History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 54

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > 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).

It was after a succession of defeats like this, where fortification, artillery and number of forces were all on the side of the Mexicans, be- sides the fight with them being for their capital city and its treasures of wealth and beauty, that Santa Anna and many of his officers stole away in the middle of the night, gathered escaping forces that were scattered, and by a forced march besieged Colonel Childs and his garrison at Puebla, doubtless intending to wreak their ven- geance upon the 1,800 siek and wounded soldiers of the hospital.

For several days a gallant resistance was made by the garrison, and it was at this time and against this remnant of the Mexican army led in person by Santa Anna that General Lane's brig- ade hurled its forces after their hurried march from Jalapa. General Lane's brigade was di- vided into three attacking columns, one of which was headed by the Fourth Ohio and commanded by Colonel Charles H. Brugh. It furiously at- tacked the besieging forces of the Mexicans, and fought its way up the streets of Puebla to the Quartet, and from thenee to the grand Plazza in the center of the city. The street fight was se- vere, and left quite a number of Coshocton county's citizens in the hospital wards of Puebla. This was the final blow to the struggling forces of the Mexieans. The Fourth Ohio was detailed

At dawn on the morning of the 13th, the bat- teries opened an active and effective fire upon the castle. Daring this cannonade active prepa- rations were made for the assault upon the cas- tle. Ladders, pickaxes and crows were put in | to remain as garrison at Puebla, and had no other

320

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

engagement except to accompany two artillery expeditions, one at Atlixco and the other at Plas- cala. These engagements did not.even involve a skirmish, consisting simply of a cannonade of guerilla forces of Mexicans at those two men- tioned points. The Fourth Ohio remained at Puebla during the balance of the time the United States forces occupied the Mexican territory, and shared in all the closing scenes of this brilliant campaign on the domain of the enemy. It would not be amiss to close this recital with a brief re- view of the closing incidents, as history and per- sonal reminiscences have recorded them.

In the winter of 1847-48 American ambassa- dors met the Mexican congress at Guadaloupe- Hidalgo, and on the second of February a treaty was concluded. By the terms of this treaty the vexed question of boundary between Mexico and the United States was established as running, along the Rio Grande from its mouth to the southern limit of New Mexico; thence westward along the southern, and northward along the western boundary of that territory to the Gila; thence down that river to the Colorado and thence westward to the Pacific.

Guadaloupe-Hidalgo, the village in which the above mentioned treaty was signed is worthy of the passing notice given by an actor in the scenes to the noted church within whose walls much of this business was transacted. Says the writer:

The church of Nuestra Senora de Guadaloupe, is one amongst the most noted and memorable objects in this valley. A solidly paved road leads from the church into the village (at the foot of El Cerro de Tepayac). The building is vast, heavy and not at all beautiful, something of the medieval style of the lower empire, but still it is the most holy spot par excellence, in the whole calendar of Mexican saints. It was here that the blessed virgin thrice appeared to the simple shep- herd in that miraculous vision which is now her stereotyped national picture, and to be found in every abode in the land. But the interior of the church surpasses all expression. It is fairly ablaze with barbaric splendor in precious metals, gold and silver balusters, railing, altar pieces, cloths of gold for the images, and all manner of glittering ornamentation. It was wonderful and strange to see the bullion lying around loose in this land of robbers pronunciamentos and prestimos. The most singular feature of all is the stone ship, visi- ble a long distance, towering high above all build-

ings, trees and other objects, cut in alto-relievo in the steep scarp of the rocky ridge is the exact re- semblance of a ship in full sail. The white, cal- careous nature of the stone is admirably suited to this nautical wonder on the slope of a rocky mountain, far away from old ocean's main. The legend has it, a ship in crossing the ocean was caught in a fierce tempest and threatened with total destruction to all on board. A Mexican pas- senger, in the extremity of his terror vowed to the blessed virgin, a temple to her honor and glory, if he ever set foot on solid ground again. The vessel weathered the storm and arrived safely in port, but in the place of a church for divine worship and saintly praise, the cunning fellow had this stone ship carved upon the face of the hill and never trusted himself to the treacherous deep again.

It was amidst such romantic surroundings and associations that the final treaty to a romantic and brilliant campaign was concluded, which was fol- lowed immediately by the evacuation of the capi- tal and all points on Mexican soil held and occu- pied by American troops.

In the concluding sketch of this remarkable campaign, in which Coshocton county shared an honorable part, it will be interesting and appro- priate to view the closing act in the drama, the evacuation of the city of Mexico, as the com- mencement of the final march to the gulf. Em- ploying the language of the eloquent writer al- ready quoted :

'Tis a festive, star-lit night, on the grand Plaz- za; the multitude is swayed to and fro in happy, eager expectancy of a grand demonstration. It is a pyrotechnic display prepared by the ordnance department in commemoration of the long-sought event. Congratulations and compliments are wafted about between the late belligerents.

" A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage bell."

A signal rocket shoots up athwart the luminous sky and instantly the whole heavens are ablaze with flashing, darting, fizzing objects of firey light, flaming corruscations, blue and green me- teors darting hither and across, Roman candles, flying serpents and whirling wheels. Darkness then settles over the spell-bound throng. Pres. ently the facade of the national palace is seen to glow with returning light, and one by one, in sparkling brilliancy, the letters of the word "Peace" flashes out the glad tidings to the pro- longed acclamation of the dwellers on earth. The 12th of June, 1848, is a rosy morn on the grand

321

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Plazza. Expectancy is again on tip-toe. The last scene in the drama is to be enacted. The drums roll a salute along the line, the guards present arms, the cannons flash a salvo, down flutters the star spangled banner from the flagstatl' on the na- tional palace, up waves the red, white and green tri-color of Mexico, the transfer of sovereignty is made, and the Mexican was given back his play- thing, with something of a stern lesson for future guidance.

Just nine months before, we had entered this city bristling with hostility, and when resistance was at last subdued, scowling looks and defiant glances met us from both sexes. The senoritas were especially shy and unapproachable. For a while it scemed that we were to be condemned to monastic isolation from the gentle beings that flower the pathway of life in whatever clime or country.

On the march across the table-lands between Puebla and Perote, a thunder storm passed over the column of troops. The electric currents were strong; the muskets were first rate conductors; the consequence was a stunning report, and a whole company of infantry was stricken to the ground, stunned, paralyzed and blinded; some with laccrated wounds, others burnt and scorched ; happily, none killed. Jalapa, the enchanting, is reached and passed. With reluctance we left thy beautiful vales and perfumed groves; thy silvery cascades, where flowers and fruits of almost every clime bloom and ripen the livelong year.

Vera Cruz was reached by the Fourth Ohio, in company with the returning victorious forces from the capital, where they took sailing vessels for New Orleans, and then steamboat via the Mis- sissippi to Cincinnati, and at this point were mustered out in the latter part of July, 1848.

CHAPTER XXXV.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Preparations in Coshocton -Three Months' Men - Muster Rolls-Operations of the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer I- fantry.

THE first gun fired upon Sumter, sent its re- verbcrations around the world. Hardly an inland hamlet in the United States existed free from its influence a few hours after it occurred. Telegraph wires flashed the news to all railroad towns; expresses were sent on foot and on horse- back to all interior towns; neighbor hastened to tell it to neighbor; and thus almost before even-

ing of the same day, the people of the Union were aroused and prepared to act. April 14, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 troops to serve three months. The magnitude of the rebellion was not then compre- hended, else the call might have been very much larger, and for a longer term of service. Hunt's history says of that time: "The news of the fall of Sumter caused in Coshocton county, as elsewhere, a thrill that passed and repassed along the nerves of the people. Many of the settlers were from south of Mason and Dixon's line, and had tender recollections of their old homes and the people therein. But the war spirit was not wanting among even these, and as promptly as in any county the people were up in arms."

April 16, 1861, a meeting was held at the law office of Nicholas & Williams, prior to which A. M. Williams had been to Columbus and se- cured a commission to raise a company; thus receiving the honor of being the first citizen of Coshocton county to contribute to the support of war measures. The Age, in the issue of April 18, says :

At a meeting held in the law office of Nicholas & Williams this evening, for the purpose of making a call for a war meeting, R. M. Vorhees was called to the chair, and A. L. Harris was ap- pointed secretary. On motion of Mr. S. Har- baugh, a committee consisting of R. M. Vorhees, R. A. Baker, A. M. Williams, Captain James Ir- vine and A. L. Harris, was appointed to issue a call for a meeting; they to determine the time of meeting, etc.

The meeting then adjourned, when the above named committee decided upon the following, which was placarded all over the town the next day :

CALL FOR A UNION MEETING.

Deeming it the duty of every patriotic Union loving citizen to gladly and speedily respond to the demands of the country as expressed in the proclamation of the President of the United States, by either personally volunteering for scr- vice in the army, or aiding by counsel or encour- agement those who do volunteer to fight for the honor of the Union and maintenance of the con- stitution in the coming struggle with traitors and rebels, we, as a committee, appointed by our fel- low-citizens, do call a Union meeting of the citi- zens of Coshocton county to be hell at the court house in Coshocton on Friday at two o'clock.

322

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

The meeting is called without respect to party, this being the time when every person should show his loyalty to his country. Volunteers will be enrolled at the meeting.

R. M. VORHEES, R. F. BAKER, A. M. WILLIAMS, J. IRVINE, A. L. HARRIS.

Mr. Nicholas R. Tidball returned on Wednes- day, April 17, from Columbus, with a commission in his pocket to raise a company, and all arrange- ments were being made to enroll volunteers at the meeting to be held Friday afternoon. But the excitement was so intense that the Union lov- ing citizens could not wait until Friday after- noon to enroll their names, volunteering began immediately. The Age, in the same issue in which it published the above notice, says in a paragraph: "Enlisting for the war is briskly going on. The proper papers can be found at Baker's shop, opposite the Tidball House."

The meeting was held at the court house, and it was filled to overflowing. Immense delegations came in from every part of the county, and it became dangerous in a very short time to be known as a sympathizer with the rebels. One business establishment was surrounded by the excited and liberty loving Unionists, and because it had given utterance to sentiments of sympathy with secession and seceders, was compelled to hoist the stars and strips upon pain of being thrown, stock and all, into the river. The Age says of this meeting :

The war meeting at the court house was a boomer, and the patriotic speeches of Messrs. Nicholas, Given and Lanning elicited great en- thusiasm. A band of martial music took up its position in the room and enlivened the scene with patriotic airs. John D. Nicholas was first called upon and made a soul-stirring speech, followed by Joseph Given and Richard Lanning, in capital addresses to the patriotism and national feeling of the vast crowd assembled. The vol- unteer roll was opened and a company formed in a short time. A resolution was adopted that funds be raised to keep the volunteers without expense to themselves while waiting for orders. A. M. Williams headed a paper with $100, for the maintenance of the families of volunteers. $2,000 was raised in a short time. The ladies of the two towns (Coshocton and Roscoe), God bless them! are busy as bees preparing clothing for

the volunteers. The Roscoe ladies gave each volunteer from that place a fine woolen blanket worth $5, and every provision is being made for the comfort of the brave volunteers. Six printers volunteered with the company from this town, leaving the office so short for help that we have turned our devil into foreman, and are run- ning the office on primitive principles.

The excitement kept at fever heat; everything was war, war, war! Men met to talk over who was going, and when and what the results would be; martial music sounded everywhere upon the ear. The first company was enlisted and took the train for Columbus on Wednesday morning at 8:30 A. M., April 24, 1861. Of this departure the _Ige, in its issue of April 25, says: " The Union Guards, first company, left Coshocton for Colum- bus Wednesday morning. The roll was called on the public square at 8 o'clock, and every man was on hand. They marched to the depot, when John Nicholas, on behalf of the young ladies, pre- sented the company with a splendid silk flag. It was received by First Lieutenant Marshall, who, in the absence of Captain James Irvine, who was at the death-bed of his father in Wayne county, had command of the company. While the flag presentation was going on, the train that was to bear the volunteers arrived, and, amidst the cheers of the immense crowd, the boys embarked for the big wars. There was a scene for old Coshoc- ton, the details of which are sacred from the re- porter's pencil. Tears coursed down manly cheeks, all unused to the melting mood, and among the ladies there was scarcely a dry eye. Although the flower of the youth of our county eagerly go to defend the flag of our country, still when we look upon their departure, almost certainly knowing that we will behold many of their faces no more, we feel a sadness even in sending them to glory."

The following are the volunteers of this first company :

James Irvine, Captain.

David W. Marshall, First Lientenant.

J. M. McClintock, Second Lieutenant.

N. R. Tidball, First Sergeant.

Charles Donley, Second Sergeant.

L. L. Cantwell, Third Sergeant.

William Torry, Fourth Sergeant. R. M. Vorhees, First Corporal.

323

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

J. Carhart, jr., Second Corporal.

N. P. Emmerson, Third Corporal. William H. Coe, Fourth Corporal.

Privates-S. B. Madden, W. H. 11. Richards, H. Decker, Jonah Gadden, William Doyle, William Darnes, J. L. Longshore, Asa Comstock, Charles Pike. J. H. Hay, Levi MeMichael, J. B. Akeroyd, James Esten, James MeClure, W. H. Robinson, William Davis, William Hay, J. N. Winn, George Shaffer. William Nicholas, T. J. Carnes, James Banford, T. C. Mosler. Charles McMichael, T. C. Hutchinson, Albert Lawbaugh, Samuel Compton, Harmon Morris, D. W. Stallard, P. T. Dougherty, R. B. Beardsly, James Stonchocken, B. A. Steven- son, Adonis MeMath, Peter Miller, S. A. Davis James Cooper, Richard Cray, M. E. Cowec, D. W. Catherwood, Thomas Newell, John Porter, George E. Jack, James McMunn, Frederick Cullison, T. J. Edwards, James C. Carnahan, John Whalen, R. S. Richardson. Joseph Cooper, Alexander Richards, George Sykes, Henry Hogleberger, W. Bassett, William Patton, Joseph Tompkins, Arthur Sherrer, John North, G. W. Smailes, H. P. Dimmock, A. L. Barton, R. Hackinson, Ham. Roneg, A. Evans. J. N. Balch, John Mills, J. Mc- Phearson. Isaac Wiggins, George Moffatt, S. . 1. Ellis, T. J. Roneg. J. N. Smith, George W. Cox, John Patton, S MeNabb, George Vanhorn, J. W. Loder, John Simmons, J. D. Ross, C. Humphrey, H. Brelsford.

These names are given as published at the time, some few were not accepted or withdrew, but this list comprises the first company that left Co- shoeton for Columbus.

While this was making its record as the first company, another had already organized with a full quota, having elceted Richard MeLain cap- tain, and was waiting for orders from Columbus at the time the first left.

Muster roll of Company D, Sixteenth Regi- ment, mustered into service April 27, 1861 :

OFFICERS.

Richard W. McClain, Captain. Willis (. Workman, First Lieutenant. Albert Shaw, Second Lieutenant. William Moore, First Sergeant. John Humphry, Second Sergeant.

Sampson MeNeal, Third Sergeant. James R. Johnson, Fourth Sergeant. Thomas B. Ferren, First Corporal. William Ringwalt, Second Corporal. Thomas J Cook, Third Corporal. Henry Forest, Fourth Corporal. Benjamin F. Ingraham, Drummer.

Privates-John Bonts, Frederick C. Barth, Wil- liam II. Bryan, Robert Brown, Frederick Blas- ser, Nicholas II. Bassett, Jesse Bassett, Harrison Bible, Henry Bird, Thomas B. Bird, George W. Baird, Edward Campbell, Nathan Carnaham, Joseph A. Cochran, Matthew D. Cochran, Wash- ington L. Cochran, Charles Clark, Louis Crooks, Franklin Caterall, William H. Coy, Richard Cox, John Copeland, James M. Crooks, John Crooks, James M. Cockram, Thomas Dobson, James Davis, John Davis, William Derr, Jacob H. Evans, Abram Ely, Isaac Ely, Leroy Ellis, Simcon II. Ellis, John Foster, Thomas Goff, Francis D. Haines, J. Nelson Henderson, William R. House, George K. Johnson, Benjamin Jones, Andrew J. Lamma, Jacob Lahr, John C. Milligan, James McCune, William T. Miller, Henry Matheny, John Myers, John H. Martin, Marcellus Morgan, John Miller, Reuben A. Mack, John McConnell, Joseph S. Miller, Simpson McFadden, Zachariah MeElfresh, Franklin Newell, John Ogle, Allen MI. Platt, Joseph Phillips, Ezekiel Poland, Levi Por- ter, John Parish, John W. Plummer, Robert Pierce, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Richardson, Osborn Richardson, Jacob Sternberg. Dennison Sturts, James Sears, Anthony W. Shearer, Jacob Stricker, William Schuck, Basil Steele, Alfred Snyder, James W. Sipes, Samuel Stephens, Mor- gan Snyder, Michacl Snell, Eli W. Thomas, Pal- estine Thacker, Charles W. Tumblin, John W. Wilson, James B. Wilson, Edward Wiggins, Al- exander Williams, James A. Zook, Harvey Zim- merman.

The Coshocton boys went to Camp Jackson, at Columbus, where, in common with all other com- panies, they were put upon drill of eight hours a day. At this camp the two companies were as- signed to the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and, with other companies, constituted the primary organi- zation of the regiment. As was customary at that time, the boys proceeded to elect their offi-

324

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

cers, and Coshocton was favored in having elected to the colonelcy the captain of her first company, James Irvine, who received his commission as colonel of the Sixteenth O. V. I., May 3, 1861. John D Nicholas was elected captain of Company A, in his place, Richard McClain's company was known as Company D. The regiment remained at Camp Jackson a week or ten days, and then went by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Bel- laire, where it crossed the river to Benwood, in West Virginia, having been ordered to that de- partment. Colonel James Irvine received a tel- egraphic dispatch from General McClellan to go to Bellaire and camp.

At Bellaire the citizens turned out en masse, headed by Seth Gardiner and wife, and gave the entire regiment a dinner as a compliment to the Coshocton element therein. Colonel James Ir- vine and some other officers were domiciled at the residence of Mr. Gardiner. The regiment was quartered in a large iron foundry at Bellaire, and remained there several days General Mcclellan telegraphed Colonel Irvine to make a topograph- ical survey of Wheeling, Bellaire and vicinity. While arrangements were going on for this pur- pose, a very amusing yet natural incident oc- curred. Colonel Irvine had thrown out scouts to keep an eye on all that was going on down the river from Bellaire. A party of the scouts came in early in the morning with the report that there was a large force of men with artillery and boats about to cross the Ohio. All was astir in a few moments. The colonel ordered two steam tugs, with a company on board of each, to steam down the river and reconnoiter. The boats soon returned and reported that Dan Rice's circus, which was coming into town the next day, was watering its elephants and cattle.

Late one night toward the last of May, Colonel Irvine received a telegram to report to Colonel Kelley, at Wheeling, and co-operate with him ac- cording to orders. Colonel Kelley had raised a regiment of Virginians for home service. Colonel Irvine immediately departed to Wheeling and found Colonel Kelley going over a Confederate mail that had been forwarded to him, having been captured on a part of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The developments implicated a number of citizens in Wheeling and thereabouts,

thoroughly exposing the condition of affairs in that section.

The two regiments of Colonels Kelley and Ir- vine, having received orders to advance, followed the railroad till they came to the vicinity of Głover's Gap, where they found the rebels had burned the bridges.

Here the regiments were delayed until the bridges were rebuilt. While waiting at this point, the two Coshocton companies of the Six- teenth Ohio were detailed to drive off a rebel outpost that had headquarters at a small town about eleven miles from the Gap. They had a sharp skirmish, and returned with three men wounded. The regiments reached Grafton on the 30th of May, finding on their arrival, the rebel forces had departed to Philippi, where they had made a stand, being 2,000 strong. The stars and stripes were flung out from almost every house in town, and ladies marched the streets dressed in red, white and blue, hurrahing for the Union.

While the Sixteenth Ohio and Colonel Kelley's regiment were on the march to Grafton, Colonel Wallace, commanding an Indiana regiment, had marched from Cumberland and attacked the rebels at Romney, surprising and completely routing them, capturing their camp equipage, provisions and arms, and marching on to Graf- ton, united his forces with those already under the command of Colonel Kelley. These three regiments marched upon the rebels at Philippi, on a very dark night, in the midst of a rag- ing storm, and took them by surprise, at four A. M. The enemy, alarmed by the fire of their pickets, had just time to form in line of battle, when the Union forces came rushing upon them, firing but one volley, and charging bayonets. The rebels discharged their pieces so wiklly that but two of the Union troops were killed and twenty wounded, and breaking, from the bayonet charge of the Union forces, they fled in confusion to Leedsville, about ten miles further south, losing all their camp equipage and about 800 stand of arms. Colonel Kelley was severely wounded. After the engagement at Philippi, the Coshocton boys lay encamped at Rowelsburg for some days, when they received orders to march to Camp Donley, about four miles distant, and on Friday,

325

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

29th of June, were sent upon a scouting expedi- tion. They struck tents, took twenty-four hours' rations, and marched twelve miles, to a small stream flowing into the Buffalo river, and re- mained at that point until an alarm gun sounded, when they were started on a double-quick down a hill to the place where the firing was heard One of the Coshoeton boys, writing of this skirmish, says :

We passed Adjutant Marshall on the way, and he, seeing his horse could not keep up and we would be in before him, exclaimed, "(to it, you Ohio thieves!" Let me say here that the ladies of Coshocton made a good choice in the color bearer of our company. Bob bore our colors, and frequently dashed ahead amidst the shouts of the Ohio boys. Seeing Colonel Irvine at the head of a company, we marched on quicker time until we reached them. The enemy were ealled caval- ry, although they were mostly riding broken down mules. The boys had a short skirmish, killing and wounding several of the rebels and securing the balance as prisoners. It appears this body of rebel guerillas had been camping there for some days, and had been hanging and shooting Union men in the vicinity. Corporal Youst, of Captain McClain's Coshocton company, distinguished himself in this skirmish.

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 Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 54

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854