History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 17

Author: Williams Brothers
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 443

USA > Ohio > Lake County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 17

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26th day of July, 1865, at Cumberland, Maryland, and was paid and disbanded at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio.

TWENTY-NINTH OHIO INFANTRY.

Soon after the disaster at Bull Run, a little knot of citizens were gathered to- gether in front of the post-office at Jefferson, waiting for details of the battle, when the Hon. J. R. Giddings, who was then at home from Canada, came up and entered into the subject of conversation, which of course was the late battle, its effect, and the prospect before us. He said, " We must raise a regiment in this county, and I am ready to do anything and all in my power to promote it. We can raise the men beyond doubt, and they ought to be ready for the field in sixty days. This reverse is necessary to excite us to action, and now is the time for us to move." He immediately procured an order from the War Department for the enlistment and organization of a regiment from the northeast part of the State. The orders provided for this regiment designated it as the Twenty-ninth, and Jefferson as the place of rendezvous, the camp to be known as Camp Giddings. This camp was located on the grounds of the County Agricultural Society. The first company of the Twenty-ninth was organized on the 11th of August, 1861, and went into camp on Monday, August 19. By the 1st of December the regi- ment was fully organized, with Lewis P. Buckley, colonel; Thomas Clark, lieu- tenant-colonel; and John S. Clemmer, major. While in camp a splendid stand of colors was presented to the Twenty-ninth by the ladies of this and adjoining counties, on which occasion Hon. J. R. Giddings addressed the members of the regiment as follows :

" Officers and soldiers : The ladies have prepared a splendid national and regi- mental stand. of colors, and have imposed on me the pleasant duty of presenting them to the regiment. In all past ages civilized nations have gone forth to war under their own banner, on which was inscribed some device, figure, or emblem peculiar to such nation. Thus each tribe among the Israelites had their par- ticular banner. The early Christians fought under the cross; the Romans under the golden eagle; the Mohammedans under the crescent. The founders of our government selected for their colors a groundwork of blue, representing immu- table justice and unlimited power, on which the stars represented light, twink- ling in the vaulted heavens, while in mid ether the bird of Jove is floating, a fitting representation of the ease and power with which liberty and civilization are gliding over the earth, while the stars, with the stripes of red and white, represent the vital principles and purity of our institutions. (Addressing Colonel Buckley.) To you, sir, as commanding, I present these beautiful standards, for the use and benefit of the regiment. On behalf of the fair donors I confide these national and regimental standards to the care of yourself, your gallant officers, and men. Wherever you go, let them be borne aloft and respected as the emblem of uni- versal freedom to all who seek your protection. Preserve them unstained. Bear in mind that you go forth to fight the battles of the human race for all coming time. Remember the cause in which you are engaged. Your own heroic deeds shall be enshrined in our memories, recorded in our history, admired by coming gener- ations, and approved by a holy and just God !"

Colonel Buckley replied, " I receive this stand of colors in behalf of the Twenty-ninth Regiment. I return, through you, to the noble and patriotic ladies of Ashtabula and Summit counties, our grateful thanks, and whenever and wherever it is unfurled to the breeze, and we look upon its stars and stripes, may we then remember the generous donors and the vow we this day make! This flag, the flag of our country, which has been our pride and our boast, and which is respected by all civilized nations,-this flag, thank God, shall yet wave triumph- antly wherever it has been struck down ! Companions, when we look upon this beautiful flag, may it inspire us to redouble our energies to do our duty to our beloved country ; and if God, in his providence, permits us to return to home and kindred, may this flag come back with us to bear witness that the Twenty- ninth Ohio Volunteers were in the thickest of the fight !"

On Christmas morning, December, 1861, the Twenty-ninth left Camp Gid- dings, via Ashtabula, for Camp Chase, remaining at the latter camp until January 17, 1862, when it was ordered to Virginia, in consequence of the Confederate advance, under Jackson, upon Romney. At Patterson's creek, Virginia, the regiment was assigned to the division of General Lander, and to the brigade of Colonel E. B. Tyler, of the Seventh Ohio. After the death of General Lander, General James Shields assumed command of the division, and the march com- menced towards Winchester. The enemy were met on the 23d of March, at Kernstown. Here the Twenty-ninth fought its first battle, losing three killed and ten wounded, and afterwards following in the pursuit of Jackson as far as Strasburg. It marched with its division to Falmouth, where General McDowell's army was reviewed by President Lincoln. After a long march, the Twenty- ninth again met the enemy at Port Republic, June 9, 1862, where a severe battle was fought, in which it lost fourteen killed and thirty-six wounded, with

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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

over one hundred missing. Captain Horatio Luce fell in this battle. August 9, 1862, the Twenty-ninth fought at Cedar Mountain, Virginia, losing six men killed and fifty-two wounded. The Twenty-ninth next met the enemy at Chan- cellorsville, May 1, 1863, fighting through the three terrible days following, and was posted near the Chancellor House, in the rear of a line of rude earthworks, where solid shot plowed the ground near its position. The enemy had gained a part of the works to the right, where an assault was made upon them, in which the Twenty-ninth was closely engaged. At this battle the Twenty-ninth lost seventy- two killed and wounded. At Gettysburg, July 1, 2, and 3, the Twenty-ninth was next engaged, losing thirty-seven killed and wounded. It was ordered to relieve the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh New York Infantry in the works, which had nearly expended its ammunition. In passing over a slight elevation, swept by the musketry of the enemy, the principal loss was sustained. From Gettys- burg the Twenty-ninth marched with the army southward, and early on the morn- ing of the 31st of July crossed the Rappahannock river at Kelly's ford, in the face of the enemy. August 16 the Twenty-ninth, with the Ohio regiments of its brigade, started for New York city, to aid in enforcing order during the draft. Returning to Virginia, it was soon sent with Hooker's army to Tennessee, and engaged in the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863. December 22 it was re-mustered into the service as a veteran organization, and furloughed for thirty days. Returning to the field, it fought at Dug Gap, Georgia, May 8, 1864, losing over one hundred men killed and wounded. This was a strong pass in the Chatooga range ; its sides are steep, covered with forests and rocks, rising eight hundred feet above Mill creek. Along the top, facing westward, rise pali- sades, impossible to scale. In addition to the natural strength of the position were breastworks, occupied by the enemy. The Twenty-ninth came within range of a destructive fire from the enemy in this stronghold. Sixty rounds of ammu- nition were soon exhausted, but by emptying the cartridge-boxes of the dead a desultory fire was kept up until near dark, when the command was given to retire. At this battle Colonel Fitch, Lieutenant-Colonel Hayes, and Adjutant Stover were wounded, and Lieutenant Grant killed. In this terrible assault twenty-one were killed and eighty-four wounded. May 15, at Resaca, the Twenty-ninth had three men wounded. At New Hope Church, Georgia, May 25, the regiment fought at night until darkness ended the contest. Here it was under fire until June 1. June 15, at Pine Hill, the Twenty-ninth was engaged in an assault upon the enemy's earthworks, and its loss was severe. The next morn- ing it could stack but seventy muskets. It fought at Peach-Tree Creek and en- gaged in the siege of Atlanta, marched with Sherman down to the sea, participated in the siege and capture of Savannah, and in the marches through the Carolinas. The Twenty-ninth participated in the great review at Washington, May 24, and soon afterwards was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out July 13, 1865. July 22 it was disbanded at Cleveland, Ohio. The rolls of the Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry bear the names of fifteen hundred and thirty-two men, of whom five hundred and forty were killed, wounded, or missing.

FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT, OHIO INFANTRY.

Immediately after the battle of Bull Run, a number of the citizens of Cleve- land, Ohio, set about raising a regiment, and the result of their labors was the Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which Captain William B. Hazen, Eighth United States Infantry, was appointed colonel. The camp of rendezvous was near Cleveland. The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States October 31, 1861, and in the latter part of the month of November the regiment reported for duty at Louisville, Kentucky, and became a part of the Fifteenth Brigade, Nelson's Division. Their first engagement was at Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862. They were in the front line in the charge, and it was terrible,- six men, who in turn carried the colors, were shot down, and of the three hun- dred and seventy-three men who entered the engagement one hundred and forty-one were either killed or wounded in half an hour. In the siege of Corinth, the Forty-first was engaged principally in skirmishing. Of the four hundred and ten officers and men of the Forty-first, the largest number it ever took into battle, one hundred and twelve were killed or wounded. Without doubt the severest engagement this regiment was ever engaged in was at Orchard Knob, between Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, November 23, 1863, where they made a charge and captured the colors of the Twenty-eighth Alabama Regiment. They lost one hundred and fifteen men. The regiment was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, November 26, 1865, having served four years and one month.

EIGHTY-FIFTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEERS (THREE MONTHS).

This organization never reached the regimental point. It was recruited to the proportions of a battalion (four companies) and retained in Camp Chase to guard rebel prisoners, and did arduous and valuable duty.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH OHIO INFANTRY.

This regiment was composed of citizens of Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Trumbull, and Mahoning counties. Companies G and K and a part of Company I were from Ashtabula county. The regiment was mustered into service on the 20th and 21st of August, 1862, at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio. The last company was mustered in at ten o'clock on the morning of August 21, and in one hour the regi- ment, one thousand and thirteen strong, was on the march, being the first regi- ment to leave the State under the President's call for troops of August 4, 1862. Having been armed and equipped, the regiment left for Lexington, Kentucky, where it was assigned to the brigade commanded by Colonel Charles Anderson. General Kirby Smith, in command of the Confederate army, was advancing from Cumberland Gap, and the regiment had every prospect of an immediate engage- ment. On the 30th of August the regiment advanced towards Richmond, Ken- tucky, for the purpose of reinforcing General Nelson, but the battle had been fought and lost, and hasty preparations were made for departure to Louisville. Colonel Hall, of the One Hundred and Fifth, was in command of the rear-guard. The weather was intensely warm, and there had been a drought in the country marched over. The column was pushed forward in great haste, and many fell from sunstroke apparently dead. The regiment faithfully performed its duty as rear-guard, and acted as a support to a section of artillery totally unprovided with ammunition. At Louisville, the regiment was assigned to Brigadier-General Ter- rill's brigade, of Brigadier-General Jackson's division. Leaving Louisville, the regiment marched to Perryville, where it was engaged in the battle of October 8, 1862. On the afternoon of that day the battle commenced at the point where the One Hundred and Fifth was stationed. The regiment moved rapidly forward and formed at the base of a ridge, where it awaited orders. The One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Regiment and Parsons' Battery had been assigned a position to the front and left, where they became engaged, and the One Hundred and Fifth was ordered to their support. The regiment passed to the rear of the battery, for the purpose of forming on its left. Before reaching its position it received a volley from a Confederate regiment, and at once halted and opened fire. Another Confederate regiment rose out of the tall grass that completely concealed it and fired another volley. Parsons' Battery had been posted without any sup- port near it, and within fifty yards of the concealed line of Confederate infantry. Most of the guns had been silenced, many of its men killed and wounded, and half of its horses shot down. At the first volley from the One Hundred and Fifth the Confederate lines, three or four deep, moved forward, firing as they advanced, and swept the ridge where the regiment and battery stood. The Confederate batteries were posted in rear of their infantry, which did terrible execution. General Terrill ordered Major Perkins, of the One Hundred and Fifth, to have the men fix bayonets and try to save the battery. Fresh troops of the enemy sprang up and the line faltered, wavered, and fell back to its former position. The enemy succeeded in taking the battery, and the contending lines were almost within pistol-shot of each other. The guns of the battery were turned upon the Federal lines, but the men were unwilling to retreat. At length General Terrill, seeing that further resistance was hopeless, gave the order to fall back. They re-formed in the rear of a battery, supporting it until night closed the contest. The regiment went into battle eight hundred strong, losing forty-two men killed and two hundred and twelve wounded. On the 20th of March, 1863, the One Hundred and Fifth was engaged with General John Morgan's command at Mil- ton, Tennessee, where the chieftain received a severe chastisement. It participated in the Tullahoma campaign, and followed in pursuit of Bragg's army southward, crossing the Tennessee river and Lookout mountain, and next engaged the enemy at Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863. On Sunday, September 20, a gap was made in the lines, caused by the withdrawal of General Wood's division, which the enemy took advantage of. General Brannan's troops were outflanked, and fell back in confusion. General Reynolds, seeing that his flank would be exposed, ordered Major Perkins to change front with his regiment, and charge the Confederates as they advanced. At a word the regiment started forward, with deafening cheers, upon the enemy. The first line of the enemy was thrown back upon the second, upon reaching which, the regiment opened upon it in gal- lant style. Major Perkins soon saw that his left flank was exposed, and he was obliged to withdraw. The onset of the enemy was checked, and time given General Reynolds to secure his flanks and prevent disaster to the army. At this battle the One Hundred and Fifth lost seventy-five men in killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. At Chattanooga the One Hundred and Fifth was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. It participated in the battle of Mission Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863, in the Atlanta campaign, in pursuit of Hood to Gaylesville, Alabama, and in the march down to the sea, and in the marches through the Carolinas. The regiment was mus- tered out at Washington, June 3, 1865, and disbanded at Cleveland, Ohio. Of

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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

the one thousand and thirteen men who left Cleveland in 1862, only four hun- dred and twenty-seven were mustered out in 1865.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OHIO NATIONAL GUARD (ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN).

This regiment contained one battalion from both Lake and Geauga Counties. They were mustered into the service on the 7th of May, 1864. The regiment was ordered to Johnson's Island, where it was engaged in guard and fatigue duty, and where it became noted for its drill and discipline, and for its tastefully orna- mental camp. On June 9 the regiment was ordered to Covington, Kentucky, and had at Keller's bridge a lively fight with John Morgan's command, and were captured. They were paroled, and returned to Johnson's Island, where they were mustered out August 20, 1864.

FIRST REGIMENT OHIO LIGHT ARTILLERY.

Battery C of this regiment was mustered into the United States service Sep- tember 9, 1861, at Camp Dennison. October 1 it left that camp for Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, and on arrival joined an expedition of some ten thousand men under General Albin Schoepf, for the purpose of relieving East Tennessee. This expedition resulted in the battle of Mill Spring and the defeat of the rebel General Zollicoffer. Battery C did some effective firing. One of its discharges -a James projectile-burst over a column of rebels, killing seven and wounding thirteen. On October 30, 1862, the battery was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps under General Thomas, and sent to Gallatin, Tennessee. On March 1, 1864, this battery returned to the field at Chattanooga. It was in the battles of Ralling Ford, Chickamauga,-where it lost thirteen men, thirty horses, and one gun dismounted,-Mission Ridge; and at the close of this campaign re- enlisted, and was assigned to the Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps; was in the battles of Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Peach-tree Creek, and the siege of Atlanta, Averyville, and Bentonville, which closed the active service of the battery. It was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, June 15, 1865.

FOURTEENTH OHIO INDEPENDENT BATTERY.

This battery was mustered into the service at Cleveland, Ohio, September 20, 1861, by Lieutenant J. W. P. Neil, Eighteenth United States Infantry. It was mainly recruited in the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull, Lake, and Geauga, under authority from the Secretary of War, empowering Hon. B. F. Wade and Hon. John Hutchins to raise a regiment of cavalry and a battery of artillery. In its ranks were two hundred and forty-nine men and ten commissioned officers. The battery reported for service at Camp Dennison, on the 1st of January, 1862, and on the 5th of February left that camp, destined for Kansas. It was ordered by General Halleck to remain in St. Louis for orders, and on the 13th of February left for the theatre of war in Tennessee. At Paducah it was attached to the command of General Hurlburt. On the 7th of March it embarked with the army up the Tennessee river, and disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, and was transferred to General McClernand's Division. On the 9th of April, 1862, the battery par- ticipated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, losing four men killed and twenty- six wounded, also fifty horses killed and wounded, and all their guns were left on the field, but were recovered on the following day without damage. The battery participated in the advance on Corinth, and also performed garrison duty at Jackson, Tennessee, until June 2, 1863, and afterwards remained in camp at Lynnville, Tennessee, until March, 1864. The battery participated in the battle of Resaca, Georgia, where it expended three hundred and forty-two rounds of ammunition, without casualties on its side. At Dallas, Georgia, it was engaged in shelling the enemy's works from the 28th to the 30th day of May, and took an active part in repelling the attack of the enemy upon the Federal lines on the evening of the 28th. On the evening of the 19th of May the battery took a posi- tion before Kenesaw mountain, and was constantly under fire from that date to the 2d of July, losing two men wounded. On the 3d of July it participated in the en- gagement of Ruff's Mills. A section of the battery was detached with General Stoneman's cavalry, where it performed good service, silencing the enemy's bat- teries on two occasions at river crossings. At the siege of Atlanta the battery was located within thirteen hundred yards of the enemy's heavy guns, behind casemated works. Eight men of the battery were wounded, two horses killed, and four wounded during these twenty-eight days of almost continuous firing. The battery marched northward with the army in pursuit of the Confederate General Hood, and reached Gaylesville, Alabama, on the 21st of October, where orders were received to report at Nashville, Tennessee, where it was assigned to the Seventh Cavalry Division. A new supply of horses and harness was drawn, and the battery was constituted horse artillery. It participated in the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864, and in the pursuit of Hood's demoralized army. From Eastport, Mississippi, the battery was sent to New Orleans, and from thence

to Mobile, Alabama, landing near Spanish Fort, and occupying a position upon the left of the Federal line. The battery was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Cavalry Division of Mississippi, and marched to Greenville and Montgomery, Alabama. The battery remained at Columbus, Mississippi, until the 27th of July, when it was ordered to Cairo, Illinois, to be mustered out, and from thence it was sent to Camp Dennison, where it was discharged August 17, 1865.

SECOND REGIMENT OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY.

In 1863 it became necessary to recruit a class of troops whose duty it should be to fortify, garrison, and hold many important forts and strongholds that had been captured from the enemy. For this purpose the Second Ohio Heavy Artil- lery, consisting of twenty-four hundred men, rank and file, was then authorized.

Company M, commanded by Captain William H. H. Crowell, and other com- panies of the regiment were largely recruited from Ashtabula and Lake counties. Company M was mustered into service September 9, 1863, at Covington Barracks, and on the 18th of the same month it moved to Fort Willich, Mumfordsville, Kentucky. January 10, 1864, it was transferred to Fort Taylor, at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, where it remained on duty until May 26, 1864. From Camp Sedg- wick, at Cleveland, Tennessee, it participated with the rest of the regiment in various expeditions, and was engaged in a skirmish at Strawberry Plains, where the Union forces were in a critical position. February 1, 1865, it was at Athens, Tennessee. It was there mustered out of the service, August 23, 1865, and on the 29th of the same month was paid and disbanded at Camp Chase, Ohio.

FIFTEENTH OHIO INDEPENDENT BATTERY

was recruited by Captain J. B. Burrows and First Lieutenant Edward Spear, Jr. This battery was mustered into the service on the first day of February, 1862, and was immediately ordered to Cincinnati, where it embarked February 16, under orders for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, but on reaching Paducah, Kentucky, was disembarked by order of General Sherman. Horses were drawn here, and the bat- tery embarked under orders to report to General Grant, at Pittsburg Landing, Ten- nessee. While proceeding up the Tennessee, and when near Whitehall Landing, the boat was fired into by guerrillas from the shore. The fire was returned with shell, under cover of which the men of the battery landed, drove the guerrillas from their cover, and captured some prisoners and horses. In this expedition the battery lost one man wounded. It reported to General Grant on the 20th, and was assigned to the Fourth Division, Army of the Tennessee. This battery was on the front line during the siege of Vicksburg, having position on the Hall's Ferry road, southeast of the city and within two hundred yards of the enemy's works, and enfilading several hundred yards of their line. In this, as in all the engagements in which this battery figured, most excellent service was performed, eliciting on every oc- casion the commendations of the commanding officers. It expended two thousand three hundred and one rounds of ammunition during the siege. The Fifteenth was with General Sherman principally, and participated in his famous " march to the sea." An incident is related that at the battle of Chattahoochee River a bird flew upon the shoulder of Private Seth Bowers, who was acting No. 1 on one of the guns, where it remained during the engagement. At every discharge of the piece the bird would thrust its head in the man's hair. After the recoil it would again take its position on the man's shoulder and watch the operations of loading. After the battle the bird remained around the men's quarters, but after a few days disappeared.

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History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 17

Author: Williams Brothers Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 443

Author: Williams Brothers
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 443