USA > Ohio > Union County > Jerome > History of Jerome Township, Union County, Ohio > Part 14
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Of this number Lieutenant Miche and Lieutenant Dicken- son were killed, and Lieutenant Colonel Haskell, commanding the regiment, was mortally wounded. The total losses in General Shafter's army were twenty-two officers and two hun- dred and eight men killed ; eighty-one officers and twelve hun- dred and three men wounded; and twenty-seven missing, a total of fifteen hundred and forty-one.
Sergeant George Kelley, who was seriously wounded in the battle, made a miraculous recovery. A Mauser ball passed entirely through his body, and he gives a most graphic de- scription of that battle. He is now in business near the U. S. Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, and his place of business is a fa- vorite stopping place for his old comrades and all soldiers.
The regiment returned to the U. S. Barracks at Columbus in the fall of 1898, and had a parade through the streets. Colonel Haskell, although suffering from his wound and very weak, rode at the head of his regiment in a carriage, looking every inch the brave soldier that he was. The same evening he died from the result of his wounds and was mourned by the officers and men of his regiment as the "brave mourn for the brave."
After recruiting, one battalion of the regiment was or- dered to the Philippine Islands for duty in February, 1899, and was soon followed by the other battalions. The regiment saw a great deal of hard service in the insurrection and the losses by death were quite heavy.
The regiment is now stationed at Fort Oglethorp, Chicka- mauga Park, Georgia, under command of Colonel Van Orton.
Three Jerome Township soldiers served in the 17th Regi- ment during the Spanish-American War, as shown by the roster.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF COLONEL GEORGE RUEHLEN, UNITED STATES ARMY.
Born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 21st, 1847. Came to the United States in the early winter of 1852 and settled in Jerome Township, Union County, Ohio. Attended the common schools of Jerome Township, and from Septem-
JOHN B. ROBINSON 32nd O. V. I.
SAMUEL B. ROBINSON 40th O. V. I.
DELMORE ROBINSON 66th O. V. I.
SERGEANT CHESTER L. ROBINSON 120th 0. 1. 1.
HEBER WOODBURN 157th O. V. 1.
SERGEANT ANDREW J. SMITH 96th O. V. I.
DAVID H. WOODBURY 96th O. V. 1.
DUNAALLEN M. WOODBURY Drum Major, 47th U. S. C. T.
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ber, 1863, to June, 1866, the Central High School of Colum- bus, Ohio, from which he was graduated in June, 1866.
He then entered the law office of Mr. James W. Robinson in Marysville, Ohio, as a student, in the summer of 1867. En- tered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, under an appointment received through Hon. John Beatty, M. C., in June, 1868, and was graduated at that insti- tution number 16 in a class of 56 members, June, 14th, 1872.
He was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 17th U. S. Infantry and joined his company, which was then stationed at the Cheyenne River Indian Agency, on the Missouri River in South Dakota. Served at that post on the Indian frontier among the Sioux and Minnecoujoix Indians until the spring of 1877, when he was detached from his command and sent with an expedition to the junction of the Big Horn and Little Big Horn Rivers in Montana, where he served as quartermas- ter in charge of the construction of the military post, Fort Custer, remaining on that duty until June, 1878, when he was transferred to the Black Hill country in South Dakota and as quartermaster had charge of the construction of the military post, Fort Meade, near Deadwood, South Dakota, until the spring of 1879, when he again joined his company at Fort Sisseton, Minnesota, and remained with it until June, 1881, when he was appointed Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, at which place he served until July, 1884.
Returned to duty with his company, then stationed at Fort Totten, North Dakota, in September, 1884, and went with the company to Fort D. A. Russell, near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Appointed Adjutant of the 17th Infantry in September, 1889, and transferred to the Quartermaster's Department as Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, in August, 1890. As Quarter- master he took part in the Pine Ridge Indian uprising and campaign from December, 1890, to February, 1891. Was transferred in the spring of 1891 to El Paso, Texas, to take charge of construction of the new post, Fort Bliss. Trans- ferred to Detroit, Mich., for construction work at Fort Wayne,
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thence to Fort Riley, Kansas, and from there, in the winter of 1897-98, to Southeastern Alaska, as Quartermaster of the Alaska Relief Expedition.
At the outbreak of the Spanish war, in the spring of 1898, Captain Ruehlen was at Dyea, Alaska, and in May, 1898, was sent to San Francisco, Cal., where he was assigned to duty in connection with the preparation of transports carrying troops and supplies to the Philippine Islands. Was transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii, in August, 1898, as Depot Quartermaster and in charge of the transport service there, where he re- mained until September, 1900, when he was sent to Seattle, Washington, for duty as Depot Quartermaster there.
On duty in the office of the Quartermaster General in Washington, D. C., in charge of the Department of Construc- tion and Repair, from March, 1902, to May, 1908. Depot Quartermaster at Jeffersonville, Ind., May, 1908, to May, 1909. In the Quartermaster General's office, Washington, D. C., from May, 1909, to June, 1911.
Retired from active service, having reached the limit of age established by law, in September, 1911.
His successive promotions in the Regular Army were : Second Lieutenant, 17th Infantry, June 14th, 1872 ; First Lieu- tenant, 17th Infantry, September, 1876; Captain-Assistant Quartermaster, August, 1890; Major and Quartermaster, January, 1900 ; Lieutenant Colonel, August, 1903 ; Colonel and Assistant Quartermaster General, February, 1908.
MEXICAN WAR-1846.
On the 4th day of July, 1845, Texas became a State of the Union. The Mexican Minister at Washington had, previous to this time, ceased diplomatic relations with the United States, and soon after General Zachary Taylor was ordered to enter Texas with his arms to protect the border, and by reason of the annexation of Texas it became evident that war was in- evitable.
When the call was made for volunteers in 1846 and 1847 to invade Mexico and settle the question of the annexation of
.
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Texas, the young men of Ohio responded gallantly to the call. The State furnished four full regiments of infantry, several companies of cavalry, and quite a large number for the artil- lery service-in all, upward of sixty companies, and now but one muster roll can be found on file in the Adjutant General's office at Columbus.
Thirty-four Union County soldiers served in the Mexican War, two of whom were from Jerome Township-William Clevinger and Alexander Oliver-who served in Company E, Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Captain James Cutler, who enlisted in Jerome Township during the War of the Rebellion, served in the Second Regiment, United States Infantry, in the Mexican War, and the service of William Lamme, buried at New California, is not known.
The regiment in which Captain Cutler served participated in many of the hard battles and was a part of the army which first entered Mexico City.
As the majority of the Union County soldiers served in the Fourth Ohio Regiment, an extract from a history of their services is copied, as follows:
"On May 29th, 1847, a company recruited at Columbus moved to Cincinnati, which was the place appointed for the regimental rendezvous, and was assigned as Company E of the Fourth Ohio Regiment, commanded by Colonel C. H. Brough, Lieutenant Colonel Warner, Major Young, and Ad- jutant Kessler.
"On the 1st of July boats were ready in the river opposite the camp and the regiment took passage for New Orleans. Company E, under the command of Captain M. C. Lilley, was placed on the steamer Alhambra.
"New Orleans was reached on the 7th, and after remaining at this place until the 11th, the troops went on board the steamer Telegraph, arriving in sight of Brazos, Santiago, on the morning of the 16th. On the 18th Matamoras was reached and the regiment went into camp certain of being in the enemy's country. The camp was situated nearly opposite Fort Brown, on the Texas side, and adjacent to it was a fine parade
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ground, of which good use was made every day. In the latter part of August orders were received to proceed to Vera Cruz and march to General Scott's line of operations. Accordingly on the 4th of September the regiment took steamboats and de- scended the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here it remained until the 11th, when shipping being ready at Brazos, it marched over to that place, embarked on the sailing ship Tahmroo on the 12th, and on the evening of the 15th hove in sight of the sand hills near Vera Cruz. The following morning the Tahmroo ran in to the bay and cast anchor near the great castle of San Juan de Ullua.
Having landed the torops, they marched to a place about four miles north of the city and encamped on the beach. On the 19th a brigade was formed of the following troops : Fourth Ohio Regiment, Fourth Indiana Regiment, Captain Simmons' Battalion of Detached Regulars, and the Louisiana Dragoons, all under the command of General Joseph Lane of Indiana. Tents were struck and the long march commenced.
"About noon on the following day, as the troops entered a kind of woodland, the advance guard fell in with a party of guerillas, gave them chase, and killed and captured several. In this chase Lieutenant Coleman of Columbus died from the effects of heat and fatigue. On the 21st the troops again moved forward, but after marching several miles, stopped at Paso de Ovejas, where they remained until the 25th, then pro- ceeded to Plan del Rio, and on the morning of the 27th moved forward, ascending the hills between the river and the heights of Cerro Gordo. This place, though picturesque in appear- ance, is remarkable only from the fact that here Santa Anna and his army met with a signal defeat.
"On the 1st of October the brigade started on the march toward the hills of Montezumas ; on the îth arrived at a place near the Aguas Calientes, or Hot Springs, and on the 8th pro- ceeded on the way with the understanding that Santa Anna was at Huamantla and would probably intercept them at Pass el Pinal. Early on the morning of the 9th General Lane drew off all the troops except the Fourth Ohio, Captain Simmons'
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battalion, and two pieces of artillery, which were left behind to guard the train, and proceeded toward Huamantla ; when within two or three miles of the place he ordered Captain Walker, with his mounted force, to gallop on, and if the Mexi- cans were in considerable force, not to attack them but to wait for the arrival of the infantry and artillery.
"On arriving near the town, the Captain found that the main body of the enemy had started for the pass, while perhaps five hundred remained in the plaza. Upon these he made a furious charge, killing several of them and dispersing the rest, while he and his troops took possession of their artillery and ammunition. But before the arrival of the infantry the Cap- tain was surprised by a charge from some 2,500 lancers. In this fearful fray the Captain was mortally wounded and fell from his horse while encouraging his men to still withstand the fearful odds against them until the other troops should arrive. Soon they came to their relief, and before many min- utes the place was cleared of the enemy. Among the prisoners taken on this occasion was Colonel La Vega, brother to the General of the same name; also Major Iturbide, son of the former Emperor of Mexico.
"On the 11th the troops entered the pass and after the principal part of the train had proceeded some distance a wagon in the rear broke down and seven companies of the Fourth Ohio were left to protect it until another wagon could be brought back and the baggage shifted into it. While thus detained a party of lancers, about 1,500 in number, appeared on the right and to the rear. The companies immediately concealed themselves behind some brushes and awaited the attack. After considerable firing and maneuvering on the part of the enemy, the wagon that had been sent for came rattling and thundering through the mountain pass, which they proba- bly mistook for the approach of artillery, and with no little haste these valorous Mexicans took their exit to the opposite side of the plain.
"Continuing the march, the troops arrived at Amazuque, and, after resting a few hours, pressed forward, intending to
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enter Puebla and relieve Colonel Childs and his gallant band before night. On nearing the city the clash of arms was dis- tinctly heard, and also the Colonel firing a salute on his eighteen-pounder. The troops passed through the principal parts of the city, only occasionally being fired at by the foe concealed on the tops of the houses. This firing was kept up for some minutes, when, being returned with compound inter- est, the bells rang for a truce and the Mexicans abandoned the city.
"The joy of Colonel Childs and his men seemed to have no bounds; and no wonder, for they had been hemmed up in the northern part of the city for nearly a month, and a good part of that time they had been scant of provisions and water. Day after day they had lived upon flour, water and coffee, and these not in abundance. The enemy, finding that Colonel Childs would not surrender the place, had attempted to starve him out. So destitute of meat were the Colonel's men that it has been told they even ate cats! Their ammunition was so nearly spent that they had to wrap six-pound balls to fire from the twelve-pound guns.
"On the 19th of October details from the Fourth Ohio and other regiments started on an expedition against a party of Mexicans under General Rea, the noted guerilla chief. When about ten miles from Puebla the enemy was met with and a close conflict ensued. Retreating some distance, they again made a stand and fought desperately with the dragoons, but on receiving a shot or two from the artillery they again fled and ran into Atalixco. The loss of life in this engagement was considerable. The report of the Mexicans was 219 killed and 300 wounded; the Americans, two killed and one wounded. The forces were about 1,500 Americans and about the same number of Mexicans.
"A detachment of some 300 men was sent to a little town called Huacalcingo, for the purpose of capturing two pieces of cannon belonging to the enemy. The guns were hid on the arrival of the troops, but by a diligent search they were found and spiked, and the Americans reassembled at Puebla,
-
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elated with their success and the probable cessation of hostili- ties. The stay in Puebla was somewhat long - from the 12th of October, 1847, to the 2nd of June, 1848 - during which time the prospects of peace and war were alternating with a regularity perplexing and vexatious to the American forces.
"On the 2nd of June orders were received to take up the line of march for Vera Cruz, and the 3rd found the troops hastening homeward."
WAR OF 1812.
From 1811 to 1814 was an exciting war period in the his- tory of this country. Union County was then on the frontier and near to the seat of war of the Northwest.
The territory which now comprises Union County was but sparsely settled. The settlements were along the Southern border on Big Darby Creek and Sugar Run, and comprised the families of the Robinsons, Mitchells, Currys, Ewings, Sagers, Kents, Snodgrasses, Shovers and a few others.
From the close proximity of these settlements to the seat of hostilities it would be expected that there would be ample material for an extended chapter on the services of the citizens of this county during the war of 1812. But the early history of this territory is very meager from which to obtain any data of the stirring events of that period. There are but few rolls now on file at the Adjutant General's office, and from these can be gleaned but little history, save the names of the mem- bers of the companies.
Almost every citizen within the limits of the county who was a military subject at that time was in the service at some time during the war.
The first military company organized in the county was recruited during the year 1813, by Captain James A. Curry. He was appointed enrolling officer of the district, including all the settlements along Darby Creek and Sugar Run, and or- ganized a company of which he was elected Captain, Samuel Mitchell First Lieutenant, and Adam Shover Second Lieuten- ant. Strange as it may seem, but very little can be learned of
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the other members of this company, although they were re- cruited from the old families of Robinsons, Mitchells, Ewings, Kents, Sagers and others.
After a diligent search among the records and inquiring among the oldest of the descendants now living, the following named citizens are known positively to have been members of this company :
James A. Curry, Captain ; Samuel Mitchell, First Lieuten- ant ; Adam Shover, Second Lieutenant; James Buck, Calvin Carey, Ewing Donaldson, David Mitchell, Andrew Noteman, Clark Provins, Christian Sager, George Sager, Abe Sager and William Taylor.
They were attached to a regiment the number of which cannot be ascertained. They first rendezvoused at Delaware, where orders were received to join General Harrison's army in the Northwest. They marched by way of Upper Sandusky and the Falls of St. Mary's to Fort Meigs, then returned by Wapakoneta and Piqua. The majority of them were called out the second time to build and garrison blockhouses on the frontier. The names of several citizens of this county appear on the rolls of Captain McClellan's company, among which are those of four brothers, James, William, Samuel and Robert Snodgrass.
Captain James A. Curry first enlisted in June, 1812, at Urbana, in a company of light horse from Highland County, and was attached to Colonel Carr's regiment, composed mainly of Kentucky troops, and served in this campaign under General Tupper on the Maumee and River Raisin. He was detailed as a scout during that summer, and being an experienced woodsman, was kept constantly in service. I have heard him say he never performed a day's camp duty during this cam- paign. He was a fine horseman, was splendidly mounted on his own horse "Jack." He and the scouts serving under him were constantly on the move examining the streams for Indian signs and watching the movements of the enemy.
A company was organized at Plain City during the summer of 1812 or 1813, of which Jonathan Alder was elected Captain
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and Frederick Loyd First Lieutenant. They were directed to march north toward the lakes, about twenty miles beyond the settlements of Darby, and erect a blockhouse for the protec- tion of the settlements. They marched to the banks of Mill Creek, and after working three or four days a blockhouse was completed. Mr. Alder says: "There were seventy in all, and one, Daniel Watkins, was made Colonel and Commander- in-Chief."
Mr. Alder, who had been a captive among the Indians for fifteen years and well knew their mode of warfare, condemned this as a very unwise move in the Governor to order so many men from the settlements, for he claimed the tactics of the Indians would be to "attack the women and children in the settlements and avoid the forts."
They remained at the bolckhouse only a few weeks. There being a false alarm, it was not possible to keep men from re- turning to the settlements. This blockhouse was situated on the west bank of Mill Creek, about three miles northwest from Marysville.
Thomas Killgore, who died at the residence of his son, Simeon Killgore, in Mill Creek Township, a few years ago, was a member of the company that erected this fort and was the last one left of the company. A short time before his death he gave a detailed account of this campaign and the building of the blockhouse, which was transmitted by Judge Cole to the Pioneer Association of Union County. So far as can be learned, this is the only fort ever erected within the borders of this county, and this is probably known to but few of our citizens. Of the company that erected this blockhouse it has not been possible to learn the names of any except those already mentioned.
A number of the young men in the settlements enlisted in companies outside of the county and saw hard service during the war. Simon Shover, who lived on Darby near the old Sager mill, in Jerome Township, enlisted in and was Orderly Sergeant of Captain Langham's company, of Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a brave and gallant soldier, and had many hair-breadth
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escapes. At one time he was taken prisoner by the Indians and saved his life by imitating a rooster crowing, by jumping up on logs or stumps, and flapping his arms and hands. This seemed to please the Indians very much, as they laughed im- moderately at his antics. Simon always claimed that this saved his life. He was taken prisoner at Winchester's defeat, and often expressed his indignation at the treatment of Gen- eral Winchester, who was abused and insulted by the Indians, without any check from the British. Simon Shover was one of fifty picked men, who made a sortie from Fort Erie, and spiked the guns of the British during the night ; and was, per- haps, the most distinguished soldier that went from the county. He was of a good family, and honorable and brave to a fault. He learned many of the traits of the Indians, and was ac- customed to entertain large crowds of citizens at all kinds of gatherings, such as "log-rollings," "huskin'-bees," "house and barn raisings" and "musters," with many interesting incidents of his adventures, both thrilling and ludicrous. Wherever "crowds were wont to assemble," Simon could always be counted as one of the number, and furnished much amusement by giving the "Indian war whoop."
His voice was as clear and shrill as a trumpet, and he could give a genuine war whoop that would have caused old Tecum- seh to have marshaled his warriors for the field. Many anec- dotes might be related of his efforts to amuse the crowd during court term and on "training day." He was anxious to live a hundred years, and on meeting or parting with old friends he was wont to exclaim: "Hurrah for a hundred years !"
The territory now comprising the county of Union was but thinly populated in 1812, yet many of her citizens left their homes in response to the call to arms with the full knowledge that their women and children were at the mercy of the Indians prowling along the northwestern border, and not a few of then rendered good service to the government in her hour of need. Ever may our citizens hold in grateful remembrance the serv- ices of the patriotic veterans of Union County in the War of 1812.
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The names of twenty-three soldiers who served in the War of 1812 are given in the attached roster. Of this number, Christian Adams, Elijah Hoyt, F. Hemenway and Titus Dort and Simon Rickard did not enlist from Jerome Township, but were old residents and bruied in the different cemeteries of the township. Major Edward Barlow lived on the border of the township and was a well-known prominent citizen, member of the old red-brick Presbyterian Church congregation. He was an officer and participated in the battle of New Orleans under General Andrew Jackson.
A number of other residents along Darby Creek in Darby and Union Townships, served during the war, among whom may be named James and Samuel Mitchell, George, Robert and James Snodgrass, James, Thomas, John and Samuel Rob- inson.
In 1812-13 Colonel James Curry, a soldier of the Revolu- tionary War, was called to Delaware to assist in organizing a regiment of soldiers in which his oldest son, James A. Curry, was a Captain, leaving his wife with several small children, the oldest of which was but eleven years of age, in the cabin on the banks of Sugar Run, with no neighbor nearer than John Kent and family, one mile distant through the dense forest. One day, during Colonel Curry's absence, the horses were at- tacked by the wolves, and stampeded with such a noise as to make Mrs. Curry believe the Indians were going to attack their home. Young Stephenson, then a boy of but eleven years, but with the coolness of an old backwoodsman, took down the two rifles, and, loading one, placed his younger brother, Otway, as a sentinel at the fence, in rear of the cabin, and while he attempted to load the other, the charge became fastened in the barrel. The two boys stood on guard for some time, ready to meet the invasion of the redskins. When night came on they, with their mother, went to John Kent's house and spent the night. The next morning, on their return with some of the neighbors, they found that the wolves had attacked the horses, badly injuring one of them, but that no Indians, or traces of them, were to be found. One of the old flint-lock rifles used
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