History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 48

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 48

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).

312

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

of the battle until its close, and lost seven ofli- cers and two hundred and twelve men killed and wounded. During the remainder of the winter, the One Hundred and First was engaged on expeditions around Murfreesboro, suffering very much from fatigue and exposure. Says a publication of that day : " It was no uncommon thing to see as many as fifty men of the regi- ment marching without shoes on their feet, and so ragged as to excite both the sympathies and risibilities of their companions. This march- ing up and down the country-the purposes of utility of which were oftentimes wholly un- known-lasted until April 1863, when the regi- ment was allowed to go into eamp at Murfrees- boro for rest, and for the purpose of perfecting its drill."

The Tullahoma campaign was inaugurated the 24th of June, and the One Hundred and First moved with that portion of the army which operated at Liberty Gap. Here they were en- gaged with the enemy for two days, and lost a number of men. It followed the fortunes of the army up to Chattanooga, and at the close of that campaign was with Gen. Davis' division at Winchester, Tenn. It marched on the Chatta- nooga campaign, August 17, and crossed the Tennessee River at Caperton's Ferry. From there it marched over Sand and Lookout Mountain. to near Alpine, Ga .; counter-march- ing, it recrossed Lookout Mountain to the field of Chickamauga, where it engaged in that bat- tle on the 19th and 20th of August, displaying great coolness and gallantry. During the sec- ond day's battle, the One Hundred and First re- took a National battery from the enemy, fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets. At Chat- tanooga. the army was re-organized, and the One Hundred and First Ohio became a part of the First Brigade, First Division, of the Fourth Army Corps, and on the 28th of Oeto- ber this brigade marched to Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained in camp until January 16, 1864, and then marched to Ooltewah, Tenn.

May 3, it moved with its brigade on the At- lanta campaign, and bore its part in all the hard fighting, until the fall of Atlanta changed the theater of war to another section. Its loss was heavy in the several battles and skirmishes of that arduous campaign. It marched from Atlanta to Pulaski, Tenn., and from there to Nashville. At the battle of Franklin. the One Hundred and First was ordered to retake an angle in the works held by the enemy. This it succeeded in doing, and held them until 10 o'clock P. M., although the enemy was within bayonet reach.

In the battle of Nashville, on the 15th and 16th of December, the One Hundred and First participated in the assault upon the enemy's works. After the battle and rout of Hood, it followed in pursuit as far as Lexington, Ala., and then marched to Huntsville, where it went into camp. It remained here until June 12, 1865, when with other regiments it was mus- tered out of the service. It at once started for home, and at Cleveland, Ohio, was paid off and discharged. The following, from the Bucyrus Journal of June 24, 1865, is a fitting finale to the history of this gallant regiment : " The One Hundred and First regiment has been mus- tered out, and the members belonging to this county arrived at home during the past week. This regiment was recruited in Erie, IIuron, Seneca, Wyandot and Crawford Counties, and lett for the front on the 4th of September, 1862, nine hundred and eighty strong, under command of Col. Leander Stern, a prominent citizen of Tiffin. Ile fell at the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. The following is the pres- ent roster of the regiment : Colonel, I. M. Kirby ; Lieutenant Colonel, B. B. McDonald ; Major, J. M. Latimer ; Chaplain, Rev. E. M. Cravath ; Adjutant, James L. Neff; Surgeon, T. M. Cook ; Assistant Surgeon, H. H. Russell ; Quartermaster, O. J. Benham. Company .1- Lieutenant, B. F. Bryant. Company B-Cap- tain, J. C. Butler ; Lieutenant, Charles Mor-

313

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

foot. Company C-Captain, D. Smith ; Lieu- tenant, J. R. Homer. Company D-Captain, J. M. Latimer. Company E-Lieutenant, J. M. Williamson. Company F-Captain, G. W. Hale. Company G-Captain, J. P. Fleming ; Lieutenant, J. F. Webster, Company H- Captain, W. N. Beer. Company I-Lieutenant, J. C. Smith. Company K-Captain, James M. Roberts ; Lieutenant, W. R. Davis. Col. Kirby is a Brevet Brigadier General. He went into the field as Captain of Company F, and has won his star by brave deeds, and wears his well-earned honors with becoming dignity. The regiment is under command of Lieut. Col. McDonald, and returns with two hundred and thirty-five men and twenty officers. The record of the One Hundred and First has been a glorious one, having participated in every important battle from Perryville to Atlanta, and always in the hottest of the fight. It took a very active part in saving the day at the bloody battle of Franklin."

The One Hundred and Twenty-third Infan- try was represented by a company from Craw- ford County, together with quite a number of scattering recruits in other companies of the same regiment. When orders were received to raise this regiment, this county obtained per- mission to recruit three of the ten companies. But one full company, however (Company H), was raised and mustered into the One Hundred and Twenty third. This company was officered as follows : Jolm 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, 1864.

This regiment was organized at Monroeville, in Huron County, and mustered into the United States service for three years. This process was completed on the 16th of October, 1862, and on the same day the regiment proceeded to Zanesville, and from thence to Marietta, From Marietta it proceeded direct to Clarksburg, Va., where it arrived on the 20th, and on the 27th, left for Buckhannon. The fall and winter were spent in continual marching and counter- marching, until January 10, 1863, when it pro- ceeded to Romney, where it arrived on the 12th. Here six weeks were spent in scouting and, guarding the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road. On the 1st of March the regiment was sent to Winchester, and made several raids up the Shenandoah Valley. On the evening of June 13, the One Hundred and Twenty-third, with its brigade, had an engagement with Gen. Early's corps, in which it lost nearly one hun- dred men killed and wounded. On the 14th the national forces were driven into their forti- fications and hardly pressed by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. It was finally decided to evacuate the place, and the troops marched out of the works in silence, at 2 o'clock in the morning, leaving the heavy artillery in position, but spiked. On the Martinsburg road the enemy was found in a strong position, and, in attempting to cut its way through, the One Hundred and Twenty-third lost fifty men killed and wounded. During this time, Col. Ely, of the Eighteenth Connecticut, who was tempora- rily in command of the brigade, without appar- ent cause, surrendered to the enemy ; the whole brigade, except Company D, of the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third, were made prisoners of war and sent to Richmond, where the officers of the One Hundred and Twenty-third remained in Libby Prison about eleven months. Capt. D. S. Caldwell and Lieut. William D. Williams made their escape. Maj. Kellogg, who was wounded and made his escape at Winchester, collected the stragglers of the regiment at Mar-

314

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

tinsburg, where the paroled men, after exchange, joined him, about the 1st of September, 1863. At this place the regiment was newly armed and equipped, but, being deficient in officers, it was engaged mainly in provost and picket duty, until March 1, 1864, when it was distributed as guards along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, between Harper's Ferry and Monocacy Junction.

The regiment was collected about the 1st of April, at Martinsburg, and from thence moved to Winchester. Under command of Gen. Sigel, it made a raid up the valley, and, after a sharp fight on the 15th of May, at New Market, in which the One Hundred and Twenty-third lost seventy men in killed and wounded, Gen. Sigel was forced to fall back to Cedar Creek. In a short time he was superseded by Gen. Hunter, who made preparations at once for the memora- ble Lynchburg raid. This ill-fated expedition has already been described in the history of some of the other regiments representing Craw- ford County. The history of the One Hundred and Twenty-third. in the expedition, was the history of those already given. Hard marching, almost constant skirmishing, exposure and fatigue were some of its hardships, with loss of a number of men killed, wounded and missing. On the last of June, the worn-out and famished troops reached Gauley Bridge, where supplies were met and distributed to the starving troops. For two months, the troops were marching from one place to another, seouting and foraging, and finally reached Martinsburg again, where they had a brief rest. From Martinsburg they proceeded to Harper's Ferry, and moved on to Loudoun Valley, east of the Blue Ridge, for the purpose of intercepting Early's retreat to the Shenandoah Valley. After numerous defeats and losses, the command of the national army, in the valley, was given to Gen. Sheridan, who soon changed the aspect of affairs. The rebels were defeated at Berryville and at Winchester, in both of which engagements the One Hundred

and Twenty-third participated. Its loss was five officers and about fifty men. After these operations the national troops remained at Cedar Creek until the 19th of October, watching the enemy and building fortifications. These fortifications were destined to fall into the hands of the enemy. The battle followed in which Sheridan made his famous ride from "Win- chester, twenty miles away." The One Hundred and Twenty-third bore an active part in it and lost several men. After this battle the One Hundred and Twenty-third was engaged for one month guarding the Harper's Ferry & Winchester Railroad, after which it was attached to the Twenty-fourth Army Corps (Gen. Ord's), in the department then com- manded by Gen. Butler. It arrived at Deep Bottom on the 27th of December, 1864, where it lay until the 25th of March, 1865, at which time it broke camp and moved to the Chicka- hominy. On the 30th of March, an advance was made on the rebel works, and skirmishing continued until the morning of the 2d of April, when the rebel works were carried. The One Hundred and Twenty-third, during this time, was three days on the skirmish line without relief. and their provisions had to be carried to them by the Regimental Quartermaster. The loss of the regiment was quite severe while on this long skirmish. On the 3d of April, the whole national army marched in pursuit of Gen. Lee, toward Danville. The One Hundred and Twenty-third was sent with other troops to burn High Bridge, and was unexpectedly sur- rounded by Gen. Lee's cavalry, and the entire force captured, and carried along, as prisoners of war, to Appomattox Court House, where the rebel army some time afterward surrendered, an event that virtually closed the war. Soon after this, the regiment proceeded to Annapolis, Md., and from thence went home to Camp Chase, where, on the 12th of June, it was mus- tered out of the United States service.

The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Infantry,

01. 2005 hours 34 Rigs. U.N.J.

317

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

for one hundred days' service, had two Com- panies from Crawford County. This one hun- dred days' service was designated " National Guard" service. The two companies of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth, were Com- panies A and C. The first was officered as fol- lows : Samuel Smalley, Captain ; George W. Myers, First Lieutenant, and James W. Fulker- son, Second Lieutenant. Company C was officered-W. A. Mitchell, Captain ; Ira M. Cory, First Lieutenant, and E. Paul, Second Lieutenant. The regiment reported at Camp Chase May 12, 1864 ; was mustered, uniformed, armed, equipped, and shipped to Washington City. It remained on garrison duty in and around Washington during its entire term of service, which expired August 20, 1864, when it was mustered out and discharged.

The One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Infan- try drew a company from Crawford County, Company B, which was mustered into the sery- ice with the following commissioned officers : Lyman Parcher, Captain ; Thomas A. Patter- son, First Lieutenant, and Isaac Z. Bryant, Second Lieutenant. These officers were all mustered out with the regiment at the close of its term of service.

The One Hundred and Seventy-ninth was organized for one year's service, and was mus- tered in at Camp Chase on the 28th of Sep- tember, 1864. It was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., when it was assigned to the Second Brigade. Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps. It was present at the battle of Naslı- ville, but was only partly engaged. The regi- ment remained on duty at Nashville until June 18, 1865, when, its services being no longer needed, it was sent home to Columbus, paid off. and discharged on the 27th of June. When mus- tered out, its rolls bore the names of 38 officers and 698 men.

This comprises the infantry regiments that drew anything like an organized body of men from the county. There were, however, a great

many other regiments, in which the county was represented by scattering recruits. The Forty- fifth, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, Sixty-fifth, and several others, contained more or less men from Crawford County. Also several batteries and Cavalry regiments contained representatives.

The Twelfth Cavalry, perhaps, was more strongly represented than any other organiza- tion. Company A of this regiment contained many Crawford County men. Capt. E. C. Moderwell and Lieut. D. A. Newell, of Com- pany A, were also of this county. Capt. Mod- erwell, was promoted to Major, and in that po- sition was mustered out with the regiment. Lient. Newell was promoted from Second to First Lieutenant November 24. 1863, and was honorably discharged May 20, 1865.

The Twelfth Cavalry was recruited in the fall of 1863 and contained men from nearly every county in the State. It was organized at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, when it was mustered into the service on the 24th of No- vember, 1863, and, while a portion of it re- mained on duty at Johnson's Island during the winter, the remainder was equipped and mount- ed at Camp Dennison, and on the 29th of November, left for Louisville, and from thence was ordered to Lexington and Mount Sterling. It served principally in Kentucky until Feb- ruary, 1865, when it was ordered to Nashville. From thenee it moved to Murfreesboro, and then to Knoxville. It accompanied Gen. Stone- man in his raid into North Carolina. It par- ticipated in the capture of Jefferson Davis and of Gens. Bragg and Wheeler. The Twelfth remained on duty in Tennessee and Alabama until the 14th of November, 1865, when it was mustered out at Nashville, and sent home to Columbus, paid off and discharged.

The Third and Tenth Cavalry regiments also contained men from Crawford County, but just how many we were unable to ascertain. Capt. E. R. Brink was from this county. He entered the regiment as First Lieutenant at its organi-

318

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

zation, was promoted to Captain, and resigned May 9, 1865. Of other representatives in the Third Cavalry, we have no definite informa- tion.

In compiling the war history of the county, we have drawn pretty freely on Whitelaw Reid's history of " Ohio in the War." As it is claimed to be not wholly without errors, we have taken pains to consult members of the different regi- ments, so far as practicable, and have them compare it with their own recollections. By this means we have been enabled to detect and correct some errors that existed, and think that, as now given, the history of the regiments in which Crawford County was represented is sub- stantially correct. There may be omissions of regiments that should have mention, but, if so, it is not our fault. We have used the greatest exertions to obtain full information of the county's military history, but, in many cases have found the facilities for obtaining informa- tion meager.

The county was twice drafted, but neither time for a very large number of men. The first took place the last of September, 1862, and was for the following numbers of men, by town- ships : Polk, 69; Jackson, 102 ; Whetstone, 45 ; Chatfield, 59; Sandusky, 33; Cranberry, 42; Texas, 2; Vernon, 30; Lykens, 40 ; Lib- erty, 56 ; Auburn, 22 ; Holmes, 55 ; Bucyrus, 22 ; Dallas, 0. The latter, it will be seen, had filled its quota and was not drafted, and it is said to be the only township in the county that had no draft during the war. There was some trouble at the time in regard to the draft, as to forcing the recruits thus obtained into the serv- ice. Some of the drafted men resisted, and, backed by a numerous party in the county op- posed to the war, there were, for a time, indica- tions and strong fears of a riot. It was by great exertions on the part of the lovers of peace and good order that a collision was pre- vented and serious consequences avoided. As it was, there were a few little scenes occurred

that did not redound to the credit of all parties concerned.

Another draft took place on the 16th of May, 1864, for a smaller number of men than the previous one. It was as follows, by townships : Bucyrus, 16; Auburn, 9 ; Holmes, 11 ; Texas, 2; Chatfield, 2; Cranberry, 1 ; Todd, 23; Polk, 24 ; Liberty, 8; Jackson, 5. These, however, we believe, were mostly filled up by voluntary enlistment before the day set for the drafted men to report at headquarters.

Poets and painters have, by common accord, agreed to represent the angel of pity and sym- pathy in a female form-a tribute that is in no wise unmerited. From the earliest periods of the world's history, the kindest feelings of women have been excited by the woes of suffer- ing humanity, and her warmest sympathies aroused in alleviating trouble and affliction, and in the exercise of her kind and generous minis- trations. The most notable instance on record of woman's love and affection occurred over eighteen hundred years ago, at the home of Martha and Mary, at Bethany, and at the sepul- cher at the foot of Mount Calvary. And from that day to this, like an angel of mercy, woman has ever been found in the midst of woe and misery and suffering and sorrow. In sickness, there is no hand like hers to smooth the pil- low, moisten the fevered lips, and wipe the cold, damp dews of agony from the throbbing brow. This angelic spirit of the sex was beautifully exemplified during the late war. How many thousands of noble-hearted women left all the comforts and luxuries of home, and, braving the dangers of field and hospital, spent those four long, gloomy years in administering to the wants of suffering soldiers ! They went forth to the post of duty, expressing the conviction that, if they fell, their loss would not be felt. Heroic but mistaken souls ! The world sus- tains its heaviest loss when such spirits fall. But all the good accomplished during the war by female hands was not due alone to those

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 319

who went forth to nurse and take care of the sick and wounded. Those who remained be- hind performed a work for good, the half of which has not yet been told, and which can scarcely be realized by the outside world.

The Soldiers' Ladies' Aid Society was an or- ganization of broad and liberal beneficence, and one to which many a poorand wounded soldier was indebted for his very life. The following extract is from a soldier's letter, published in the Bucyrus Journal in an early period of the war, and illustrates the good work of these societies. " It was about 5 o'clock in the aft- ernoon when I arrived in the hospital. Soon after my entrance I was stripped and bathed in a large tub of tepid water, shown to bed, and a nice clean white shirt and a pair of drawers were given me. I soon encased my tired limbs in my new wardrobe, and while doing so, my eyes caught sight of the words, 'From the Woman's Aid Society,' stamped in black ink on each garment. I lay down, pulled the blanket over my head and thought of my situation. Here I am in a hospital, prostrated with disease, worn out in body and mind, over eight hundred miles from any spot I can call home. My own mother and sister long since dead ; but the no- ble-hearted women of the North-those angels of mercy-are supplying the place of mother and sister, not only to me, but to thousands of suf- fering soldiers from every State. Presently I felt two large tears coursing down my cheeks, and running into my mustache, followed by myriads of others dropping on the sheet under my chin, forming innumerable little salt-water pools. When well I am a strong man, and it requires some sudden and deep grief to bring me to tears ; but tears of gratitude flowed from me that evening, as freely as drops of rain from an April cloud ; and, like a spoiled child I cried myself to sleep." This is but one in- stance of the good accomplished by these soci- eties, originated and maintained by the noble ladies of the land. A soldiers' aid society was

one of the earliest organizations inaugurated in the State, for the benefit of the sick and wounded in camp and hospital. This organization found a ready response among the ladies of Crawford County. A society, auxiliary to that of the State, was formed in Bucyrus, with branches in the different townships, which was instrumental in accomplishing a great and no- ble work.

The first organization of the society in Bucy- rus took place on the 14th of October, 1861. Mrs. Dr. Merriman was elected President ; Mrs. William Rowse, Secretary, and Mrs. Howbert, Treasurer. Large donations were made to the society, and 10 cents constituted the fee for membership. For some time the society met regularly in Quinby Block, but eventually be- come lukewarm, then dropped off into a Rip Van Winkle nap, from which it was aroused in the fall of 1862. It was re-organized and Mrs. J. Scroggs was elected President, and Mrs. Howbert, Secretary. But it seems to have be- come dormant again in a short time, in which state it remained until June, 1863, when it was re-organized a second time, and Mrs. I. C. Kingsley elected President ; Mrs. R. T. John- ston, Vice President ; Mrs. J. G. Robinson, Secretary, and Mrs. H. M. Rowse, Treasurer. Under this last organization. it continued in operation until the close of the war, and the return of the troops, no longer required its good work. The great number of boxes of clothing for the well and dainties and sweet- meats for the sick, sent off by the society and its township branches, made glad the heart of many a brave and gallant soldier.

During the progress of the war, a movement was set on foot, having for its object the erec- tion of a monument to the memory of the sol- diers of Crawford County, who had fallen, or might fall, in battle. In January. 1863. a prop- osition was made by the members of Oakwood Cemetery to donate a lot, valued at $125, pro- vided the citizens of the county would subscribe

320

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

a sufficient amount ($2,000) to erect a suitable monument. An organization, or association. was formed, known as the " Crawford County, Ohio, Monumental Association ; by-laws and a constitution were adopted, and officers elected. For a time, great interest was manifested, and

the strongest hopes were entertained of an early accomplishment of the laudable undertaking. But the zeal of those entrusted with the work died out, and the county's soldier dead still sleep with no other monument than that raised by their brave deeds in defense of their country.

CHAPTER VIII .*

BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL-SOME OF THE EARLY DRAWBACKS-SETTLEMENT-WILD GAME AND PIONEER SPORTS-THE NORTON FAMILY-TOWNSHIP ORGANI- ZATION-SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC.

B UCYRUS TOWNSHIP is situated in the southwestern part of Crawford County. It is bounded on the north by Holmes Town- ship, on the east by Whetstone, on the south by Dallas, and on the west by Dallas and Todd. Bucyrus Township was known in the original Government survey as Township 3, of Range 16. At the present time, this division is of regular legal size, six miles square, consisting of thirty-six full sections or square miles, but, when first organized, it was considered a frac- tional township, for the reason that about one- third of the present territory was then a part of the Wyandot Indian reservation. The town- ship was named after the village located during the spring of 1822, in the northeastern corner. Two small streams form the water-course of this division of Crawford County, the Sandusky River, and the head-waters of one branch of the Scioto. The Sandusky enters the township at the northeastern corner, and winds along for nearly ten miles toward the southwest, until it leaves Bucyrus Township two miles north of the southwestern corner. The Scioto is formed by several rivulets, which drain the farms just south of Bucyrus corporation. For many miles this stream is a mere brook, which is fre- quently dry during the summer time. The general course of the Scioto is also toward the

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 Crawford County and Ohio, Part 48

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034