USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 28
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
thusiastic assemblage. While the Stryker and the Bryan companies were the only completed organizations from the county in the three months' service, they were not the only troops, as some twenty or thirty boys residing in the northern part joined Michigan regiments, others went into Indiana, and still others sought military organizations south and east. Not less than sixty boys thus found means to serve their country outside the county limits. Counting these and the two companies in the Four- teenth with the excess of men over one hundred, which they had, it will be seen that nearly three hundred men from the county were in the three months' service. How many enlisted under the call of May 3, for 42,034 men, cannot be learned, though doubtless there were a few.
THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1861.
Early in the morning of this eventful day the citizens of Bryan and vicinity were aroused from their slumbers by the thunder of the guns of the Bryan Union Artillery. A great meeting had been adver- tised, and distinguished and eloquent speakers were to be present to fly the American eagle higher than it had ever been permitted to soar be- fore, which is saying multum in parvo. The Centre Guards came in early, headed by the Williams Centre Band, and followed by long lines of wagons, carriages, men and women on horseback, and eager and dust-begrimmed pedestrians. Large delegations, thoroughly organized and marshaled, came from almost every township in the county, headed with martial music which strangely kindled those grand sentiments of loyalty and patriotism that find resting-place in the breast of every true American citizen. Capt. Stough's Pulaski Company, the West Buffalo Zouaves, the Fountain City Blues and Capt. Blakeslee's Mounted Rangers, were pres- ent with fife and drum and banner and escutcheon. A large procession was formed and marched through the principal streets with all the pomp and ceremony of military display and out west to the grove, where, with popular patriotic music, the orator of the day, Rev. Mr. Raffensberger, entertained the vast assemblage in a long and eloquent address on the issues of the war. Soldiers were present in military dress-at home on furlough from the army in Western Virginia-and were regarded by all as the heroes of the day, and were lionized by young and old. Toasts were read and responded to, amidst the rattle of musketry and the deep thunder of the cannon. Over 5,000 people were present. After a splendid and enjoyable day by all parties, the crowd dispensed to their homes.
RETURN OF THE THREE MONTHS' MEN.
On the evening of the 26th of July, news was received from Toledo that the Bryan and Stryker companies of the Fourteenth Regiment would
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yours July J. J. Elliott
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be at home that night. Upon the arrival of the Bryan company at 10 o'clock P. M., they were met at the depot by the entire town, and much of the surrounding country. The cannon had been fired at intervals all the evening to apprise the citizens of the rural districts that they were wanted at Bryan. The boys were received back from war with intense enthusiasm, tremendous cheers, and universal and protracted rejoicing. The next day, Friday, they were formally received by the citizens. Rev. F. L. Harper delivered the welcoming address, and Capt. Fisher, the response, in which was embodied a very interesting account of the military experience of Company C, the Bryan boys. A long table, the entire length of the court house, was loaded, to the verge of breaking down, with the choicest food that could be made or procured, and the returned boys were invited to partake at will and to any extent. Ample justice was done to the tempting viands,
CONTINUED ENLISTMENT OF VOLUNTEERS.
The Leader of August 1 contained a notice from the officers of Com- pany C, soliciting the names of volunteers for a new company, which was to be raised in the county. When the news of the call of the President of August 4, for 300,000 men, was received, the enlistment of men received new life and impulse. E. J. Evans and E. M. Deuchar opened recruiting offices at Bryan, and at other places in the county. C. W. Skinner, of West Unity, began raising men for the cavalry service, as did also O. G. Doughton, of Pulaski. A. F. Ely, about the middle of August, was authorized to enlist men at West Unity for the Thirty-eighth Infantry. A recruiting office was also opened at Stryker, one at Pioneer, one at Edgerton, and one at Montpelier, for the same regiment. Notwithstand- ing the bad reports that came from the army of the failure on the part of the Government to pay its troops as promptly as desired, and as the boys had a right to expect, and also of the terrible ravages of camp fever and other dreadful diseases, the enlistment of men went rapidly on. Within about one month, four full companies were raised and dispatched to Defi- ance to become a part of the Thirty-eighth Regiment. During the same period, there was raised a full company by Charles Skinner and others, for the Third Cavalry. Besides these, some fifty men left the county and joined companies raised in surrounding counties and States, thus making an estimated total raised in little over one month, counting about eighty men to a company, of over four hundred volunteers. The boys of Com- pany C, of the Fourteenth, three months' men, were paid $37.38 each in August, in addition to the first month's pay. This served to encourage the enlistment. The recruiting was done usually under the stimulus of a big war meeting, where eloquent orators delivered stirring addresses, and
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beautiful women with irresistible pleadings passed around the fatal enlist- ment roll. Every town and almost every schoolhouse was thus trans- formed into recruiting stations. The Leader, of August 29, contained the following :
There is quite a military spirit now in this county. War meetings are being held in different localities, and companies are organizing for the war. A company of over one hundred men will leave here for Camp Trimble on Monday next, and we understand that other companies will go from this county. Col. Bradley is now confident that he will have a regiment, as he has over seven hundred men enrolled. So much for energy, military knowledge, and gentlemanly demeanor. We understand that his regiment is destined for Missouri. With such men in the field, rebellion will stand but a slim chance.
One of the companies raised at Bryan for the Thirty-eighth left for Defiance as early as the 2d of September. They went in private convey- ance with banners flying and drums beating. About twenty of the com- pany were from Jefferson and twenty-five from Centre, Charles Green- wood, Captain. On the following Thursday, the Pulaski company, William Stough, Captain, left for Defiance. The day before their depart- ure, they were given a splendid dinner and a fine silk banner. Some twenty of the men were from Pioneer. They passed through Bryan in twenty-two wagons. At this time, the cavalry company destined for the Third Cavalry was almost completed. The Leader of September 12 contained the following :
Williams County has furnished more volunteers for the war than any other county in Ohio in proportion to population. We have a population a little short of seventeen thou- sand, and have furnished about six hundred and seventy-five men. Foot the matter up and see how nobly Ohio would stand in this cause, if every county should furnish men in proportion to Williams County. We have not quite so much land as some counties, but we beat them all in patriotism.
Capt. McQuilkin's company left Bryan September 10, and, at the same time, part of a company from West Unity went with them, the design being, if possible, to unite the two, but the scheme did not succeed. In October, Lieuts. Evans and Long opened recruiting offices at Bryan and elsewhere in the county for the Sixty-seventh Regiment, as it was thought, but really for the Sixty-eighth. H. J. Hunter also recruited for the Sixty-eighth.
THE ENLISTMENT IN 1862.
During the winter of 1861-62, but little was done in the way of rais- ing men for the war. A few recruits for the old regiments left, but no attempt was made to raise and organize full companies. It was thought. during the spring of 1862, that not less than seven hundred and fifty men had been furnished by the county for the war. Lieuts. Bates and Archer recruited a company in the spring for the One Hundred and Eleventh. Parts of other companies were raised at the same time, making a total raised during the spring of some two hundred men. By May, nearly
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eight hundred men had left the county for the war, about one-fourth of all the men liable to military duty. The following tabular statement shows the condition of the enlistment, etc., in the county prior to August 22, 1862 :
TOWNSHIPS.
Enlisted for three years
or for the war, prior to
Number now in the serv-
Number died in the serv-
Number discharged from
the service.
Enlisted subsequent to
July 2, 1862, and prior
to August 22, 1862.
Total number enlisted for three years.
Total number subject to be drafted.
Springfield
120
88
5
26
21
141
323
Pulaski
152
121
11
20
35
187
495
Centre ..
50
33
2
15
23
73
290
St. Joseph.
61
53
6
2
19
80
242
Florence
45
35
6
4
12
57
240
Superior
67
52
15
2
1
68
263
Jefferson
62
49
4
9
27
89
292
Brady.
71
69
2
...
50
121
294
Mill Creek
27
19
4
4
. 34
61
167
Madison
57
34
14
9
12
-69
186
Bridgewater
36
28
8
2
10
46
171
North west.
58
43
9
6
22
80
212
Total
806
624
86
107
266
1072
3175
The above table must not be regarded as wholly free from mistakes, though the errors, if any, are small. Capt. Archer's company, for the One Hundred and Eleventh, left the county August 26, 1862. About this time, the draft became an absorbing question, as it was seen that the county would not be likely to furnish its quotas. The County Commis- sioners some time before this had begun to offer liberal bounties to volun- teers, which had the effect of greatly stimulating enlistments. The county bounty, the State bounty and the National bounty of land, etc., did much to clear the county from the draft. In addition to this, each township raised by private subscription large amounts to be used for the same purpose. In August, 1862, out of the 3,175 men enrolled in the county, about nine hundred had made application for exemption from the draft. Prior to September 4, 327 certificates of exemption were issued. Under the call of the President of August 4, 1862, for 300,000 men, the following table was prepared and published in the Leader of Septem- ber 25 :
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
Enrolled.
Required. Furnished.
Draft.
Jefferson
292
117
80
37
Brady.
294
118
121
0
Mill Creek
167
67
57
10
North west.
212
85
74
11
Pulaski.
495
198
167
31
St. Joseph
242
97
78
19
Centre.
290
116
58
57
Springfield.
323
129
114
14
Florence
240
96
53
43
Superior.
263
105
68
37
Madison
186
74
60
14
Bridgewater.
171
68
44
23
Total
3175
1270
974
296
THE FIRST DRAFT.
Great efforts were made to rid the county of the draft, but so great had been the drain by voluntary action that the raising of the quota was slow and tedious work. For weeks it seemed almost at a standstill. At last, on the 1st and 2d of October, 1862, A. M. Pratt, Draft Commis- sioner, made the following draft : Springfield, 11; Mill Creek, 9; Madi- son, 12; Jefferson, 27 ; Superior, 20; Bridgewater, 19 ; Northwest, 9; Florence, 38 ; Centre, 46; St. Joseph, 17; Pulaski, 15. Total, 223. There were really 224 men drafted ; the extra man cannot be accounted for. Fourteen of the drafted men went into the Tenth Cavalry, and thirty-seven into the Thirty-eighth Infantry. Mr. Pratt had been com- missioned as drafting officer August 23, 1862. In the fall of 1862, Lieut. W. A. Keyes was authorized to recruit for the Tenth Cavalry; he opened offices at Bryan and Pioneer; the number of men he secured could not be learned, though probably some fifteen or twenty.
CONTINUATION OF THE ENLISTMENT.
On the 21st of October, 1861, the Governor of the State appointed the following men to constitute the County Military Committee : Jacob Youse, Chairman ; B. H. Fisher, John S. Cannon, Isaac R. Sherwood, M. B. Plummer, S. E. Blakeslee, George W. Finch, Orson Bates and G. A. Barnes. A. M. Pratt was a member of the military committee of the Tenth District. The county committee, immediately after its appoint- ment, divided the county into military sub-districts to correspond with the townships, and appointed sub-committees for each. Under the manage- ment and influence of these committees, the enlistment of men, the tender and payment of bounty, the care of soldiers' families, and the general oversight of military affairs of the county were conducted. Almost every public assemblage was under the auspices of these committees. For weeks
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
during the fall of 1862, war meetings for the enlistment of men were had in almost every schoolhouse. But still the county had much to undergo before the war was to terminate.
THE ENLISTMENT IN 1863.
A very large Union war meeting was held at Bryan, March 21, 1863, on which occasion Hon. J. M. Ashley was the orator in the afternoon, and Charles Kent and S. A. Raymond, orators in the evening. A week later, the first Union League of the county was formed at Bryan with the following officers : John Will, President; James Pollett, of Pulaski, D. Morrow, of Centre, J. P. Marsh, of Jefferson, J. C. Hart, of Springfield, Horatio Gilbert, of Superior, William Letcher, of Brady, W. F. Kelsey, of Madison, William Gillis, of Florence, and D. J. Long, of St. Joseph, Vice Presidents (the other townships were then not represented in the League); William H. Lockhart, Recording Secretary ; J. A. Simon, Corresponding Secretary ; J. N. Howe, Treasurer. Subordinate leagues were organized in almost every township. It became the fashion to secure distinguished speakers from abroad to address the citizens under the sus- pices of the leagues. A large war meeting was held at West Unity in May, 1863, at which time Hon. Mr. Ashley and Rev. A. Hollington addressed the citizens.
OPPOSITION TO THE WAR.
It was during the year 1863, that the Knights of the Golden Circle, and other disloyal organizations, began to make their first appearance in the county. Prior to this, no concerted action in opposition to the prose- cution of the war had been seen in the county, though there were many who expressed themselves of the candid opinion that the administration of Mr. Lincoln had no right to interfere with the institution of slavery, or in any way continue a war with that question as its sole object. There were men in the county who publicly stated that they were bitterly op- posed to the war, if its continuation intended the obliteration of slavery within the States. They believed in the divine institution of slavery. This seems strange to us now, but after all it is not to be wondered at. When the great majority of people in the South believed that the white man had the moral right to enslave his black brother, what can be said of those in the North who believed the same thing ? It is useless to recrim- inate for errors of the judgment. At times during the war, bitter ani- mosities were engendered by differences growing out of the questions in- volved. On one occasion, a citizen, who had put on a copper breastpin, was assaulted by Maj. Greenwood who tore the pin from his bosom and confiscated it. Much ill feeling resulted from this act. On another occasion, at a Union war meeting in a schoolhouse about four miles west
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
of Montpelier, a lady appeared in the audience wearing a finely orna- mented butternut breastpin. A resolute Union girl present spied the dis- loyal emblem, whereupon she seized it, and, after a brief struggle, during which time the air seemed filled with articles of feminine apparel, she car- ried it off in triumph. An account of this scene having reached the boys in the army, they sent the Union girl $5 in greenbacks with their warm- est expressions of approval of her loyal conduct. Many other instances of a similar character might be narrated, if space permitted.
POLITICAL AND WAR MEETINGS.
In May, 1863, the Democrats of Bryan and vicinity held a rousing meeting at Bryan. Distinguished speakers were present, and a large pole (hickory) was raised, and a magnificent national banner, 20x30 feet, was run up amid great enthusiasm and applause. Early in June they had another " big day," on which occasion John J. Hootman, Rev. M. Cheney and Dr. Q. H. Graser, delivered speeches, the latter speaking in German. All the speakers opposed the continuation of the war as regards any in- terference with slavery. It was noticed by the editor of the Leader that a delegation of citizens from Bridgewater Township carried a banner which had eleven stars in a field of white. The editor thought the flag a very significant one. About a week later, the Republicans of the county met at Bryan to elect delegates to the State Convention at Columbus. The largest crowd ever in Bryan up to that time assembled, there being pres- ent, as estimated by various parties, from six thousand to eight thousand people. The Republicans had endeavored to excel in numbers, loyalty, enthusiasm, etc., the Democratic meeting of the week before. Centre Township, in fifty wagons, came in early in the morning, headed by the Centre Brass Band. A very tall flag pole was raised early in the morn- ing, and a fine flag was soon flying from its top. A long delegation arrived from St. Joseph under J. O. Rose, Marshal, headed with martial ·music, and consisting of a group of horsemen, followed by a long line of wagons, carriages and pedestrians. The townships of Northwest, Bridge- water, Madison, Florence, Superior and Jefferson, concentrated at West Jefferson, formed a procession of over three hundred teams and marched down to Bryan, headed by the Bryan Band, which had gone up for the pur- pose of marching down with them. Capt. O. O. Kelsea was Chief Marshal of the day, and Capt. William Stough, Lieut. J. H. Long, Dr. A. L. Snyder, M. P. Mason, E. L. Richardson and L. M. Boothman, Assistant Mar- shals. A fine delegation of over one hundred teams arrived from Brady, Springfield and Mill Creek. The various fragments were united, and the whole procession, consisting of over six hundred teams, marched through the principal streets amid the wildest enthusiasm. Hundreds of banners
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
with all sorts of loyal devices and mottoes were carried, and the procession was led by two six-horse wagons, each containing thirty-four girls dressed in white and ornamented with flowers and national colors. Bryan had never before witnessed a pageant so brilliant and imposing. Dr. H. A. Ensign was President of the Day. The usual ceremonies on such occa- sions were enjoyed. John R. Osborn delivered a short speech, and was followed by Hon. John L. Greene, who enchained the vast audience for over two hours with his eloquence.
ADDITIONAL RECRUITING.
Capt. Andrew Newman began recruiting for the Thirty-eighth in June, 1863. In this month, Edgerton sent out a company commanded by Capt. Wood, for the six months' service, the first in Northwestern Ohio raised for that department. In July, Lewis Geaugue, Levi Noble and Frank Elder, commenced recruiting for Maj. McQuilkin's battalion. Capt. Stough, Thomas Yates, John Carnahan, Capt. J. H. Palmer, James Beechler and Lieut. T. B. Hanna, also began recruiting for the two com- panies that were to be raised in the county. These men were for the six months' service under the call of June 15, for 100,000 men. Rousing war meetings were again held in all parts of the county. In August, 1863, a Ladies' Union League was organized at Bryan, Mrs. L. A. Eckes being President. If similar organizations were formed in other parts of the county, such fact is not known to the writer. The following adver- tisement appeared in the Leader about this time :
WANTED-CORRESPONDENCE.
Two brave, gay and festive young soldiers, who have lately been marching through mud and rain after Skedaddle Bragg, have become mud-bound near the mountains, and hence have got the blues. So, accordingly, they challenge Uncle Sam's fair nieces to write on love, fun and the consequences, as they are bound after the Union of States is secured to settle down in the Union with some fair girl who is noble and true.
Correspondence from Brady and Pulaski Townships preferred. Address- WILLIAM BLAIR OF HARRY TOBIAS,
Company H, Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Second Brigade, Third Division, Army of the Cumberland.
MILITIA ORGANIZATIONS.
. In August, 1863, all the militia of the county capable of bearing arms were formed into the First Regiment, O. O. Kelsea, Colonel; Second Regiment, George Helwig, Colonel ; and Third Battalion, P. W. Norris, Lieutenant Colonel. These organizations were only partly perfected ; they were the means, however, of preparing the way for the more rapid enlistment of men to fill the county's subsequent quotas. An enormous mass-meeting was held at Bryan in September, 1868, Hons. John A. Bingham, of Ohio, and George W. Julian, of Indiana, being the speakers.
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
Political questions in the county, during the autumn of 1863, ran to fever- heat. Meetings were held everywhere, and speakers of all degrees of loy- alty, eloquence and intelligence, thundered their sentiments and those of their party from every public building. Churches, where erst were heard the humble prayers and simple songs of worshipers, were transformed in- to halls of political enthusiasm, where wrathful utterances and enduring animosities were exchanged. There was as much excitement in the county during the latter part of 1863, as there was during the Presi- dential campaign of 1864.
NEW CALLS FOR TROOPS.
The call of President Lincoln, October 17, 1863, for 300,000 three years' men stimulated anew the enlistment. John W. Pollock began recruiting for the Thirty-eighth ; William Stough for the Ninth Cavalry ; J. P. Caldwell and C. H. Everhard, also for the Ninth Cavalry. The county did not respond properly to its quota under the call, and the 10th of March, 1864, was fixed for the draft. The quota of the county under the call of June 15, 1863, for 100,000 six months' men, and the call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 three years' men, was as follows : Spring- field, 26 ; Brady, 21; Jefferson, 22; Centre, 23; Pulaski, 50; St. Joseph, 22 ; Florence, 20; Northwest, 21; Bridgewater, 17; Superior, 21; Madison, 19; Mill Creek, 16. On the 11th of February, 1864, the county lacked sixty-seven men of filling its quota, but as this number was considerably reduced before March 10, the draft was postponed to April 15, at which time the county had entirely freed itself by enlistment. At this time, the offers of bounty from the county, from individuals, and from the State and Nation, were very enticing, the total footing up to about $500 for each volunteer. In May, 1864, the only company from the county in the 100-days' service left Pioneer under the command of Capt. Richard Gaudern. The call of the President, July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men, was responded to by the opening of enlistment offices in all portions of the county. On the 11th of August, 1864, there was yet due from the county under all previous calls the following number of men: Springfield, 7; Brady, 39; Jefferson, 40; Centre, 41 ; St. Joseph, 49; Florence, 27; Northwest, 39; Superior, 41; Bridgewater, 32; Madison, 31; Mill Creek, 29; Pulaski, 0. Total, 375. It should be noted at this point that, during the enlistment of men under previous calls, many had come from distant portions of the county and had joined the companies raised at Bryan and Stryker, and, instead of giving their real residence, they carelessly permitted their names to go on the muster rolls as resi- dents of those towns. It will thus be seen that Pulaski and Springfield Townships were wrongly credited with volunteers, from the other town-
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
ships. This, late in the year 1864, occasioned much bitterness in the county, as will be seen farther along. In August, 1864, W. E. Kintigh began raising men for the war. Other offices were opened, but the county could not free itself, and on the 26th of September, the following draft was made upon the county at Toledo : Jefferson, 40; Centre, 38; St. Joseph, 42 ; Florence, 24; Superior, 40 ; Northwest, 36; Bridgewater, 30; Mill Creek, 16. The other townships had filled their quotas (partly as above stated) and were free. John Kent was Provost Marshal of the Tenth District, and Capt. E. J. Evans, Deputy. A week later, the drafted men (the most of them) left for Toledo, quite a disturbance occurring at the depot on the occasion of their departure.
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