USA > Ohio > Historical sketch of the 56th Ohio volunteer infantry during the great Civil War from 1861 to 1866 > Part 8
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Cross, Thomas. Private of Company G
Fasterman, William Private of Company G
Giles, Dennis.
Private of Company G
Giles, Thomas C.
Private of Company C
McCallister George W
Private of Company G
Morgan, Samuel Private of Company G
Oberly, Benjamin B.
Private of Company G
Pfuhler, John
Private of Company G
Potts, Hezekiah J Private of Company G
Rockwell, John. Private of Company G
Story, Frank Private of Company G
Titus, John C. Private of Company G
Carr, William Private of Company H
Coffman, John Private of Company H
McIntyre, George W Private of Company H
Mckeever,. Daniel Private of Company H
McKnight, James Private of Company H Newlan, Adam Private of Company H
Perry, James Private of Company H
Perry, Jacob. Private of Company H
Phillips, Andrew Private of Company H
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56TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Salliday, George W. Private of Company H
Sanders, Benjamin Private of Company H
Sickles, Lafayette. Private of Company H
Spetznagle, Henry
Private of Company H
Stevenson, Thomas K Private of Company H
Trailor, Benjamin Private of Company H
Company C of the battalion was composed of the following veterans: Of old Company C, 26 men; of old Company I, 21 men; of old Company K, 26 men; a total of 73 men.
William G. Snyder
Captain
Christian H. Shaefer
First Lieutenant
Harvey N. Bridwell Second Lieutenant Abram Hibbens First Sergeant of Company I
Andrew S. Drennen .Sergeant of Company C
Samuel Goheen . Sergeant of Company K
William H. Mclaughlin Sergeant of Company I
David F. Radcliff. . Sergeant of Company K
William H. Wait Sergeant of Company K
Martin J. Adams Corporal of Company C
John J. Bussey Corporal of Company K
Thomas D. Davis
Corporal of Company C
James C. Harper . Corporal of Company K
Luther C. High . Corporal of Company K
Lafayette Holmes Corporal of Company K
Thomas S. Jones
. Corporal of Company C
Adam Siemon . Corporal of Company I
George M. Gordy Musician of Company K
George W. Lowery Musician of Company K
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
Cochran, John J. Private of Company C Dalrymple, Smith Private of Company C
Davis, Thomas E
Private of Company C
Davis, Rees.
. Private of Company C
Davis, William D
. Private of Company C
Edwards, Evan
Private of Company C
Edwards, David E
Private of Company C
Evans, Daniel J Private of Company C
Evans, William T
Private of Company C
Goudy, Edward
Private of Company C
Hall, James C. .
Private of Company C
Hunley, Joseph. . Private of Company C
Hunter, Grant B. Private of Company C
Jones, Evan E. Private of Company E
Jones, Daniel.
Private of Company C
Jones, William J
. Private of Company C
Lewis, Joshua Private of Company C
Morris, William Private of Company C
Morris, Thomas J Private of Company C
Roberts, Moses Private of Company C
Samuel, William Private of Company C
Schilichter, Christian Private of Company C
Williams, John Private of Company C
Alexander, Zach T Private of Company I
Bland, George H. . Private of Company I
Black, Oscar C Private of Company I
Carey, Philip Private of Company I
Dolby, James A Private of Company I
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56TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Desmond, John Private of Company I
Ellis, Stephen R. Private of Company 1
Hatfield, William Private of Company I
Hahn, Lawrence Private of Company I
O'Reilly, Martin Private of Company. I
Sherwood, Jacob.
Private of Company I
Sutherland, David
Private of Company I
Springer, Henry N
Private of Company I
Stewart, George M
Private of Company I
Thacker, Fountain Private of Company I
Tripp, George Private of Company
Wilson Sylvester Private of Company I
Wilson, William A
Private of Company I
Bennett, Hosea B.
Private of Company K
Bowen, William Private of Company K
Brooks, John J. Private of Company K
Burt, Thomas J. Private of Company K
Corrill, Thomas J Private of Company K
Corrill, Elias Private of Company K
Davis, Jonathan Private of Company K
Gates, David Private of Company K
Knowland, Lutitius Private of Company K
Leniger, William Private of Company K
Scott, Peter. Private of Company K
Simer, Andrew J. P Private of Company K
Thompson, John Private of Company K
Walker, James Private of Company K
White, Jacob Private of Company K
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
Yeley, Benjamin Private of Company K
Lloyd, Peter
Private of Company. H
On December 3, 1864, Captain L. M. Willets and Lieutenant O. H. Wadsworth reported to us with a company of one-year men, and were assigned to our battalion for duty. They were designated as Company D of the battalion, and the following men were de- tached for duty in said company, viz:
James Vandervort First Lieutenant from Company C
Thomas S. Bennett
First Sergeant from Company G
Thomas H. Cox. Sergeant from Company D
George W. Neff. Sergeant from Company F
James U. Pease Sergeant from Company F
Samuel L. Wood Sergeant from Company D
George W. Cox. . Sergeant from Company F
Azariah Arthur . Corporal from Company D James Anderson . Corporal from Company D John Barr . Corporal from Company D
Robert Bowles . Corporal from Company F James Halliday . Corporal from Company F James Storer . Corporal from Company D
William Bradfield . Private from Company D
Henderson Sturgeon Private from Company D
James Sturgeon. Private from Company D
By examining the roster of the regiments it can be seen what became of the veterans, as well also the members of the compa- nies; whether their service was for a long or short period of time.
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56TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
CHAPTER XIII.
OUR SERVICES IN NEW ORLEANS ETC.
On November 10, 1864, the men in Company D who did not re-enlist as veterans were mustered out, and on the 14th, Captain W. B. Williams of Company C was discharged by order of the war department. He was one of the most competent officers of the regiment, and not excelled by any. He was greatly interested in his men, watchful for their comfort, and energetic in securing the best of everything that could be obtained for them. He was strict in discipline, painstaking in drill. He had confidence in his com- pany and they had the greatest confidence in him as their com- mander. On the 15th Captain Thomas W. Kinney of Company H, a fine young officer, was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service. November 17 we received news of the re-election of President Lincoln, and about November 23 there was some excite- ment on account of another outbreak of smallpox in the regiment. Christmas came on at usual time, but our finances were extremely low, so much so that we could not buy presents or give banquets, and though it rained and was dismal outside, in our quarters it was dry and the boys were cheerful in spite of all. December 26 news came of General Thomas' great victory at Nashville; also of the capture of Fort McAllister by General Sherman's army, and on the 31st news came of the fall of Savannah, Ga. January 5, 1865, the regiment received four months' pay. During February a great number of troops arrived from up the river.
February 28 is known as Montegro day. Many went around in masks and dressed in fancy and foolish costumes. The month of March passed with nothing but camp and patrol duties. A great deal of rain fell and the Mississippi was high.
April 8, 1865, news reached us of the fall of Richmond, Va.,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
and on the 15th two hundred guns were fired in honor of our recent victories. April 19 the intelligence of the atrocious murder of President Lincoln came.
In New Orleans, on the 22d of April, a great meeting was held, General Banks, General Hulbert and others speaking of the great and sore calamity the country had sustained by the cruel assassi- nation of President Lincoln.
April 24 the rebel gunboat Webb came out of the Red river in an attempt to escape to the Gulf of Mexico. Our quarters at this time were in a large salt warehouse on the river bank. We heard three cannon shots from up stream, which caused us to flock out on the wharf. Presently the Webb came around the bend under a full head of steam. There were several of our war vessels an- chored in the river, and we could see that they were making every effort in getting ready for action. About fifty yards from our wharf the powder ship Fearnaught was anchored. The Webb ran as close as it dared in an attempt to attach a torpedo to the Fear- naught and blow her up and scatter death and destruction on every hand, but happily it failed to hit the powder ship. This was another lucky escape for us. Our men-of-war were soon in hot pur- suit of the Webb, and forced her crew to run the ram ashore some twenty-eight miles down the river, where they set the Webb on fire and took to the swamps. The river continued very high, and on the 28th a crevasse in the levee three or four miles below Algiers required our attention, and the citizens also were pressed into work to keep it from spreading too much. About this time a squad of men from our battalion were placed upon detached duty to guard the Sparks plantation, up opposite Carrollton, of which the authorities had taken control. Sergeant Peter Brown, Corpo- rals James M. Halliday and James Reed and Private William Hahn and some eight or ten other men composed this detachment. While there they suffered greatly with the terrible break-bone fever, and if any of them survive they feel its effect still.
On April 30 Company B was ordered to guard an officers' prison at No. 21 Rampart street, in New Orleans. May 13 Captain Stim. mell was ordered to report to the regiment with the company, but
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56TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
leaving seventeen men, two Corporals, one Sergeant and myself as Lieutenant, in charge of the prison. On May 28, 1865, our boys, who were captured on the Red river fiasco of 1864, returned from the rebel prison at Tyler, Texas, after more than a year of prison life. June 6 Colonel Smith, Inspector General, and Captain South- wick, inspected the prison. On June 14, 1865, the officers of our battalion were ordered before a board for examination as to qual- ifications, etc., for commissions in the regular army. The exam- iners, after consulting Colonel Jones, requested me to remain after the others were dismissed, and upon consultation they informed me that they would recommend my promotion as First Lieutenant in the regular army; but owing to the state of my health I felt it best to decline the honor. June 15 we were ordered to turn our prisoners to the police jail and return to the regiment. On June 16 the battalion was inspected by Colonel Smith of department headquarters. On the 20th Colonel Jones marched the battalion through the streets of Algiers for exercise, and as usual we showed up well. June 23 a large number of troops passed down to Camp Chalmette. July, 1865, was a real hot month, and we were on duty of some kind or other every other day. On the 27th Captain Southwick of headquarters staff inspected the battalion. He called Company B out to see how they could drill, and they were able to and did make a good impression. August 4 a request came that our battalion be consolidated with the Seventy-seventh O. V. I., and on the 17th our battalion was again inspected by Captain Southwick.
During September, 1865, it rained every day, some days a half a dozen hard showers. On September 11 we received four months' pay, and fully four-fifths of our battalion were down sick with the break-bone fever, which left many of them wrecks for life. Dr. McFarland, Captain Willets and Lieutenant Vandivort were the only officers able to be up and around in our battalion.
October 10, 1865, we held an election for our state ticket, and on the 13th Companies A, B and C were ordered to move to the Anchor Cotton Press in New Orleans, and Company D to remain on duty in Algiers. October 29 the battalion was inspected by
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
Major Loring. At this time the following notice appeared in the New Orleans Times :
"To the Editor of the New Orleans Times: Learning that the Fifty-sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry were about leaving Algiers to be stationed in New Orleans, there to act in conjunction with the First United States Infantry, we of this town can not permit them to take their departure without testifying our ap- proval of the excellent discipline and conduct of their officers and men while stationed amongst us. It is now some eleven months since Colonel Henry E. Jones and his regiment assumed control of this post, and during that time they have been on the qui vive to prevent any and all unlawful acts that might be attempted by the thousands of troops that have passed through here to their various destinations. Colonel Jones has also placed the civil authorities under many obligations to him, for his prompt and energetic co-operation with them in all matters pertaining to the police and sanitary condition of the right bank of this parish. Dur- ing the high waters of the last season the gallant Fifty-sixth did yeoman service in stopping the crevasses at McDonoghville and at McGhee's Aurora plantation. At the latter place, were it not for their timely assistance (working day and night), the whole lower coast to Fort Jackson would have been inundated, and many thou- sands of dollars worth of property been destroyed thereby. In parting with us we sincerely hope the noble 'Buckeye' boys may soon have the pleasure of seeing home again, and bear from us the best of feeling for their future happiness, including all, from the handsome Colonel to the humblest private in the regiment.
"Algiers, October 19, 1865. ALGERINES."
November 6, 1865, being election day, a detail of twenty men under my command was sent to Algiers to preserve order. The day passed without any serious disturbance. On the 19th a num- ber of us went to hear the celebrated Southern Presbyterian preacher, Dr. Palmer, and on December 22, 1865, Company D was mustered out. December 3 we moved our quarters to the Lower Steam Cotton Press, in the southern part of the city. There we were associated with the First New Orleans Infantry. This was a
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56TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
regiment of Union men, recruited in the city for duty therein. On December 5, being in charge of the patrol, it became a part of our duty to visit Dan Rice's celebrated circus. The great showman gave us a hearty welcome. Being a true and loyal man, he was glad to see Union soldiers at all times. Christmas day was rather exciting, and we were kept busy in quelling riots between the whites and the blacks; in fact the larger part of our work for months, outside of patrol duty, was in preserving order between these two elements.
December 28, 1865, in charge of a guard, I was detailed to go to Galveston, Texas, to take charge of five hundred recruits from the east for the Fourth and Sixth United States Cavalry, then on duty in Texas. We went over on the steamship St. Mary. The weather was fine and our experience pleasant. We reached Gal- veston at 9 a. m. on December 30, 1865. Here we were relieved of our recruits by the Forty-eighth O. V. I. January 2, 1866, we left ' Galveston for New Orleans on the steamship George Peabody. This was a noted ship, having endured many storms and hardships since the war began, but at this time was badly in need of repair. Her pumps were running to keep the water out of her while lying at the dock, on account of her leaking so badly. The vessel had a number of passengers on board for New Orleans. The weather was fine after leaving Galveston until about 9 p. m. of January 3, when there swooped down upon us a mighty storm of wind, the dreaded northwester. The waves seemed to run mountain high. The stoves, tables and chairs broke from their fastenings in the cabin, adding to the confusion of the elements. It was hard work to keep from being dashed about, and many felt that the chances for escape were extremely doubtful. It was curious to observe the action of different individuals under this dreadful trial. Some prayed loud and long; some swore and many cried; in fact some of them did not know what they were doing. I managed to crawl up to the head of the stairs and got a sight of the tempest. The captain informed me that things looked serious and the danger was great, but that he hoped to land us safely but a little behind time. Being anxious about my comrades, who in days past had shared with me so many
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dangers, I was glad to notice that on this trying occasion they were doing all they could to encourage the panic-stricken ones, and were taking this trial of their courage without any visible show of fear. On January 4, 1866, we crossed the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi river at 4 a. m., and reached New Orleans at 7 p. m. January 10, 1866, Company B, under my command, was or- dered to Greenville, a short distance from the city, to put down a riot between the whites and blacks, which we had no great trouble in settling. We camped on the river bank in tents and remained there on duty until January 21, when we returned to the battalion . and took up regular patrol duty again.
February 6, Lieutenant M. Rife, one of our best officers, was mustered out, and on the 8th I received a commission as First Lieutenant, having commanded the company practically from the time of my promotion as Second Lieutenant.
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March 4, 1866, was Sunday, and the day of the month and year on which the fire department of the city made its annual parade. With numerous bands added to their great number, they made an animated and imposing display. There was a standing order in that department from the time that General Butler commanded, forbidding the playing of the "Bonny Blue Flag" or any rebel tunes by bands or other instruments of music, as it was done in General Butler's time to insult and aggravate the Union troops. This day, as the parade passed up St. Charles street, when opposite our de- partment headquarters, their fancy band played the "Bonny Blue Flag." An order was sent at once to the Provost Marshal's office to send a guard to arrest that band. Being on duty that day, I was ordered to bring them in. We had only about twenty men there, and the officer who brought the order remarked for our encourage- ment, "They say that there are not enough Union troops in the city to take a man out of that parade." This band had been with the Army of Northern Virginia and seen lots of hard service. Our squad, with loaded muskets and bayonets fixed, marched down to headquarters. The parade was returning and had passed in part on our arrival. We marched out into the street right up to the edge of the parade, and waited for the band to come up. The win-
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dows, balconies and streets were packed and crowded with people. General Sheridan and all of headquarters were closely watching the end of this matter. Not a word was spoken until the band came up, when I stepped before them and ordered them to "File left." In a moment they were surrounded by our squad. Not a man opened his mouth in or out of the parade, though they looked savagely at us as the parade passed. We took them to the Provost Marshal at once and turned them over to him. As far as it ex- tended this was a fine display of the power of the government be- hind its authorized agents; for what could twenty veteran soldiers have done with the hundreds in that parade, and nearly all of them armed? One thing was sure, not a comrade in that squad hesi- tated to count the cost for a moment.
On the 17th day of March, 1866, the following order and re- quest were received at our headquarters and a copy given to me, which is as follows:
"State of Louisiana, Executive Department. "New Orleans, March 17, 1866.
"Brevet Major General T. W. Sherman, Commanding Eastern Dis- trict of Louisiana:
"General-As some difficulties have arisen in the way of the inauguration of city officers on Monday next, and as I am anxious that no occasion shall be given for any possible collision between the police and the friends of officers-elect in or about the Municipal Hall, I request you to place in charge of that building from Mon- day morning at 6 a. m. until their service can be dispensed with, a guard of ten men. One to remain at each entrance, six in the in- terior for relief, to assist the civil power in maintaining the public peace. I have the honor to be, General, your obedient servant,
"J. MADISON WELLS, "Governor of Louisiana."
Indorse: Official copy confidentially furnished the officer in charge of the detail directed to report to His Excellency, J. Mad- ison Wells, Governor Louisiana.
By order of Brevet Major General Sherman.
Z. K. WOOD, Lieut. A. A. G.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
Headquarters Eastern District of Louisiana,
New Orleans, La., March 18, 1866.
Commanding Officer Levee Steam Press Stables: · Sir-You will detail from your command a good, faithful and trusty Lieuten- ant, with ten men, to be selected by you, with directions to report for duty at 6 a. m. tomorrow, at the City Hall, to His Excellency, J. Madison Wells, Governor of Louisiana, or any other official he may have selected, and to carry out the orders given him. The men will be provided with their dinners.
By order of
BREVET MAJOR GENERAL T. W. SHERMAN. Z. K. Wood, Lieutenant and A. D. C., A. A. A. G. Indorsed.
Headquarters U. S. Forces, Levee Steam Press Stables, New Orleans, March 18, 1866.
Respectfully referred to First Lieutenant Thomas J. Williams, Company B, Fifty-sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, who will report with the within detail as herein directed.
By order of
LIEUTENANT COLONEL TISDALE. P. DALEY, Second Lieutenant and Acting Post Adjutant.
Our detail reported promptly on time. The entrances were guarded, and though a great crowd of people surged about the building, there was no disturbance. We were all very busy these days; the men on duty 24 out of 48 hours, and some of the officers were busy on boards of survey and other special duties.
March 23, 1866, on returning from 24 hours' patrol duty, I was ordered to take my Company to the Parish Prison to attend a mil- itary execution. In prompt and good time we reached the prison, which was a large and strong institution of the kind. On the inside was an open court, and the cells from all sides opened into it. The Company entered and was found facing the front. Four men out of our ranks were selected to carry out the execution. Their muskets were taken by the Provost Marshal. Three were Joaded with balls and one with a blank cartridge, and then returned to them. There was a large number of spectators present. the corridors of the second story being crowded, all anxious to witness
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the tragedy. The prisoner was brought out and placed at the foot of his coffin. He was calm and apparently cool. On his breast was a large black cross, and with a smile on his face he confronted instant death with as brave a spirit as any man could. The com- mand, "Ready! Aim! Fire!" was given, and the report was like one musket, the victim falling into his coffin. Two balls went through his heart and one through his brain, and the cross on his breast was shattered into fragments.
Glancing along the line and at the crowd of spectators, at the rause before the command "Fire!" I feel safe in saying that not more than one in four looked at the prisoner when the command "Fire!" was given. The comrades who carried out this execution had each good reason to think that his musket contained the blank · cartridge. The man executed was paying the penalty for taking the life of a fellow comrade.
They belonged to the Eighty-first United States Colored Troops. This regiment was stationed in the city. It was a com- mon report that the officers of this regiment, who were white men, were all college graduates. They had an extensive and fine field to select their men from, and they took only the best of the young, strong and active men, and by hard work they had brought them up to a high state of discipline. Many of the highest officers of the country who visited the city pronounced this regiment to be the best drilled of any regiment in the service. We had wit- nessed, as we passed their quarters on various occasions, as many as twenty of their men bucked and gagged, strung along in a row.
On March 26, 1866, the following order was handed to me:
"Headquarters U. S. Forces, Levee Steam Press Stables, "New Orleans, La., March 26, 1866.
"Special Order No. 4.
"First Lieutenant Thos. J. Williams, Company B, Fifty-sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, and Second Lieutenant Frank E. Hag- gett, Company F, First New Orleans Volunteers, will proceed im- mediately with their respective companies to Carrrollton, La. The senior officer will report at once to Lieutenant Zeno K. Wood,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
A. A. A. General, headquarters East District of Louisiana, for instructions. By order of
"LIEUT. COL. E. TISDALE, Com'g U. S. Forces.
"P. DALEY, Second Lieutenant and Acting Post Adjutant."
On reporting to Lieutenant Wood he directed us to proceed to Carrollton, La., a small town six miles above New Orleans. Our orders were to put an end to a riot then going on there between the white and colored people. We reached there in a short time and found that the trouble was over and had been greatly exag- gerated. We remained there over night, and until 3 p. m. of the 27th, when I received the following order:
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