USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
Military History of Fulton County -- Early Militia Organizations.
T HE early military history of Fulton county is so obscured by time that no statistics relative to the early organization can be found, and we have been compelled to rely wholly upon the memory of some of the early settlers of the county, among which we have received much information from Samuel Carpenter and A. H. Jordan, esq., of Royalton township.
Before this county was organized, in 1850, most of the territory embraced in Fulton county was within the limits of Lucas county, and the military or- ganizations were called Lucas County Militia. There was a full regiment, five companies of which belonged to Lucas county and three, namely, Company A., captain, Lyman Parcher, first lieutenant, Samuel Stutsman; Company B. Charles Smith, captain, Elias Richardson, first lieutenant, and William Saw- yer, second lieutenant. Company C., commanded by Captain Treadwell ; Pe- oli Alwood, first lieutenant, and John Viers, second lieutenant. The regiment usually had two general musters each year, which were high old times, lasting three days, the last of which was usually, after roll call in the morning, turned over to general sports, such as shooting at a mark, running foot races, pitching the iron bar, throwing the maul, wrestling etc .; and as whisky was cheap in
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FULTON COUNTY.
those days, only twenty cents a g illon, a great quantity of the "creature" was usually disposed of on these occasions. About the year 1844, it being this part of the county's turn for the " general training," as it was called, Colonel Briggs ordered the regiment to assemble at H. C. Jordon's corners for a one day muster. The order was generally obeved, and as there was a vacancy of a lieutenancy in one of the companies, an election was ordered to fill it, which resulted in the election of a young soldier from Maumee. After his election he was required to make good his footing, which was to treat the whole regi- ment, but the newly elected lieutenant not having the necessary money and having forgot or neglected to bring along a coon skin, the regiment became violent and were about to declare the office vacant and proceed with a new election, when A. H. Jordon, good soul as he is, and always was, came to the rescue and furnished the thing needful. The boys had become so thirsty by this time that it took five gallons to go around. The regiment was then or- dered into line and commenced training, but as they warmed up with the drill, the whisky also warmed up, and before noon about one half of the regim .nt were under arrest for disorderly conduct, and as it took the other half to guard those under arrest, this meeting was adjourned to meet at Etna (now Win- ameg) about one month thereafter. It met according to the adjournment for a three days' drill. It had a fine time at this meeting and was inspected and reviewed by Major General Charles W. Hill, of Toledo, who highly com- plimented the command for its proficiency in drill and good soldierly bearing. During the night of the second day's drill Colonel Briggs had occasion to be outside the guard line, and as he rode up to where True Whiteman was stand- ing guard, the latter halted him and told him to dismount and give the coun- tersign, but the colonel had forgotten the countersign, and feeling his oats somewhat, endeavored to force his way past the guard, but True was "true blue," and understood his duty, and, as the colonel rode up, persisting that he was Colonel Briggs and had a right to, and would pass at all hazards, the guard thought differently, and clubbing his rifle, promptly knocked the horse down on which the gallant colonel was riding and made him a prisoner until the ad- jutant was sent for, who communicated the countersign to the colonel, which he then gave to the guard and was permitted to pass. This was the last gen- eral muster in this county in ante-bellum days, although the regiment met af- ter that at Maumee and other places in Lucas county.
THE WAR OF 1861-5.
At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, Fulton county, in point of numbers, was one of the smallest counties in the State, numbering at that time, in round numbers, about twelve thousand population There were, at that time, no villages in the county numbering one thousand inhabitants, Delta being the largest with a population of only a few hundred persons, and
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
all the other villages combined reaching less than twelve hundred. The coun- try was sparsely settled, and by a strictly farming people. As soon as Fort Sumter had been fired upon by the rebels, the people of this county, with one accord, sinking party affiliations for the time, sprang to the defense of the Union ; public meetings were held all over the county and, in a few days, two full companies were raised, under the call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thousand men Owing to the rapidity with which Ohio's quota of the seventy- five thousand was filled, but one of Fulton county's companies could be ac- cepted. This company, ninety-seven strong, commanded by Captain E. L. Barber, of Wauseon, was mustered into the Fourteenth Regiment as Company H, and rendered good service in that regiment during its term of enlistment.
The other company was ordered to Camp Herrick, in Swanton, where, af- ter being drilled for about one month, it was mustered out and paid off by the State. After Congress met in July, 1861, the president issued his second call for three hundred thousand troops for three years' service Ohio's quota was quickly filled ; the Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth Regiments were raised in the northwestern counties of the State; Fulton county contributing to the three years Fourteenth Regiment at muster in, forty- seven men, and sent to the regi- ment as recruits, seven men, making a total of fifty-four from Fulton county, for that regiment.
Fulton county furnished for the Thirty eighth Regiment two full companies : Company I, Captain M. R. Brailey, and Company K, Captain R. A. Franks. These two companies had an aggregate of two hundred men, and forty-one men mustered into other companies of the regiment ; a total at muster in of two hundred and forty-one men from Fulton county. The county, during the war, also sent one hundred and nine recruits to the Thirty-eighth Regiment, making a total of three hundred and fifty from this county for the Thirty- eighth.
The county furnished to the Forty seventh Ohio Regiment fifty . three men. This was a squad of men raised for other regiments, but they being full, the men were mustered into the Forty-seventh. There were recruited for the Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry two hundred and eleven men, who were mustered in at the organization of the regiment from Fulton county, and the county sent them forty-nine recruits during its term of service, making a total of two hun- dred and sixty men from this county.
The county furnished for the Sixty-eighth Regiment one company of ninety seven men ; for the One Hundredth Regiment, one company, H, was wholly recruited from Fulton county, added to which the county sent sixteen recruits. The county also furnished twenty other men for this regiment, who were mustered into other companies, making a total of one hundred and thirty- six.
For the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment Fulton county furnished sixty-two men, most of whom were mustered into Company K.
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FULTON COUNTY.
The county furnished one whole company, D, which was mustered into the Forty-fourth Illinois Regiment of infantry. It also sent to the regiment, while at the front, twenty-seven recruits, a total of one hundred and twenty-four. Eighty-four men from the county enlisted and served in Michigan regiments.
For the Third Ohio Cavalry there were were fifty-five men recruited from Fulton county, who served with that regiment during the war.
There was recruited in this county for the Thirty-seventh German Regi- ment twenty- six men ; and for other three years Ohio regiments, one hun- dred and fifty-six men, making a grand total of three years men who went into the service from this county of one thousand four hundred and fifty-seven.
Fulton county furnished for the One Hundred and Eighty second Regi- ment sixty-one men, forty-five of whom were mustered into Company B, and sixteen into Company K, of that regiment.
This county also furnished for other one year regiments, forty-two men, who were mustered into the following one year regiments, viz. : the One Hun- dred and Eighty-fourth, the One Hundred and Eighty- ninth, the One Hun- dred and Ninety. first, the One Hundred and Ninety-Third and the One Hun- dred and Ninety-fifth, making a total of one hundred and two men for the one year service.
Fulton furnished for the three months service, ninety seven men, mustered into Company H, Fourteenth Regiment; and ninety-eight men, who were mustered into Company G, Eighty- fifth Regiment, and twenty-one men, who were mustered into different companies of the Eighty-seventh Regiment, mak- ing a total of two hundred and sixteen, furnished by this county for the differ- ent three months organizations.
In the spring of 1864, when General Grant assumed the command of all the armies of the United States, and was about to begin his famous advance against the army of General Lee, it being necessary that he should have all the veteran troops of the Army of the Potomac for that purpose, President Lin- coln called together, at Washington, the governors of all the loyal States for consultation, and to devise means, if possible, to raise recruits for a short pe- riod, to guard Washington, and to do other guard and garrison duty in and about that city, and to hold places captured in rear of the line of march of Grant's army, and to guard the supply and ammunition trains for his army, so that all the old, available troops of the Potomac Army could be at the front. The loyal governors assembled, and, after consultation, Governor Brough, of Ohio, suggested to the president and State governors, the idea of calling out one hundred thousand men for one hundred days service, pledging Ohio for thirty thousand of this class of troops. President Lincoln immediately agreed with this proposition, and, after a short conference, the other governors agreed to the proposition. It is needless to say that thirty thousand was much larger than Ohio's quota, yet the whole number was speedily raised, and about three
43
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
thousand surplus. The first regiment to respond was the One Hundred and Thirtieth, or First Ohio National Guards, wholly raised in the northwest cor- ner of the State. Fulton county reported with three companies, but, as there was a total of eleven companies reported, one company from this county was distributed among other companies of the regiment. Fulton county furnished for the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment two hundred and fifty-one men- Although the one hundred days men did but little fighting, they were of ines- timable value in holding the rear of Grant's army, preventing raids on Wash- ington, and giving to General Grant all the good fighting men of his army.
For the cavalry service Fulton county did not send a great number to the field. It did, however, furnish for the Third Regiment of Cavalry fifty-five men, most of whom were mustered into Company H, of that regiment. There were also enlisted in this county and mustered into other cavalry regiments forty- three men, making a total of ninety-eight from Fulton county for this branch of the service. In addition to the foregoing, thirty men from Fulton county volunteered, and were mustered into the First Regiment of Ohio Light Artil- lery , thirteen men went into the Sharpshooters, twenty-three enlisted and were mustered into the different Ohio independent batteries, and eleven into the United States Regulars, making a total of eighty-seven men mustered into these miscellaneous organizations.
Recapitulation .- Fulton county sent to the field and had mustered into the service for three years, one thousand four hundred and fifty-seven men. For the one year service this county sent to the field one hundred and two men ; for the six months service Fulton county sent to the war ninety- four men ; for the three months service there were recruited in this county and sent to the field two hundred and sixteen men ; for the one hundred days service this county sent two hundred and fifty-four : miscellaneous organizations, eighty- seven men, making a total, for all armies of the service of two thousand two hundred and seven men that actually entered the service.
It will be observed that in many instances no company roster is given in connection with the history of the command. In explanation of this absence it may be stated that no reliable record of individuals could be obtained of many of the companies that entered the service later than 1862; and even for that year all do not appear. Memorials and muster- out-rolls have been found from which an incomplete record could be made, and, in such cases, care has been used to make the data as reliable as possible. Again, in frequent cases, it ap- pears that only a small portion of a company was from the county, and in order to give a complete roster, each name should appear, and it has been found im- possible to determine just who of the company were from Fulton.
THE FOURTEENTH INFANTRY -THREE MONTHS SERVICE.
There was not at any time during the progress of the war against the Re- bellion, a more hearty response to the president's demand for volunteers than
E. L. Barter
·SIVILE PHILA
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FULTON COUNTY.
under the first call for seventy-five thousand men for three months' service. Indeed, so promptly and so faithfully did the men of Ohio answer to the ne- cessities of the occasion, that less by far were required than had volunteered for the service. Ohio had overrun her quota by the thousands.
In no place was greater patriotism and greater loyalty to the Union shown, than in the then young and struggling county of Fulton. Epaphras L. Bar- ber, then a resident of Wauseon, engaged in the real estate business, at once signed the enlistment roll, and his action was immediately followed by others so rapidly, that on the 23d day of April, just four days after the enlistment began, the company, one hundred and twelve strong, went to Toledo. In perfecting the company organization, E. L. Barber, was elected captain ; Thomas M. Ward, first lieutenant; and Reason A. Francks, second lieutenant. Arriving at Toledo, the company was attached to the Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and made Company H.
The regiment was fully organized by the election of the field officers as fol- lows : James B. Steedman, colonel ; George P'. Este, lieutenant-colonel ; Paul Edwards, major. The Fourteenth, having close to one thousand men, left To- ledo for Cleveland where they arrived on April 25th, and went into camp. Two days later, April 27th, the regiment was mustered into service.
The regiment was raised in what was then the Tenth Congressional District, embracing the country in the vicinity of Toledo. So great was the enthusiasm of the people, that many of the companies were more than full. This was the case in Company H, under Captain Barber, by whom a portion were sent back home. In this the captain exercised good judgment, and returned those whose presence was most needed at home, such as men having families dependent on them for support.
Company H, as will be seen from the appended muster-roll, was made up mainly of young men, strong, sturdy fellows, taken from the farms and shops of Fulton county, and not a man of them but fully realized the serious business in which they had enlisted; and although their term of service was short, and their battles few, they were, nevertheless, capital soldiers, and rendered such service as was required of them promptly and well.
When mustered into service the Fourteenth went into Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, for drill, and in this they were exercised to an abundant degree. In fact, there were here, as well as subsequently, numerous complaints on the part of a few of Company H, that they were being too much drilled, but later in the service (for most of the men became veterans), they profited by the drill and discipline they received from Captain Barber, as is shown by the fact that out of his company alone, twelve men became commissioned officers in other com- mands.
On the 22d day of May the Fourteenth left Cleveland for Columbus, where they received their clothing, arms, and all necessary equipments, and on the
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
next day, the 23d, proceeded to Marietta, at which place they were joined by the First Ohio Battery. They then on the 27th moved on toward Webster, sometimes riding, and frequently being compelled to march, acting as pioneer and construction corps, for the enemy and southern sympathizers had destroyed roads and bridges. At Webster the regiment was joined by the Sixth, Sev- enth and Ninth Indiana troops. The regiment then marched for Philippi, Va., which was performed on a dark and stormy night, and brought up in front of the place soon after daylight on the morning of the 4th, and at once a volley from the battery was fired into the town. Had the plan been executed accord- ing to its original conception, Philippi would have been captured ; but through some blunder on the part of one of the commands, the scheme failed of its main purpose. The rebels, however, quickly abandoned the town, which was imme- diately occupied by the Union forces. The rebel stores, and several wagon loads of arms and ammunition fell into the hands of the Union soldiers.
The regiment then went into camp at Philippi, where they lay a few weeks, sending out occasionally skirmishing parties to attack and free the country of roving bands of guerillas that infested the country. On the 2d day of July, the boys received their first pay, in gold and Ohio currency.
From this place, in early July, the Fourteenth inarched to Bealington, on Laurel Hill, where the rebels had gathered in considerable force under com- mand of General Garnett. The enemy's pickets were driven and they sud- denly evacuated the place, closely pressed by the Union troops, the Fourteenth being in the advance of the pursuing forces. They followed on to Carrick's Ford, where the rebels made a determined stand to save their trains of sup- plies. The Fourteenth received the first fire of the enemy, but returned it even before the second could come from the rebel guns. The battle raged fiercely for about twenty minutes when the rebel line was broken, their force routed, and fled in confusion, leaving their wounded, stores, ammunition, colors and supplies, all in the hands of the boys in blue. They captured here, also, two hundred and fifty prisoners. This was the only engagement in which the Fourteenth was actually under fire, and not a man flinched nor wavered, but stood bravely to their work.
The regiment returned to Laurel Hill, where they camped for a short time, after which, their term of enlistment having expired, they returned to Toledo, and were mustered out of service. Many of the men, after a few days of rest and enjoyment at home, re-enlisted in various regiments then forming for the three years service ; but here the history of the Fourteenth-three months men-ceases, and their future reward belongs to other commands.
It appears from the muster out roll of Company H, that the men joined for service on the 22d day of April, 1861, at Wauseon; and that they were mus- tered into service at Cleveland, on the 27th day of the same month. The fol- lowing roll will show the name of each member of the company, both officers
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FULTON COUNTY.
and privates, their age at time of enlistment, and their town or township of supposed residence or address at time of muster out, although in giving the place of residence errors may appear. The list is compiled from the muster out roll, and such errors as appear thereon are copied here :
Epaphras L. Barber, captain, age 30, residence, Wauscon ; Thomas M. Ward, first lieutenant, age 45, residence, Ottokee; Regin A. Franks, second lieutenant, age 26, residence, Wauseon ; Hiram McClatchie, first sergeant, age 27, residence, Medina, Wis. ; Jacob Bartlett, second sergeant, age 33, residence, Pike township; Erastus W. Briggs, third sergeant, age 26, Emmett Lusurc, fourth sergeant, age 24, Worlen B. Leggett, first corporal, age 24. Albert R. Stranahan, second corporal, age 19, residence, Wauseon ; Emanuel B. Cantel- bery, third corporal, age 21, Samuel Hanley, fourth corporal, age 33, residence, Pittsville ; Itham Culbertson, drummer, age 20, John B. Mikesell, drummer, age 23, residence, Wauseon. Privates .- Lewis Butler, age 23, William C. Barnes, age 22, Isaiah Bayes, age 24, residence, Wauseon ; Robert H. Betts, age 19, residence, Archbold ; Ezra F. Bragg, age 25, residence, Pike town- ship ; George Burer, age 26, residence, Archbold ; Sumpter Beckem, age 20, residence, Chesterfield ; Charles Courier, age 26, residence, Archbold; Calvin Cass, age 26, Franklin D. Cass, age 18, Howard Cass, age 21, residence, Ted- row ; Allen C. Clark, age 26, residence, Pittsville ; Oscar Coleman, age 21, residence, Chesterfield ; Nathan R. Chudle, age 18, Charles W. Cornell, age 26, residence, Wauseon ; Thomas I. Childs, age 21, died at Marietta, (). ; Weber I. Colt, age 22, John O. Dowell, age 23, residence, Wauseon ; George W. Ellsworth, age 23, Christian Funkhouser, age 24, Emanuel Freistone, age 20, Jacob Gilbert, age 19, residence, Archbold ; Shelly A. Gish, age 18, residence, Wauseon ; John R. Gallop, age 19, residence, Ottokee; John A. Garberson, age 22, William Hamp, age 20, residence, Ai; Orrin Hamp, age 18, John Hine, age 18, Josiah P. Hodges, age 21, Samuel D. Hodges, age 25, residence, Wauseon ; Josiah Hodges, age 23, sick at home at muster out ; William II. Hishoe, age 20, Oscar I. Hale, age 23, Ezra Harger, age 19, Martin Hinckle, age 20, John G. Jewell, age 34, William S. Jones, age 19, residence, Wauseon ; George W. Jones, age 23, Emanuel Krouty, age 27, residence, Pittsville ; Frederick Konnaker, age 28, George W. Kobble, age 23, Jacob B. Lepley, age 22, William Losure, age 26, Marion Losure, age 20, Marriott Losure, age 20, Paul Lingle, age 19, residence, Wauseon ; Silas Lingle, age 18, residence, Ted- row ; Wesley Lewis, age 20, no address given ; Sylvester Lyon, age 27, Lo- renzo Lyon, age 20, John W. Miller, age 23, Hiram Miller, age 19, David Miller, age 23, residence, Wauscon ; John Miller, age 27, residence, Archbold ; William R. McManus, age 23, Horace Mixler, age 26, La Fayette B. Price, age 22, William H. Pelton, age 27, Wesley Pontius, age 21, residence, Wau- seon ; William Rogers, age 20, residence, Archbold ; George S. Royce, age 38, residence, Ottokee ; John Renaugh, age 23, Frederick Renaugh, age 21,
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
residence, Archbold ; Albert B. Smith, age 21, Henry T. Smith, age 23, George Struble, age 21, William S. Struble, age 24, residence, Wauseon ; Jo- seph Snyder, age 38, residence, Pittsville ; Richard Shadle, age 21, residence, Ottokee ; William R. Saums, age 28, residence, Wauseon; William Shoe- maker, age 23, residence, Archbold; William S. Skeels, age 20, Edward F. Summers, age 20, Uriah Todd, age 22, Leander Taber, age 19, Augustus A. Wood, age 24, Henry L. Waldron, age 19, Samuel Wellman, age 23, William WVier, age 26, John S. Wise, age 23, residence, Wauseon ; George W. Williams, age 18, residence, Archbold ; Linas P. Woodward, age 21, Virgil Weeks, age 21, Henry Yeager, age 20, residence, Wauseon.
THE THIRD CAVALRY.
The Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was organized at Monroeville, O., in August and September, 1861. The regiment is purely a Northern Ohio or- ganization, fifty five inen of which volunteered from Fulton county, mostly of whom were mustered into Company H, and the remainder in Companies A, C, F and I. In February, 1862, the regiment reached Jeffersonville, opposite Louisville, Ky. On the 18th of March it arrived at Nashville, Tenn., and on the 29th left for Pittsburgh Landing. On the 4th of April the first battalion was detached by order of General Buel and sent to Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Here the battalion to which Company H was attached, met Beffle's rebel cavalry and drove them out of Lawrenceburg, killing one and wound- ing several others and capturing six horses. On the 6th a detachment un- der command of Major John H. Foster, seized a large quantity of bacon be- longing to the rebels. It arrived at Pittsburgh Landing on the 25th. On the 4th of May while on a recconnoissance, it met the enemy's advance at Cham- bers Creek and drove them back to their main body. At a point about ten miles from Corinth, Major Foster's battalion, while making a reconnoissance, had a spirited encounter with the enemy, but was finally forced back by the overwhelming number of the rebels. In this fight the rebels lost twelve men killed, among which was Lieutenant-Colonel Ingram. For the next two months the regiment was constantly on the march and doing picket duty, with frequent skirmishing with the enemy. On the 29th of July Major Foster, with the first battalion of the Third Cavalry and ten companies of infantry, was sent on a foraging expedition to Salem, and meeting a squad of the enemy with eighty-nine head of beef cattle immediately attacked them and captured the cattle. The regiment, with its divisions, left Winchester on the 14th of Au- gust, and arrived at McMinville on the 29th and was ordered across the Cum- berland Mountains to Dunlap. When half way up the mountain the enemy's messengers were met and captured with their dispatches from General Bragg to General Wheeler; thence proceeding, Major Foster drove in the enemy's pickets, killing and wounding six, and then returned to his division with the or-
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