., being the first organ- ized volunteer regiment to enter that border State. On September 23 it was at Muldraugh's Hill, where it remained until October 10, when it en- tered Camp Nevin. As a part of the Sixth Brigade, Second Division, Army of Ohio, it · moved to Munfordville December 10, and, near that point, on Green river, December 17, met Hindman's Arkansans and Terry's Texas Rangers, whom they repulsed with the aid of the 39th In- diana Infantry. On February 14, 1862, it moved to Bowling Green, and thence to Nashville; but on March 16 marched for Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, where it arrived in time for the battle of April 7, "going in" at 11 o'clock A. M. under Lt .- Col. A. M. Blackman, and maintaining a position on the left until 4 o'clock r. M., when the enemy retreated. During the five hours it changed front twice, each time under a heavy fire. From April 30 to May 29 it was a participant in

the siege of Corinth. Twelve hours after the gallant inen under Beauregard evacuated the town the 49th Ohio marched in, and thence proceeded in pursuit of the flying Confederates, through Iuka to Florence (Ala.), whence it marched to Battle Creek (Tenn.). Following came the ter- rible thirsty march after Bragg, ending at Louis- ville September 29. Next was the march to Frankfort, where the command arrived October 5, dispersed the Confederate forces there, and prevented the inauguration of Capt. Dick Hawes as Confederate governor.

On the 8th it was present at Perryville or Chaplin Hills, to aid McCook in the repulse of Bragg, and next day at Lawrenceburg and Dog Walk made a good fighting reputation, under Lt. - Col. Levi Drake. In November it was among the regiments advanced against Forrest and Mor- gan, in the Nashville affair, and on December 30, found itself in line, at Murfreesboro, or Stone River. During that well-fought battle, on the 3Ist and succeeding days, the 49th did extraor- dinary service, but lost heavily in officers and men. On June 24, 1863, the regiment was in the advance on Liberty Gap, where it assaulted the enemy's works, driving him back a mile to an equally strong position, which was captured on the 25th, leaving the route clear to Tullahoma, where the regiment camped on July 1. In August, the command marched toward Chatta- nooga (crossing the river near Beilefonte on the 3Ist ), and thence to Chickamauga, where, on the morning of September 19 it held a position on the extreme right of the army. Before drawn into battle, the position was changed to the ex- treme left, where at two o'clock in the afternoon it engaged the enemy, capturing two guns. Dur- ing the evening, and away into the night, the command was closely engaged, giving and re- ceiving blow for blow. On the 20th it was a factor in saving the Federal center, and was the last to retire from the bloody field that night. At Rossville temporary works were constructed, but on the night of the 21st the command fell back on Chattanooga, where it rested until the 24th, when the movement on Mission Ridge called it again to the front. Next day it planted its colors on Mission Ridge, and won new laurels on November 25. 1863. Its advance to the aid of Burnside at Knoxville, which followed, proved a greater test of endurance than any battle. Without food, clothing or shoes, with snow be- low and an air extremely cold, the soldiers pushed forward leaving bloody foot-marks to show their route and their condition. At Straw- berry Plains they learned of Federal successes,

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Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1, Part 26

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1060