History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 77

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 77

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On January II, 1865, while the 34th were in garrison at Beverly, with the dismounted por- tion of the 8th Ohio Cavalry-being at this time reduced to 300 men present for duty- a sudden and unexpected attack was made on the post by the enemy under General Rosser, and almost the entire regiment captured, though many, favored by the darkness and ex- citement, subsequently escaped. Colonel You- art, of the 8th, commanding the post, and Col- onel Furney, were both captured but afterward escaped. The survivors of this unfortunate affair fell back to Phillipi, and thence were ordered to Cumberland, Md., where on Feb. 22d, they were consolidated with the 36th Ohio (General Crook's old regiment), commanded by Colonel H. F Duval. Thus the old 34th lost its identity. the coalition being known as the 36th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry.

The 45th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was or-

ganized at Camp Chase in August, 1862, be- ing mustered in on the 19th of that month. It was immediately ordered to Cynthiana, Ky., where it remained until the advance of General Kirby Smith compelled it, with the 99th Ohio, to fall back to Covington. After aiding in the defense of Cincinnati, it took post at Lexing- ton, and was engaged for some time in build- ing bridges on the Kentucky Central Railroad. While at Lexington it was brigaded with the 18th and 22d Michigan regiments and 112th Illinois, under the command of General G. C. Smith.

While at Danville, about the middle of Feb- ruary, the regiment was mounted and brigaded with the 7th Ohio and 10th Kentucky regi- ments of cavalry, all under command of Col- onel Benj. P. Runkle, of the 45th. Soon after it took part in the pursuit of a body of the enemy's cavalry under command of Colonel Cluke, and on the 30th of March was engaged for the first time, at Dutton's Hill, near Som- erset, with the enemy's forces under Generals Gillmore and Pegram. In this affair the regi- ment lost one man, mortally wounded.

From this time and until the early part of July the 45th was stationed in the neighbor- hood of Somerset, picketing the line of the Cumberland river and occasionally reconnoit- ring beyond. During the performance of this duty the regiment lost two killed and several wounded, two of the latter mortally. In the pursuit after Morgan in July, 1863, it had one man killed and several wounded. Subse- quently returning to Kentucky, it took part in the pursuit of Colonel Scott's force, which had advanced as far as Winchester, that state.

Upon the reorganization of Burnside's army in August, 1863, the 45th was included in Byrd's Brigade of General Carter's Division with the Ist Tennessee and the 112th Illinois Mounted Infantry and the 8th Michigan Cav- alrv.

Early in September it was detached and sent to Loudon, and, after crossing the Tennessee River before all the rest of the army, was soon after transferred to the cavalry brigade of Colonel Wolford, which, with that of Colonel Byrd, constituted the extreme right of Burn- side's army. While stationed at Philadelphia, Oct. 20th, Wolford's Brigade was surprised and routed losing all its trains, a battery of

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artillery and many prisoners. In this affair the 45th had three men killed, four mortally wounded and more than 100 captured.

On the 15th of the following month, as the mounted division of General Saunders, to which the 45th belonged, was falling back be- fore the enemy's cavalry, the regiment was dis- mounted, and left without any immediate sup- port. While in this position, with its horses in the rear, it was thrown into confusion by a very sudden and spirited attack and lost five killed, several wounded, and about 100 men and officers taken prisoners.

On the 18th of November, during Long- street's advance on Knoxville, Saunders' Di- vision was hotly engaged, Brigadier General Saunders and Adjutant Fearns, of the 45th being mortally wounded. The regiment lost five men killed and six mortally wounded, in- cluding the Adjutant. The regiment was next engaged in action at Bean's Station, Dec. 14th, but without loss.

After Longstreet retired toward. Virginia, the 45th, with the 11th and 27th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, were sent to Cumberland Gap and remained in that neighborhood until the 8th of February, 1864, when the brigade was marched to Mt. Sterling, Ky., to be re- mounted. This design, however, was never carried out, and the regiment ever after served as infantry proper.

Leaving Mt. Sterling April 6th, and Camp Nelson on the 19th, the 45th, with several other regiments, marched across the mountains to East Tennessee, reaching Knoxville May 3d. A few days later it went by rail to Cleveland, Tenn., and thence to Tunnel Hill, Ga., where it was attached to the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 23d Army Corps, on the IIth. Three days later it had two men killed and three mortally wounded at the battle of Resaca, and afterward participated in many of the actions during the Atlanta campaign. Toward the end of June the regiment was transferred to the 2d Brigade of the Ist Division, 4th Corps. With the 4th Corps the regiment afterward participated in the battle of Franklin and in the fighting be- fore Nashville, when Hood's army was totally routed and dispersed. In the spring of 1865 the 45th accompanied the 4th Corps to East Tennessee, returned with it to Nashville to- ward the end of April, and was mustered out

of the service on the 15th of the following June, having at that time two months to serve to complete its term of enlistment.

The 49th Regiment, O. V. I., contained a company of Crawford county men, namely, Company B. Its commissioned officers at its organization were as follows: Amos Keller, captain; A. H. Keller, first lieutenant; and J. N. Biddle, second lieutenant. Captain and Lieutenant Keller were killed at the battle of Stone River, and their funeral which subse- quently took place at Bucyrus, was one of the largest ever held in the town.

The 49th Ohio regiment was organized at Tiffin, Seneca county, under special authority of the Secretary of War. On the 19th of Sep- tember, 1861, it started from Camp Noble, near Tiffin, to Camp Dennison and, receiving its equipment on the 21st, moved for Louisville, Ky., where it reported next day to Brig. Gen- eral Robert Anderson. It was the first or- ganized regiment to enter Kentucky, and was given a very cordial reception,. re- ceiving an address of welcome from Gen- eral Anderson, to which its colonel, Wil- liam H. Gibson, responded. After further ceremonies and a magnificent banquet, in the evening the regiment took cars for Leb- anon Junction, with orders to report to Gen- eral W. T. Sherman, who commanded troops at that point. " The next morning it departed for Elizabethtown and went into camp at Muldraugh's Hill. From this place on the ioth of October, it moved to Nolin Creek and went into Camp Nevin.

In the subsequent organization of the 2d Division of the Army of Ohio, the 49th was assigned to the 6th Brigade, General R. W. Johnson commanding. December 10th, the division moved to Munfordsville, on Green River and, driving the Rebels to the opposite side of the river, established Camp Wood. On the 17th the National Pickets, from the 32d Indiana Infantry, on the south side of Green River, were attacked by the enemy, and the 49th Ohio and 39th Indiana were sent to their relief, the enemy being repulsed, and Colonel Terry, one of their commanders, being killed. From December 17th to February 14th the regiment lay in camp, being occupied in drill and discipline.

On the 14th it moved on Bowling Green and,

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after crossing the river marched on Nashville, where, on March 3d it established Camp An- drew Jackson. On March 16th it moved with Buell's army to join Grant's forces at Pitts- burgh Landing, arriving there on the 6th. Here, at eleven o'clock it went into battle on the left of its brigade, the latter being com- manded by Colonel Gibson, who left his regi- ment in charge of Lieut. Colonel A. M. Black- man. It maintained its position under a hot fire until four o'clock in the afternoon, and twice performed the hazardous movement of changing front under fire. The 49th, after some fighting at Bridge's Creek and other points, entered Corinth with the army on May 30th, 1862. It then joined in pursuit of the enemy, proceeding as far as Tuscumbia and Florence, Alabama, and thence marching to Battle Creek, Tenn. From here it took part in the movement after Bragg's army, which was entering Kentucky, threatening Louisville and Cincinnati. The troops suffered severely on this march from intense heat, want of water and short rations. At Louisville, which point they reached on the 29th of September, the troops rested for a few days, and then resumed their march in pursuit of the enemy, whom they drove before them through Shelbyville, and reaching Frankfort, where they dispersed the Rebel troops gathered to guard the inaug- eration of Capt. Dick Hawes as Confederate governor of Kentucky. The march was re- sumed on the 7th and a junction made with the main army on the day following the battle of Perryville. During all this time there was daily skirmishing. At Lawrenceburg and Dog Walk sharp engagements took place, in which the 49th took a conspicuous part under com- mand of Lieut. Colonel Levi Drake. With the enemy retreating before them the 49th, with its brigade and division, marched to Crab Or- chard, and thence through Bowling Green to Nashville, being with the advance that raised the siege of that city on October 5th. It sub- sequently remained in camp at Millcreek until the 26th of December.

On that date the Army of the Cumberland, under command of General Rosecrans, began its movement on Murfreesboro. The 49th, forming a part of the right wing, under Major General McCook, after considerable skirmish- ing, became engaged in battle, on the extreme

right of the National army, before Murfrees- boro, on the evening of the 30th. At six o'clock next morning, Kirk's Brigade, being furiously assailed by the enemy, was thrown back on the 49th, which also became engaged, and was borne back by overwhelming numbers a mile and a half to the Nashville Turnpike, which it reached after an incessant conflict of nine hours. The next morning it was sent to recon- noitre on the right and rear of main army, and operated on the extreme right in connection with Stanley's cavalry. On January 2d it oc- cupied a position in reserve, to the center, and late in the afternoon, upon the repulse of Van Cleeves Division, to the left, it joined with its brigade in a magnificent bayonet charge, retreiving the fortunes of the day in that part of the field and inflicting a severe defeat on the enemy By the capture of General Willich, Colonel Gibson, of the 49th succeeded to the command of the brigade. Lieut. Colonel Drake was killed during the battle, Major Porter wounded, and all the senior captains present either killed or wounded, the command of the regiment at the close of the day devolv- ing on the junior Captain, S. F. Gray.

After losing some men in various foraging expeditions, the regiment moved with the army on the 24th of June, from Murfrees- boro, and, finding the enemy strongly posted at Liberty Gap, an encounter took place, the 49th assaulting the enemy's right, which was posted on a hill. It drove him from the heights and compelled him to fall back to another strong position about a mile in his rear.

On the next day the advance was resumed and in the middle of the afternoon the 40th was brought into action of the enemy's center, which covered the valley, his flanks resting on the hills. Advancing briskly in four ranks, according to a newly introduced drill, the regi- ment opened fire and soon broke the enemy's center, the position being maintained by the co-operation of other troops. Tullahoma was reached July Ist, without further engagement, and the regiment went into camp.

In the movement of the National army on Chattanooga in August, the 49th crossed the Tennessee river on the 3Ist near Bellefonte. In the battle of Chicamauga the regiment, un- der command of Major S. F. Gray, held a position on the morning of the first day, on

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the extreme right of the National forces, form- ing a part of General R. W. Johnson's Di- vision. Before being engaged the brigade and division were shifted to the extreme left of the army and united with Thomas's Corps. Between three and four o'clock P. M. the reg- iment made a charge against the enemy's right, which was posted in dense woods and drove them back, capturing two guns. Three guns were captured in all by the brigade. At dusk the enemy made a sudden and furious charge with the bayonet, which after some ground had been lost, was repelled and the Confederates driven back.

On the second day of the battle the 49th Ohio performed gallant and important service on various parts of the field, and took part in an exploit which, it is claimed, saved Thomas's Corps from being swept from the field. Hav- ing broken through the National left, the enemy were charging fiercely on the center, when the 49th faced to the rear and poured a destructive fire into them, which being backed by Good- speed's Battery, and a hot fire from the 15th Ohio, checked the Rebels and drove them back on their main body. At evening, the 49th, with its brigade, was the last to retire from the field. At Rossville some temporary fieldworks were thrown up, in expectation of an attack, and on the following night the brigade reached Chattanooga.

On November 24th the 49th, with its brig- ade, joined in the movement against Mission Ridge, under Grant, where, with conspicuous gallantry it was one of the first regiments to plant its colors on the summit. Soon after this it moved with Granger's Corps to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. This was one of the severest marches made during the war. The weather was intensely cold and the ground covered with snow, while the men were almost naked, without shoes and the rations exhausted. Hearing at Strawberry Plains that Burnside had repulsed Longstreet, the National forces returned to Chattanooga. While engaged in this severe campaign the men were called upon to re-enlist for the war, to which call a hearty response was given. The regiment now re- turned to Ohio to enjoy its veteran furlough of 30 days and was warmly greeted at Tiffin, the place of its organization.

On the expiration of its furlough it re-

ported at the headquarters of the Fourth Corps at Cleveland, Tennessee, where the Na- tional forces were preparing for the campaign against Atlanta. In this campaign its history formed a part of that of the Fourth Army Corps. It participated in the engagements at Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River and Atlanta, exhibiting its usual gallantry and discipline and sustain- ing severe losses. In the movement that forced the enemy from Atlanta, it participated in the battle at Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station, and after abandoning pursuit of the enemy, went into camp at Atlanta.

On the division of the grand army, when Sherman commenced his march to the sea, the army of the Cumberland, under General Thomas, was left to attend to General Hood, who was rashly moving on Nashville. In the movements of Thomas's forces and in the sub- sequent battles of Franklin and Nashville, the 49th Ohio, under command of Lieut. Colonel Strong, fully sustained its reputation in gal- lantry and efficiency. In the battle before Nashville, December 15-16, 1864, the regiment participated in the brilliant charges made by the 4th Army Corps, suffering severely in killed and wounded. After the battle it took part in the pursuit after the flying enemy, subsequently going into camp at Huntsville, Alabama, where it remained until about the middle of March, 1865. It then formed part of an expedition to East Tennessee, going into camp at Green- ville. On its return to Nashville, it was embarked on transports, June 15th, and taken to Texas, by way of New Orleans. It reached Victoria, Texas in July, and advanced into the interior as far as San Antonio. After four months service in this field it returned to Victoria, where it was mustered out of ser- vice on the 30th of November, 1865.

The number of names upon the rolls of this regiment was 1,552, nineteen of the men were born in Europe, and 760 in Ohio, 440 being from Seneca county. Eight officers were killed in battle, and 20 wounded, six of these mor- tally. Of the privates 127 were killed in bat- tle, 71 were mortally wounded, 165 died from hardships or disease, and seven perished in Southern prisons. During two-thirds of his service Colonel Gibson commanded a brigade by virtue of his rank.

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The 55th Ohio Volunteer Infantry went into camp at Norwalk, Ohio, on the 17th of Octo- ber, 1861. Maj. John C. Lee was made colonel Nov. 25th, receiving his commission on Jan- uary 20, 1862. The lieut .- colonel was George . H. Safford; Major Lee, on being promoted to colonel, was succeeded by Daniel F. DeWolf; Jay Kling was surgeon. During the three years' service of the regiment various changes took place in officers, caused by death, resig- nation or promotion. A number of the men in Company H were from Crawford county.

On January 25th, 1862 the regiment left for Grafton, Western Virginia, where it was sta- tioned until the latter part of March. While here it suffered greatly from measles and other diseases, having at one time as many as 400 men on the sick list, 20 of whom died. When ready for service again it joined General Schenck's Brigade at Romney, subsequently going into camp near Moorefield on the Po- tomac. In the latter part of April seven com- panies moved with the brigade to Petersburg and on through Franklin to McDowell, leaving companies D, E and G at Moorefield. After taking part in the action at McDowell, the troops fell back to Franklin, during this march and later suffering severely from the scarcity of rations. In the later part of May a move- ment was made toward Strasburg, threatening the communications of "Stonewall" Jackson, who was moving for the B. & O. Railroad. Jackson now began a retreat and the National troops followed in pursuit, there being fre- quent skirmishing between the National ad- vance and the Confederate rear. Jackson hav- ing destroyed the bridge across the Shenandoah at Fort Republic, further pursuit was found impracticable.

About the 20th of June the army arrived at Middletown, near Winchester, and here the Army of Virginia was organized. The 55th was brigaded with the 25th, 73d and 75th Ohio regiments, and was attached to General Schenck's Division. The regiment left Mid- dletown July 7th for Sperryville, where it re- remained until the 8th of August, and then moved toward Culpepper Court House. While encamped on Robertson's river, near Rapidan, the regimental band was mnustered out and a detail of officers returned to Ohio on recruiting service. On the 19th the army

commenced a retrograde movement, the 55th, with its brigade covering the retreat. The Rappahannock was crossed at White Sulphur Springs, and for several days the regiment was employed in guarding the various fords of the river to prevent the enemy from cross- ing. On the 25th the regiment moved toward Warrenton and thence northward to intercept Jackson in his attempt to join Lee's army. An engagement took place on the 29th on the old Bull Run battleground. At night the regi- ment, with its brigade, gradually moved to- the rear and, after dark, fell back to Center- ville. From this point several marches and expeditions were made, there being, however, little or no fighting. The column being re- enforced, proceeded as far south as Catlett's- Station, where a small skirmish took place. A return was then made to Centerville, where the regiment remained until the 2d of Novem- ber. The rest of the month was taken up by a series of marches and encampments, the regiment then going into camp near Chantilly. On December roth the regiment marched for Stafford Court House, which was reached on. the 17th. The 55th was next sent to defend Belle Plain Landing in view of Burnside's. contemplated attack on Fredericksburg, but heavy rains and bad roads interfering with: that movement, it went into winter quarters at Brook's Station.

The Army of the Potomac beginning its. movement on Fredericksburg in the latter part of April, the 55th participated in the move -. ments of the IIth Corps, and on the 2d of May, when the enemy executed a successful flank movement on our right, the regiment, with others was compelled to fall back, losing 153 men killed, wounded and missing.

About the middle of May the 55th regiment was transferred to the 2d Brigade of the 2d Division, and it remained in this brigade dur- ing the remainder of its service. It took part in the battle of Gettysburg, being first posted with its division on Cemetery Hill but moved subsequently to the left of the Baltimore Pike. The battle line of the regiment was not en- gaged, but the skirmish line was subjected to. a severe fire, and the regiment lost in this bat- tle about 50 men. Having pursued the re- treating enemy, the 55th went into camp, July- 25th, near Catlett's Station.

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On the 30th of September the 55th, with the IIth and 12th Corps, arrived at Bridge- port, Ala., and in the latter part of October moved for Lookout Mountain. The regiment moved to Chattanooga November 22d and later took part in the battle of Mission Ridge, being posted on the extreme left to guard the flank. Immediately after the regiment took part in the Knoxville campaign, returning to Lookout Valley on the 17th of December. On the Ist of January, 1864, 319 men of the 55tl1 re-enlisted and went to Ohio for their fur- lough. On the 4th of March it was again en- camped in Lookout Valley. About this time the IIth and 12th Corps were consolidated and denominated the 20th, and the regiment formed a part of the 3d Brigade of the 3d Division.

The regiment started on the Atlanta can- paign on the 2d of May, and participated in all the battles in which the 20th Corps was en- gaged. At Resaca it lost upwards of 90 men. It took part in the fighting before Atlanta, and during the siege of that city, occupied its place in the lines, assisting in the advance- ment of the parallels toward the city. Dur- ing the Atlanta campaign the 55th lost over 200 men. About the Ist of November the regiment received 200 drafted men and sub- stitutes, and about the same time those who were not veterans were mustered out.

Subsequently the regiment took part in Sherman's march to the sea, entering Savan- nah December 21st. Here it remained until early in January, 1865, when it was thrown across the Savannah river, and on the 29th of January started fairly on the march through the Carolinas. It took part in the fighting at Smith's Farm, on March 16th, where it lost two men killed, one officer and 23 men wounded, and seven men missing. On the 24th of March it took part in the review be- fore General Sherman at Goldsboro. From this place it marched to Raleigh, and on April 30th commenced the march to Washington, where it subsequently participated in the grand review. Upon the disbanding of the 20th Corps the Ohio regiments were organized into a Provisional brigade and were assigned to the 14th Corps. The regiment was mustered out of the service at Louisville, Ky .. on July IIth, being paid and discharged at Cleveland,

Ohio on the 19th. During its term of service the 55th enrolled about 1,350 men, of whom 750 were either killed or wounded in battle. Ten officers were wounded once or more and eight officers either died of wounds or were killed in battle.

The 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- This regiment was partially organized at Camp Vance, Findlay, Hancock county, Ohio, its organization being completed at Camp Chase, on the Ioth of February, 1862. Company I was partially recruited in Crawford county, the other members coming from Shelby and Sandusky. William Mungen was commis- sioned colonel Feb. 17, 1862; resigned April 16, 1863 and was succeeded by A. V. Rice. The latter being made brigadier general, was succeeded by Samuel R. Mott, who was mus- tered out with the regiment.

The regiment started for Fort Donelson, on the 18th of February, 1862, but an order re- ceived at Smithfield, Ky. diverted its course to Paducah, that state. Here it was assigned to the 3d Brigade, 5th Division of the Army of the Tennessee. On the 8th of March it took boat for Ft. Henry on the Ten- nessee, and thence proceeded to Savan- nah, where it arrived on the IIth. On the 14th it accompanied a gunboat expedition to the mouth of Yellow Creek, and then re- turning, went to Pittsburg Landing. On the 17th the 5th Division made a reconnoisance to Pea Ridge, and on the 19th went into camp at Shiloh Chapel, three miles southwest of the Landing. In the latter part of March recon- noisances were made in the direction of Cor- inth, and on April Ist the regiment accom- panied another gunboat expedition to East- port, Miss., the gunboats throwing a few shells into the town. They then moved up the river and shelled the enemy's works at Chickasaw, Ala. A few prisoners were made in this vicinity.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 77

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302