USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 29
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FURTHER WAR MEASURES.
The Presidential campaign of 1864 was spirited, and left a lasting im- pression upon the mind. Each party thoroughly organized for the strug- gle which was to decide the question of continuing the war. Meetings were held every week, clubs were formed, and torch-light processions paraded nightly with martial music, banners and intense enthusiasm. When the election returns finally came in, and the country stood pledged to quell the rebellion at all hazards and at any cost, the feeling among loyal men rose to mountainous heights, and only found vent in long-con- tinued rejoicings and jubilees. After this, the county took a new start in the direction of speedily crushing the rebellion. In November, 1864, a supplementary draft was made upon the county at Toledo, to supply the deficiency of exempted men and men who had deserted (a few) under the draft of September 26. The following is the draft : Centre, 10; Flor- ence, 12; St. Joseph, 22; Jefferson, 14; and Northwest, 12. The quota of the county under the call of December 19, 1864, for 300,000 one, two and three years' men was as follows: Springfield, 10; Brady, 21; Jefferson, 22; Centre, 18; Pulaski, 0; St. Joseph, 14; Florence, 21; Northwest, 23; Superior, 28; Bridgewater, 27; Madison, 23; Mill Creek, 15. At this time, the question of the "veteran credits " began to create much bitterness and interest. Pulaski and Springfield Townships had been wrongly credited with veterans from other townships who had carelessly given Bryan and Stryker as their residences at the time of en- listment or, perhaps, when they were "veteranized." The other town- ships put in their claims for men or money as follows, each man being valued at 8200, the bounty necessary to secure volunteers : Pulaski owed Bridgewater three men or $600; Madison two men or $400; Centre ten men or 82,000; Jefferson sixteen men or $3,200; and Superior eleven men or $2,200. Springfield owed Bridgewater three men or $600; Madi- son three men or $600; Florence four men or $800; and Mill Creek
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four men or 8800. The military committee of the county were asked to correct the error, but they either could not or would not; at least, they did not. The county papers were for weeks filled with long, wrathful let- ters, pro and con, on the question ; but nothing was done to correct the trouble. The termination of the war ended the vexing question. At one time a mass convention was held by the aggrieved townships at Mont- pelier to consider the question, and the following petition was sent to the Governor of Ohio :
To His Excellency, John Brough, Governor of Chio: The undersigned citizens of Williams County, Ohio, would respectfully represent that on the 4th of February, 1865, . mass convention was held at Montpelier in said county, attended by citizens of nine town- ships, and that at that convention, among the business transacted, as will appear from a report of the proceedings herewith transmitted to your Excellency, the following resolu- tions were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That though we do not by this act proclaim as our belief that there are not among the military committee of the county men who are willing to do justice and to deal impartially with the whole county; yet, as a whole, the committee have not the confidence of the people of these townships, and we shall hail with pleasure the day when the way shall be made clear for the re-organization of that body.
That since the adoption of the foregoing resolution by said convention, the members of the military committee, who are therein referred to, have, by their persistent refusal or neglect to resign the positions they occupy, continued to disregard the will of the people, so clearly and unmistakably expressed. Your petitioners, therefore, pray that your Ex- cellency may appoint instead another military committee for this county, and that the members of the same may be fairly distributed among the different townships of the same.
SUPERIOR, March 20, 1865.
No response to this petition came from the Governor, and the early termination of the war obliterated the conditions requiring one.
COUNTY AID SOCIETIES.
On the 31st of October, 1861, in response to the first calls for sanitary aid from Western Virginia, the ladies of Bryan, pursuant to notice, met at the court house for the purpose of taking some definite action in accord- ance with the suggestions of the Governor of Ohio for the formation of ladies' aid societies. A long, excellent series of resolutions was adopted. Mrs. M. Blinkley was made President; Mary Anderson, Vice President; Mrs. A. M. Pratt, Secretary ; Mrs. S. J. Moon, Treasurer ; Mrs. W. H. Keck, Mrs. W. A. Stevens, Mrs. Alvin Spencer, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Allen and Miss Fulton, Directresses ; Mrs. I. R. Sherwood, Mrs. Jacob Youse, Mrs. Walt, Mrs. James Bell, Miss Pike, Miss Delia Crall and Miss Laura Cunningham, Executive Committee. The following subordinate commit- tees were also appointed : West Jefferson, Mrs. Dr. Omo and Mrs. J. Gilbert ; West Unity, Mrs. G. H. Pierce and Mrs. Letcher; Mill Creek, Mrs. E. G. Denman and Mrs. T. Landon ; Pioneer, Mrs. Dr. Gaudern and Miss Rogers; Montpelier, Mrs. Dr. Snyder and Mrs. Platt; Stryker,
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Miss Chase and Mrs. C. Blinn ; Centre, Mrs. G. H. Tomlinson and Mrs. J. Dillman ; Edgerton, Mrs. Terpening and Mrs. J. S. Stough ; Florence, Miss Sarah Webb and Mrs. Palmer ; Northwest, Mrs. Dr. Bates and Mrs. C. Peck ; Pulaski, Mrs. Henry Newman and Mrs. Gleason. The vari- ous committees began immediate and active work. It has been the pleas- ure of the writer of this chapter, during the past few years, to examine critically the war history of various counties in Ohio and Indiana, but in all such experience no county was found to have done more with its aid societies than Williams. From the organization of the above society until the close of the war the good work went constantly on. During the autumn and winter of 1861, several boxes of supplies were sent to Western Virginia. In April, 1862, when the news of the battle of Pittsburg Landing reached the county, Dr. John Long, D. M. Crall and Capt. Fisher were appointed a committee to go to the assistance of the boys with three huge, hastily-prepared boxes of hospital supplies and delicacies, and over $200 in money. Dr. Long was permitted to pass the lines to the army, but the others were compelled to return. Aid societies were established in all parts of the county, though unfortunately but little can be stated regarding them, as no published accounts could be found. Mrs. George Helwig was President of the society at Edgerton, and Mrs. C. Farnham, Secretary. During the entire war, lectures were constantly delivered by home and foreign talent, and the proceeds were contributed to the fund of the aid society. Mrs. Dr. Gaudern was Secretary of the society at Pioneer. Mite societies were organized, private subscriptions were solicited, and other means used to increase the funds. The central society was at Bryan and branch societies in every township in the county.
WORK OF THE AID SOCIETIES.
From the 31st of October, 1861, to the 1st of January, 1863, the fol- lowing supplies were sent from Bryan alone: One hundred and forty- eight cotton sheets, 15 flannel sheets, 224 shirts, 40 blankets, quilts and comforters, 72 pillows and cushions, 280 pillow cases, 66 towels, 20 hand- kerchiefs, 20 bed racks, 234 pairs of socks, 9 pairs mittens, 17 dressing gowns, 25 pounds of soap, 118 cans of fruit, 13 quarts of wine, 24 pounds of prunes, 25 pounds of dried beef, 50 pounds of dried fruit, 1 barrel of onions, 1 barrel of dry toast, 1 barrel of eggs, 2 kegs of pickles, 1 dozen boxes condiments, and many other miscellaneous and useful articles. The officers elected in January, 1863, for one year, were: Mrs. T. H. Blaker, President ; Mrs. John Bryan, Vice President. The Treasurer reported the following cash accounts for the first six months :
RECEIPTS.
Contributions.
.$ 4 80
Mite societies.
8 67
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Membership fees. 7 60
Proceeds of festival. 25 09
1 00
Membership fees
Proceeds of three lectures
42 69
Proceeds of a tea party
18 00
Sundry donations.
47 00
Citizens' contributions
188 00
Sale of chickens
1 50
Proceeds of seven mite societies
20 40
Total
$854 75
EXPENDITURES.
For soldiers' families
6 00
Expenses of festival.
28 16
Material for hospital clothing. 156 24
Cartage, freight and express
81 52
Hospital stores
12 84
Yarn and socks.
87 88
Handkerchiefs
2 25
Expense of lectures
8 50
Printing
50
Sundry donations.
15 80
Oats for packing eggs
1 17
Sundry expense
4 65
Total.
$295 01
Balance on hand
$ 59 74
The total cash receipts, for the year 1862 (partly included above), were $404.58, and the total cash expenditures, $214.10. In December, Dr. Garver conducted a gift enterprise which netted $145 for the society. The officers of the society for 1864, were : Mrs. Emily Youse, President ; Mrs. John Ryan, Vice President ; Mrs. A. M. Pratt, Secretary ; Mrs. A. A. Allen, Treasurer ; Mrs. John Will, Knitting Directress ; Mrs. E. Evans and Mrs. J. Welker, Sewing Directresses ; Mrs. Parks, Mrs. Garver and Mrs. Park, Finance Committee. Officers were re-appointed annually, and the cash and supply receipts continued during the war to come in at about the above rate. During the war, the county expended fully $1,200 for hospital supplies alone. Taking into account the enormous shipments of clothing and cloth of all kinds, the great number of boxes and barrels of provisions, and the vast supplies of delicacies that were sent out, it is certain the ladies of Williams County sent $5,000 in money and supplies into the field.
THE CLOSE OF TIIE REBELLION.
The receipt of the news of the surrender of the army of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant, at 4:30 P. M., April 9, 1865, was received with intense and universal rejoicing. Public meetings were held everywhere, that the citi- zens might have the opportunity of mingling their congratulations, and
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publicly expressing their joy at the successful suppression of the rebellion and the maintenance of the Union of the States.
The 14th of April was fixed by Gov. Brough as a day of public thanks- giving. But in the midst of the festivities, the news of the assassination of President Lincoln was received, and the sentiments of all loyal citizens underwent a sickening revulsion. Scores of men and women burst into tears of sorrow, as if they had lost their nearest and dearest friend. The county paper contained the following :
REJOICING AND SORROW.
We have no heart to-day to write of the great rejoicing of our people, which took place less than a week ago. Sudden and overwhelming grief overhangs the Nation to-day, and our unbounded rejoicing is turned into deepest sorrow. In our last issue, we gave the proceedings of a meeting of our citizens held to make arrangements to observe Friday last as a day of general rejoicing-in obe- dience to the request of Gov. Brough-over the recent glorious victories to the Union arms, and the cheering prospects of speedy and permanent peace. We venture to say that no other village of the size of Bryan did so nobly in the way of rejoicing on that day. It is true, we had no big gun by which to demonstrate our joy, but all other joyful manifestations were resorted to. Bells were rung, flags were unfurled to the breeze, and all the principal business places were closed during most of the day. At 10:30 A. M., religious services were held in the M. E. Church, where an able and thrilling sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. SACKETT. The house was well filled with our best. citizens, who were deep- ly interested in the service. At 2 P. M., the M. E. Church was again filled to overflowing, and speeches were made by the following gentlemen, as they were introduced by Mr. E. FOSTER, President of the meeting : Capt. B. H. Fisher, A. ) !. Pratt, Esq., Rev. Nat. Crary, Hon. S. E. Blakeslee and S. N. Owen, Esq.
We have not time and space to notice the speeches of the gentlemen as they deserve., The day passed, and night came with its bonfires and other manifes- tations of joy. And thus ended our day of jubilee. But what a change came over the spirit of every patriot the next morning when the sad and thrilling intelligence of the horrible tragedy at Washington-the inhuman butchery of our beloved President and the Secretary of State-was sent with lightning speed over the wires, to all parts of the country. What greater calamity could we as a Nation be called to mourn ? None but sheer traitors could refrain from expressing sorrow at the death of so great and noble a man as President LINCOLN; and especially at the manner in which it was brought about. All rejoicing among our loyal people was turned into deepest sorrow, and every token of a jubilan. spirit was exchanged for signs of mourning. Yesterday, being the funeral day of our late and lamented President, and the whole nation being in- vited to take a participative share in the ceremonials at Washington, by engag- ing in religious services in their respective places of worship, our citizens in an appropriate manner paid their tributes of respect to the illustrious President and patriot. Again the places of business were generally closed, but instead of flags floating high in the breeze they were at half-mast, and other signals of mourning hung from the buildings throughout town. At 11 o'clock A. M., services were held in the M. E. Church, and at 12, noon, the Baptist Church was filled to overflowing, and another sermon from Rev. S. H. Alderman was listened to, the R .: vs. L. D. Robinson and W. S. Wright assisting in the services.
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.
A very large meeting was held at the M. E. Church in Stryker, to pay proper tribute to the life, character and services of the murdered Presi- dent. Rev. J. R. Colgan delivered a very eloquent and touching address. The character of the meeting was then changed to give the citizens an op- portunity of publicly expressing their sentiments and sorrow. Col. E. D. Bradley was made Chairman ; M. D. L. Buel, Secretary ; Dr. E. P. Willard, W. R. Babcock, Rev. J. R. Colgan, Messrs. Kitzmiller and Breckinridge, Committee on Resolutions ; M. D. L. Buel, Committee on Publication. Col. Bradley delivered a long, brilliant address. Other meetings were held throughout the county, though no facts regarding them could be learned.
RETURN OF THE WILLIAMS COUNTY BOYS.
During the summer months of 1865, the soldiers returned from the war, and were met with open arms and throbbing hearts by loved ones and friends. They were usually received with formal ceremony. The flag they had carried through so many bloody campaigns was returned to the citizens who had presented it to the brave boys before they went away, so proud and valiant, four years before. Fine swords or other elegant presents were given to those who had done some specially distinguished service. Many a boy who had gone away so bright and brave was left in a patriot's grave far down in the Sunny South. Some were brought home and buried by loving friends. Their graves may be seen in the county's cemeteries, where the sod and shrubs and flowers are yet kept as bright and fresh as the spirits that were gladly given for the nation's preserva- tion. It may be said that the citizens of the county usually observe Decoration Day. The heroes must not be forgotten.
SUMMARY OF THE TROOPS FROM WILLIAMS COUNTY.
It is next to impossible to give the name of every regiment that con- tained men from the county, as many boys went to other States and coun- ties to enlist. The Fourteenth Infantry in the three months' service contained two companies from Williams, the names of the officers appear- ing some pages back. The Thirty-eighth contained four companies of Williams County boys : Company A-Charles Greenwood, Captain ; C. M. Gilbert, First Lieutenant; Daniel Tressler, Second Lieutenant. Company C-D. S. Tallerday, Captain ; W. E. Kintigh, First Lieuten- ant; Joseph Wagstaff, Second Lieutenant. Company E-Robert Mc- Quilkin, Captain ; E. M. Deuchar, First Lieutenant; A. W. Burgoyne, Second Lieutenant. Company H-William Stough, Captain ; Andrew Newman, First Lieutenant ; Peter V. Fulton, Second Lieutenant. In the Sixty-eighth was Company K-Edwin J. Evans, Captain ; J. HI.
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Long, First Lieutenant ; J. F. Cosgro, Second Lieutenant. In the One Hundredth was Company C-Henry Gilbert, Captain; George Rings, First Lieutenant ; B. F. Ewers, Second Lieutenant. In the One Hundred and Eleventh was the company commanded by Albert A. Archer, Captain ; Rufus Bates, First Lieutenant ; Samuel Smith, Second Lieutenant. In the One Hundred and Forty-second was Company D-Richard Gaudern, Captain ; Andrew Irwin, First Lieutenant. In the Third Cavalry was Company K-Charles W. Skinner, Captain ; William Maxwell, First Lieutenant ; S. J. Hansey, Second Lieutenant. In the Ninth Cavalry was Company H-William Stough, Captain ; I. P. Caldwell, First Lieu- tenant ; S. B. Woodmanse, Second Lieutenant. As many as a dozen other regiments contained men from the county. The writer, after care- ful estimate, would fix the number of men in the war from Williams County at about fourteen hundred. This is certainly an excellent show- ing for so small a county.
SKETCHES OF REGIMENTS.
The following sketches of the regiments which contained a consider- able number of men from the county will prove of interest to the citizens of the county. They were compiled from Reid's "Ohio in the War," and are substantially correct :
THE FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
The Fourteenth, in the three months' service, contained the two com- panies mentioned from Williams County, and was organized at Toledo. In three days, it was ready for the field, and in twelve days after the fall of Sumter it moved from Toledo to Camp Taylor, Cleveland, where it was drilled and the organization completed. On the 18th of May, 1861, it was transferred from the State to the General Government. On the 22d, it received its arms at Columbus, then moved to Zanesville, Marietta and Parkersburg, Va., at which latter place its first services were required in protecting bridges from the torch of the enemy. On the 29th, Clarks- burg was reached, where trains were put to running for supplies. On the 2d of June, the march from Webster to Phillipi (thirteen miles) was made on a dismal rainy night to surprise 2,000 rebel cavalry, upon whom an artillery fire was poured at daybreak. The rebels scattered, leaving their stores in the hands of the national forces. Four Union men were wounded. Camp was formed near Phillipi, whence various expeditions against guer- rilla bands, and to protect Government property, were made amidst great suffering and privation. Early in June, the rebels began fortifying Laurel Hill, and the national troops threw up works at Bealington. The enemy in several cavalry charges were handsomely repulsed. The enemy finally
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retreated, and were closely pressed. They made a stand at Carrick's Ford, and poured a heavy fire upon the Fourteenth, as the latter came up, but after a short conflict the rebels fled precipitously, throwing away everything that would impede their progress. More than thirty well- laden wagons, one piece of artillery, three stands of colors and 250 pris- oners were captured. Soon after this, the regiment returned home, their term of service having expired. They were greeted all along the route home by crowds of grateful people.
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
The Thirty-eighth was organized at Defiance, Ohio, September, 1861, under the call for 300,000 men for three years. On the 22d, it was transferred to Camp Dennison, Columbus, where it was armed, equipped and partially drilled, and, in October, was sent into the field in Kentucky. It encamped first at Nicholasville, but, two weeks later, was ordered on a forced march of sixty miles to the relief of Wild Cat, Ky., where it ar- rived October 19. It pursued the enemy on several occasions, and, finally, took up winter quarters at Somerset, Ky., though it did not re- main idle. The winter of 1861-62, was very sickly for the regiment, and soon less than three hundred of the 990 men were fit for duty. In March, it moved to Nashville, and, a little later, on the campaign through Middle Tennessee. In April and May, it participated in the siege of Corinth ; then pursued Beauregard to Booneville; returned and camped near Corinth ; marched, in June, to Tuscumbia, Ala., and, in August, to Win- chester, Tenn. During this period, the regiment participated in various reconnoissances. A party of eighty men of the regiment made a forced march of seventy-two miles, capturing Tracy City, destroying valuable stores and returning without the loss of a man in less than twenty-four hours. The regiment was in the terrible march from Chattanooga to the Ohio River. In September, the regiment fought at Chaplin's Hills, and afterward campaigned in Kentucky, going into camp October 27 at Roll- ing Forks, Ky. Here recruits were received, quite a number from Will- iams County, and then the march to Nashville was made. In November and December, 1862, it guarded railroads between Gallatin and Nash- ville ; but, in December, took part in the campaign which terminated in the bloody battle of Stone River, where the regiment fought with the loss of a few men, going into camp after the battle, near the city, where it remained until March, 1863, when it moved to Triune, and built Fort Phelps. During the summer of 1863, it took part in the Tullahoma cam- paign, and, in August, moved with the center corps over the Cumberland Mountains, crossed the Tennessee at Shellmound, and moved over Look- out and Raccoon Mountains to Lookout Valley, where immediate prepara-
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John H Stulls
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tions were made for battle. The Thirty-eighth, under a special order of Gen. Thomas, was charged with the transit to Chattanooga of the supply- train of the whole army. The regiment thus escaped the bloody battle of Chickamauga. At the assault on Mission Ridge, the Thirty-eighth was on the extreme left, and though the fire from the rebel batteries was hot and terrific, it moved up, up to the very summit, loosing seven killed and forty-one wounded. It pursued the enemy to Ringgold, Ga., then re- turned to Chattanooga, where it " veteranized," and was furloughed home. The Williams County boys were received with banquets, speeches, toasts and great enthusiasm and rejoicing, and, at the expiration of the furlough, reported at Ringgold, Ga., where recruits were received, and the depleted ranks raised to 741 men. In May, 1864, it skirmished briskly at Buz- zard Roost Gap, and at its fortifications nearly in the rear of Resaca, where several men were killed and wounded. It took an active part in the siege of Kenesaw ; moved in July to the Chattahoochie River, forti- fying and skirmishing ; established on the 22d of July the picket line of the Fourteenth Army Corps near Atlanta, and, early in August, moved to Utoy Creek, where Companies A, C and K charged the enemy's skir- mish line, forced it back with the loss of nine men killed and forty-two wounded out of 120 men engaged. Companies A and C were from Will- iams County. After various expeditions, the regiment, with its brigade (Este's), assaulted the enemy's works at Jonesboro, where it fought des- perately, suffering the appalling loss of forty-two killed and 108 wounded out of 360 engaged. The color-bearer, O. P. Randall, was shot dead, as was also his successor, Corp. Baird. The third, Corp. Strawser, fell se- verely wounded, and the fourth, Corp. Donsey, bore the flag to the enemy's works, though suffering a slight wound. Corp. Brookes, the fifth bearer, received five balls through his clothing. The dead were buried on a little knoll near the battle-field. At Atlanta, those who had not " veternanized " were discharged. After pursuing Hood a portion of the way back, the regiment rejoined the Union forces at Atlanta, and marched with Sherman to the sea. It did provost duty at Milledgeville, destroyed the bridge across the Big Ogeechee, marching forty-four miles to do it, and reaching camp at 12 o'clock at night. On the 21st of De- cember, 1864, the regiment went into camp near Savannah, where 200 drafted men and substitutes were received. It participated in the cam- paign of the Carolinas without events of serious importance ; it moved to Richmond, to Alexandria, to Washington, D. C., and to Louisville, Ky., where, on the 12th of July, 1865, it was mustered out, the discharge taking place at Cleveland on the 22d of the same month.
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