History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 54

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Force, Manning Ferguson-August 19, 1861, major Twentieth O. V. I .; Sep- tember 11, 1861, lieutenant-colonel O. V. I .; May 23, 1862, colonel O. V. I .; August 11, 1863, brigadier-general U. S. Volunteers; July 22, 1864, severely wounded at Atlanta: March 13, 1865, brevet major-general U. S. Volunteers; January 15, 1866, mustered out; August 29, 1866, colonel Thirty-second Infantry, U. S. A .; September 7, 1866, declined appointment.

Garrard, Israel-September 18, 1862, colonel Seventh O. V. Cavalry; June 21, 1865, brigadier-general U. S. Volunteers; July 4, 1865, mustered out of service.

Garrard, Jeptha-September 11, 1861. captain Sixth Independent Cavalry Company; December 10, 1861, attached to Third N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry; Septem- ber 10, 1862, major Third N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry; December 7, 1862, colonel U. S. Colored Cavalry; April -, 1865, resigned.

Goshorn, Alfred T .- May 10, 1864, captain Company G, 137th O. V. I .; August 19, 1864, mustered out with regiment.

Greenleaf, Charles R .- August 5, 1860, captain and assistant-surgeon, U. S. A .; March 13, 1865, brevet major.

Hayes, Rutherford B .- May 18, 1861, major Twenty-third O. V. I .; October 24, 1861, lieutenant-colonel Twenty-third O. V. I .; October 15, 1862, colonel Twenty-third O. V. I .; September 14, 1862, wounded severely at South Mountain; wounded slightly May 10, 1863, July 25, 1864, and October 19, 1864; October 19, 1864, brigadier-general U. S. Volunteers; March 13, 1865, brevet major-general U. S. Volunteers; June 10, 1865, resigned.

How, W. Storer-May 27, 1861, private Ninth N. Y. State Militia; February 23, 1864, captain and acting quartermaster; March 19, 1865, brevet major; June 10, 1866, mustered out of service.

Ingram, Alex. - May 28, 1861, first lieutenant and assistant-surgeon, U. S. A .; lost on steamboat "Brother Jonathan," Pacific Ocean.

Johnson, John Waterman-Served three months as private in the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; February 19, 1862, second lieutenant in Thirty-ninth O. V. I. ; January 24, 1864, private Company K, 108th O. V. I .; May 14, 1864, died from wounds received at battle of Resaca, Ga.

Jones, Frank Johnston-April 19, 1861, private Company A, Sixth O. V. I .; June 28, 1861, second lieutenant Thirteenth O. V. I .; January 1, 1862, first lieu- tenant and adjutant Thirteenth O. V. I .; January 9, 1863, captain O. V. I .; March 11, 1863, captain and A. D. C., U. S. Volunteers (McCook's staff); March 13, 1865, brevet major U. S. Volunteers; July 2, 1864, resigned.

Leake, J. Bloomfield-August 26, 1862, lieutenant-colonel Twentieth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry; , wounded at the battle of Sterling Farm, Morganzie, Louisiana; July 8, 1865, mustered out with regiment.

348

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Loomis, Charles -- May 31, 1861, private Company A, Sixth O. V. I .; January 14, 1862, second lieutenant Fifty-fourth O. V. 1 .; April 3, 1863, resigned.

Lord, Nathan, Jr .- May -, 1862, captain Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, August -, 1862, lieutenant-colonel Fifth Vermont Volunteer Infantry; June 29, 1862, wounded at Savage Station; - , colonel Sixth Vermont Volunteer Infan- try; February 19, 1863, resigned.

Matthews, Stanley-June 7, 1861, lieutenant-colonel Twenty-third O. V. I .; October 14, 1861, colonel Fifty-first O. V. I .; April 14, 1863, resigned.

Meline, James F. - June 30, 1862, major and aid-de-camp U. S. A. (Gen. Pope's staff); March 5, 1865, lieutenant-colonel U. S. A .; March 9, 1865, colonel.

Menzies, S. G .- April -, 1861, major of cavalry and surgeon U. S. Volunteer Infantry; August -, 1861, medical director First Missouri Army Corps; June-, 1864, mustered out with regiment.

Mills, Lewis E .- June, 1863. captain Volunteers and aid on staff of Gen. R. B. Potter, Ninth Army Corps; September, 1863, resigned.

McLaughlin, James W .- September 10, 1862, first lieutenant Company C, Fre- mont Infantry Body Guard; December 11, 1862, resigned.

Morgan, Christopher A. - July 31, 1861, captain Thirty-ninth O. V. I .; January 6, 1862, resigned; January 6, 1862, major and aid-de-camp (Gen. Pope's staff); June 30, 1862, colonel and aid-de-camp (Gen. Pope's staff); January 20, 1866, died in ser- vice at St. Louis.

Mussey, R. Delavan-May 14, 1863, captain Nineteenth U. S. Infantry; June 16, 1864, colonel 100th U. S. Colored Infantry; May, 1865, brevet brigadier-general U. S. Volunteers; September, 1865, colonel U. S. A .; December 12, 1865, resigned.

Nixon, O. W .- August, 1861, major and surgeon Thirty-ninth O. V. I. and med- ical director; August, 1862, resigned.

Noyes, Edwin F .- July 21, 1861, major Thirty-ninth O. V. I. ; July 8, 1862, lieutenant-colonel Thirty-ninth O. V. I. ; October 1, 1862, colonel Thirty-ninth O. V. I .; July 4, 1864. severely wounded at Atlanta; March 13, 1865, brevet brigadier- general U. S. Volunteers; April 22, 1865, honorably discharged.

O'Leary, Charles-August 3, 1861, major and brigade surgeon." 1

Owens, William-September 26, 1861, first lieutenant Company K, O. V. Cav- alry; May 13, 1863, captain Company K, Fifth O. V. Cavalry; December 3, 1864, mustered out by expiration of service.

Partridge, Charles A .- October 2, 1861, second lieutenant Company G, Forty- eighth O. V. I .; December 13, 1861, first lieutenant Company G, Forty-eighth O.V.I .; January 22, 1863, resigned.

Piatt, Donn-June 28, 1861, captain and acting adjutant-general; October 30, 1862, major and acting adjutant-general; January 1, 1863, lieutenant-colonel and assistant inspector-general.

Pope, John , captain Topographical Engineers, U.S. A .; May 17, 1861, brigade general U. S. Volunteers; March 21, 1862, major-general U. S. Volunteers; July 14, 1862, brigadier-general U. S. A .; March 13, 1865, brevet major-general U. S. A.

Rickoff, Andrew J .- May 10, 1864, private Company E, 138th O. V. I.

Skinner, J. Ralston-November 19, 1862, major and judge advocate (Gen. Rose- crans' staff); March 20, 1865, resigned.

Slocum, J. J .- February 19, 1862, captain and C. S., U. S. A .; March 13, 1865, brevet major, U. S. A .; October, 1865. colonel U. S. A .; July 7, 1866, resigned.

Smith, Thomas C. H .-- August 23, 1861, lieutenant-colonel First O. V. Cavalry; November 29, 1862, brigadier-general U. S. Volunteers; January 31, 1866, mustered out of service.

Straub, Walter F .- August, 1861, captain and aid-de-camp (Gen. McCook's staff); October, 1862, resigned.

349

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Warnock, James-August 31, 1861, second lieutenant Company D, Second O. V. I .; October 2, 1863, captain Company D, Second O. V. I .; October 10, 1864, mustered out with regiment.

Webb, Joseph T .- July 2, 1861, major and surgeon Twenty-third O. V. I .; 1865, brevet lieutenant-colonel; July 26, 1866, mustered out with regiment.

White, M. Hazen-September 2, 1861, volunteer second lieutenant; January 1, 1862, second lieutenant and aid-de camp; January, 1864, first lieutenant and aid- de-camp; October 16, 1864, major Fourth Arkansas Cavalry; July 2, 1865, mustered out with regiment.

White, William Sutton-September 12, 1861, private Fourth O. V. Cavalry; November 27, 1861, sergeant Company F, Fourth O. V. Cavalry; June 12, 1862, second lieutenant Fourth O. V. Cavalry; February 1, 1863, first lieutenant Fourth O. V. Cavalry; November 21, 1864, mustered out with regiment.

Williamson, Milton T .- October 29, 1861, second lieutenant O. V. I .; February 12, 1862, first lieutenant Company C, Seventy-second O. V. I .; May 31, 1863, severely wounded at Vicksburg; January, 1864, commissioned as captain, but declined commission; October 28, 1865, mustered out by expiration of service.

Wilson, Charles P .- April 17, 1861, private Company C, Second O. V. I .; August 9, 1861, mustered out with regiment; - -, medical cadet; May 2, 1864, major and surgeon 138th O. V. I. ; September 1, 1864, mustered out with regiment.

Wilson, James K. -- July, 1861, first lieutenant Company -, Third N. Y. Vol- unteer Cavalry ; April, 1862, resigned.

Wood, E. Morgan-May 14, 1861, captain United States Infantry; March 1, 1863, resigned.

Analysis of Rank on Entering Service .- Colonels, 2; lieutenant-colonels, 4; majors, 13; captains, 16; first lieutenants 4; second lieutenants, 5; privates, 7 .-- Total, 51.

Analysis of Rank Attained Excluding Brevets. - Major-generals, 1; brigadier- generals, 5; colonels, 8; lieutenant-colonels, 4; majors, 11; captains, 14; first lieu- tenants, 5; second lieutenants, 2 -Total, 50.

In May, 1861, associate members of the United States Sanitary Commission were appointed in Cincinnati, and the work of supplementing the government appliances for the comfort of soldiers had begun. The building now known as the Good Samaritan Hospital was unfinished, having been erected for the United States Mar- ine service. Through the efforts of Dr. W. H. Mussey, it was secured as a hospital for the use of the army. A board of ladies and gentlemen was organized for its management, by whose efforts and the liberality of the people it was furnished, and in May opened for the reception of patients. Until the next August it was kept in full efficiency, with surgeons, nurses, hospital supplies, and necessary furniture pro- vided by the citizens. It was then adopted by the government, and passed under the control of the Medical Department of the army. In this, as in many instances afterward, this voluntary action of an intelligent and zealous people anticipated and pointed the way to the slower and more regular movements of the army authorities. It was a war of the people, and the people led, whenever practicable. A little later the Western Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission was organized in Cincinnati, and continued its remarkable work of patriotism and charity, until years after the last returning soldier had reached his home. The subsequent history of this great organization from its beginning until August, 1864, is briefly told in the following extract from a report made in that month: "The Western Secretary of the Sanitary Commission having given notice to the associate members resident in Cincinnati of their appointment, the Cincinnati Branch was formally organized at a. meeting at the residence of Dr. W. H. Mussey, November 27, 1861. Robert W. Burnet was elected president; Geo. Hoadley, vice-president; Charles Fosdick, corres- ponding secretary; B. P. Baker, recording secretary; and Henry Pearce, treasurer."

350

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

The body thus created was left almost wholly without instructions or specifica- tion of powers. It had no other charge than to do the best it could with what it_ could get. It was permitted to work out its own fate by the light of the patriotism and intelligence of its members. If any authority was claimed over it, or power to direct or limit its action, it was not known to the members for nearly two years from the date of its organization.

The steps actually taken, however, from time to time, were communicated to the United States Sanitary Commission at Washington, and by them approved. Dele- gates more than once attended the sessions of that body, and were permitted to par- ticipate in its action. The Branch were requested to print, as one of the series (No. 44) of the publications of the Commission, their report of their doings to date of March 1, 1862, and 2,500 copies of the edition were sent to Washington for distri- bution from that point.

Previous to the organization of this Branch, an address had been issued by the United States Sanitary Commisson to the loyal women of America, in which the name of Dr. Mussey was mentioned as a proper party to whom supplies might be sent. A small stock had been received by him, which was transferred to the Branch, and circulars were at once prepared and issued, appealing for the means of such use- ful action as might seem open. A Central Ladies Soldiers' Aid Society, for Cincin- nati and vicinity, was organized, and the co-operation of more than forty societies of ladies in Hamilton county was thus secured. This Society, it is proper to add, continued its beneficial connection with the Branch in vigorous activity, furnishing large quantities of supplies of every description, for nearly two years, and until the dispiriting effect of the change, hereafter to be noticed, in the relations of the Branch to the work of distribution, paralyzed its efforts, and resulted, finally, in a practical transfer of the labors of the ladies to other fields of no less patriotic service.

The camps and hospitals near Cincinnati were subjected to inspection, and all necessary relief was furnished. Concert of action was established with the Volun- teer Aid Committee, appointed at a public meeting of citizens in October, 1861, of whom Messrs. C. F. Wilstach, E. C. Baldwin, and M. E. Reaves were elected mem- bers of the Branch. Their rooms, kindly furnished, free of expense, by the school board, became its office and depot, and finally, in the spring of 1862, a complete transfer was made of all the stock in the hands of that committee to the Cincinnati Branch, and the former body was merged in this.

Under the stimulus of constant appeals to the public, and by the wise use of the means received, the confidence of the community having been gained, large quanti- ties of hospital and camp supplies, and some money, were received, and the mem- bers entered with zeal upon the duty of distribution. The force, which the United States Sanitary Commission then had in the West, consisted of the Western secre- tary and a few inspectors, who were engaged in traveling from camp to camp, with- out any fixed headquarters. That body was not prepared, and did not profess to un- dertake this duty.

A serious question soon presented itself to the mind of every active member of the Branch, whether to prosecute the work of distribution mainly through paid agents, or by means of voluntary service. At times there have been differences of opinion upon the subject, and some of the members have had occasion, with enlarged experience, to revise their views. The result of this experience is to confirm the judgment that the use of paid agents by such an organization, in such a crisis, is, except to a limited extent, inexpedient. It has been clearly proved that voluntary service can be had to a sufficient extent, and such service connects the army and the people by a constantly renewing chain of gratuitous, valuable and tender labors, which many who can not serve in the field esteem it a privilege to be permitted to perform in the sick-room and the hospital.

351

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

The members of this Branch felt at liberty to pledge publicly in their appeals for contributions, that the work of distribution should be done under their personal supervision, subject of course to the control of the proper medical officers of the army; and, until late in the autumn of 1862, they faithfully kept this pledge, and were able to effect, as they believe, a maximum of benefit with a minimum of complaint. Fault-finding never ceases while the seasons change; but the finding of fault with the gratuitous services of men well known in a community has no power to injure.

While their labors were prosecuted under this plan, nearly every member of the Branch was brought into personal contact with the work of distribution. They were son, at which point they inaugurated the system of hospital steamers. They called

present on the battlefield of Shiloh. They were first at Perryville and Fort Donel- to their aid successfully the services of the most eminent surgeons and physicians, and the first citizens of Cincinnati. They gained the confidence of the Legislature of Ohio, which made them an appropriation of $3,000, and of the city council of Cin- cinnati, who paid them, in like manner, the sum of $2,000, and of the Secretary of War and Quartermaster-General, who placed at their control, at government expense, a steamer, which for months navigated the western waters in the transportation of supplies and of the sick and wounded.

They fitted out, in whole or part, thirty-two such steamers, some running under their own management, others under that of the governor of Ohio, and the mayor of Cincinnati, the United States Sanitary Commission and the War Department.

The relief furnished at Fort Donelson by this Branch constituted a marked, and at the time, novel instance of their mode of management, which may properly receive more specific mention here, as it elicited high praise from the Western secre- tary, and the compliment of a vote of encouragement from the United States Sani- tary Commission. In this case a handsome sum was at once raised by subscription among the citizens, and the steamer " Allen Collier " was chartered, loaded with hospital supplies and medicines, placed under the charge of the five members of the Branch, with ten volunteer surgeons and thirty-six nurses, and dispatched to the Cum- berland river. At Louisville the Western secretary accepted an invitation to join the party. It was also found practicable to accommodate on board one delegate from the Columbus, and another from the Indianapolis, Branch Commission, with a further stock of supplies from the latter. The steamer reached Donelson in advance of any other relief agency. Great destitution was found to exist, on the field no chloroform at all, and but little morphia, and on the floating hospital, "Fanny Bullitt," occu- pied by 300 wounded, only two ounces of cerate, no meat for soup, no wood for cooking, and the only bread-hard bread; not a spoon or candlestick. The suffer- ing was corresponding. Happily the "Collier" bore an ample stock, and with other parties on a like errand, who soon arrived, the surgeon's task was speedily made lighter, and his patients gained in comfort. The "Collier " returned, after a short delay, bringing a load of wounded to occupy hospitals at Cincinnati, which this Branch had meanwhile, under the authority of Gen. Halleck, and with the aid of that efficient and able officer, Dr. John Moore, then post surgeon at Cincinnati, procured and furnished.

This was but the beginning of very arduous and extensive services, person- ally and gratuitously rendered by members of this Branch. They traveled thou- sands of miles on hospital steamers on their errands of mercy, and spent weeks and months in laborious service on battlefields, and in camps and hospitals. They aided the government in the establishment of eight hospitals in Cincinnati and Covington, and suggested and assisted in work of preparing Camp Dennison, seventeen miles distant, as a general hospital for the reception of thousands of patients. They bought furniture, became responsible for rent, and the pay of nurses, provided ma- terial for the supply table, hired physicians, and in numberless ways secured that full and careful attention to the care and comfort of the soldier, which from inex-

352

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

perience, want of means, or the fear of responsibility, would otherwise, during the first and second year of the war, have been wanting.

During the period to which allusion has been made, the United States Sanitary ~ Commission had few resources, and those mostly employed in proper service at the East, where the members principally resided. This Branch was called on to aid that body, and, to the extent of its means, responded. At one time (early in 1862), it was supposed impossible to sustain that organization, except by monthly contribu- tions from each of the several Branches, continued for six months; and this Branch . was assessed to pay to that end the sum of $250 per month, for the time specified, which call was met by an advance of the entire sum required, viz .: $2,375. This sum, small as it now seems, in comparison with the enormous contributions of a later date, was then considered no mean subsidy by either of the parties to it.

In May, 1862, the Soldiers' Home of the Branch was established, an institu- tion which, since its opening, has entertained, with a degree of comfort scarcely sur- passed by the best hotels of the city, over eighty thousand soldiers, furnishing them 372,000 meals. It has recently been furnished with 100 new iron bedsteads, at a cost of $500. The establishment and maintenance of the Home, the members of the Cincinnati Branch look upon as one of their most valuable works, second in im- portance only to the relief furnished by the "sanitary steamers " dispatched promptly to the battlefields with surgeons, nurses, and stores, and with beds to bring away the wounded and the sick; and they may, perhaps, be permitted with some pride, to point to these two important systems of relief, inaugurated by them. The necessity for the last mentioned method of relief has nearly passed away; we hope it may soon pass away entirely, never to return. The Home still stands in our midst, offering food and rest to the hungry and wayworn soldier, and reminding us of the kind hearts and loyal hands, whose patriotic contributions and patient toil, supplementing the aid furnished by the government through the quartermaster and Commissary Department of the army, have enabled them to establish it. To this aid of a generous and benign government, dispensed with kindness and alacrity by the officers who have been at the heads of these departments in this city, this in- stitution is indebted, in a great measure, for its existence and usefulness.

May we not hope this aid will be continued, and that so long as the necessity for a Soldiers' Home exists, it may be able to send forth its invitation, open at all hours- free to all soldiers; and that the efficient superintendent, G. W. D. Andrews, Esq., who, under the supervision of a committee of the Branch, has managed its affairs from its birth, may, when the necessity for it shall cease, be there to bid God speed to its last guest ?

The importance of perpetuating the names of the soldiers whose lives had been, or might be, sacrificed in the defense of our government, being an anxious concern of many of the members of the Commission, and regarded by them as of so much importance, they early resolved that, so far as they could control the matter, not only should this be done, but that their last resting place should be in our beautiful city of the dead-Spring Grove Cemetery. An early interview was had with the trustees, who promptly responded to the wishes of the Commission, and gratuitously donated for that purpose a conspicuous lot, near the charming lake, of a circular shape, and in size sufficient to contain 300 bodies. In addition thereto this generous association have interred, free of expense for interment, all the soldiers buried there. This lot having become occupied, the Commission arranged for another of similar size and shape, near by, for the sum of $1,500. The subject of the payment of the same having been presented to the Legislature of Ohio, the members unanimously agreed that, as a large proportion of those who were to occupy this ground as their last home, were the sons of Ohio, it was the proper duty of the State to contribute thereto. In accordance therewith, an appropriation of $3,000 was made for the purpose, sub- ject to the approval of his Excellency, Governor Tod. A third circle of the same size and shape, adjacent to the others, was, therefore, secured at the same price.

ASticken hofen

303

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

The propriety of this expenditure was approved by the governor, after a careful examination of the ground and its value. Two of these lots have been filled, and the third is in readiness for occupancy, should it become necessary. A record is carefully made on the books of the cemetery of the name,age, company and regiment of each soldier interred there, that relatives, friends, and strangers may know, in all time to come, that we, for whom their lives were given, were not unmindful of the sacrifice they had made, and that we properly appreciate the obligations we are under to them for their efforts in aiding to secure to us, and future generations, the blessings of a redeemed and regenerated country.

In view of the work of this Branch from the commencement, we can not but express our heartfelt gratitude to that kind Providence, which has so signally blessed its efforts, and made the Commission instrumental in the distribution of the large amount of donations, which have been poured into their hands by full and free hearts, for the benefit of sufferers who are bravely defending our country and our homes.

It will be seen that one and a half per cent on the cash receipts from the commence- ment will cover all expenses for clerk hire, labor, freight, drayage, and other inci- dental matters; and this comparatively small expense is, in a great measure, owing to the extreme liberality, which should here be gratefully acknowledged, of the free use of the telegraph wires, and the free carriage of hundreds of tons of stores by the several express companies, railroads and steamboats.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 54

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592