USA > Ohio > Greene County > Greene County soldiers in the late war : being a history of the Seventy-fourth O.V.I., with sketches of the Twelfth, Ninety-Fourth, One Hundred and Tenth, Forty-Fourth, Tenth Ohio Battery, One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth, Fifty-Fourth, Seventeenth, Thirty-Fourth, One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth, together with a list of Greene County's soldiers > Part 12
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TENTH OHIO BATTERY.
the rebels. Fort Pillow was held by the enemy. The Battery returned to Memphis, and remained on duty there until the latter part of April, when it moved to Cairo. The veterans proceeded to Ohio and were furloughed.
The Morgan raid through Kentucky prevented the veterans from joining their battery until the 23d of June. They were retained at Louisville, Kentucky. At Cairo the Battery received a new outfit. On the 9th of May it moved to Paducah, and on the 13th started up the Tennessee. On the morning of the 14th it disembarked at Clifton, and on the 16th began the march to Acworth, Georgia. The distance was about five hundred miles. The march occupied twenty-four days, and the route lay through Pulaski, Huntsville, Decatur, Rome, and Kingston. The weather was very warm, but the Battery did not lose a man.
At Acworth the Tenth was placed in the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. On the 10th of June it took position at the front, and with the exception of the Fourth of July, was engaged every day for a month, most of the time in front of Kennesaw Mountain, but most severely at Nickojack Creek. On the 12th of July it returned to Kennesaw, and after remaining a few days took position at Marietta, where it formed a part of the garrison until November.
During Hood's march in October the Battery was ordered out frequently, but it was engaged only once. About the last of October the horses and mules were turned over, and the Battery was ordered to Nashville. About seven recruits were received from Ohio. On the 2d of November the Battery left Marietta, and after more than a week's detention at Chattanooga, it procured transportation, and arrived at Nashville on the 14th. It was posted at Camp Barry, and about the middle of Novem- ber the majority of the men in the Battery were sent about thirty miles up the Cumberland to get timber for winter quarters. They did not return until the 1st of December.
,
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
When Hood threatened Nashville the Battery was posted at Fort Gillen, but it was not called into action. About the last of December the Battery moved to Camp Barry, and erected winter quarters. The men were armed with muskets, and for two months acted as infantry.
On the 13th of March, 1865, the Fourth and Tenth Ohio batteries were consolidated, and sixty-four men were thus added to the Tenth, which retained its name and organization. The men from the Fourth were mostly Germans. About the 1st of April the Battery was ordered to East Tennessee, and after guarding the post of Sweetwater for two weeks, it was ordered. to Loudon, where it remained until orders to muster out were received.
The Battery was mustered out at Camp Dennison on the 17th of July, 1865, and paid off and discharged on the 21st. The names of the officers were as follows :
Captains - H. Berlace White, Francis Seaman, J. R. Crain. Lieutenants - W. F. Bardwell, Ambrose A. Blount, Ed- ward Groosekoff, W. L. Newcomb, Joseph B Gage, James E. Gilmore, George Kleder, Lanson Zane, James E. Bonticon, Samuel A. Galbreath.
TENTH OHIO BATTERY REUNION.
From Xenia Torchlight, October 6, 1883.
The gallant old Tenth Ohio Battery met in reunion at Cedarville, Ohio, October 3d and 4th, to the number of thirty- two, and had indeed a pleasant time and a happy reunion. In the evening, October 3d, they partook of a grand supper - grandly prepared by the good citizens of Cedarville. The Cedar- ville Brass Band discoursed splendid music. The large hall -
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Mitchell's - was literally packed. After supper the exercises were as follows :
1. Welcome address, by Professor Van Fossen.
2. Response, by Comrade Greene.
3. Letters were read from absent members by Lieutenant J. B. Gage ; also a history of the Battery's part in the battle of Corinth.
4. Resolutions and reading "Sheridan's Ride," and " A District School," by Comrade Greene.
5. A short address by Comrade Ramsey. Mr. I. S. Owens, of the Seventy-fourth, was introduced, and was proceed- ing to make some remarks, when it was announced that Marshal Harris had been shot on the street, which produced so much excitement that further proceedings were dispensed with, and the assembly adjourned.
A meeting was held in Firemen Hall, at 9:00 A. M., October 4th, when other business was transacted and other letters were read by Lieutenant J. B. Gage. Officers were then elected for the ensuing year, namely, all the former officers, with the addi- tion of Billy Williams as recording secretary. The members then repaired to the street, where a picture of the Battery was taken by Artist Biddle, of Xenia. At one o'clock the meeting re assembled, and transacted other business. A resolution was passed fixing the time for next meeting the first Wednesday in October, at West Liberty, Ohio. The meeting then adjourned.
By request of members the roll'was called, after which the letters were read by Lieutenant J. B. Gage, one from Lieutenant Mong, after which a resolution, by Lieutenant Gage, as fol- OWS :
That the members of the Tenth Ohio Battery, assembled at its second reunion, held at Cedarville, Ohio, October 3 and 4, 1883, regret that Lieutenant W. J. Mong could not be present at the reunion, and thank him for his letter and for the copy of the company's receipt for clothing
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forwarded by him, and extend to him a special invitation to be present at the next reunion.
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Lieutenant W. J. Mong, at Minerva, Stark County, Ohio.
RESOLUTIONS.
At a meeting of the Tenth Ohio Battery, held at Cedarville, Ohio, October 3 and 4, 1883, the following preamble and resolu- tions were adopted :
WHEREAS, The citizens of Cedarville- and especially the ladies thereof - have given to the members of the Tenth Ohio Battery, at its second reunion, held at Cedarville, Ohio, October 3 and 4, 1883, cordial and friendly greeting ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we extend to them our heart-felt thanks, and to Miss- Blake and Miss Hudson we are especially under obligations for the but- ton-hole bouquets, and also the pleasure of having them pinned on by such lovely young ladies.
WHEREAS, Death has taken from our ranks Samuel A. Barr, John W. Shoemaker, Thomas Fryer, Fred Maurer, and James . Worthington, friends and comrades of the war; be it
Resolved, That we grieve in the death of these comrades, and extend to the families of the deceased our sincere sympathy in their loss.
That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the families of each of the members who have passed to rest, and that it be published in the Cedarville Herald and Xenia Torchlight.
MEMBERS PRESENT.
Lieutenant J. B. Gage, Brooklyn, New York; William A. Byrd, Alconey, Miami County, Ohio; Reese Underwood, West Liberty, Ohio; J. B. Crain, Jamestown, Ohio; John W. Ran- dall, Guard, O. P .; Nathan Wike, Springfield, Ohio; George L. Johnston, La Fontaine, Indiana; Dinsmore Randall, Springfield, Ohio; Samuel J. Knott, Springfield, Ohio; Walter A. Keith,
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TENTH OHIO BATTERY.
West Liberty, Ohio; William Myers, Springfield, Ohio; Jacob M. Beemer, Cedarville, Ohio; P. G. Clevell, Dayton, Ohio; William H. Elwell, Springfield, Ohio; Samuel Galbreath, Cedar- ville, Ohio; G. N. Randall, Cedarville, Ohio; Frank Dillmore, Soldiers' Home, Dayton, Ohio; Edward Spencer, Cedarville, Ohio; G. N. Shrods, Cedarville, Ohio; L. N. Luce, Mt. Etna, Huntington County, Indiana; C. N. Ramsey, Washington C. H., Ohio; Pellegro Leuchesey, Madison County, Ohio; John A. Mitchell, Cedarville, Ohio; James Judy, Bloomington, Fay- ette County, Ohio; George S. Wright, Mad River P. O., Clark County, Ohio; Joseph W. Randall, Cedarville, Ohio; O. V. Flora, Madison, Indiana; William K. Byrd, Xenia, Ohio; Jo- seph Cline, Cedarville, Ohio.
Others were present who did not register their names.
One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth O. V. I.
The One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, National Guards, was formed by consolidating the twenty-sixth and sixtieth battalions of Ohio National Guards. It was organized at Camp Dennison, and was mustered into the service on the 9th of May, 1864, with an aggregate of eight hundred and forty two men. Colonel, Robert Stevenson, As- sistant Surgeon, Leigh McClung, Quartermaster, A. L. Trader. Several of the line officers, non-commissioned officers, and many of the privates had seen service in other organizations.
On the 12th of May the regiment proceeded, via Columbus and Bellaire, to New Creek, West Virginia, arriving on the evening of the 14th. The next day - in one of the most violent storms of the season - it laid out its camp and pitched its tents. On the 22d Company F was ordered to Piedmont, West Vir- ginia, where it remained until the regiment started for Ohio for muster-out.
The One Hundred and Fifty-fourth performed guard, picket, and escort duty until the 29th of May, when one company moved to Youghiogheny Bridge, and the remaining eight com- panies to Greenland Gap. Scouting parties were out almost constantly, and on the 4th of June a detachment of the regiment had a skirmish with McNeil's battalion, near Moorfield, in which the rebels were defeated.
About the 12th of June three hundred men from the One Hundred and Fifty fourth, with a cavalry force, were engaged in. a ten-day's scout. Skirmishing was frequent, but the enemy
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOURTH.
kept so securely in the mountains that only three rebels were captured in the ten days. On the 23d another scout -- of one hundred men and a small force of cavalry - was ordered out, with three days' rations, but no enemy was discovered.
On the Fourth of July the regiment fell back to New Creek, expecting an attack, but the enemy having retired it returned again to Greenland Gap, arriving on the 7th. Company H - until this time at Oakland -joined the regiment at New Creek, and returned with it to the Gap. On the 25th the regiment again fell back to New Creek, and Greenland Gap ceased to be held as a military post.
On the 4th of August the rebels, under McCausland and Bradley Johnson, attacked the force at New Creek, but at night they were compelled to withdraw, leaving their killed and wounded on the field.
On the 10th of August a detachment of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth proceeded to Camp Chase, in charge of prison- ers, and remained there until the regiment returned to the state. On the evening of the 22d the regiment started for Ohio, arriv- ing at Camp Chase on the 27th, where it was mustered out of the service on the 1st of September, 1864.
Fifty-Fourth O. V. I.
Recruiting for this regiment began in the latter part of the summer of 1861, the place of rendezvous being Camp Dennison, where the regiment was organized and drilled during the fall and winter of 1861. The men composing this command were from the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Butler, Cuyahoga, Fayette, Greene, Hamilton, Logan, and Preble.
On the 17th of February, 1862, the regiment went into the field with an aggregate of eight hundred and fifty men. The Fifty-fourth reached Paducah, Kentucky, February 20, 1862, and was assigned to a brigade commanded by General Sherman. On the 6th of March the command ascended the Tennessee River, disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, and camped near Shiloh Church. On the 6th of April the regiment engaged in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, its position being on the extreme left of the army ; but on the second day it was assigned a new position, near the center of the line. In the two days' fighting the regiment lost one hundred and ninety-eight men killed, wounded, and missing. On the 29th of April the regiment moved upon Corinth, skirmishing severely at Russell House, May 17th, and engaging in the movement upon the works at Corinth, May 31st.
On the morning of the evacuation the Fifty-fourth was among the first organized bodies of troops to enter the town. The regimental colors were unfurled from a public building, and the regiment was designated to perform provost duty - the com- manding officer of the regiment being appointed commandant of
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THE FIFTY FOURTH.
the post of Corinth. The regiment moved with the army to La Grange, Tennessee, and from there to Holly Springs, Missis- sippi, and then returned to Corinth. Soon after it again marched to Holly Springs ; from there to Moscow, Tennessee, and thence to Memphis, where it arrived July 21, 1862.
During the summer the regiment was engaged in several short expeditions, and on the 26th of November it moved with the army toward Jackson, Mississippi, by way of Holly Springs. The regiment soon returned to Memphis, and with a portion of the army under General Sherman moved down the Mississippi, and went into position before the enemy's lines at Chickasaw Bayou. It was engaged in the assault on the rebel works De- cember 28th and 29th, with a loss of twenty men killed and wounded. On the 1st of January, 1863, the regiment withdrew, ascended the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers, and engaged in the assault and capture of Arkansas Post. The Fifty-fourth again descended the Mississippi River, and disembarked at Young's Point, Louisiana. Here it was employed in digging a canal, and in other demonstrations connected with the Vicks- burg campaign, which resulted in the rescue of the fleet of gun- boats which was about to be abandoned and destroyed.
On the 6th of May the regiment began its march to the rear of Vicksburg, by way of Grand Gulf, and was engaged in the battles of Champion Hills and Black Ridge. It was engaged in a general assault on the enemy's works in the rear of Vicksburg, on the 19th and 22d of June, losing in the engagements forty- seven killed and wounded. It was continually in skirmishing and fatigue duty during the siege of Vicksburg, except for six days, which were consumed in a march of observation toward Jackson, Mississippi.
After the fall of Vicksburg the Fifty-fourth moved with the army upon Jackson, Mississippi, and was constantly engaged in skirmishing from the 9th to the 14th of July. After the capture.
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"of Jackson the regiment returned to Vicksburg, and remained until October, 1863, when, forming a part of the Fifteenth Army Corps, it ascended the Mississippi River to Memphis, and from there proceeded to Chattanooga. It was engaged in the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 26th, and the next day marched to the relief of the garrison at Knoxville, Tennessee. It pursued the enemy's wagon-train from Knoxville through the south-east- ·ern portion of Tennessee, and a short distance into North Caro- lina, and then returned to Chattanooga, and moved thence to Larkinsville, Alabama, where it went into winter quarters, Jan- uary 12, 1864.
The regiment was mustered into the service as a veteran organization on the 22d of January, and at once started to Ohio on furlough. It returned to camp in April, with an addition of two hundred recruits, and entered on the Atlanta campaign, on the 1st of May. It participated in a general engagement at Resaca and Dallas, and in a severe skirmish at New Hope Church, June 6th and 7th. It was in the general assault upon Kennesaw Mountain, June 27th, losing twenty-eight killed and wounded ; was engaged in a severe skirmish at Nickojack Creek, July 3d, losing thirteen killed and wounded, and was in a battle on the east side of Atlanta, July 21st and 22d, sustaining a loss of ninety four killed, wounded, and missing The Fifty-fourth lost eight men killed and wounded at Ezra Chapel, on the 28th of July, and from the 29th of July to the 27th of August it was almost continually engaged in skirmishing before the works of Atlanta. It was in a heavy skirmish at Jonesboro, August 30th, and in a general action at the same place the two days imme- diately following.
After resting a few weeks in camp near Atlanta, the regi- ment started in pursuit of Hood, and followed him within sixty miles of Chattanooga, and from there to Gadsden, Alabama, when it returned to Atlanta, and prepared for the march to
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THE FIFTY-FOURTH.
Savannah. The Fifty fourth started on that wonderful march on the 15th of November, and on the 15th of December was en- gaged in the assault and capture of Fort McAllister, near Savan- nah. The regiment assisted in the destruction of the Gulf Railroad, toward the Altamaha River, and on the 7th of January, 1865, marched into Savannah.
After a rest of several weeks it moved with the army on the march through the Carolinas, skirmishing at the crossing of the South Edisto and North Edisto rivers, on the 10th and 12th of February, respectively. It was closely engaged in the vicinity of Columbia, and participated in its last battle at Bentonsville, North Carolina, March 21, 1865. The regiment marched to Richmond, Virginia, and froin there to Washington City, where it took part in the grand review of the Western Army. On the 2d of June it was transported by railroad and steamboat to Louisville, Kentucky, and after remaining two weeks there it proceeded to Little Rock, Arkansas, and there performed gar- rison duty until August 15, 1865, when it was mustered out.
The regiment returned to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where it received final pay, and was disbanded on the 24th of August, 1865. The aggregate strength of the regiment at muster-out was two hundred and fifty five - twenty four officers, and two hun- dred and thirty-one men. It marched during its term of service a distance of three thousand six hundred and eighty-two miles, participated in four sieges, ninety-seven skirmishes, fifteen gen- eral engagements, and sustained a loss of five hundred and six men killed, wounded, and missing.
. A
Seventeenth O. V. I.
Dr. John Turnbull, of Bellbrook, Ohio, deserves a notice in this work. He enlisted as private in Company A, Seventeenth Regiment, O. V. I., April, 1861; served four months in said regiment, and afterward as acting assistant surgeon of the Sixty- fifth Regiment, O. V. I., nearly one year ; and lastly as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, O. V. I.
Thirty-Fourth O. V. I.
This regiment was organized at Camp Lucas, Clermont County -Company F being largely composed of men from Greene County, therefore I give it a place in this work - during the months of July and August, 1861, the first detachment enter- ing camp July 15th, and the first regular companies, under captains 'Broadwell and Evans, July 21st.
On the morning of September 1st it moved to Camp Denni- son, and was there prepared for the field, adopting as its uni- form - a license allowable at the early period of the war-a light-blue Zouave dress. In compliment to their colonel the name of " Piatt Zouaves " was adopted.
The regiment left Camp Dennison on the 15th of Septem- ber, 1861, for western Virginia, with full ranks, and arrived at Camp Enyart, on the Kanawha River, on the 20th of the same month. On the 25th it fought its first battle, in a gap near Chapmanville, Logan County, Virginia, whipping a Virginia regiment, inflicting considerable loss to the rebels in men, and badly wounding their commander, Colonel Davis. The loss of the Thirty fourth was one killed and eight wounded. During the remainder of the autumn the regiment was engaged in the arduous duty of guarding the rear of General Rosencranz' army, and the counties of Cabell, Putnam, Mason, Wayne, and Logan were kept pretty free from guerrillas, by continual scouting.
In March, 1862, the Thirty-fourth was ordered to Gauley Bridge, to join General Cox in his demonstration on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The regiment participated in the battle
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of Princeton, on the 17th and 18th of May, losing several men. Lieutenant Peck and Peters were wounded, and Captain O. P. Evans taken prisoner. Humphrey Marshall commanded the rebels.
When General Cox was ordered to join General McClellan, in August, 1862, there were six regiments left to guard the Kanawha Valley. The Thirty-fourth and Thirty seventh held the outposts at Fayetteville, where, on the morning of September 10th, they were attacked by a rebel force under General Loring, ten thousand strong. With the aid of breastworks, previously constructed by General Scammon, two two-pound brass field- pieces, and four six-pound mountain howitzers, the position was. held until midnight, when the place was evacuated. Part of the time the Thirty-fourth was in the open field, and repeatedly charged on the enemy. Its loss was necessarily heavy. Of six companies engaged-the other four, under Major Franklin, being on a scout-the loss was one hundred and thirty, or fully one third. One half of the officers were either killed or wounded. Cutting their way out under a heavy fire, the national troops fell back towards the Kanawha River, made a stand at Cotton Mountain the next day, and Charleston on the 12th, where a severe engagement took place. From this point the entire Federal force fell back to Point Pleasant, leaving the entire valley in the hands of rebels. In October General Cox returned with his command, when another advance was made, and the valley regained. From this time, until May, 1863, nothing of moment occurred to vary the monotony of garrison duty. During May the regiment was furnished with horses, and transformed into mounted rifles.
On the 13th of July, 1863, an expedition, consisting of the Thirty-fourth, two companies of the First, and seven companies of the Second Virginia Cavalry, under command of Colonel Toland, made a demonstration on the Virginia and Tennessee
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THE THIRTY FOURTH.
Railroad, striking it on the evening of the 18th, at Wytheville. A desperate fight ensued, the enemy occupying the house, barns, yards, etc., on a slight elevation to the rear of the town. About dark the national forces succeeded in capturing the enemy's artillery, and driving him in all directions. Captain Delaney, commanding First Virginia, was killed, and Colonel Powell, Second Virginia, badly wounded. The Thirty-fourth Ohio lost four killed-including Colonel Toland - thirteen wounded, and thirty three missing. Colonel Toland was shot from a window of a house in his immediate vicinity, while seated on his horse, engaged in giving orders, surrounded by a few of his staff. The ball passed through his left breast. The colonel did not fall from his horse, but caught the mane with his right hand, when his orderly, who was about fifty yards distant from him, ran and caught him before he had time to reach the ground. With his last breath he requested that his horse and sword be sent to his mother.
The brigade left Camp Piatt with nearly one thousand men ; marched six hundred and fifty two miles in eleven days, travers- ing some of the highest mountains in West Virginia, capturing over two hundred and fifty horses, and three hundred and sixty prisoners, two pieces of artillery, and a large amount of com- mission stores ; destroyed between three and five thousand stand of arms, a bridge of importance, and partially burned one of the wealthiest cities in Virginia Upon the fall of Colonel Toland, the command devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Frank- lin, who decided on a retrograde movement. This he found it difficult to execute, from the fact that the rebel General Mc- Causland had blockaded the roads in the most effectual manner. For several days the command was moving in the mountains, destitute of food for themselves or fodder for their horses, and continually harrassed by rebel cavalry. On the day previous to the arrival of the regiment at Wytheville, Company C, acting as 12
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
rear guard, was attacked by a superior force of rebel cavalry. A number were killed and wounded, and Captain Cutler and fifteen men were taken prisoners. Several expeditions, under General Duffie-who had assumed command of the Kanawha Cavalry -to Lewisburg and vicinity, completed this year's cam- paign.
In January, 1864, about two thirds of the regiment re- enlisted as veterans. On the 29th of April, 1864, the regiment was divided into two detachments. The mounted portion was to operate with the cavalry, under General Averill; the dis- mounted with the Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Gen- eral Crook's division of infantry. On the 1st of May, 1864, the second expedition, for the destruction of the Virginia and Ten- nessee Railroad, left Charleston. On the 9th the cavalry arrived at Wytheville, encountered the rebels under General Morgan, were repulsed, and were compelled to fall back with considerable loss. The infantry under General Crook were more successful. On the same day that Averill was defeated Crook achieved a solid victory over General Jenkins, at Cloyd Mountain, near Dublin Depot, which was captured the same evening.
On the day following the enemy was again encountered and defeated at the railroad bridge, over New River, and the bridge totally destroyed. From this point the command returned to Meadow Bluffs, crossing Salt Pond, and Peters Mountains, and the Greenbrier River, arriving at their destination on the 19th of May, completing a distance of four hundred miles marched during the month. From Meadow Bluffs the Thirty-fourth started to join General Hunter, at Staunton, in the Shenandoah Valley, passing through White Sulphur Springs, Callahan's Stand, and crossing Panther Gap Mountain, where a skirmish ensued.
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