USA > Ohio > Union County > Jerome > History of Jerome Township, Union County, Ohio > Part 8
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History of Jerome Township
to the relief of Knoxville and pursued the enemy across the Holstein River to Dandridge, twenty-five miles from the North Carolina line, then returned to Knoxville. In January, 1864, about three-fourths of the Thirteenth reënlisted for another three years, and after the furlough home promptly reassembled at Camp Chase and returned in a body to Chattanooga.
In May, 1864, the regiment entered upon the Atlanta cam- paign, and after some hard skirmishing gained possession of Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton, driving the enemy into the fortifications at Resaca. In the assault upon Lost Mountain on the 27th of May the Thirteenth took a promi- nent part.
The forces, unable to make any impression on the enemy's works, were withdrawn, the regiment losing on this occasion fifty killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 9th of June it went into camp at Acworth, keeping up a continuous skirmish with the retreating enemy.
About this time the term of enlistment of the non-veterans expired. The veterans of the regiment were consolidated into a battalion of four companies, to be called the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry Battalion. It participated in the engage- ments at Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy, then went into camp six miles north of Atlanta. On the 4th of October the battalion joined in the pursuit of Hood into Tennessee. Encountering the enemy at Franklin, a severe struggle ensued, in which the National troops were again successful. On De- cember 3rd the Thirteenth Battalion entered Nashville, and from this time until the battles of the 15th and 16th, in a charge made by the Third Brigade, the Thirteenth was among the first over the works and assisted in the capture of four guns. After the defeat at Nashville the Confederate Army retreated rapidly and the battalion remained quietly in camp at Huntsville, Ala.
On the 16th of June, 1865, the Thirteenth, with the Four- teenth Corps, was ordered to Texas, where it remained in service until December 5th, 1865. Returning to Ohio, it was discharged at Columbus January 17th, 1866, having served
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four years and nine months and participated in many decisive battles. Colonel Joseph G. Hawkins of Union County, a brave and distinguished officer, was killed at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, December 31st, 1862.
One company of the 13th was recruited in Union County for the three months' service, of which Joseph Hawkins was the first Captain, and James D. Bain and Harvey S. Wood of Jerome Township served in that company, assigned as Com- pany F. On reorganization for three years' service Captain Hawkins was promoted to Major and J. D. Smith and Jere- miah Slocum both served as Captains of this company.
Captain Reason R. Henderson of Union County was severely wounded in the battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 7th, 1862, and was discharged by reason of his wounds September 10th. In the new regiments being organized there was a great demand for experienced soldiers to officer these organizations. Captain Henderson was immediately appointed Major of the 121st Regiment, O. V. I. He was a good disciplinarian, a fine drill master, and rendered efficient service until again com- pelled to leave the army on account of his wounds.
David O. Taylor of Jerome Township was killed at the battle of Dallas, Ga., May 27th, 1864, and the total loss in the regiment, killed and died of wounds and disease, was 221. Of the 160 men who enlisted in this regiment from Union County the loss in killed and wounded or by disease was forty- five.
SEVENTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. THREE MONTHS.
The 1tth Ohio Volunteer Infantry three months' service was organized at Camp Anderson, Lancaster, Ohio, and was mustered into the U. S. service April 27th, 1861, under com- mand of Colonel John McConnell.
The regiment was immediately ordered to Virginia and up to July had some skirmishing with guerillas and was employed guarding provision trains in the vicinity of Buckhannon and Sutton. On the 3rd of July they were ordered to Zanesville,
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Ohio, and were mustered out of the U. S. service August 15th, 1861, at Camp Goddard. During their service the loss was three men-one by drowning and two by disease. As shown by the official record, twenty-nine Jerome Township soldiers served in Company G of this regiment, organized at Plain City and commanded by Captain Thomas J. Haynes.
It was one of the first regiments to respond to the call of . President Lincoln for 75,000 men. Every soldier of Jerome Township who served in this regiment reënlisted in the three years' service and a number of them were killed or died in the army. Jerome Township furnished her full quota under the first call, and every call thereafter. The 17th Regiment organized for three years had a distinguished service and served in the Army of the Cumberland throughout the war, participating in many decisive battles, but it seems that no Jerome Township soldiers served in that regiment. The losses by death were 232 in the three years' service.
THIRTIETH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
The 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry is named as one of the three hundred fighting regiments, and is well entitled to that honor for distinguished service.
Company E of the 30th Ohio Infantry was organized by Captain Elijah Warner at Jerome, Union County, Ohio, in the month of August, 1861, and marched thence to Camp Chase, a distance of twenty miles, where it arrived on the 19th day of August. On the 29th the company was mustered into the United States service, with the following commissioned offi- cers : Elijah Warner, Captain ; Henry R. Brinkerhoff, First Lieutenant, and Henry Hensel, Second Lieutenant.
On the 30th the regiment was ordered into the field, and on the 2nd of September arrived at Clarksburg, W. Va., then moved forward to Weston, where it received its first outfit of camp and garrison equipage. On September 6th the regiment joined General Rosecrans at Sutton Heights, leaving four com- panies-D, F, G, and I-at this place and two-C and E-at
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Big Birch Bottom. The remainder of the regiment moved forward and on the evening of the 10th discerned the enemy near Gawley River, at Carnifex Ferry, where a sharp encoun- ter ensued. Night coming on, ended the battle. Early on the following morning it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated their position and retraced across the river.
Colonel Ewing was the first man to enter the deserted forti- fications. He found, amid a multitude of camp and garrison spoils, two fine French dress swords, one bearing the coat of arms of Napoleon I, and a stand of colors bearing the follow- ing inscription :
" FLOYD'S BRIGADE."
" The Price of Liberty is the Blood of the Brave."
The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 28th day of August, 1861, for three years, under Colonel John Groesbeck, who was soon succeeded by Colonel Hugh Ewing. The regiment served in West Virginia in detachments until August, 1862. On the 16th of that month the regiment started to join the army in Eastern Virginia. The right wing reported for duty at Gen- eral Pope's headquarters on the 26th, and after the engage- ment at Centerville the left wing joined the right, having been under fire but not engaged with the musketry in the battle at this place.
On the 2nd of September the regiment was relieved from duty at General Pope's headquarters and joined its brigade- the First-at Upton Hills. On the 7th it moved to Frederick City, Md., and on the 14th arrived at South Mountain, where a severe struggle with the enemy took place, with a loss of eighteen men killed and forty-eight wounded. In this engage- ment Company E suffered most severely, having one killed and six wounded.
In the battle of Antietam the Thirtieth, lacking proper support, was thrown back into slight confusion and compelled to fall back. It lost three officers killed and two wounded, eight men killed and thirty-seven wounded. The National colors were torn in fourteen places by the enemy's balls, and
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two color-bearers, Sergeants Carter and Nathan J. White, fell dead on the field. A stand of colors was rescued on this occa- sion by David McKim of Company E.
On the 10th of October the Thirtieth moved into West Virginia, and on the 13th of November went into camp near Cannelton. A few weeks later it started on a march into Logan County, returning with seventeen prisoners and sev- enty-five horses. In January, 1863, it moved down the Ohio and Mississippi to join General Grant's army, and on arriving at Helena, Ark., was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. On the 21st it landed at Young's Point, and for a few weeks worked on the canal at that place. In March it moved to the relief of a gunboat in Steel's Bayou, returning to Young's Point on the 28th.
On the 29th of April the regiment embarked on the R. B. Hamilton, and with other troops engaged in a demonstration on Haines' Bluffs. In May it joined in the movement upon Vicksburg, and from the 20th until the surrender of this stronghold the regiment was constantly engaged either in fatigue or picket duty or in assaulting the enemy's works. The loss of the Thirtieth during the siege was one commis- sioned officer killed and six wounded, six men killed and forty- eight wounded. After the surrender of Vicksburg the regi- ment pursued Johnson to Jackson, and upon the evacuation of that place returned and went into camp at Black River.
On the 26th of September it moved with Sherman via Memphis to Chattanooga, and on the 25th of October partici- pated in the assault upon Mission Ridge, losing thirty-nine men killed and wounded.
In November the Thirtieth followed in pursuit of the re- treating rebels, returning to Bridgeport, Ala., on the 19th of December. During this time the men were compelled to sub- sist off the country, with the exception of two days' rations issued on the 29th day of November.
In January, 1864, the regiment reënlisted, and after the furlough home joined Sherman's forces at Kingston, Ga., on the 20th day of May. On the 23rd it started on the march
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through Dallas and Acworth, and on the 19th of June arrived at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain. During this march the Thirtieth was almost continuously under fire. It took an ac- tive part in the battle on the 26th, losing thirty-five men killed and wounded. On July 2nd the regiment moved toward At- lanta, and on the 22nd was attacked and thrown into some confusion at first, but soon rallied and succeeded in repulsing the enemy, not, however, without considerable loss. On the 28th the regiment gallantly stood its ground and resisted four successive attacks of the enemy, losing thirty men killed and wounded. Under its fire the foe forsook a stand of colors and in its immediate front 105 dead rebels were found.
The Thirtieth was transferred to the First Brigade on the 5th of August, and on the 29th the non-veterans were mus- tered out. On the 31st the rebels attacked the line of the First Brigade, but were repulsed, the Thirtieth losing in this encounter twenty-five men killed and wounded.
On the 2nd of September Jonesboro was evacuated by the enemy, the regiment pursuing them to Lovejoy's Station. After spending several weeks in camp at East Point, the Thir- tieth followed in pursuit of Hood's army into Alabama, re- turned to Atlanta, then marched to Fort McAllister and took part in the successful assault on that place.
After the fall of Savannah the regiment passed through the Carolinas, having a sharp engagement with Johnson at Ben- tonville, and frequent skirmishes with the enemy. It arrived at Goldsboro March 24th, 1865 ; then proceeded to Raleigh on the 14th of April, and aided in the capture of Johnson's army.
The Thirtieth marched to Washington via Richmond, and after passing in review, moved to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Little Rock, Ark. Here the regiment remained in camp until mustered out August 21st, 1865, having participated in twenty engagements and having its colors shot in almost every battle.
The regiment had a most remarkable service, as it partici- pated in great battles in the States of Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina. They
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marched and were transported by water and railroads several thousand miles.
Of the commanders of the regiment, Colonel John Groes- beck was transferred to the 39th O. V. I .; Colonel Hugh Ewing and Colonel Theodore Jones were both promoted to Brigadier-Generals ; Lieutenant Henry Brinkerhoff was pro- moted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Mississippi Regi- ment, U. S. C. T. He remained in the Regular Army after the close of the war, had a long and honorable service, and was retired with the rank of Colonel but a few years ago.
Captain Elijah Warner was promoted to Major and James D. Bain was promoted to the Captaincy of Company E.
The total losses in the regiment, killed, died of wounds and disease, as shown by the official record, were two hundred and seventy-seven.
One hundred and two soldiers served in Company E of Jerome Township, and the loss, killed and died of wounds and disease, was thirty-two, or about 33 per cent of the total en- listments. Many others were wounded and a number were prisoners of war.
32ND REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
The 32nd Ohio Infantry was organized during the summer of 1861, under Colonel T. C. Ford, and was one of the first regiments to answer the call of the President for three years' service.
Company B of this regiment was recruited in Union and Champaign Counties, and was mustered into the service at Camp Chase August 9th, 1861, with the following commis- sioned officers: W. A. Palmer, Captain; A. B. Parmeter, First Lieutenant, and J. B. Whelpley, Second Lieutenant. It joined the regiment at Camp Bartley, near Mansfield.
Four soldiers of Jerome Township served in Company B of this regiment - John P. McDowell, Robert N. McDowell, John B. Robinson and Henry M. Converse. Robert N. Mc- Dowell died in the service, and John P. McDowell and John
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B. Robinson reënlisted as veterans and served until July 20th, 1865, participating in all the campaigns and battles of the regi- ment for four years and until the last shot was fired.
After remaining a short time at Camp Bartley the regi- ment was transferred to Camp Dennison, where it was equipped, armed and ordered to the front, joining the Union forces at Cheat Mountain Summit, West Virginia, on the 3rd of October. In December it accompanied General Milroy in the movement on Camp Alleghany, losing on this occasion four killed and fourteen wounded. After this expedition the regi- ment spent the winter in camp at Beverly, and in the spring of 1862 took part in the actions against Camp Alleghany, Hunts- ville and McDowell. In the engagement at Bull Pasture Mountain, on the 8th of May, when the Union Army fell back to Franklin, closely followed by the enemy, the 32nd was the last regiment to leave the field, and lost on this occasion six killed and fifty-three wounded. While at Franklin it was transferred to General Schenck's brigade, and was with Gen- eral Fremont in the Shenandoah Valley and shared in the en- gagements at Cross Keys and Port Republic on the 8th and 9th of June. Returning up the valley it remained at Winches- ter, Va., until September 1st, then moved to Harpers Ferry, losing 150 men in the engagement on the 14th.
In January, 1863, the regiment was ordered South, joined the army at Memphis, Tenn., and was with the army under Grant in his advance in the rear of Vicksburg, taking part in the action at Port Gibson and in the battles of Raymond, Jack- son and Champion Hills. In the last-named engagement it made a bayonet charge and captured the First Mississippi rebel battery. For this feat of gallantry the battery was turned over to Company F of this regiment, which became the 26th Ohio Battery.
In the assault upon Vicksburg, in May, 1863, the regiment was in the front line of the forces operating against that rebel stronghold, and it, with the Fourth Division, Seventeenth Corps, General J. A. Logan commanding, was detailed to take possession at the surrender.
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The 32nd lost in this campaign and siege 225 men. In July, 1863, the regiment moved with Stevenson to Monroe, La., and in October accompanied McPherson to Brownsville, Miss. In February, 1864, it operated under Sherman at Meri- dian, then returned to Vicksburg, reënlisted, and after the furlough home joined Sherman's army at Acworth, Ga., on the 10th of June. It was in the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, on the 27th of June, and at Nicojack Creek on the 10th of July. In the fighting around Atlanta on the 20th, 21st, 22nd and 28th the 32nd took an active part, losing more than half its numbers.
After the fall of Atlanta the regiment joined in the pursuit of Hood, marched with Sherman to the sea, and through the Carolinas, and on the 20th and 21st of March, 1865, took part in the engagement at Bentonville, then moved with the Na- tional forces to Raleigh, and was present at Johnston's sur- render. Marched through Richmond to Washington and took part in the grand review before the President and his cabinet. After which it moved to Louisville, Ky., was mustered out of the service July 20th, then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where the men received their final discharge on the 25th day of July, 1865.
It is claimed that the 32nd Regiment lost and received more men than any other from Ohio. Company B entered the field in September, 1861, 108 strong, and during the war received sixty-eight recruits, making the total enlistments 176. The company lost, while in the field, ten killed and died of wounds, eleven wounded, seventeen died of disease, and seven taken prisoners.
Russell B. Bennett, Chaplain of the 32nd, was known in the Seventeenth Army Corps as the "Fighting Chaplain." He not only believed in the efficacy of prayer, but also believed in the efficacy of shot and shell, and instead of remaining in the rear during an engagement, he was always up in the front line, not only to minister to the wounded and dying, but, with gun in hand, taking his place in the ranks and encouraging the soldiers by his coolness and bravery.
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Of the many instances in which he rendered good services during a battle we give one as related by the boys of the regi- ment :
On the day the brave and gallant McPherson fell (July 22nd, 1864), the Seventeenth Corps was hotly engaged. The 32nd Regiment was flanked on all sides and was compelled to change front several times, not knowing in what direction to next look for the enemy.
At one time, during a few moments' lull in the battle, the 32nd was lying down in the edge of a cornfield waiting for the next attack. The Chaplain, cautioning the boys to lie very still and protect themselves as best they could, advanced into the cornfield to make a reconnoissance, and, mounting a stump some forty or fifty yards in front of the line, discovered the battle line of the enemy rapidly advancing, and moving back to his regiment passed the word along the line that the enemy was close upon them. Then, taking the musket of William B. Mitchell of Company B-brother to John and James Mitchell of Marysville (both deceased) - he fired on the ad- vancing line. Mitchell, lying upon the ground, would rapidly reload the gun, and again Bennett would fire, and all the time exhorting the boys to "lie low" until the enemy were close upon them, then to "fire low."
All this time he stood erect, not seeming to have any thought of his own safety, but only solicitous for the soldiers of the regiment, whom he loved so dearly. Mitchell was killed as he lay on the ground, and his body falling into the hands of the enemy, was never recovered. Bennett was universally respected and loved by all the officers and soldiers of the regi- ment, and today the boys all have a good word for Chaplain Bennett, who died a few years ago.
The regiment has to its credit twenty-two important bat- tles, besides many skirmishes. More than 2,500 soldiers served in the regiment and 560 were mustered out at the close of the war, and the loss in killed and died of wounds and disease was two hundred and forty-nine.
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History of Jerome Township
34TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
This regiment was organized at Camp Lucas, Clermont County, in the summer of 1861, under Colonel Abraham S. Piatt. About September 1st it moved to Camp Dennison, Ohio. The regiment was equipped and the men uniformed in light blue Zouave dress and was called the Piatt Zouaves, and was ordered to West Virginia in September. The baptism of fire was with a Virginia regiment at Chapmanville, Va., Sep- tember 25th, in which the loss was one killed and eight wounded.
During the fall and winter months the regiment was on picket duty and scouting, and had some skirmishing with guerillas. In the month of May, 1862, the regiment had a sharp fight with the rebel forces under Humphry Marshall, near Princeton. In an engagement near Fayettesville, Va., September 10th, the regiment lost 134 killed, wounded and missing, and the loss in officers was very heavy. After this fight they fell back to Point Pleasant, Va. The regiment was on garrison duty until May, 1863. In that month the regi- ment was mounted and their next engagement was at Wythes- ville, where Colonel Toland of the 34th was killed.
In January, 1864, a large number of the regiment reën- listed as veterans. After the veteran furlough the regiment was engaged in raiding and destroying railroads, during the months of May and June, and was engaged in the great Lynchburg raid under General Hunter. They saw some hard service and the losses were heavy.
In a fight near Winchester, July 20th, the loss was thirty killed and wounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Shaw of the 34th was mortally wounded. In the battle of Winchester, Septem- ber 19th, they were hotly engaged and six men of the color guard were killed, the total loss being sixty.
In the fall of 1864 and the winter of 1865 the regiment was on garrison duty the greater part of the time at Beverly. The regiment was very much reduced in numbers and at Cumber- land, Md., the survivors were consolidated with the 36th Ohio
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Volunteer Infantry. It was afterward known as the 36th Regiment, Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
The regiment was in thirty-three battles, fights and skir- mishes, and the loss in killed and died of wounds and disease was two hundred and sixty. The first Colonel, A. S. Piatt, was promoted to Brigadier-General and two commanders of the regiment were killed on the field.
40TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, in the summer and fall of 1861, and was mustered in as a regiment December 11th under Colonel Jonathan Cranor. Eight sol- diers of the regiment were credited to Jerome Township, one of whom, Jesse V. McDowell, died in the service.
The regiment served throughout the war in the Army of the Cumberland and participated in a number of decisive bat- tles, including Chickamauga, where it came on the field in Granger's Corps and Steadman's Division just at the critical time Sunday afternoon, September 20th, 1863, fought under General George H. Thomas, "The Rock of Chickamauga," and was a part of the Union Army that saved the day in that bloody battle. They lost heavily, and among the wounded was Dell Snodgrass of Jerome Township.
The regiment left Camp Chase, Ohio, for the front De- cember 11th, 1861, was ordered to northeastern Kentucky and was soon actively engaged in scouting and skirmishing on the Big Sandy River with the Confederate Army under Humphrey Marshall.
In January, 1862, it took an active part in the battle of Middle Creek ; then went into camp at Paintville. It operated in Kentucky and Virginia until February, 1863, when it moved to Nashville, Tenn., and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Reserve Corps, then at Franklin.
While at this place the Fortieth repulsed an attack made by Van Dorn with a large mounted force. On the 2nd of June it moved to Triune, and on the 23rd joined Rosecrans' army in
ESLEY PATCH 12Ist O. V. ..
WILLIAM N. KILE 17th o. V. I.
SERGEANT MARION STEVENS 54th o. V. I.
HARMON PATCH 12Ist o. V. I.
SERGEANT JAMES C. COLLIER 30th O. V. I.
GEORGE C. EDWARDS 17-4th O. V. I.
DAVID EDWARDS 96th O. V. I.
FESTUS EDWARDS 157th O. V. I.
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History of Jerome Township
the movement upon Shelbyville, Wartrace and Tullahoma. It remained at Wartrace and Tullahoma until September 7th, when it moved forward in the advance on Chattanooga and took an active part in the battle of Chickamauga. Soon after this engagement the regiment went into camp at Shellmound, where four of its companies reënlisted. In the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24th, the Fortieth took a promi- nent part. In January, 1864, in went into camp near Cleve- land, Tennessee, and in May entered upon the Atlanta cam- paign, participating in nearly all the battles through to the end.
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