USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 94
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THE BULL FAMUV.
HEZEKIAH BULL, born in Dublin, Ireland, came to America before the Revolution, and first settled in Hart- ford, Connecticut. He served one year in the Revolu. tion, and after the Revolution engaged in business in Hartford, Connecticut, and became the owner of a ves- sel in the West India trade, in which business he con tinued until ist5, when he sold out his business, and in :316 came to Canton, Ohio. Here he remained one year, then moved to Massillon, where he settled on the farmi now owned by Kent Jervis, or his heirs, where he died in 1818. He married an English lady, and was the father of eight children, seven of whom came to Ohio. Caleb on the Spanish main; Hexer, Maria Louisa, Jefferson and G. W. settled in Loudonville: Hoyland, in Tennessee, and Emily in California.
G. W. Burt was born in Hartford, Connectient, in
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
1799, and there received his education. When only eleven years old he went to sea, and followed a sailor's life about ten years, with an interval of one year. In 1820 he gave up a sea-faring life and came to Ohio, and settled on a farm for a short time. In 1821, with Thomas Taylor, he built a flat-boat, loaded it with pork, hains, bacon and whiskey, then the products of the country, and started for New Orleans from a point near the iron bridge across the Black fork in Loudon- ville The round trip took about three months. These trips he continued to make at intervals unti! 1832, when he abandoned the business, and settled on the farm now owned by Hon. J. W. Bull, in Hanover township, where he held the office of justice of the peace fifteen years, s and was township trustee, clerk, and treasurer for a number of years In politics he was a Democrat. In December, 1852, he died. In 1822 he married Nancy Fairquhr, who died in 1877. He was the father of ten children, seven of whom are still living, viz: John W., who married Nancy Watson, afterwards married Eliza J. Pippit; George F., who married Ann Menor, and lives in Ashland county, Ohio; Sarah J., wife of Abner Stutes, living in Cleveland, Ohio; Hester M. and Nancy E., both living in Ashland county; Emily U., wife of Mr. Hazelett, hving in Michigan; and Phebe E., who lives in Loudonville.
IION. JOHN W. BULL was born in Loudonvilie, Rich- land county, Ohio, August 16. 18244, and received a common school education. He worked on a farm until his twenty-seventh year, when he accepted a position as route agent on the Bellefontaine & Indiana railroad, and traveled between Calion and Indianapolis for nearly two years, when, in 1854, he was transferred to the Ohio & Indiana road, and traveled between Crestline and Chi- cago for four years. In 1861 he resigned his position as route agent, to accept the appointment of passenger con- ductor on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad. This position he resigned to take charge of the Meyer house, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ile gave up this business on account of the ill health of his wife, and in 1872 re- turned to Loudonville. In 1872 he served as mayor of the village, and as justice of the peace. He was elected to the Sixty-third general assembly by a magoriy of six hundred and seventy two. He has always been an ultro Democrat, and from present indications will die in that faith. In 18.47 he married Nancy Watson, of Loudon- ville, who died in 1851. In 1859 he married Eliza J. Pippet, and is the father of two children-one died in infancy, and Anna E. died when two years old.
GENERAL WILLARD SLOCUM
was born news Ashland, then in Richland county, State of Ohio, April 8, 1Szo. He remained on a farm with his parents until the death of his mother, which oc. curred in january, 1828, when he went to live with a married sister, Mrs. Palmer, with whoin he lived, going to school and assisting Ah Palmer in farming pursuits.
After he left his sister he spent part of his time at home, and a part working for other persons, up to the spring of 1833, when he was taken by Dr. Willard Slocum, with whom he lived until the spring of 1838, going to school winter seasons, and working during the summer months. In the spring of 1838 he was sent by his father to Ken- yon college. He remained there up to the spring of I840, when he was called home. In the winter and spring of 1845 he taught school in the district where he had been raised. .
He took a very active part in the presidential cam- paign of 1840, though not a voter. He was active and firmly fixed in the principles of the Whig party, and de- voted the summer and fall to its interests. In the spring of 184t he entered the law office of the late Judge Sher- man, as a law student, in company with his brother john, now Secretary of the Treasury. Passing the routine du- ties of a law student for three years, he was regularly admitted to the bar of Richland county. At the time of his examination and admission there was a class of seventeen, aniong whom were Samuel J. Kirkwood, now United States Senator from lowa, and John Sherman, now Secretary of the Treasury. In the fall of 1844 General Slocum returned to Ashland and commenced the practice of law, with C. T. and J. Sherman as bis partners. The partnership continued up to the fall of 18.47, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. The most kindly feeling existed in the Sherman and Slocum families at that time, and which has never been disturbed in any particular.
In the fall of 1847 General Slocum associated himself with the late Judge William Osborn. They continued the practice of law up to January, 1855. General Shi- cum was married on the tenth day of November, 1847, to Caroline A. Carr, of East Union, Wayne . county, Ohio, and is now the father of seven children living and two dead. Among the living are: R. V. Slocum. C. W. Slocum, Lida S. Slocum, Willard MeK Slocum, Martin B. Slocum, Oliver J. Slocum, and Howard E. Slocum, but one of whom is married. In January. 1855, he continued in his profession, doing a very leera- tive business, principally in the line of collecting for eastern houses.
In June, 1860, he attended the Republican Na- tional convention, which met in the city of Chicago, and nominated Abraham Lincoln. Though sent there under instructions to support Governor S. P. Chase, of Obic, which he did up to the third ballet, he was among the first of the Ohio delegation to drop Chase and vote for Abraham Lincoln.
After the nomination was made he was chosen by the Fourteenth congressional district to represent it in the Electoral college, the Republicans being successful in the election, he met with the Electoral college in Co lumbus, and cast the vote of the Fourteenth district for Lingoin and Hamlin for President and Vice President of the United States. Prior to the mangaration of President Lincoln, the country was thrown into intense excitement by the secession of many of the States of the Union, in which every Union loving man could not
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refrain his utter abhorrence of the political condition of affairs, which soon culminated in open rebellion against the United States government.
When President Lincoln called for seventy-five thou- sand men to suppress the rebellion, General Slocum was among the first to encourage enlistments.
In the year 1861 the President ealled for three hun- dred thousand more men, for three years' service. The proclamation was received on Thursday. General Slo- cum, though doing a lucrative business and having no one to take care of it, transferred it to his late partner, William V. Sloan, and converted his law office into a recruiting station. On Tuesday he left Ashland with one hundred men, among whom were many of its best citizens. Arriving at Columbus the same day, they were escorted to the basement of the State house, where they remained until the next morning. They were pro- vided with a very fine article of straw for a bed, and ate their first army meal. The next morning he marehed his men to Camp Chase, four miles west of the city, and reported to Colonel Rosecrans, who was then organizing the Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry. General Slo- cnm here received his first military title, by being unan- imously elected captain of company G. On June 7th the first man was recruited, and on the eleventh of the same month the company was mustered into service, being the first company recruited in the State of Ohio for three years' service, and the first mustered into the service of the United States. Soon after the complete organization of the company, Colonel Rosecrans was promoted to brigadier general, and Colonel Scammon, of Cincinnati, appointed in his place. Soon after Colo- nel Scammon assumed command, a serious difficulty arose between the colonel and Captain Slocum, growing out of a proposed change of orderly sergeant in com- pany G. The order of the colonel was disobeyed in every particular. Captain Slocum: was informed by Major R. B. Hayes that the colonel had prepared charges against him, and was about to convene a court- martial for the purpose of dismissing him from the ser- vice for disobedience.
To escape being dismissed from the army hy order of a court martial, he acted upon the advice of Major Hayes and Lieutenant Colonel Stanley Matthews, and resigned, thus freeing himself from the power of the colorel. The order of Colonel Scammon was never en- forced, fearing the demoralizing effect it would have, not only on company (, but on the entire regiment. Here terminated Captain Slocum's connection with the men he had recruited and with the Twenty third regiment, which to him was a subject matter of great regret. Hav- ing disposed of his law business, and being intent on giving his time and service to the Government until the close of the war, his dismissal from the army would for- ever preclude him from again entering the military serv- ice as an officer. Leaving Camp Chase on the third of July, 1862, he went inanediately to Washington city and called on the President, to whom he made known all the circumstances connected with the trouble with Colonel Scammon, at the same time requesting an
appointment in the military service. The President took the matter under consideration, and, after con- sulting Hon. Salmon ['. Chase, who was then Secre- tary of the Treasury, and Hon. John Sherman, then a member of Congress, he offered him a captain's commis- sion as quartermaster in the United States army. In the meantime he had, through the personal influence of Mr. Sherman, received an appointment in the interior department, which he held up to November 24, 1862, when he again called on the President and deelined his generous offer, preferring active field service to that of quartermaster in the army, and again requested some appointment that would place him in the field. The President replied by saying, "that all appointments be- low the rank of brigadiers in the volunteer service were made by the governors of States," and referred him to Governor Dennison, of Ohio. Calling on Governor Dennison, and presenting the letter of President Lin- coln, he at once expressed a willingness to appoint him provost marshal, and assign him to duty in the city of Columbus.
As soon as David Tod was inaugurated governor of Ohio he applied to him for a commission which would send him to the front. With a fair promise from Gover- nor Tod to do so he returned home, awaiting the results. In April, 1862, he was called home from Columbus to at- tend the funeral of his father. Being detained for some time attending to business pertaining to the estate, he did not return to Columbus until sent for b; Governor Tod. On arriving in Columbus the governor handed him a commission of first lieutenant, and detailed him as adjutant to organize the drafted men in Camp Buck- ingham, near Mansfield, Ohio, where he reported to Colonel C. G. Sherman, then in cominand of the camp. for duty. He at once entered upon that laborious work. The One Hundred and Second and One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry regiments were then organized. The drafted men were mostly assigned to the older regiments and sent to the front. On the or ganization of the One Hundred and Twentieth he was again commissioned as adjutant, and assigned to that regiment, with which he left the State and went to the front, leaving Camp Buckingham in October, 1862, with Colonel French in command, and M. M. Speigle lieuten- ant colonel, and John Buckman as major. The regi- ment joined the main army at Memphis, Tennessee, and was assigned to the Thirteenth army corps. With the ev- ception of Colonel French and Lieutenant Colonel Spei- gle, the regiment had never seen service. They partici- pated in the assault on Vicksburgh from the Yazoo river. After laying in the swamps around Haines' bluff four days, participating in all the charges and battles of the campaign, he was ordered to take the regiment ont to the front line and lay on their arms for the night. At two r. M. he received an order to retire the regiment and cover the retreat of the andy to the Yarno river, a distance of four miles. Our returning back to their orig- inal lines he was surprised to find the entire army bad left, leaving the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio col unicer infantry to cover the retreat and guard four bat.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
teries of artillery. On arriving at the Yazoo he found the commanding officers of the regiment safely on trans- poris, ready to follow the army back to the Mississippi river.
Before the regiment reached the river the picket of the army had crossed the bayou in force, and was follow- ing the retreating army. Soon after sunrise they ap- proached near enough to commence firing. The First di- vision of the Thirteenth corps were on transports in the Yazoo, and mainly out of sight of the advancing enemy. General Slocum hurried forward and informed General Osterhaus of the danger surrounding him. The artillery was hurried forward and put into position, and several batteries taken from the transports were put in enfilading position masked by the One Hundred and Twentieth, and held their position until the enemy advanced near enough, when the regiment filed to the rear of the guns, when they opened on the advancing enemy with grape, canister, solid shot, and shell. They were driven back with severe loss. Colonel French assumed command and marched the regiment on to the transport destined for Arkansas Post.
On the fifth of January, 1863, the entire army under General Grant, moved on transports against Arkansas Post, and, on the tenth of January, the fleet disem- .barked. On the following night they completely in- vested the entire fortification, behind which the enemy had about five thousand men. The attack was com- menced on the morning of the eleventh, and was stub- bornly resisted by the enemy. At four o'clock in the afternoon a charge was ordered on the left. The One Hundred and Twentieth occupying the extreme left, charged up the river bank directly upon the fort. As soon as the charge began the enemy opened fire on the advancing column. When within fifty yards of the fort Colonel French ordered the regiment to lie down. Ad- jutant Slocum being on the extreme left of the advanc- ing column, did not hear the order of the colonel and pushed the left forward until he saw the right wing of the regiment flat on the ground. The colonel again commanded "Lie down!" I venture to say that no child ever embraced a parent with more affection than the offi- cers and inen of the One Hundred and Twentieth em- braced mother earth on that occasion-one soldier (weighing at least two hundred pounds), literally flat- tened himself, with his head protected by a mullen stalk not more than one inch in diameter. While in this po- sition the bullets of the enemy passed from three to four feet above them, and as long as they remained there were comparatively secure, as the sharpshooters on the right kept the enemy down, so that they dare not compress their guns to fire into the regiment.
Colonel French ordered Adjutant Slocum to go to the rear, and ask General Osterhaus to relicve the One Hun- dred and Twentieth. The adjutant replied by saying if he went back he would get shot in the rear, and that the regiment was safe in their present position, and if they got up to retire, every man of them would be shot. The order was made imperative, so the adjutant crossed back along the line of the men, for some distance, when the
cry went up "see the adjutant craw-fishing." Finally he sprang to his feet, and in a zig-zag course reached Gen- eral Osterhaus, who expressed, surprise in secing him deserting the regiment, and inquired into the cause of it. Instead of communicating the request of Colonel French to General Osterhaus, he informed the general that the rebel sharp-shooters were in the two wooden buildings inside the fort, shooting through the crevises, picking off our officers, and if he would order up two sections of artillery, and knock the buildings down, it would be the means of saving the lives of many of our officers and men. Four twenty-pound rifled guns were advanced and opened fire on the buildings, after a few shots the houses were knocked into splinters, and fell. Very soon thereafter the fort surrendered with five thousand pris- oners.
At ten P. M. of the same day Adjutant Slocum re- ceived an order from army headquarters to report in person forthwith on board the transport Illinois. After reading the order, the Camp Chase difficulty flashed through his mind. He said to himself: " Here is an- other case of disobedience to the orders of a superior officer." Fearing to take counsel, lest he might commit himself, he started in company with the orderly for headquarters. On arriving on board he saw General Sherman with all the corps commanders sitting around a table. He advanced to General Sherman, laid down the order, and reported in person. After a number of questions were answered touching the matter, he was told to report back to his command. He heard no more of the matter until the eighteenth day of March, 1863, when he was inforined that he had been promoted to major of the regiment for meritorious conduct in the field at Arkansas Post, jumping ten captains in one pro- motion, Colonel French resigning the same day.
On the eighth day of September, 1863, he was pro- moted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. After the surrender of Fort Hindman and Arkansas Post the army returned to Young's Point, in front of Vicksburgh. Here Colonel Slocum was put in charge of digging out one section of the famous canal, to lead the waters of the Mississippi across the country in order that the transports might more safely pass the water batteries de- fending the city of Vicksburgh, a work that was never accomplished nor never intended to be. In March, 1863, the army of the Mississippi crossed the river be- low Vicksburgh on transports that had run the block- ade. Colonel Slocum participated in all the battles in the rear of Vicksburgh -- battle of Raymond, Thompson's Hill, Jackson, Champion Hill and Big Black. He led the right wing of his regiment in the charge on Vicks- burgh on the eighteenth day of May; again on the twenty-second of May. On the seventh of June, 1863, he received an order of detail from corps headquarters, assigning him to duty as inspector general of the Thir teenth army corps, from which duty he was not relieved until after the surrender of Vicksburgh on the fourth of July, 1863. On the morning of the fourth he was left in command of three divisions of the Thirteenth co:p at Big Black river, twelve miles in the rear of Vicky
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burgh, the superior officers all having gone down to witness the surrender.
At one p. M. of the same day, an order was sent out by General Grant to move all the forces at Big Black: river upon Jackson. The order was received by Colonel Slocum, and at once put into execution by calling the forces into line. By four p. M. the entire command had crossed the river, while the advance was four miles on in the direction of Jackson. At five p. M. the ad- vance column was attacked by General Breckenridge's command, which was retreating to Jackson, Mississippi. The engagement lasted but a short time, when the advancing column bivouacked for the night, the absent officers rejoining their respective commands before morning. On the sixth of July, Colonel Slocum's regi- ment led the advance of the Thirteenth on Jackson, and formed the base line, directly in front of the enemy's breastworks, and here he was engaged from the tenth-to the seventeenth of July, the day the rebel authorities capitulated. Colonel Speigle there received a very se- vere, but not dangerous, wound in the hip, which dis- abled him until about the month of February, 1864, when he returned and assumed command of the regi- ment. After the siege of Jackson, Colonel Slocum returned to Vicksburgh, with but one hundred and eight effective men in the regiment.
In August, 1853, Colonel Slocum received an order from departinent headquarters, to proceed by transport to Port Hudson, on the Mississippi river, and there to await further orders. On the third of September, 1863, they disembarked and went into camp at Port Hudson, for what purpose no one seemed to know. After remaining there eight days, their rations and forage were consumed, and no means of supply. The command consisted of the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry and one battery of six-pound guns. On the twelfth day of September, Colonel Slocum ordered the battery to the bank of the river to bring to the first transport that went down the river. On the evening of the twelfth a transport was sighted and brought to by the battery. The regiment and battery were taken on board and landed at Carlton, ten miles above New Orleans. Colonel Slocum at once reported to army headquarters in New Orleans his action in the premises, which was approved by the commanding officer.
The regiment having been reduced to a mere skel- eton by sickness and death, Colonel Slocum was placed on detached duty at department headquarters, as judge advocate. Soon thereafter he was ordered to Texas to organize a court-martial at Brownsville and one at an- other point. While there he received an order to report to Columbus, Ohio, on recruiting service. He took an ocean steamer for New Orleans, arriving at Carlton, where he was joined by the sergeants of the regiment, all of whom reached Columbus in December, 186 ;. In April, 1864, the colonel and his sergeants returned with one hundred and seventy-four enlisted men, and joined the regiment in Louisiana. He then re organized the regiment by assignment of officers. The winter months
had been conducive to the health of the men, and many who had been sent home on sick furlough had re- turned, besides many who had been in hospital.
On the first of May, 1864, the regiment was ordered to join General Banks' army, then operating up Red river in Louisiana. The regiment embarked,on the steamer "City Belle," with six hundred and eighty effec- tive men, Colonel M. M. Speigle in command. Arriving at the mouth of Red river in the evening, they laid over until the next morning to await a convoy of gun- boats. In early morning they steamed up the river for some distance. Reaching Fort DeRuser, the officers of the navy reported shallow water, and they could proceed no further. Colonel Mudd, of the Second Illinois vet- eran cavalry, Colonel Blontz, bearer of dispatches, Colonel Bassett, and Colonel Slocum were called in coun- ci !. A majority opposed going further without the protection of the navy, but Colonel Speigle, a brave officer, determined otherwise, and steamed up the river. Colonel Slocum and one hundred and fifty men took their position on the hurricane deck, not only as a guard, but to observe, if possible, any signs of the enemy. They had proceeded but a short distance until a negro woman was seen running in the direction of the transport, wav- ing a handkerchief, saying that the rebels were around the bend. Colonel Speigle's attention was called to this .demonstration by Colonel Slocum. He still per- sisted, saying there was no serious danger, but alas for Colone! Speigle and many brave boys! the warning proved to be more than true.
The river was very narrow but deep, with sharp curves. As the boat rounded Snaggy Point, a battery of their masked guns opened a vigorous fire on the frail trans- port, each shot taking effect ; one killing the pilot, and one going through the machinery, cutting the steam pipe and on through the cabin. Scarcely had the sound of the last gun died away, until another battery opened in front. General Majors, with a brigade of infantry, emerged from behind a cover, and poured a murderous fire into the side of the transport. The infantry on the hurricane deck kept up a continuous fire, but of little effect. Colonel Speigk: was among the first killed; Col- onel Slocum hastened to the cabin, saw Colonel Speigie with many others, lying on the cabin floor, with pools of blood surrounding them. Colonel Slocum spoke to him ; his only reply was "I am gone this tine." He raised his head up while Colonel Mudd placed a knap- sack under it. As Colonel Mudd raised up he was shot in the left temple. Colonels Basset and Blonta were also killed, and died instantly. The boat was then drifting down with the current; Colonel Slocum ordered the boat surrendered, and put fire to the state-room contain- ing the mail for General Banks ary. As soon as the boat was surrendered Colonel Slocum ordered every man ashore with his gun. The boat had neared the shotc when the men began jumping and throwing their guns. Taking advantage of the situation, Colonel Slocum with one hundred and fifty five officers and men reached the shore in safety, and sought shelter in a dense wood. Those who failed to reach the bank were enther drowned
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