History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 79

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 79

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The regiment joined in pursuit of the enemy to a point near Chewalla, on the Tus- cumbia river, where it remained a week, then returning to Corinth. The remainder of Oc- tober and some time after were spent in garrison duty. On the 19th of October the regiment was strengthened by the arrival of five newly recruited companies, and on the Ist of December they took up winter quarters within the defenses of Corinth. For a num- ber of weeks they had little to do except to engage in reconnoisance and foraging duties, during which time they brought in a large amount of supplies. In December, owing to Forrest's raid, which had cut communications, the garrison was placed on half rations, but successful foraging parties obtained a quan- tity of supplies and no great amount of suffer- ing was experienced. This state of things lasted about three weeks. After the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, the 8Ist, with other troops, made an unsuccessful attempt to in- tercept Forrest at Clifton. In the latter part of January, 1863, the 8Ist, with three other regiments and a battery, went to Hamburg to procure supplies, and also to capture a force of the enemy encamped near Florence, but owing to an injury to one of the boats the ex- pedition was obliged to return without meet- ing the enemy.

On April 15th the regiment joined in an expedition to Tuscumbia, under General Dodge, its object being to co-operate with Colonel Streight in his movement on the Southern Railroads. On the 28th there was a sharp skirmish at Town Creek, in which the regiment had a few men wounded. Af- ter keeping the enemy engaged for two days and nights General Dodge returned to Cor- inth. This march, which lasted 18 days, re- flected credit on the regiment, every man being found in his place when it reached Cor- inth. From early in June until the latter part of October the 8Ist was engaged in garrison duty at Pocahontas, and subsequently per- formed similar duty at Wales, Pulaski, Sam's Mills and Nance's Mills being divided up for that purpose. At Pulaski, which was made the headquarters, Major Evans had a few of

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his men mounted for service against the en- emy's guerrillas, who infested the country.

In January, 1864, the question of re-enlist- ment came up, three-fourths of the men being ready to respond favorably, but the Secretary of War deciding that the five companies lately recruited were not entitled to the privilege of re-enlisting, the regiment was thus prevented from going North as a veteran organization. A number of veterans from the old companies were granted a furlough and went home in two squads, each in charge of a sergeant. On April 26th the regiment concentrated at Pu- laski and on the 29th set out for Chattanooga, on its arrival going into bivouac at the foot of Lookout Mountain. In May the 8Ist started southward on the Atlanta campaign under Sherman. Though brought into line at Re- saca, it was not engaged, and on the 14th was withdrawn from the main battlefield and or- dered to Lay's Ferry to lay a pontoon bridge across the Costenaula. Crossing the river they dispersed a force of the enemy on the other side, taking some prisoners, including a captain and two lieutenants. The order for laying the pontoon was countermanded the work being deferred until after the evacuation of Atlanta, when the regiment crossed and had a slight engagement with the Rebels. It also fought May 16th in the battle of Rome Cross Roads. It then moved by way of Kings- ton and Van Wert to Dallas, where while General McPherson's Corps was being with- drawn to the left the enemy made seven as- saults, but were every time repulsed.

From this point there was continual skir- mishing to Kenesaw. At the latter place it was in the front line most of the time, and often on picket duty, but was not called on to make an assault. In the battle July 22d in front of Atlanta, the 8Ist, with three companies in re- serve, the command stood like a rock and made an effective resistance, and subsequently with the 12th Illinois executed a splendid charge, carrying everything before them. The 8Ist captured a number of prisoners and three battle flags. Later in the day, in re- sponse to an order from General Logan, Gen- eral Dodge sent Mersey's Brigade, of which the 8Ist formed a part, to assist the 15th Corps in recovering its works, a duty which was successfully performed. Late at night

the 8Ist and 12th Illinois went with the bri -. gade to Bald Hill where they constructed some extensive works. On July 28th, while a por- tion of the army was moving to the right, Hood made another assault. The 8Ist, with other regiments, was called upon to assist the 15th Corps and took an active part in repelling the enemy.

Later it took part in the engagement at Jonesboro and in the skirmish at Lovejoy, subsequently returning to the vicinity of At- lanta.^ Here the few men of the five old com- panies who had served three years and had not re-enlisted-about 150 in all-were mustered out. The official notice of their muster-out was not received until late in De- cember, and then only two companies (B and C) lost their existence. The remaining mem- bers of those companies were assigned to other companies of the regiment.

In September, at Rome, Ga., the 8Ist was assigned to the 4th Division of the 15th Corps. It arrived at Atlanta on the 15th and the next day joined in the march toward Savan- nah, which place it entered on the 21st, being subsequently camped near the city. January 28th it crossed the Savannah at Sisters' Ferry and subsequently participated in the campaign in the Carolinas, being engaged with the en- emy at Bentonville. At Goldsboro they par- ticipated in the review of the army, those in tattered uniforms and without shoes and hats being massed into one company. Soon after a number of absentees and recruits joined the regiment, so many of the latter being received that two new companies were formed-com- panies B and C. The regiment now marched through Raleigh to Morrisville, where it lay until after Sherman's negotiations with John- ston, when it returned to Raleigh.

On the 26th of April it started home, reach- ing Washington May 20, and joining in the review on the 24th. Early in June it started to Louisville, near which city it was encamped until on July 13th the welcome order to muster out was received and the regiment immedi- ately started for Camp Dennison, Ohio, where it was paid and discharged July 21, 1865. During its term of service 34 men were killed in action, 24 died of wounds, 121 died of dis- ease, and 136 were discharged for disability.

The 86th O. V I .- There were two or-

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ganizations of this number, one of three and the other of six months' enlistment. The first was called out by Governor Tod in response to the President's call for 75,000 men, in May, 1862, there being at that time some ap- parent danger of an invasion of the Northern States by the forces under "Stonewall" Jack- son. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase on June 1I, 1862, and on the 16th left for Clarksburg, Va. Company K of this reg- iment was from Crawford county, as were also some of the field officers, of whom W. C. Lemert was major, afterward, on the reor- ganization of the regiment, becoming its col- onel. Company K was officered as follows: E. C. Moderwell, captain; Samuel Smalley, first lieutenant; Horace Potter, second lieu- tenant; J. M. McCracken, orderly sergeant; J. B. Scroggs, sergeant major ; B. F. Lauck. quartermaster's sergeant; and H. V. Potter, regimental postmaster.

Arriving at Clarksburg on the 17th the reg- iment took up the work of guarding the rail- road and protecting Grafton, that place being the base of supplies for the troops at several points. On July 27th Companies A, C, H and I, under command of Lieut. Colonel Hunter, were sent to Parkersburg, in anticipation of a Rebel raid on that town, their arrival allay- ing the fears of the inhabitants.

On August 21 this detachment was ordered back to Clarksburg to rejoin the regiment and take part in a movement against a Confed- erate force under Jenkins, which it was re- ported was getting ready to make a raid on the railroad and invade Ohio. The 86th went as far as Huttonsville, when, the enemy not appearing, the regiment was ordered back to Clarksburg, the 87th Pennsylvania being sent on to Beverly, to be ready in case the enemy should appear before that place. Jenkins made his raid in an unexpected direction and captured the town of Buckhannon, after meet- ing with a gallant resistance. He destroyed a large amount of Government stores, both in that place and at Weston, and, crossing the Ohio river, stole a few horses and then re- turned to the mountains of West Virginia.

As he was expected to attack Clarksburg, the stores at that place were transferred to Fairmount and Wheeling. Learning proba- bly through his spies that the town was well

guarded by the 86th Ohio and a detachment of the 6th Virginia, he made no attack on the place. On the expiration of the 86th term of enlistment, the regiment started for Camp Delaware, Ohio, where it arrived September 18th, and on the 25th was paid and mustered out of the service.

The 86th O. V. I. (six months' organiza- tion). As the Confederates still showed an inclination to invade the Northern border states, measures were taken by the authorities to enlist troops for defense, the same to serve for six months. Wilson C. Lemert, of Bucy- rus, who had been major of the three months' organization, was authorized by Governor Tod to reorganize the 86th regiment. On the completion of this work the regiment rendez- voused at Camp Cleveland. About this time Morgan was making his raid through south- ern Ohio, and the 86th was ordered to Zanes- ville, where a detachment of 200 men, under Lieut. Colonel McFarland, took boat for Eagleport, on the Muskingum river, where it was supposed Morgan would attempt to cross. They arrived in time to witness the crossing of the enemy's rear guard, but, not being strong enough to attack, endeavored by skir- mishing as long as possible, until the pursu- ing force should come up; having done which the detachment returned to Zanesville. In the meanwhile, Major Krauss, with the remainder of the regiment had been ordered to Cam- bridge, Ohio, to intercept Morgan at that point, but, being delayed, reached Washing- ton, eight miles from Cambridge, a few min- utes after Morgan had passed through the latter town. Pursuit was continued, however, in conjunction with the force under Colonel Shackleford, and finally resulted in the capture of Morgan's force at Salineville, Ohio.

The 86th returned to Camp Tod and soon after, on August 8th, was ordered to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, to join an expedition or- ganizing for the capture of Cumberland Gap, East Tennessee. This expedition was under command of. Colonel John De Courcy and consisted of the 86th and 129th Ohio detach- ments of the 9th and IIth East Tennessee cavalry and Capt. Neil's 22d Ohio Battery -- in all about 3,000 men. It arrived in front of Cumberland Gap on the 8th of September, and at the same time General Burnside arrived

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with his forces on the opposite or Tennessee side, thus completely investing the Rebel gar- rison, under General Frazier. By a ruse of Colonel De Courcy's in dividing his regiments the Confederates were deceived into believing his force much greater than it really was. On the 9th of September, the troops having been placed in position for an attack, a formal de- mand was made on the enemy for surrender, which was acceded to by General Frazier, a great loss of life being thereby avoided, as the place might have been stoutly defended. Two thousand eight hundred prisoners were made and 5,000 stand of arms, 13 pieces of ar- tillery and large quantities of ammunition and other stores were captured in this affair. The 86th remained at the Gap doing garrison duty until its term of service had expired, and dur- ing this time was engaged in foraging expedi- tions, having many encounters with the en- emy's guerrillas. On January 16, 1864, it started for Ohio and arrived in Cleveland on the 26th. The six months' organization was mustered out of the service February 10, 1864.

The IoIst Ohio Volunteer Infantry was one of the patriotic organizations raised in 1862, after a series of reverses to the North- ern arms had seemed to presage the final tri- umph of the Southern Confederacy. It was recruited from the counties of Erie, Huron, Crawford and Wyandotte, and was mustered into service at Monroeville, Ohio, August 30, 1862. Companies C and E of this regiment were from Crawford county. The first was organized with the following officers: B. B. McDanald, captain; Isaac Anderson. first lieu- tenant, and J. B. Biddle, second lieutenant. Capt. McDanald was promoted to major, De- cember 26, 1863, and to lieut .- colonel, Febru- ary 18, 1864, with which rank he was mus- tered out with the regiment. Lieut. Anderson resigned January 2, 1863, on account of dis- ability. Second Lieutenant Biddle was killed December 31, 1862. W. N. Beer was pro- moted from sergeant major to first lieuten- ant on the 2d of January, 1863, and to cap- tain, March 19, 1864, and as such was mus- tered out with the regiment. J. M. Roberts was promoted to second lieutenant for bravery at the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862; to first lieutenant, March 19, 1864, and

to captain, February 10, 1865, and was trans- ferred to Company K.

The story of Capt. McDanald's escape from Libby prison is well known to the people of Crawford county. He, with a number of his comrades, was captured by the enemy Septem- ber 20, 1863, during the Chattanooga cam- paign, and remained in Libby, suffering all the horrors of confinement there, until the spring of 1864, when, with a few fellow of- ficers he escaped by tunneling underneath the prison walls.

Company E was organized with the follow- ing commissioned officers : William P. Parsons, captain; Lyman Parcher, first lieutenant; and Robert D. Lord, second lieutenant. Capt. Parsons died November 15, 1862; Lieut. Parcher was promoted to captain, November 15, 1862, and resigned February 26, 1863. Second Lieutenant Lord was promoted to first lieutenant, November 15, 1862; to captain February 26, 1863, and was honorably dis- charged August 12, 1863. Samuel S. Blowers was promoted to second lieutenant, and re- signed January 9, 1864.

The IOIst regiment was organized with Leander Stem, colonel; John Trautz, lieut .- colonel; Moses F. Wooster, major and Thomas M. Cook, surgeon. It first saw serv- ice at Covington, Ky., to which place it was ordered to assist in repelling a threatened raid on Covington, Ky., by Kirby Smith. After remaining near Covington until late in Sep- tember, it was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and there incorporated into General Buell's army, being placed in the brigade commanded by Gen. William P. Carlin and the division of Gen. Robert B. Mitchel. Marching in pursuit of Bragg, the regiment had its first encounter with the enemy at the battle of Perryville on the 8th of October, where it bore itself bravely, losing several men. In the subsequent pur- suit after the enemy it had a severe skirmish at Lancaster, Ky., with their rear guard. At Nashville Gen. Jeff. C. Davis took command of the division, and on December 26th it marched with the Army of the Cumberland, under General Rosecrans. The enemy were met the same day and a battle ensued, in which the regiment distinguished itself, the men be- having like veterans. One of the guns cap-

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tured by it belonged to Georgia troops and had on it the word "Shiloh."

On December 30th this brigade was the first to arrive on the battlefield of Stone River, at night becoming briskly engaged. The IOIst was in the hottest of the fight on the following day, taking up six different positions and stub- bornly maintaining them. Col. Leander Stem and Lieut. Col. Wooster were both killed. The regiment was held on the front line of the right of the army until January 2d, when it was one of the many regiments ordered to support the left, and with the bayonet helped to turn the tide of battle. It lost seven officers and I12 men killed and wounded.

During the remainder of the winter the regiment was constantly engaged in expedi- tions through the country surrounding Mur- freesboro, this service, which was very ardu- ous, lasting until April, 1863, at which time it went into camp at Murfreesboro for rest and drill.

In the Tullahoma campaign, which opened June 24th, the IoIst was with that portion of the army which moved toward Liberty Gap and was there engaged with Cleburne's Rebel troops. It accompanied the army to Chatta- nooga and at the close of that campaign was with Davis's Division at Winchester, Tenn. About the middle of August the regiment marched on the Chattanooga campaign, and on the 19th and 20th participated in the battle of Chickamauga, displaying great coolness and gallantry, retaking a National battery from the enemy. On the subsequent reorganization of the army, the IoIst became a part of the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, 4th Army Corps, and on October 28th marched to Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained in camp until Janu- ary 16, 1864, when it marched to Oldtawah, Tenn.

Later it accompanied Sherman on the At- lanta campaign, taking part in heavy fighting at various places. It moved with the army around Atlanta, fighting at Jonesboro and Lovejoy, and back to Atlanta. It subse- quently aided in the pursuit of Hood, march- ing from Atlanta to Pulaski, Tenn., and thence on to Nashville. At nightfall, at the battle of Franklin, it was ordered to take an angle of the works held by the enemy, which it did with the bayonet, and held the position till

9 o'clock P. M., although the Rebels were al- most within bayonet reach during all that time.

The IoIst fought in the battle of Nashville, December 15th and 16th, and subsequently followed in pursuit of Hood to Lexington, Ala., later going into camp at Huntsville. While lying at this place it was mustered out of the service, on June 12th, 1865, and sent to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, where it was paid off and discharged.

The 123d Ohio Volunteer Infantry con- tained one full company (Company H) of Crawford county men, besides a number scattered through the other companies of the regiment. The county had received permis- sion to recruit three of the ten companies of the regiment, but only succeeded in raising one, with the exception of the additional re- cruits mentioned. Company H was officered as follows: John Newman, captain; David S. Caldwell, first lieutenant ; and H. S. Beving- ton, second lieutenant. Capt. Newman re- signed February 3, 1863. Lieut. Caldwell was promoted to captain, February 3, 1863, and honorably discharged July 24, 1864. Lieut. Bevington was promoted to first lieutenant. February 3, 1863 ; to captain, January 6, 1865, and honorably discharged February 1, 1865. William A. Williams was promoted from or- derly sergeant to second lieutenant, February 3, 1863, and honorably discharged July 29, I864.

The 123d was organized at Camp Monroe- ville, in Huron county, Ohio. William T. Wilson was commissioned colonel and was subsequently mustered out with the regiment. Henry B. Hunter was lieutenant colonel; A. B. Norton, major; and O. Ferris, surgeon. The regiment reached Clarksburg, Va., Octo- ber 20th, and a week later marched to Buck- hannon. It then went to Beverly, Va., left there November 8th, then camped eight days at Huttonsville, then marched to Webster, thus returning to within 10 miles from the point from which it started.

From November 18th to December 12th it lay in camp at New Creek, and while here Capt. Kellogg, of Company B, was sent on detached service to assess the Rebel citizens of that place for outrages committed by Imbo- den's guerrillas on Union men. Five thousand dollars was collected under this order and

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turned over to the sufferers. On January 3d, 1863, the regiment was sent to relieve the 116th Ohio, which was surrounded and in danger of being captured by Confederate cav- alry, in which service it was successful, the enemy being driven off. Lieut. E. H. Brown, who had been left behind at Petersburg, hav- ing destroyed some stores, attempted to rejoin his regiment, with the sick and a few cavalry- men, but was captured, by a body of the en- emy's cavalry, being, however, paroled the next morning. For about six weeks from the 12th of January the regiment was engaged in scouting duty in the vicinity of Romney, and while at this place a company of the 116th Ohio (in the brigade) and a small detail from the 123d was captured by McNeil's Confed- erate cavalry, and the train in their charge burned. The men were paroled and sent back into the National lines. The regiment arrived at Winchester on March 4th and from that point made several raids up the Shenandoah Valley, going as far as Newmarket.

On the 13th of June Lee's whole army, then on its way to Pennsylvania, passed through and surrounded Winchester. In the afternoon of the same day the 123d, with its brigade under Brigadier-General Elliott, lost nearly 100 men in an engagement with General Early's Corps. On the 14th the National forces were driven into their fortifications, and subjected to a heavy artillery fire, the outworks being later carried by the enemy. At a council of war it was decided to evacu- ate the place. Spiking the artillery, which had to be left behind, the troops were marched out silently at two o'clock in the morning, but after marching four miles along the Martins- burg Road, the enemy was found strongly posted along the road and retreat was cut off. In an attempt to cut a way out, the 123d made three distinct charges, losing in killed and wounded about 50 men. While the regiment was forming for the fourth charge, Colonel Ely, of the 18th Connecticut, temporarily in command of the brigade, surrendered to the enemy, and the whole brigade, except Com- pany D of the 123d, were made prisoners of war and sent to Richmond, where the of- ficers of the 123d remained in Libby prison for about eleven months. Lieut. W. A. Williams and Capt. D. S. Caldwell made their escape,

as subsequently did several other officers. Some were exchanged and sent home, while the remainder of those confined in Libby were transferred to other prisons, where one or two of them died of disease. The privates of the regiment were exchanged within a few months.

The stragglers of the regiment were col- lected by Major Horace Kellogg, who had escaped from the enemy at Winchester, and were joined by the paroled men at Martins- burg- about September Ist, 1863. Here they were newly armed and equipped, and as the regiment was deficient in officers, it was en- gaged mainly in provost and picket duty un- til March Ist, 1864, and was then used to guard the B. & O. Railroad between Harper's Ferry and Monocacy Junction. In April the 123d accompanied the forces of General Sigel in a raid up the Shenandoah Valley, and in a fight with the enemy under Breckinridge on the 15th of May, lost 79 in killed and wounded, Sigel being compelled to fall back to Cedar Creek.

Sigel being replaced by General Hunter, the latter prepared for a raid on Lynchburg, and at Port Republic, on June 4th, the enemy was encountered and whipped, 2,000 prison- ers being taken. The regiment was not act- ively engaged in this fight but performed val- uable service in guarding trains. At Staun- ton General Crook's column joined the army, which then proceeded toward Lynchburg, the skirmishing becoming hotter each day. A battle took place on the 14th near Lynchburg, in which the 123d lost a number of men. Find- ing that the enemy had been largely reinforced and lay between him and the Shenandoah Val- ley, Hunter drew off his forces and began his retreat to the Kanawha Valley. This retreat was almost a continual fight until the army reached Salem, at which place two batteries were captured by the enemy, but afterward captured and spiked. On crossing another spur of mountains the enemy drew off from the pursuit. On this retreat the men suffered severely from exhaustion and starvation and numbers lay down by the roadside and died. ` The army finally reached Gauley Bridge, in the Kanawha Valley, where the army obtained rest and refreshment. Early in July the 123d returned to Martinsburg,

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having 250 men left out of the 700 with which it had started. Soon after an unsuccessful attempt was made to intercept Early in his retreat from Washington. On July 18th the Army of West Virginia, of which the 123d formed part, had a fight with Early at Snick- er's Ferry, on the Shenandoah River, in which the regiment lost a number of men, including Lieut. C. D. Williams, of Company B. That night the enemy retreated up the valley.

The National troops moved after them and a sharp skirmish took place on the 23d. The two armies fought up and down the valley for several days, with alternate success, the National troops finally being ordered back to Monocacy Junction.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 79

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