USA > Ohio > Union County > Jerome > History of Jerome Township, Union County, Ohio > Part 7
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tions and all things that pertained to the comfort of his men; systematically examined for himself all clothing, equipments and food before allowing them to be issued, and whatever was poor in quality or short in quantity he rejected with good round oaths and with a savage threat of arrest to the quarter- master or commissary.
Of the commissioned officers of the regiment, four attained the grade of Colonel, five of Lieutenant Colonel, sixteen of Major, four of Surgeon, two Assistant Surgeon, one Chaplain, forty-six of Captain, and one hundred and twenty-nine of Lieutenant, making in all two hundred and seven commissions. There being originally twelve Captains, thirty-four Lieuten- ants were promoted to the rank of Captain. There were but four officers in the regiment at the close of the war that were commissioned at the organization, all the other officers remain- ing in the regiment at the close of the war having been pro- moted from the ranks. Of the Colonels of the regiment, Ran- som resigned, Millikin was killed at Stone River, Smith was promoted to Brigadier-General, and Eggleston was also pro- moted to Brigadier-General. Colonel Cupp was killed at Chickamauga, Major Moore and Lieutenant Condit were killed at Stone River. Captain Emery and Captain Scott were killed in action, as was Lieutenant Allen. Although we de- nounced Colonel Ransom as an "old martinet and tyrant," we soon learned to respect him as a disciplinarian, and before the end of our service, blessed his memory for the strict discip- line inaugurated when we first went into camp.
The large per cent of the boys recruited in the regiment were farmers, and as in that day a great deal of horseback riding was done, many of our men were, as the saying goes, "raised on a horse's back" and were fine horsemen. To be an accomplished rider it must be learned when the person is young and at the age when he has a certain amount of reck- lessness and has no fear. A person that is timid and has no confidence in his ability to control his horse can never become a good rider.
The men were accustomed to caring for horses and under-
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stood feeding, grooming and saddling, and did not have these duties to learn after enlisting. Many of the men brought their own horses to camp and owned them throughout the war and received 40 cents a day from the Government for their service. The men who owned their own mounts usually had the best horses and cared for them best, as they had a pecuni- ary interest and also understood the care of horses.
While no soldier can become a good cavalryman unless he is a good horseman, we soon learned that the service of a cavalryman, with all its many attractions, was at all times laborious, and while he might be a good rider he had many other duties to learn and perform.
The trooper has his carbine to care for and keep in order, which evens him up with the infantryman in care of arms and equipments, and in addition to this he has his revolver, saber and horse equipments to keep in order, and his horse to water, feed and groom every day, and the soldier who enlists in the cavalry service expecting a "soft snap" will soon learn, to his sorrow, that he has been laboring under a grievous mistake.
On a campaign or march in good weather, when it is not necessary to pitch tents at night, the infantry stack arms, get supper, and are soon at rest or asleep; but not so with the cavalryman. The company must first put up the picket rope, and then the horses must be watered, fed and groomed. If there is no forage for his horse in the wagon train he must hunt for it, and perhaps go a mile or two in the search. Then he unsaddles, gets his coffee, grooms his horse, and is ready to lie down an hour after the infantryman is asleep. In the morning, if the cavalry are to move at the same hour as the infantry are to march, they must have reveille an hour earlier than the infantry, to have time to feed, groom and water the horses ; and while he has the advantage on the march, it would not be considered by the average citizen a very easy task to march forty, fifty or even sixty miles a day mounted, which was a usual occurrence on our scouts and raids.
Captain Forshee and Lieutenant McCurdy both resigned in
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June, 1862, when the command of the company devolved upon Lieutenant James Cutler.
On the 9th day of December, 1861, the regiment broke camp, marched through the capital and embarked on their first campaign, from which many comrades were destined never again to return. Arrived at Cincinnati at daybreak the next morning, the regiment took boats and reached Louisville, Ky., on the morning of the 11th, the first regiment of cavalry to enter that department save Wolford's Kentucky regiment, and, quoting from Reid's history: "The First Ohio was the nucleus of that host of cavalry which, under the leadership of Stanley, Crook, Mitchell, McCook, Kilpatrick, Long, Minty, Millikin and Wilson, achieved such triumphs for the country and fame for themselves."
"The history of the cavalry of the Southwest-its fearless rides, its daring raids, its bloody charges, its long nights of weary marching, as it carried desolation and destruction into the very heart of treason-is a record of heroic achievements unsurpassed in the annals of that service."
The regiment remained in camp at Louisville until January 16th, 1862, then marched to Lebanon, Ky., and was in camp at Lebanon and Bardstown until about the last of February. During all the winter months the regiment was busy drilling and scouting, and had a few skirmishes with General John Morgan's cavalry.
About the last of February the regiment marched to Louis- ville and embarked on steamers for Nashville, Tenn. March 14th they made a dash in the night as the advance of General Buell's army to save the bridge across Duck River at Colum- bia. They marched with Buell's army through rain and mud to the relief of General Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, arriving opposite the battlefield on the Tennessee River the evening the battle closed, but too late to take part in the battle fought April 6th and 7th, 1862.
From April 8th to May 30th, during the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, the regiment was constantly on picket, scouting and skirmishing duty in front of the Confederate Army, and
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this was the first real hard service. After Corinth was evacu- ated, we followed the Confederate Army up, had some brisk fights and took many prisoners.
In June, moved east along the Memphis & Charleston Rail- road with Buell's army, toward Chattanooga, and participated in the great countermarch of the army through Tennessee and Kentucky to Louisville. They participated in the battle of Perrysville, Ky., October 8th; was in the advance to Nashville and the Stone River campaign.
In the battle of Stone River, Tenn., December 31st, 1862, in making a saber charge Colonel Minor Millikin, Major D. A. B. Moore and Lieutenant Condit were killed. Adjutant William Scott and Captain S. W. Fordyce were wounded, and the regiment lost heavily. From the battle of Stone River until June, 1863, the regiment was employed in scouting and patroling, watching the movements of the enemy. Captain Cutler having resigned, W. L. Curry, a prisoner of war, was promoted to a Lieutenancy and had command of Company K. The regiment advanced from Murfreesboro with General Rosecran's army June 24th, and had some shart fights in driv- ing the enemy through the mountain passes to Chattanooga. In August Lieutenant Curry was transferred to the command of Company M.
In the advance on Chattanooga the First Ohio, under com- mand of Lieutenant Colonel Cupp, crossed the Tennessee River September 2nd, and was conspicuous in the expedition under General Stanley in the attempt to cut the railroad south of Chattanooga. After a severe encounter with a large force of the enemy near Lafayette, Ga., it passed up the Chattanooga Valley, reached the battlefield of Chickamauga early on the morning of September 20th, and lost heavily in the engagement of that day. Colonel Cupp was killed while forming the regi- ment for a charge. Of the 900 men composing the Second Brigade, 134 were killed and wounded.
After falling back to Chattanooga, the troops were allowed no rest, but on the 26th of September started on the famous raid driving Wheeler's cavalry from Washington, Tenn., to
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Muscle Shoals, Ala., taking more than 1,000 prisoners and several pieces of artillery.
The regiment then returned to Chattanooga and took part in the assault on Mission Ridge, where William Johnson of Company K was killed. After the battle of Mission Ridge the First moved to the relief of Burnsides, at Knoxville, being the first regiment to reach that city, having several skirmishes on the way and capturing many prisoners.
On the 16th of December a detachment of the regiment made a brilliant charge at Calhoun upon a rebel brigade com- manded by General Wheeler, sweeping them from the field and taking many prisoners.
January 4th, 1864, about 400 members of the regiment reënlisted at Pulaski, Tenn., as veterans for "three years, or during the war," and were given a furlough for thirty days.
After the veteran furlough, during which time many recruits joined the regiment, we were remounted at Nashville, Tenn., and May 22nd started on the march to join General Sherman's army and arrived at Rome, Ga., about the first of June, after having had several skirmishes while marching on the flank of the 17th Army Corps.
The regiment participated in the "One Hundred Days under fire from Chattanooga to Atlanta," was continuously scouting and raiding, and was a part of the two divisions of cavalry commanded by General Kilpatrick which made a raid around the Confederate Army during the siege of Atlanta in August, 1864.
After the surrender of Atlanta, September 1st, and while General Sherman was organizing for his "March to the Sea," the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., was remounted and joined the army of General George H. Thomas at Nash- ville, Tenn. After the victory at Nashville the cavalry corps under General James H. Wilson rendezvoused at Gravelly Springs, Alabama, until March, 1865. General Wilson, having organized a cavalry corps of 12,000 veteran cavalrymen, cut his way down through Alabama and Georgia, capturing the fortified city of Selma, Alabama, April 2nd, 1865, with 2,700
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prisoners, including 150 officers, and in addition 2,000 cavalry horses, 72 siege guns, 26 field guns, and 66,000 rounds of artil- lery ammunition, gaining a complete victory over General Forrest's forces.
The last fight of the regiment was at Columbus, Ga., which was taken by a saber charge April 15th, 1865.
A detachment of the First Cavalry, under command of Captain J. O. Yeoman, was with the command that captured the President of the Confederacy.
The regiment garrisoned Georgia and South Carolina from April to September, then returned to Ohio and was mustered out at Camp Chase on the 28th of September, 1865, after four years' hard service, Company K having lost twelve who died in hospital, nine killed, twelve wounded, and ten taken prisoner -making a total loss of forty-three.
The First Ohio Cavalry carried on its muster rolls nearly 1,800 names and mustered out at Camp Chase 701 men. The regiment marched 11,490 miles and fought in the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. The losses in killed, died of wounds and dis- ease were 204. Upward of 200 were wounded, 130 were pris- oners of war, and the total casualties were five hundred and thirty-five.
As shown by the official records, the regiment participated in fifty-one battles, fights and skirmishes.
TWELFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY -THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
The order for raising this regiment was issued August 20th, 1863. The companies, recruited in many counties in the State, rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, and the regiment was mustered into the United States service Novem- ber 24th, 1863, under Colonel Robert W. Ratliff, Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Bentley, both of whom were brevetted Brigadier Generals.
Five boys of Jerome Township were in this regiment -
* Contributed by Jesse L. Cameron, who served in the regiment.
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Nelson E. Adams, Wm. S. Channel, Isaac Carey, Philip Hawn and Daniel Heath. Channel and Heath both died in the service.
While the organization was yet incomplete six companies were called to Johnson's Island to guard prisoners and meet, if need be, the threatened invasion of rebels from Canada, intent on releasing the 3,000 imprisoned rebel officers there. The companies thus employed were A, C, D, F, I, and L. The other companies were quartered at Camp Chase until Febru- ary, 1864, when the whole regiment was brought together at Camp Dennison. Here it was mounted, armed and vigorously drilled until the 27th day of March, when it started to the front and entered upon its memorable career.
Its first duty was to assist General Burbridge in breaking up the armed bands of guerillas and bushwhackers in Ken- tucky. Scattering itself over that State, it soon became a ter- ror to marauders and rebel sympathizers, dispersed the guer- rillas and restored order.
This task accomplished with commendable promptness, the Twelfth joined in an expedition against Saltville, Va. But after a toilsome journey of several days it was halted and turned about to make one of the most rapid marches known to warfare, traveling over 180 miles in fifty hours. It struck the rebel forces at Mt. Sterling, Ky., on the 9th of June, 1864, and gallantly led the charge. In this battle the regiment fought many times its number, but never for a moment wavered. At one time sixty men of the Third Battalion, mostly from Company C, fought a rebel regiment for thirty minutes, losing many precious lives, but holding its ground until help came. Of this devoted little band Union County furnished Joseph Smith, Hylas S. Moore and J. L. Cameron.
For its gallantry the Twelfth was complimented at the close of the fight by General Burbridge, who remarked that it had saved the day for him. These laurels were dearly bought, for the loss of the regiment, all told, was 197 men.
The battle lasted all day, and at night the regiment re- mained on the battlefield. Company C, chosen for special
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guard duty, got no rest. Three days' and nights' marching and fighting was now to be followed by a gallop of thirty- three miles to Lexington on the 10th ; fresh horses drawn, and on to Paris, Ky., on the 11th. Waiting here for supplies and ammunition until evening, the regiment again mounted and moved forward for a night's march to Cynthiana. Early on the morning of the 12th of June, while darkness was yet so dense that the lurid jets of powder flame blazed from the carbines, the regiment was leading the charge again in battle, sustaining itself heroically, and gaining a complete victory in this engagement. On the 14th of June the regiment received the thanks and congratulations of President Lincoln and the Secretary of War, and was again complimented for its gal- lantry by the Commanding General.
Again breaking into detachments, the Twelfth scattered over Kentucky, dispersing marauders and keeping order, until the month of September, when it concentrated at Mount Ster- ling and again started with General Burbridge's expedition to Saltville, Va.
The expedition led over 300 miles without provision trains, tents or ambulances, was cause of much privation, and on the 2nd of October was again at its accustomed place leading the advance into one of the most hotly contested battles of the war.
The rebel fortifications were in the deep mountain gorges and rendered operations by mounted men impossible, yet, dis- mounted, the Twelfth made again and again its famous carbine charges and reaching well up to the enemy's works. All day long the battle raged in the mountain fastness, but toward the close of the day ammunition was exhausted and the rebel forces reinforced by 5,000 of General Early's fresh troops, and General Burbridge was compelled to abandon the expe- dition. A rapid retreat began, and as it still had ammunition, Company C was detailed a special guard for the rear, and many times during that disastrous night and the following day did this devoted little band halt in the mountain passes and hold the pursuing foe in check while the retreating column hurried on.
ROBERT MEDOWELL 32nd 0. ". ..
JESSE B. MeDOWELL 40th O. V. I.
JOHN P. McDOWELL 32nd o. V. I.
EDGAR G. MAAGILL 96th O. V. I.
LEWIS J. KETCH 121×1 0. 1. 1.
EDWARD G. ADAMS 136th O. V. 1.
JAMES F. CHAPMAN 186th O. V. I.
CORPORAL JOHN Q. ADAMS 136th 0. V. I.
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Forty-nine men of the Twelfth lay dead or wounded on the field of battle on this eventful day. Returning to Lexing- ton, the regiment reorganized, drew fresh horses and supplies, and on the 10th of November was again in the saddle march- ing toward Cumberland Gap.
Reaching that point on the 26th, scattering again, it was engaged for a short time destroying bands of marauders around Bean Station and Rodgersville. General Stoneman now took command, and being joined with General Gillem, the whole force, including the Twelfth, was, in the earlier part of December, marching in a third expedition against Saltville. On the morning of December 15th Kingsford was reached and a strong rebel force appeared on the opposite banks of the river. Halting his column, Stoneman sent Gillem to cross above and prepare for battle. The impatience of the Twelfth knew no bounds when in sight of the gray uniforms and eagerly they awaited the bugle sound to charge. That coming, with a wild yell they galloped through the water, which was up to the horses' joints, to the opposite bank. Opening a fire from carbines, and revolvers at short range, the enemy was for a moment confused, and General Gillem then coming up aided to complete the rout.
Pursuit was given, and many of the enemy lay dead along the road as the Twelfth poured into their fleeing ranks volley after volley from their carbines. Hurrying forward, Bristol was reached just before day. The Yankees dashed in, and less than half an hour afterward Bristol, with all its immense stores, was ours. Halting to complete the destruction of the rebel supplies and tearing up the railroad, the column again pushed forward to Abington. At Abington Company F of the Twelfth, a special escort of General Burbridge, led the charge, the regiment following, and that place was taken, with a large number of prisoners and immense military supplies.
Pushing on, the column struck the army of the rebels under General Vaughn, which soon broke in confusion, and the boys of the regiment joined in a headlong chase of five miles, with drawn sabers. Many pieces of artillery were taken here.
7
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Without halting the troops pushed on, and on the 12th the regiment had the grim satisfaction of leading the charge into Saltville, capturing the place where so many prisoners were lost a few months previous. Every vestige of the place was destroyed. At the close of the day, on the 17th, a des- perate battle was fought with the troops of Breckenridge and Vaughn, near Marion.
Returning from this raid, the regiment collected at Lexing- ton to draw fresh horses and close up the broken ranks. Scat- tering again, it was a short time doing general patrol duty and looking after rebel sympathizers and bushrangers in Ken- tucky. Coming together again the last of February at Louis- ville, Ky., the whole joined Stoneman's command and em- barked for Nashville by river. On through to Murfreesboro and thence to Knoxville, where a veteran brigade was formed by uniting the Twelfth Ohio, Fifteenth Pennsylvania, and Tenth Michigan Cavalries. On the 20th of March this bri- gade was in motion marching out to Strawberry Plains, then on through Bulls Gap, Jonesboro to Yakin River. The stream was badly swollen, and several comrades drowned. Uriah Jolly was rescued here by Comrade Cameron.
Pausing a short time to close up the ranks, the forces swept on, galloping through Jacksonville, on the line of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad at Christiansbury. This road was torn up and destroyed for many miles. Sweeping down into North Carolina, the Danville & Richmond Railroad was struck and destroyed for a great distance.
Hastening on, the troops brought up before Salisbury. A rebel force under Pemberton, with several pieces of artillery, came out to defend the town. Scarcely halting, the Twelfth led the charge, and in spite of all opposition Salisbury was soon in flames, many Union prisoners released, and immense quantities of military stores consigned to the flames. On the 17th of April the regiment marched on to Lincolnton, which place was captured by a charge led by Company C of the Twelfth, under Lieutenant Stewart. Two hundred picked men, under Major Moderwell, were now chosen to march
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eighty miles to the Catawba River crossing and destroy the bridge of the Charlotte & South Carolina Railroad. On the morning of the 30th they came across the forces of Vaughn and Duke. Sweeping down upon them, they cut their way through, captured thirty-five prisoners, a large quantity of small arms and two pieces of cannon and some seven officers and 223 men. Paroling the prisoners on the spot, the com- mand returned to Dallas, Company C having some wounded, but not fatally. On the 23rd the regiment started for Knox- ville, but learning that President Lincoln had been assassinated they joined in a headlong chase after Davis. They finally re- turned to Sweetwater, Tenn., thence on to McMinnville, thence to Nashville, and on the 24th of November the regi- ment was discharged. Of 1,462 men, only 628 remained. As shown by the official records, the losses in the regiment, killed, died of wounds and disease, were one hundred and sixty-four.
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, O. V. I .- THREE MONTHS AND THREE YEARS.
The Thirteenth Ohio was organized at Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio, in April, 1861, for the first three months' service, under the command of A. S. Piatt as Colonel ; C. B. Mason, Lieutenant Colonel, and J. G. Hawkins, Major. Colonel Piatt was soon succeeded by Colonel W. S. Smith, who was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers in May, 1862, and Colonel J. G. Hawkins of Union County assumed command of the regiment.
The regiment was reorganized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, for three years' service, in May and June, 1861, before leaving the State.
The months of May and June were spent in drill and dis- cipline at Camp Dennison, and in July the regiment joined General McClellan's forces, then operating in Western Vir- ginia. In the battle at Carnifex Ferry, September 10th, its courage and discipline were tested and not found wanting.
On the 13th of December it joined General Buell's army in
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Kentucky, where it remained in camp until February, 1862. It formed the advance of Buell's forces on Nashville.
On the 10th of March the regiment was ordered to report to General Crittenden. On the 19th Companies A and G were detached to assist in repairing bridges on the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers, and on April 2nd the remaining companies, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins, joined the column on the march to reënforce General Grant at Pittsburg Landing.
The scene of action was reached on the 6th, and the regi- ment immediately moved forward to meet the foe. In a des- perate struggle with the Washington Battery of New Orleans the Thirteenth captured it entire. The enemy, having re- treated, the Thirteenth joined in the investment of Corinth, and after the evacuation moved with Buell's army to Chat- tanooga.
In the meantime Bragg had left Chattanooga and was on his way to Louisville, Ky., with designs on Ohio and Indiana. Then commenced the "never-to-be-forgotten" march of the Army of the Ohio. From this time until the advance on Mur- freesboro the regiment was constantly employed in foraging, picket duty and skirmishing.
On the 26th day of December the advance commenced and arrived at Stone River on the evening of the 29th. On Wednesday, December 31st, the Thirteenth, under Colonel J. G. Hawkins, assisted in the rescue of a train that was about to be captured by the rebel cavalry. A few hours later the terrible but brief struggle commenced with cost the regiment 142 officers and men killed, wounded and missing. It was in this engagement that Colonel Hawkins was killed. On Janu- ary 2nd, 1863, the Thirteenth again participated in the fight- ing, and on the morning of the 3rd, Murfreesboro was evacu- ated and the enemy retreating. During this series of battles the regiment lost 185 officers and men.
On June 24th the line of march was resumed, and the army moved southward. It took an active part in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 20th. It joined the advance
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