USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 1 > Part 48
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But our space will not allow us to follow the course of our soldiers through all the trials and triumphis of this war. With the following extract from a chronicle of the time, we will pass on to other matters and events: "Defeat, disaster, and disgrace marked its opening scenes ; but the latter events of the contest were a series of splendid achievements. Croghan's gallant defense of Fort Stephenson ; Perry's victory upon Lake Erie ; the total defeat, by Harrison, of the allied British and savages under Proctor and Tecumseh, on the Thames. and the great closing triumph of Jackson at New Orleans, reflected the most brilliant luster upon the American arms. In every vicissitude of this contest, the conduct of Ohio was eminently patriotic and honorable. When the necessities of the National Government compelled Congress to resort to a direet tax, Ohio, for successive years, cheerfully assumed and promptly paid her quota
out of her State Treasury. Her sons volunteered with alacrity their services in the field; and no troops more patiently endured hardship or per- formed better service. Hardly a battle was fought in the Northwest, in which some of these brave citizen soldiers did not seal their devotion to their country with their blood." And what is true, and to the honor and credit of the soldiers of the State, is equally true of the soldiers of the county, and that is glory enough.
After the war of 1812 and the Indian wars ac- companying it, the people of Delaware County were no more disturbed until the Mexican war. The circumstances which led to this little unpleas- antness resulted from the admission of Texas into the American Union. The " Lone Star State " had been a province of Mexico, but had .. seeeded," and for years its citizens had been carrying on a kind of guerrilla warfare with the " mother coun- try " with varying results. But, in 1836. a battle was fought at San Jacinto, at which Santa Anna. then Dictator. of Mexico, was captured. and his whole army either killed or made prisoners. Santa Anna was held in strict confinement. and finally in- duced to sign a treaty acknowledging the inde- pendence of Texas. But, in violation of the treaty and of every principle of honor, the Republic of Mexico treated Texas and the Texans just as she had previously done. From this time on. petitions were frequently presented to the United States. asking admission into the Union. But Mexico, through sheer spite, endeavored to prevent the admission of Texas, by constantly declaring that her reception would be regarded as a sufficient cause for a declaration of war. thinking, perhaps. that this would serve to intimidate the United States. In the Presidential canvass of 1844, be- tween Clay and Polk, the annexation of Texas was one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk, whose party favored the admission of Texas, being elected, this was taken as a public declaration on the subject. After this. Congress had no hesitancy in granting the petition of Texas. and on the 1st of March, 1845, formally received her into the sisterhood of States. Mexico at once, in her indignation, broke off all diplomatic relations with the United States, calling home her minister immediately, which was a clear decla- ration of war-and war soon followed. Con- gress passed an act authorizing the President to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers, and appropriating $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
As the war feeling swept over the country like an epidemic, the people of Delaware County caught the spirit, and their patriotism was aroused to the highest pitch of excitement. The old State Mil- itia law was then in force, which required the en- rollment of all able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, for military duty. Under this law Gen. Hinton commanded a brigade, which consisted of one battalion of artillery, one squadron of light dragoons, one battalion of in- fantry, and one regiment of riffemen. Imbued with the war fever, he called out his brigade and went into camp for three days at Delaware .* for the purpose of drill, and of considering the war question. The war news was thoroughly discussed, and, finally, a long preamble and a string of pa- triotic resolutions were adopted amid the clanging of arms and the roar of artillery. After a pre- amble consisting of a number of whereases, in which Mexican outrages are fully set forth ; it was
Resolved. That we. as citizen soldiers, assembled together with arms in our hands, bound to defend our country, its interest and its honor, do hereby tender our services to the President of the United States, and hold ourselves in readiness, at his command, for the defense of our country, the execution of its laws, and the maintenance of the honor and dignity of the nation. Resolved, That we sustain the President in his inaug- ural address, as to the Oregon question, ; etc.
Resolved, That these proceedings be signed by all the commanding and staff officers of the brigade, in their official capacity ; and that it be published in the Olen- tungy Gazette, Ohro Statesman and Ohio State Journal.
Resolved, That Gen. Hinton be charged with the duty of sending to the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, copies of these proceedings.
[Signed ] O. HINTON, Brigadier General.
STAFF.
R. A. LAMB, Brigade Major. E. L. HINTON, Aid-de-Camp. J. A. LITTLE, Brigade Quartermaster.
HUGH COLE, Colonel.
J. W. ELLIOTT, Colonel of Infantry.
J. W. Gint., Major of Light Dragoons.
H. F. RANDOLPH, Major of Infantry.
J. BISHOP, Adjutant of Infantry.
S. W. STONE, Adjutant of Infantry.
M. LEWIS, Commanding Artillery Battery. DANIEL MAXWELL, Captain.
J. GILLIS, Captain Ist Rifle Company.
J. WORLINE, Captain 2d Rifle Company.
G. BURNS, Captain 3d Riffe Company.
J. B. WERT, Captain 4th Rifle Company.
ST. C. Ross, Captain 5th Riffe Company. H. LINSLEY, Captain 6th Rifle Company. J. H. HARDIN, Fife Major.
* Gazette of August 9, 1845.
" It will be remembered that there was some trouble about that time between the United States and Great Britain, in regard to the boundary between Oregon and the British Possessions.
M. W. MILLER, Drum Major.
J. DETWILER, Trumpet Major.
HENRY ROLOSON, Ensign.
Lieut. JACOB BIRT.
Lieut. DANIEL, SHEETS.
First Lieut. ALFRED BURNS.
First Lieut. E. MANN.
First Lieut. NELSON WARD.
First Lieut. ABEL LINSLEY.
Second Lieut. JOSEPH MORRIS.
Second Lieut. S. MANN.
Second Lieut. JOHN VAN HORNE.
Second Lieut. JOHN B. JONE3.
Corneter, JOHN SMITH.
The Delaware Gazette of September 19, 1845. contains the following, which will doubtless call up in the minds of many, the stirring days of which we write : The following correspondence be- tween the President of the United States, the Sec- retary of War, and Gen. O. Hinton, has been furnished us for publication by Gen. Hinton. The curiosity of those who have been on the qui vive for several days past to know the nature of the war documents received by the General will be gratified by a perusal :
DELAWARE, OHIO, August 29, 1845.
SIR: I have the honor of forwarding to you the en- closed resolutions adopted by the officers and soldiers of the brigade under my command of independent com- panies of the Ohio Militia. I assure you, sir, they are not intended as an empty show for the occasion, but as an earnest offer of our services to you and the country, and an unflinching determination upon the event of either subject contemplated in the resolutions (a war with Mexico, or the necessity of defending our rights in relation to Oregon) to stand by the administration. and the interests and honor of our country. I hope these resolutions, and this personal tender of my serv- ices will meet with Your Excellency's approbation. With sentiments of great respect, I remain at your serv - ice, your obedient servant,
O. HINTON,
Brigadier General, 2d Brigade, 13th Division, Ohio Militia.
His Excellency JAMES K. POLK, President of the United States.
A letter similar in spirit was forwarded to the Secretary of War, and to it, and the letter given above, the following answers were received:
WAR DEPARTMENT, September 6. 1845.
SIR: Your letter of the 29th ultimo, offering the serv- ices of your brigade in the event of war has been received, but unaccompanied by the resolutions to which you refer, as having been adopted by the officers and soldiers of the corps. In case of invasion or imminent danger thereof, the President is authorized to call out the militia nearest the scene of danger, and when so called out, the drafting and selection of corps are sever- ally made by the Governors of States. The public spirit and patriotism of the officers and soldiers of your bri-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
gade, are, however, highly appreciated by the President and this department, and will be duly rewarded, should circumstances render it necessary to call out any por- tion of the militia of your State into public service.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War.
BRIG. GEN. O. HINTON, of the Ohio Militia, Delaware, Ohio.
WAR DEPARTMENT. September 9. 1845.
SIR: Your letter of the 29th of August has been re- ceived by the President, and referred to this department. The President and this department fully appreciate the motives which prompt your offer, and your name will be entered on the list of candidates for military service.
Very respectfully your obedient servant, W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. BRIG. GEN. O. HINTON, Ohio Militia, Delaware, Ohio.
In the President's call for 50,000 men, Ohio was required to furnish three regiments. With her characteristic patriotism, she filled her quota in a few weeks. Cincinnati was the place of ren- dezvous, and upon the organization of the three regiments, there were troops enough left to nearly form another regiment. These were furnished transportation to their homes at the expense of the Government. The regiments as organized were officered of follows: First Regiment-A. M. Mitch- ell, of Cincinnati, Colonel ; John B. Weller, of But- ler County, Lieutenant Colonel; T. L. Hamer, of Brown County, Major. Second Regiment-G. W. Morgan, of Knox County, Colonel ; William Irvin, of Fairfield, Lieutenant Colonel ; William Hall, of Athens, Major. Third Regiment-S. R. Curtis, of Wayne County, Colonel; G. W. Mc- Cook, of Jefferson, Lieutenant Colonel, and J. S. Love, of Morgan, Major.
All this information is chronicled in the Gazette, but not a single name of a Delaware County citi- zen is mentioned in connection with either of these regiments, and to gather the names of those who enlisted from this county is attended with but little better success than hunting for a needle in a hay stack. The following are the names so far as we have been able to obtain them: Thomas J. Crawford, A. J. Crawford, Alvin Rose, Able Moore, Daniel Bills, James Cutler, Dorance Roman, Van Loran, George Taylor. Nathan Daily, Joseph Borgan, J. Riddile, Jacob Hay, Dorman Carpenter, Gerard Osgood, Calvin De Pugh, Edgar Hinton, Lewis Smith, J. M. C. Bogan, Isaac Brint- well, Bednego Maddox, and Hiram and Lucius Deppen. These names are all that we have been able to trace out as representatives of Delaware
County in the Mexican war. Several of these did not go from this county, but since the war have become residents. The two Crawfords enlisted in the First Regiment; Abel Moore was Third Lieu- tenant in Company E, Fourth Regiment, a regi- ment that was made up about a year after the three mentioned above, and the Deppens, Brint- well, and Daniel Bills were members of the same company. Lewis Smith was a Corporal in Capt. Sanderson's company from Columbus: James Cutler, who was then but a mere boy, is now a practicing physician at Richwood in Union County; Alvin Rose is a minister of the United Brethren Church in the Sandusky Conference; George Taylor removed to Arkansas in 1870; JJoseph Borgan was wounded, but came home, and now lives in Wisconsin ; J. Riddile removed to St. Louis and died there ; Nathan Daily was killed at Buena Vista ; Jacob Hay still lives in Concord Township; De Pugh enlisted in New York in the regular army, and, after the close of the war and his discharge from the army, became a citizen of Delaware County, Of the others we know but little, except Edgar Hinton; he was a son of Gen. Hinton, and on- listed in St. Louis; he joined Col. Doniphan's command, and crossed the Plains on the expedition into New Mexico. After participating in that ex- citing campaign, he returned to his home, but his army life had rather unsettled him. He went to Bus- ton and shipped on board a vessel bound for India. After a three years' cruise he came back, made a brief visit home, and then went on another voyage to San Domingo, where he died of yellow fever.
The war of the rebellion next claims our atten- tion ; but we do not design writing a history of the war between the States, as there is, at present, a great deal more of war literature extant than is read. Nor is this to be regretted, as this class of literature is very unreliable. But a history of Delaware County that did not contain its war record, would not be considered much of a history. Nothing will be of greater interest to coming generations in our coun- try, than a true and faithful account of the events of those four long and gloomy years, when
"Armies met in the shock
Of war, with shout and groan, and clarion blast. And the hoarse echoes of the thunder-gun."
It is a duty that we owe to the soldiers who took part in the bloody struggle, to record and preserve the leading facts : especially do we owe this to the long list of the dead, who willingly laid down their lives for their country's honor and preservation :
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
we owe it to the maimed and mangled cripples who were lacerated and torn by shot and shell ; and last, but by no means least, we owe it to the widows and orphans of the brave soldiers, who, for love of country, forsook home with all its endearments, and whose bodies lie rotting in the soil of the Sunny South.
Delaware County had been for years pretty evenly divided in politics, yet the Republican party, from the time of its organization, had preponderated to a slight extent. But notwithstanding its ma- jority, its policy was boldly opposed by a large class of people; yet, when the dark and angry war- clouds began to gather over the land, when the Stars and Stripes were lowered from the battlements of Fort Sumter, and the Palmetto hoisted in their place, and the blood of American citizens had act- ually been spilled, the feelings of patriotism ran high, and the pulses of all began to beat full and quick ; and when the question of union and disun- ion was brought full before the face of all, then Democrats and Republicans forgot old issues and petty quarrels, and, with united hands and hearts, resolved to sacrifice all else for the preservation of the Union. When the first call was made for vol- unteers, it set the entire State in a blaze of excite- ment. Who does not remember the stirring days of '61. when martial music was heard in every town and hamlet, and tender women, no less than men, were wild with enthusiasm ? Wives encour- aged their husbands to enlist, mothers urged their sons to patriotic devotion, sisters tenderly gave their brothers to the cause of their country, while cases are not unknown where the bride of an hour, joyfully, though tearfully, gave the young husband the parting embrace, with the patriotic declaration that she would prefer to live the "widow of a brave. man, than the wife of a coward."
"And must he change so soon the hand, Just linked to his by holy band ; And must the day so blithe that rose, And promised rapture in the close, Before its setting hour divide The bridegroom from the plighted bride ? '
But the people of Delaware County require no facts to remind them of these thrilling times, or to recall the names of those who "fought the good fight unto the end." They inscribed their names in characters that live as monuments in the mem- ories of men, who, though dead long ago, will always live, bright and imperishable as the rays of Austerlitz's sun. Many of the " boys " who went from this county to do battle for their country,
came back to their homes shrined in glory. Many left a limb in the swamps of the Chickahominy ; on the banks of the Rapidan ; at Fredricksburg. Shenandoah, or in the Wilderness. Many still bear the marks of the strife that raged at Stone River, Chickamauga, on the heights of Lookout Mountain, where-
"they burst, Like spirits of destruction, through the clouds, And, 'mid a thousand hurtling missiles, swept Their foes before them, as the whirlwind sweeps The strong oaks of the forest.' *
But there were many who came not back. They fell by the wayside, or, from the prison and battle- field, crossed over and mingled in the ranks of that grand army beyond the river. Their memory is held in sacred keeping. And there are others who sleep beside their ancestors in" the village churchyard, where the violets on their mounds speak in tender accents of womanly sweetness and affection. Their memory, too, is immortal ; beau- tiful as a crown of gold the rays of the sunset lie upon the little hillocks above them. Some sleep in unknown graves in the "land of cotton and cane." But the same trees which shade the sepul- cher of their foemen shade their tombs also; the same birds carol their matins to both ; the same flowers sweeten the air with their fragrance, and the same daisies caress the graves of both, as the breezes toss them into rippling eddies. Neither is forgotten. Both are remembered as they slumber there in peaceful, glorified rest.
" Oh, our comrades, gone before us In the ' great review ' to pass- Never more to earthly chieftain Dipping colors as ye pass- Heaven accord ye gentle judgment As before its throne ye pass."
But while we weave a laurel crown for our own dead heroes, let us twine a few sad cypress leaves, and wreathe them about the memory of those who fell on the other side, and who, though arrayed against us, and their country, were-OUR BROTH- ERS. Terribly mistaken as they were, we remember hundreds of them over whose moldering dust we would gladly plant flowers with our own hands. Now that the war is long over, and the issues which caused it are buried beyond power of resurrection, let us extend, to those upon whom the fortunes of war frowned, the hand of charity, and, in ignorance of a "solid South " or a "solid North," again
* From Prentice's description of the battle of Lookout Mountain.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 1
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become, what we should ever have been-" broth- ers all."
We shall now, in as brief a manner as we can, notice the part taken in the late war by Delaware County. Our facilities and data are meager for preparing a satisfactory war history of the county, but the means within our reach have been ex- hausted, and no pains spared to do the subject jus- tice. We have been greatly aided in the work by Col. Crawford, Gen. Powell, Col. Humphrey, Maj. McElroy, Col. Lindsey, Dr. Morrison, Capt. Banker, Mr. J. S. Gill and others, who were in the service from this city and county.
The first regiment in which Delaware County was represented, was the Fourth Infantry. It was organized in April, 1861, at Camp Jackson, Colum- bus, under the old militia law of the State. Ac- cording to this law, the men chose their own officers by ballot. Lorin Andrews, President of Kenyon College, who had volunteered as a private, was elected Colonel. This regiment contained two full companies from Delaware County. The first, Company C, was recruited by Capt. James M. Crawford, of Delaware, and should have been the ranking company in the regiment. But the old- fogy ideas of those in charge led them to bestow the initial letter of the Captains upon the com- panies. Thus Crawford's became Company C, when it should really have been A, as Capt. Craw- ford received the first commission, not only in the Fourth Regiment, but the first issued in the State of Ohio, it being dated April 16, 1861, one day earlier than any commission issued to the First Regiment. When Crawford organized his com- pany, the officers were James M. Crawford, Cap- tain ; Eugene Powell, First Lieutenant, and Byron Dolbear, Second Lieutenant. Having a large sur- plus of men left, they were turned over to Lieut. Powell, who recruited a sufficient number to form another company. Of this company Lieut. Pow- ell was elected Captain, A. W. Scott, First Lieu- tenant, and William Constant, Second Lieutenant. These were the first two companies raised in Dela- ware County. Capt .. Powell's company was mus- tered into the Fourth Regiment as Company I, and the officers as above given. Capt. Crawford's company (C) was mustered in with the officers as given, except J. S. Jones, who had been elected First Lieutenant in place of Capt. Powell.
The Fourth moved to Camp Dennison on the 2d of May, and was mustered into the three months' service by Capt. Gordon Granger, of the United States Army. A few days after, the
President's call for three-years men was made pub- lic, and the majority of the regiment, including the almost entire companies of Capts. Crawford and Powell, signified their willingness to enter the serv- ice for that period, and were therefore mustered in for three years. On the 25th of June, the regiment left Camp Dennison for Western Vir- ginia. It arrived at Rich Mountain on the 9th of July, but did not participate actively in the fight. being held as a support for the skirmishers. On the 13th, six companies of the regiment, under Col. Andrews, moved with the main column of Gen. McClellan's army to Huttonsville; the other four companies, under Lieut. Col. Cantwell, remained at Beverly in charge of rebel prisoners. On the 7th of September, the regiment marched to Pendleton, Md. Lieut. Col. Cantwell, with six companies. left Pendleton on the 24th, and moved on Romney. where, after a brisk engagement, they defeated the rebels. Their loss in this fight was thirty-two men wounded.
Col. Andrews died on the 4th of October. and John S. Mason, a Captain in the United States Army, was appointed his successor, and assumed command on the 14th. On the 25th, the regi- ment moved to New Creek, Va., where it joined Gen. Kelly's command, and the next day joined in the second battle at Romney. They remained at Romney until the 7th of January, 1862, when they attacked the rebels at Blue Gap, and drove them from a fortified position. On the 11th of March, the regiment moved to Winchester, where it remained until the 24th, when it engaged in the pursuit of "Stonewall " Jackson, who had been defeated the day previous at Kernstown. On the 17th of April, it moved to New Market, and, ou the 27th, to Moor's farm, near Harrisonsburg, where it remained until the 5th of May, and then returned to New Market. On the 12th, it left New Market and marched for Fredericksburg. where it arrived on the 22d, but was ordered back the next day, and reached Front Royal on the 30th, driving the enemy from that place. It moved to Luray on the 7th of June, and from there made a forced march to Port Republic, where it arrived in time to cover the retreat of the Federal forces.
On the 29th of June, the regiment moved to Alexandria, from where it embarked for the Peninsula, arriving at Harrison's Landing on the 1st of July. It remained here until the 15th of August, when it marched to Newport News, via Charles City, Williamsburg and Yorktown, and.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
on the 27th, returned to Alexandria. On the 29th, it marched to Centerville, and, on the 2d of September to Fort Gaines, whence it moved to Harper's Ferry. On the 30th of Octo- ber, it broke camp and crossed the Shenandoah, and marched successively to Gregory's Gap, to Rectortown, Piedmont, Salem, Warrenton, and Falmouth, Va., where it remained in camp until the 12th of December, at which time, under com- mand of Col. Mason, it crossed the Rapidan into Fredericksburg, and was thrown to the front as skirmishers, and held that position until the next day, when the desperate charge was made
through the streets of Fredericksburg. Its loss in this disastrous affair was 5 officers and 43 enlisted men, either killed or wounded. After this fight, the regiment went into its old quarters at Falmouth, where it continued until the 28th of April, 1863, when it participated in Hooker's movement on Chancellorsville. It lost in this battle, killed and wounded, 78 out of 352 engaged. On the 6th of May, it went back to its old camp at Falmouth. On the 1st of July, it reached Gettysburg, and participated in that memorable battle. It was one of the three regi- ments that drove the rebels from Cemetery Hill after they had driven a part of the Eleventh Corps from the field. It lost in the engagement 3 commissioned officers and 34 enlisted men, killed and wounded. After the battle, the regi- ment, with its brigade and division, marched in pursuit of the flying enemy, passing through Frederick City, Crampton's Gap, etc., crossing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry on the 18th, and marching through Woodbury, Bloomfield and Uppeville, finally returning to Elk River on the 1st of August. Here it remained until the 20th, when it went to New York to quell the riotous spirit then prevailing there. On the 6th of September, it took passage for Virginia, and again a series of marches commenced, embrac- ing Fairfax Court House. Bristol Station, Bealton, Brandy Station, Cedar Mountain and Robinson's Run, where it arrived on the 17th of September. On the 26th of September, it crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and, on the 27th, at Robin- son's Cross Roads, had a skirmish with the rebels, suffering a loss of 28 killed and wounded.
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