USA > Ohio > Concise history of the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry : from the date of organization to the end of the rebellion ; with a complete roster of each company, from date of muster ; battles and skirmishes participated in, lists of the killed, wounded and missing, and other incidents of the camp and field > Part 17
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
Lieut. Hilles entered the service with the 126th Regiment, in August, 1862, and was commissioned First Lieutenant of Com- pany B. This sketch of his life before going to the army was given by his brother, Geo. E. Hilles, of Barnesville, Ohio. The following account of his military history and death was furnish- ed by Doctor J. S. Ely, who was Surgeon of the 126th Regiment.
BARNESVILLE, OHIO, JULY 7TH, 1883.
Robert Hilles, First Lieutenant Company B, was mortally wounded in a charge on the enemy's works, on the sixth of May, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness. He was in the line of his duty, with his face to the foe, gallantly leading his men when . the fatal bullet struck him. The wound was in the left breast, immediately over the region of the heart. The ball passed trans- versely across this region, crushing the ribs. That he escaped instant death was wonderful; for judging from the course of the ball, it seemed impossible that the heart had not been penetrated. He evidently regarded his wound as mortal, nay, he seemed to know it was. Words of cheer and hope he accepted, but only as tokens of the warm sympathy and friendship of comrades. From the field he was taken to the Division Hospital, and from thence to Fredericksburg. He was two nights and one day in the ambulance.
252
APPENDIX.
May the tenth, 1864, he wrote a short letter to his parents, of which the following is a copy :
FREDERICKSBURG, VA., MAY 10TH, 1864.
Dear Parents :- Doctor Ely wrote you a letter several days ago, which I presume you have received, giving you all the par- ticulars of my wound. I am now in the hospital at Fredericks- burg, got here yesterday. We are expecting to be moved to-day to Washington, though we who are badly wounded, probably will not be sent for a day or so, but will be soon. I think by proper care I will get along. I think I feel some easier this morning. I will write no more this morning as I am so weak. ROBERT HILLES.
In less than an hour after he had written this letter, hemor- rhage set in, causing speedy death. Private George McFarland, of Company B, and also a faithful colored servant, ministered to him in his last hours, and gave his body appropriate burial. Although every effort has been made to discover his grave, his last resting place remains "unknown."
Lieut. Robert Hilles possessed in a high degree those qualities of head and heart, that endear a man to those with whom he comes in contact. Unassuming, genial and generous, brave, honest and true, endowed with rare humor and sterling sense,- totally devoid of rancor-his friends were as numerous as his ac- quaintances; and personal enemies-he had none. Reared in the tenets of a society that inculcates peace, that teaches to "re- sist not evil," when rebellion struck at the Nation's life, his spirit of patriotism dominated all other sentiments, and he threw himself into the conflict.
As a soldier, he devoted himself to his duties with fidelity, and as a result, he had the love and confidence of his men. He was with the Regiment and participated in every engagement up to the fatal sixth of May, and in all did his whole duty.
" Green be the turf above thee."
J. S. ELY.
253
APPENDIX.
Doctor Ely states that he knew Lieut. Hilles from boyhood, and that he has tried impartially to give his true character.
The Hilles Post, G. A. R., at Barnesville, Ohio, was named in honor of Lieut. Robert Hilles, the subject of this sketch. He was a patriotic and devoted soldier, and fought for his country with the purest motives. He was doing his duty as a true officer when stricken down, and died as a faithful soklier in defense of the unity of his country. His bereaved relatives and friends have reason to be justly proud of the enviable reputation he achieved by his manly and soldierly bearing, and the cool, yet brilliant courage which marked his entire military career.
LIEUT. RUFUS RICKSECKER.
Lieut. Rickseeker was born April nineteenth, 1842, in Canal Dover, Ohio. After having graduated in the public school of same place, he entered the jewelry store of his father, and had gained a thorough and practical knowledge of the jewelry busi- ness, at the breaking out of the rebellion. He was possessed of fine social qualities; his many friends will remember with pleas- ure the musical evenings he enlivened, by his splendid bass voice and performances on the violin.
When the mutterings of war were heard in 1861, a home company, called the "Dover Light Guards," was organized and begun the play of soldier, which afterwards proved such a terri- ble reality. In this company Rufus Ricksecker was Orderly Sergeant. Afterwards, when the mutterings had swelled into a long deafening roar, he donned the sky-blue uniform of his coun- try, and went forth to battle for the preservation of its unity.
He enlisted the latter part of June, 1862, as a private, with Captain O). W. France. This he did from purely patriotic mo- tives, and though not strong and robust, he said, "I feel that it's my duty to go and help what I can to squelch this rebellion;" and though his father was amply able and willing, in fact anxious to retain him at home, as he was afraid he could not en- dure the hardships of a soldier's life, yet he went and was mus- tered into the service of his country, at Steubenville, Ohio.
Shortly after being mustered in, and before leaving Steuben- ville, he was made Commissary Sergeant of the Regiment, which position he ably filled, being an expert penman and accountant. While serving in this position, he made many warm friends in the Regiment by many acts of kindness. For a time he seemed subject to all the diseases of camp life. At Cumberland, Mary-
255
APPENDIX.
land, he had a severe spell of lung fever, and at Martinsburg, Virginia, he lay so low with typhoid fever for six weeks, that his life was despaired of, but by careful nursing from his comrades and close attention of the surgeon and chaplain, he finally re- covered, and from that time on he enjoyed better health than ever before. On the twenty-seventh day of June, 1864, he was commissioned First Lieutenant by Gov. Brough, and was assigned to Company G, being the company with which he enlisted, and was the commanding officer of that company until his death.
In the severe battle of Opequan, on the nineteenth day of September, 1864, while gallantly leading his company in an as- sault on the enemy's lines, he received his mortal wounds, by three balls from the enemy piercing him in quick succession, one penetrating the hand, another the neck, and the third the abdo- men; either of the latter were fatal wounds. Immediately after receiving these wounds, our forces were obliged to temporarily fall back, when he was heard by some of his company, asking them to take him along and not leave him to fall into the hands of the rebels, but when some of them attempted to carry him back, he said, "it's no use boys, I'm going to die, save yourselves."
Kind friends removed two rings from the hand that was wounded, a small breastpin, his sword and pocketbook, which was saturated with the life blood of our young hero. He was rudely covered with a blanket and left to die the death of a sol- dier, not alone, for the dead and dying. were not a few, but no father, sister, or brother, was there to minister consoling words or deeds. Among the many lives that were sacrificed to achieve that victory, none were more nobly offered up. The body was buried where it fell, without any mark to designate the place, and rests in an unknown grave. As the dead, known and un- known, were removed from the field of Opequan to the National Cemetery at Winchester, it is probable his body lies in that cemetery.
This sketch was furnished by his brother, J. Ricksecker, Canal Dover, Ohio.
LETTER FROM COL. McKINNIE.
The writer is indebted to Lieut. Col. Thos. W. MeKinnie for copies of the foregoing official reports of Col. Ebright and Capt. Hoge. The following letter accompanied the reports, and con- tains some interesting reminiscences of the events recorded in those reports.
ST. JOSEPH, MO., Sept. 19, 1882. J. H. GILSON, EsQ.,
Dear Sir :- On this 19th day of September the 18th anniversary of the battle of Opequan Creek, near Winchester, Va., where the brave Lieut. Col. Ebright fell while leading the gallant 126th Regiment to victory, I have, in answer to your letter of the 14th inst., devoted the day to looking through files of musty war papers, for anything that might aid you in the work of com- piling from the scraps and fragments gathered up, as correct and full a history of the Regiment as possible. This day, and many others, as anniversaries, are made memorable by the events participated in by the 126th Regiment ; and like the 4th of July to our loyal countrymen, because of the events, can never be for- gotten. I had been wounded in the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th of May. On Sunday evening, Sept. 18th, after seeing the remains of Capt. McCready embalmed at Baltimore, and expressed to Cadiz, Ohio, I joined the old Regiment near Win- chester, Va. The old members of Company "H" that had num- bered 80, were awaiting my arrival, to welcome me back-but what a sad sight-there were only seven of the old boys left. This told of the terrible decimation in the battles from the Rapidan to Winchester. In the battle on the 19th of September, I saw Capt. Hyatt fall, and asked two soldiers to help him off the field;
257
APPENDIX.
and while they were carrying him back, he was struck by another ball. Such scenes have been burned into my memory, and hence these anniversary days are to me both sad and sacred.
If there is anything more that I can do to aid you in your work, command me. Trusting that the enclosed official report of the 126th Regiment may be of much service to you, and that you will pardon me for delay in sending, and wishing you great success in the work undertaken, I am,
Very Respectfully Yours, T. W. McKINNIE.
17
NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
" Let the flowers forever fair Bloom above oar fallen braves, While the angels guard them there, Glory lingers o'er their graves."
The following correspondence gives information in regard to the National Cemeteries in which the dead of the 126th Regi- ment are interred.
OFFICE OF NATIONAL CEMETERIES, WASHINGTON, D. C., ) June 1st, 1883. - MR. J. H. GILSON,
Dear Sir :- In reply to your letter of the 24th ult., to the Ad- jutant General of the army, I enclose herewith a list showing the name and location of each of the National Cemeteries.
The union dead have been carefully gathered from all the battle-fields of the rebellion, and buried in cemeteries.
From Monocacy they were removed to Antietam; from Cedar Creek, to Winchester ; and from Spottsylvania and the Wilder- ness, to Fredericksburg.
There are Monuments at Antietam, Arlington, City Point, Cold Harbor and Winchester. At all of the Cemeteries, cach grave is marked by a marble or granite headstone.
Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, R. N. BATCHELDER, Dep. Quar. General, U.S. A., in charge of National Cemeteries.
FREDERICKSBURG, VA., May 26, 1883.
Dear Sir :- In reply to your favor, would state, that the dead from all the battle-fields around this place, viz. the Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania C. H., are
259
APPENDIX.
all interred in a "Beautiful Cemetery" located upon what is known as Marye's Heights, overlooking this city. The bodies of the Union Soldiers were brought here some two or three years after the war was over; but it took some time to do it all. The Cemetery is kept in beautiful order. Should you come down to visit the Cemetery, shall be pleased to meet you and talk over old times. From one that wore the Gray. (1st Lieut. 47th Vir- ginia Infantry.) Yours Respectfully,
LAWRENCE TALIAFERRO, Postmaster.
POST OFFICE, WINCHESTER, VA., May 26, 1883. J. H. GIESON, ESQ.,
Dear Sir :- In reply to your letter of the 24th inst., a Ceme- tery was opened here about March or April, 1866. In it are the remains of nearly five thousand soldiers who gave their lives for their country ; those that fell at Opequan, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill and other battles in this vicinity.
This is about all the information I can give you. But a let- ter addressed to A. B. Drum, Superintendent of the National Cemetery here, will meet with prompt attention; or anything that I can do, I will do for you with pleasure.
Respectfully Yours, JOHN H. DEAN.
WINCHESTER NATIONAL CEMETERY, WINCHESTER, V.A., June 2d, 1883. MR. J. H. GILSON,
Dear Sir :- In reference to your letter of the 31st ult., I would state that all of the remains of Union soldiers killed in the bat- tles of the Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, as far as possibly could be found, have been brought and interred in this Cemetery. Wherever the remains could be identified, their names or parts of names, as the case may be, were placed on the headstones; otherwise they are marked as unknown. There are
260
APPENDIX.
2,094 known, and 2,365 unknown dead interred here. The fol- lowing is a list of the members of the 126th Ohio Infantry in- terred here as far as the records give, viz :
Capt. Thomas Hyatt, Co. E, died Sept. 19, 1864.
A. I. Dillon, Co. B, died March 13, 1863. James Huff, Co. G, died Jan. 16, 1864, Martinsburg.
P. D. Je- -- , Co. E, died Sept. 22, 1864.
Jonathan Leisure, Co. C, dicd Feb. 12, 1863, Martinsburg.
J. N. Heaston, Co. H, died March 13, 1863, Martinsburg. James Stewart, Co. H, died March 4, 1863, Martinsburg. Unknown, Co. - , 126 Ohio.
E. B. Wallack, Co. E, died Sept. 23, 1864.
Any information you may desire, any time that I can give, I will be glad to do so. I am,
Very Respectfully,
A. B. DRUM, Superintendent.
FREDERICKSBURG NAT. CEMETERY, June 6, 1883.
J. H. GILSON, EsQ.,
Dear Sir :- This Cemetery contains 2,487 known, and 12,770 unknown, total 15,257 Union soldiers disinterred from the battle- fields of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania, Laurel Hill, North Anna, Bell Plains, Salem Heights, Mine Run, &c. &c., and of the 126th Ohio Vol. Infantry, as fol- lows:
Priv. G. E. Arnold, Co. H, from M. C. Coal's farm, Spottsylvania. Priv. V. Eckert, Co. G, from Hart's farm, Spottsylvania. Capt. O. W. France, Co. G, from Wilderness battle-field.
Priv. Geo. Gilhart, Co. K, from Laurel Hill.
Priv. I. M. Harvey, Co. H, from M. C. Coal's farm, Spottsylvania. Joshua Howell, Co. B, from Hart's farm, Spottsylvania.
Capt. Reuben Lampton, Co. K, from Hart's farm, Spottsylvania.
261
APPENDIX.
Priv. A. M. Pollock, Co. H, from M. C. Coal's farm, Spottsylvania. Priv. Jno. Trump, Co. G, from Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania. Priv. Daniel Zigler, Co. E, from Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania. Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
CHARLES FITCHETT, Sup't.
ANTIETAM, MD., June 13th, 1883.
Respectfully returned to Mr. J. H. Gilson, with the desired information. There are 2,853 known, and 1,818 unknown in- terred in this Cemetery. The dead from the field of Monocacy were removed to this Cemetery. These graves are "unknown."
There is a Monument (representing a soldier on picket) at this Cemetery; but Gen. Lew. Wallace has no inscription on the Monument. The following is a list of the 126th Ohio buried at this Cemetery :
Oliver Badger, removed from Frederick.
William T. Coburn, removed from Frederick.
William Donivan, removed from Wacoter.
John H. Lentz, removed from Cumberland.
Octave Labrie, removed from Frederick.
Benjamin F. Large, removed from Frederick. Andrew J. Peyton, removed from Frederick. Isaac W. Parker, removed from Frederick.
William L. Ritter, removed from Cumberland.
J. W. Turner, removed from Cumberland.
Noah Trail, removed from Frederick.
Very respectfully, your obedient Servant, W. A. DONALDSON, Supt. Nat. Cemetery.
NOTE .- Gen. Wallace, in his official report of the battle of Monocacy, says : "Orders have been given to collect the bodies of our dead in one burial ground on the battle-field, suitable for a monument, upon which I propose to write-These men died to
$
262
APPENDIX.
xare the National Capital, and they did save it." It seems this monument, with its inscription, was never erected ; a very un- grateful negleet on the part of the Government toward those honored dead, who sacrificed their lives in actual defence of the National Capital.
NATIONAL CEMETERY, CITY POINT, VA., June 11, 1883.
J. H. GILSON, EsQ.,
Dear Sir :- In reply to your communication of the 7th inst., I have the honor to inform you that there are none of the late members of the 126th Ohio Volunteers buried in this Cemetery.
You may receive the desired information by addressing a note to the Superintendent of the Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Petersburg Post-office. There are 3,778 known, and 1,374 un- known interred at City Point. . Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. A. DICHTEL, Sup't.
POPLAR GROVE, VA., U. S. NAT. CEMETERY, near Petersburg, Va., June 25th, 1883. )
J. H. GILSON,
Dear Sir :- Your letter of recent date received. In reply I would state that only one of the 126th Regiment is known, his name is Joseph Bager. He died January 25th, 1865; he was a member of Company G.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. C. LACY.
NATIONAL CEMETERY, OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT, CULPEPPER, VA., JULY 1ST, 1883.
MR. J. H. GILSON:
Sir :- Your letter of the 27th inst. is at hand, and yon are respectfully informed that no names of members of the 126th O. V. I. appear on the records of this office. With the unknown
263
APPENDIX.
in this cemetery, there are no doubt some of the 126th Ohio. My total here is 449 known, and 911 unknown. From Brandy Station, 160 known and 70 unknown. From John Minor Bott's farm, 15 known and 19 unknown. The balance from the battle field of Cedar Mountain, nearly all unknown.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than to furnish any data in my possession, regarding the 126th Ohio. My brother, Alex. Patterson, went out as Q. M. of that Regiment, but took violent bleeding of the lungs at the end of six or seven months and re- signed. I was an intimate friend of Col. McKinnie and a great many of the boys.
In some seventy-seven National Cemeteries in the South, there rest over 300,000 dead soldiers. Of this number, over 140,000 are unknown. When we recollect how our comrades were buried after a battle, and how often the field was in possession of the enemy, and our own men buried by them without any mark, we wonder that we have the names of as many as we have. Even in our winter camps, like yours at Brandy Station, where you had time and opportunity to place a piece of cracker box at the head of the graves-did you not march away in the spring and leave those graves to the mercy of a hostile people, who would take especial delight in making kindling out of those same head boards ? Some three years from that time elapsed before they were gathered into the National Cemeteries. No pains or ex- pense was spared by the Government to find the dead, and I ex- pect more names were found on letters in their pockets than at the heads of graves. I have 32 volumes of the Nation's dead (all of them) in my office.
I have carefully examined the "Roll of Honor" of every National Cemetery, (except those from which you have already received lists of dead) where I thought there might be a possi- bility of any of the 126th Ohio being buried. I also have the roll of the dead at Camp Chase, Camp Dennison, Spring Grove, Cincinnati, Gallipolis, and many other places, and have looked
264
APPENDIX.
them all over, occupying a whole day in the research. Seeing that I had several relatives and a host of personal friends in the 126th, this has only been a labor of love, to which you are en- tirely welcome. I only hope that I have thrown light on the last resting place of some poor fellow of whom you had been in doubt. I have made this search so complete that you are not likely to hear of any more names of your Regiment. But only think of the numbers that were never identified! 12,000 unre- corded and unknown at Salisbury alone! other cemeteries in the same ratio. I give you the lists of dead from the following cemeteries :
DANVILLE, VA., NATIONAL CEMETERY, (PRISON.)
Garrett, Jacob, company G, died November 26th, 1864. Allen, T., company K, died October 25th, 1864. Lambert, W., company C, died January 3d, 1865. Kizer, P., company F, died March 8th, 1865.
LOUDON PARK NATIONAL CEMETERY, BALTIMORE, MD.
Gess, Joseph, company D. Pucket, Lewis, company C. Turner, Harrison B., company D.
RICHMOND, VA., NATIONAL CEMETERY.
Van Vleck, A. L., company G, died December 30th, 1863. SALISBURY, N. C., NATIONAL CEMETERY, (PRISON.)
Pherson, James, company K, died January 30th, 1864. Weaver, Isaac, company C, died November 25th, 1864.
CYPRESS HILL NATIONAL CEMETERY, N. Y.
Robinson, James, company G, died September 6th, 1863. Stonebrook, John, company HI, died September 9th, 1863. Fleckner, John, company G, died August 22nd, 1864. Hendrick, Peter, company C, died October 10th, 1864.
265
APPENDIX.
COLD HARBOR, VA., NATIONAL CEMETERY. Hixon, Henry, Lieut. company A, died June 6th, 1864. ALEXANDRIA, VA., NATIONAL CEMETERY.
Dye, Elam, company H, died May 27th, 1864. Householder, P. W., company D, died November 29th, 1863. Swick, Martin, company I, died June 1st, 1864.
ARLINGTON, VA., NATIONAL CEMETERY.
Gallaher, L. G., company A, died May 27th, 1864. Reid, David, company A, died August 11th, 1863.
Murray, W. C., company A, died June 6th, 1864. Marsh, W., company I, died August 5th, 1864. Metzgar, S., company K, died December 5th, 1864. Page, B. M., company I, died May 26th, 1864. Roderick, John D., company K, died April 17th, 1865. Van Wagner, G., company D, died July 30th, 1864. Weeden, George, company B, died May 19th, 1864.
SOLDIERS' HOME NATIONAL CEMETERY, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Andrews, M., company I, died November 19th, 1863. Bricker, Henry, company H, died November 6th, 1863.
ANDERSONVILLE, GA., NATIONAL CEMETERY, (PRISON.) Clay, O., company D, died September 22nd, 1864. Hill, Samuel, company F, died September 20th, 1864. Hatfield, Geo. W., company K, died August 11th, 1864. Hurlis, Isaac, company C, died June 30th, 1864. Jewell, W. A., company G, died August 14th, 1864. Johnson, Michael, company C, died August 13th, 1864. O'Neil, James, company F, died August 2nd, 1864.
TOTAL-37.
Respectfully submitted, ROBERT Y. PATTERSON, Superintendent National Cemetery, Culpepper, Va. (Late of 30th O. V. I., from Tuscarawas County, Ohio.)
266
APPENDIX.
The following letter gives full information in regard to Lieut. Hixon's last resting place :
COLD HARBOR NATIONAL CEMETERY, RICHMOND, VA., 2 July 9, 1883. 1 MR. J. H. GILSON,
Sir :- I have looked over my book, and only find one name of the 126th Ohio, H. Hixon, Lieut. company A. He is in section B ; 343 is the number of his headstone.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. B. MAY, Superintendent.
My address, No. 2003 Venable St., Richmond, Va.
THE NATION'S DEAD.
From the National Tribune.
As a matter of general interest, we give the following list of National Military Cemeteries, together with total number of in- terments.
NAME OF CEMETERY. NAME OF CEMETERY.
Annapolis, Md.
Brownsville, Tex.
Alexandria, La.
Camp Butler, Ills.
Alexandria, Va.
Camp Nelson, Ky.
Andersonville, Ga.
Cave Hill, Ky.
Antietam, Md.
Chalmette, La.
Arlington, Va.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ball's Bluff, Va.
City Point, Va.
Barrancas, Fla.
Cold Harbor, Va.
Baton Rouge, La.
Corinth, Miss.
Battle Ground, D. C.
Crown Hill, Ind.
Beaufort, S. C. Beverly, N. J.
Culpepper, Va.
Custer Battle Field, M. T.
267
APPENDIX.
NAME OF CEMETERY.
NAME OF CEMETERY.
Cypress Hills, N. Y.
Marietta, Ga,
Danville, Ky.
Memphis, Tenn.
Danville, Va.
Mexico City.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Mobile, Ala.
Finn's Point, N. J.
Mound City, Ill.
Florence, S. C.
Nashville, Tenn.
Fort Donelson, Tenn.
Natchez, Miss.
Fort Gibson, I. T.
New Albany, Ind.
Fort Harrison, Va.
New Berne, N. C.
Fort Leavenworth, Kas.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Fort MePherson, Neb.
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.
Fort Smith, Ark.
Poplar Grove, Petersburg, Va.
Fort Scott, Kas.
Port Hudson, La.
Fredericksburg, Va.
Raleigh, N. C.
Gettysburg, Pa.
Richmond, Va.
Glendale, Va.
Rock Island, Ill.
Grafton, W. Va.
Salisbury, N. C.
Hampton, Va.
San Antonio, Tex.
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Seven Pines, Va.
Jefferson City, Mo.
Soldiers' Home, D. C.
Keokuk, Iowa.
Staunton, Va.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Stone River, Tenn.
Laurel, Md. Lebanon, Ky.
Vicksburg, Miss.
Wilmington, N. C.
Lexington, Ky.
Winchester, Va.
Little Rock, Ark.
Woodlawn, Elmira, N. Y.
Logan's Cross Roads, Ky.
Yorktown, Va.
Loudon Park, Md.
Springfield, Mo.
The whole number interments is, 172,147 known, 148,281 un- known; total, 320,428.
NOTE .- By addressing a letter, with stamp enclosed, to any of the above National Cemeteries, any information desired can be
268
APPENDIX.
obtained. For instance, the Cemetery at Florence, S. C., would be addressed thus : To Superintendent National Cemetery, Florence, S. C.
Of the whole number of interments indicated above, there are about 6,900 known and 1,500 unknown civilians, and 6,100 known and 3,200 unknown confederates. Of these latter the greater portion are buried at Wood Lawn Cemetery, Elmira, N. Y., and Finn's Point Cemetery, near Salem, N. J. The in- terments at Mexico City are mainly those who were killed or died in that vicinity during the Mexican War, and include also such citizens of the United States as may have died in Mexico, and who, under treaty provision, have the right of buriel therein. From the foregoing it will appear that, after making all proper deductions for civilians and confederates, there are gathered in the various places mentioned, the remains of nearly 300,000 men who at one time wore the blue during the late war, and who yielded up their lives in defense of the Government which now so graciously cares for their ashes.
SIXTH ANNUAL RE-UNION
-OF THE
126TH REGIMENT, O. V. I., -AT-
BOWERSTON, OHIO.
AUGUST 24TH, 1882.
[From the Bowerston Banner.]
The Annual Reunion of the 126th O. V. I., was held at Bow- erston, on the 24th inst., at 1 o'clock, P. M. For several days prior to the 24th, active preparations were being made to give the "boys" the grandest reception they had ever received. The town was beautifully decorated with flags, evergreens, and mot- toes bearing different inscriptions, such as "Welcome 126th O. V. I., Welcome." "God bless our Boys." "Welcome, brave Boys."
Early in the morning both soldiers and citizens began to ar- rive in large numbers, and by noon there were fully 2,000 peo- ple in town. The New Hagerstown and Leavittsville Bands discoursed some excellent music during the forenoon, which was highly appreciated by all. When the train from the East was nearly due, the soldiers who had already arrived, together with Capt. Wallace's Company of small boys from New Hagerstown, and Capt. Rogers' Company, of Bowerston, all armed with mini- ature guns, and headed by the Leavittsville Band, marched to the depot to meet those who would arrive from the East.
270
APPENDIX.
On the arrival of the train, the procession marched to the "Overholts Grove" just east of town, where the exercises of the day (including dinner) were to take place. At the hour for meet- ing they assembled, with Hon. S. B. MeGavran temporarily in the chair, who, after some music, and a prayer by Rev. Leggett, introduced W. H. Host, who briefly delivered the address of welcome. After the address of welcome, came the dinner, to to which all soldiers, without regard to what regiment they served in, were invited. The dinner was gotten up in good style, and certainly the ladies, both of town and country, (with few ex- ceptions,) deserve a great deal of praise for the elegant manner in which everything connected with the dinner was conducted. After dinner was over, and music by the bands, Capt. John E. McPeck, President of the Association of the 126th Regiment, called the large assemblage to order, and in a neat and impressive speech, alluded to the fact that this was but a fragment of the regiment present. And as the words fell from the Captain in speaking of our fallen and absent comrades, all who heard them, knew they came from his heart, where he cherishes the memory of the fallen heroes, the brave boys who fell in the shock of bat- tle. After music, private J. M. Garven, Esq., of Cadiz, was called upon by Capt. MePeck to respond to the address of welcome. He spoke feelingly of the welcome they had received at the hands of the people here, and hoped Bowerston would always be as it al- ways has been, a town famed for its kindness to the soldiers.
Professor (private) Dunlap J. McAdams, of Washington, Pa., was introduced by J. M. Garven as his substitute, and spoke partie- ularly of the work of the Soldier, and the necessity of each doing his part well. He compared them to the mighty machinery of the mills and factories, everything connected therewith, no difference how small, played its part. The derangement of the smallest piece of machinery would often disarrange the whole.
Dr. W. Foster, of Jewett, spoke in a very interesting manner in regard to the surrender of Lee, and many other incidents, which were eagerly listened to by the large crowd present.
271
APPENDIX.
Rev. John Lamasters, of Uhrichsville, very feelingly described the sad partings of the brave boys, from their homes and their loved ones, to go forth in defense of this glorious land of ours. How the mothers of America gave up their sons that our old flag might wave "over the land of the free, and the home of the brave."
Mr. W. A. Pittinger, of the Dennison Paragraph, spoke of the debt of gratitude the people, as a nation, owe the Soldiers. He also spoke of the dead whose bodies were buried all over the land, that it was our duty to scatter flowers on their graves, to keep them forever in our memories.
Capt. E. A. Parrish, of Uhrichsville, being called on, responded in his usual happy manner. He painted in glowing colors the achievements of the Soldiery.
While the last three speeches were in progress, the members of the 126th withdrew to another part of the grove, to hold a busi- ness meeting, which we give in connection with this article.
After the conclusion of the speaking and the business meeting supper was announced for all soldiers and the members of the band, after which the meeting adjourned until night, when the U. B. Church was opened, and was soon entirely packed full of people to hear the soldiers' experience meeting. Capt. S. Wal- lace, of the 80th O. V. I., was called to the chair, after which the New Hagerstown band discoursed some excellent music. Short experience speeches made by J. M. Garven, W. H. Host, Wm. Coultrap, Hon. S. B. McGavran, W. H. Boor, Geo. T. Mc- Kean, Capt. H. W. Kirby, and others. By the way, Al. McFad- den told how he supported a battery during an engagement him- self. After the meeting was over, on invitation of Hon. S. B. McGavran, the soldiers were invited to his house, where they were served with some splendid ice cream. The day was pleasant, and everything passed off pleasantly. The visiting soldiers, by their good conduct in every way, have endeared themselves in the memories of the people of Bowerston and vicinity. Thus ended the first Soldiers' Reunion ever held in Bowerston.
272
APPENDIX.
MINUTES OF BUSINESS MEETING OF REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION OF 126TH O. V. I., HELD AT BOWERSTON, OHIO, AUGUST 24THI, 1882.
Association convened at above named place, and after dinner held a short session at the stand, when, on motion, the members repaired to a shade-tree on the outskirts of the grounds to hold a business meeting. W. Foster was chosen Secretary, and in- structed to send letters of regret and sympathy to comrades A. J. Harrison, Jesse Grimes and W. H. McCoy, who were report- ed sick. Also to draft resolutions in relation to the death of comrades John Coleman, Andrew Albaugh and G. W. Hoge. The members subscribed liberally to a fund to defray the funeral expenses of comrade John Coleman, deceased.
The thanks of the association were tendered the citizens of Bowerston and vicinity, and especially to comrade Boor and the executive committee for the entertainment provided for us.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, H. S. Moses, Canton, Ohio; Vice President, J. H. Benfer, New Philadelphia ; Secretary, J. P. Slemmons, Colum- bus ; Chaplain, W. L. Dixon, Canton, Ohio.
On motion, it was decided to hold our next Reunion at Uhr- ichsville, Ohio, August 23rd, 1883, to convene at 9 A. M., and continue until 10 P. M. of same day. The meeting to be a basket picnic. On motion, the officers were constituted an executive committee to make all necessary arrangements for the next an- nual meeting.
J. E. McPECK, President.
W. FOSTER, Secretary.
1.
2
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.