History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 158

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

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at Baptist Gap, on the north side of th mountain, only four miles ftom Cumberland Gap. From Baptist Gap runs the Yellow Creek road, parallel to the Kentucky State road from Cumberland Gap. From the latter point is another road, par- allel to the Kentucky road, but on the north and east side of the Cumberland river. On the morning of the eighteenth of September, Vance was to have passed along the Yellow. Creek road, until within three miles of Cumberland ford, when he was to have crossed the mountain and placed his command in am- bush along a defile of less than one hundred yards between the mountain and the river. The moment Morgan left the gap, Stephenson was to have sent five thousand men by the Harland road, on Morgan's right flank, while he was to press Morgan from the rear; and the north side of Cumberland ford was to have been occupied by infantry and artillery. Had these plans been executed, Morgan's division would have been in a network of steel.

In 1864 General Vance was a prisoner at Camp Chase, and Morgan wrote to him through the headquarters of General Heintzelman, commanding the district of Ohio; and Vance's reply was received through the same channel.

"CAMP CHASE, OHIO, March 22, 1864.

My dear sir: Your favor of yesterday from Columbus was handed to me to-day, and 1 hasten to make such response as I feel to be consistent with my duty to my feelings of embarrass- ment in fully complying with your request. While, therefore, I am anxious to gratify the desire of so gallant a foeman as you proved yourself to be, I must bear in mind that my own breth- ren in arms are now in front of Cumberland Gap. It is true that time has elapsed sufficient for the Federal troops to know every path across the mountains, and native guides, are doubt- less, always in readiness to point out the passages; vet if by any turn a statement of mine should be used to the prejudice of my country, I should regard myself as blameable in the highest degree.

I think, although that my duty does not prevent my saying that I did have the honor to command a brigade at the time mentioned by you, and had the way opened, proposed for use, sufficiently to cross the mountain, and did effect a crossing, on the morning (September 18, 1862), the last of your troops left the Gap. Without going into details, I will say that in a short time our troops would have covered the Yellow Creek and the

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Harlan roads, in your rear, and would thus effectually have cut off your retreat, your front being pressed at the same time.

It was the opinion of every officer of rank in the command, that you moved exactly at the proper time, and with great skill and judgment. Let it be borne in mind, that a few days pre- vious, General Leadbetter was in your rear, and of course the difficulties of retreat would have been greatly enhanced. His moving off, and our other plans not consummated, left the way open for you, and you wisely availed yourself of the opening.

1 remember with pleasure the chivalrous bearing of the troops on both sides in the frequent skirmishes between them, as well as the courtesy which prevailed in times of less excite- ment and activity.

I am, General, with great respect, your obliged and obedient servant,

ROBERT B. VANCE,. Brigadier General C. S. A.

GENERAL GEORGE W. MORGAN,

Columbus, Ohio."

The narrative of Morgan's operations in the Cumberland mountains, cannot be better closed than by the following letter from Secretary Chase.

"TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 23, 1864

My dear General: Your note with the copy of your letter to General Thomas (adjutant gencral of U. S. A.), was received this morning, and I thank you for the opportunity of reading the letter. It seems to show conclusively that had you been properly supported, east Tennessee would now have been per- manently restored to the Union, and a great internal position secured, from which the Rebellion could have been struck in any direction effectively. I saw the great necessity for the movement in the spring of 1861, and conferred with General McClellan on the subject. It is a mystery to me that it has not been effected. Your ideas put into practical accomplishment, would have saved many a life and many a campaign.

Sincerely yours,

S. P. CHASE.

BRIGADIER GENERAL MORGAN."

The Seventh division of the Army of the Ohio was now dis- solved, and General Morgan was directed to report to General W. T. Sherman, at Memphis, with the brigade of de Courcy and Foster's battery. He was assigned to the command of the Third division of Sherman's army, composed of three brig- ades.

A movement against Vicksburgh was in preparation-Grant to advance upon an interior line, and Sherman by the Missis- sippi.

Before the flotilla had left Memphis it was there known that President Lincoln had designated General John A. McClernand (an officer in whom he had great confidence), for the command of the army to operate against Vicksburgh. It is believed that the knowledge of that fact caused the premature departure of the army from Memphis, and the loss of one thousand eight hundred men in front of Chick:saw bluffs.

Sherman's army, then called the right wing of the Thirteenth army corps, was composed of the divisions of Steele, Morgan,' Morgan L. Smith, and A. J. Smith.

The plan was to carry the bluffs in the rear of Vicksburgh from the direction of the Yazoo.

These bluffs were impregnable against attack; were pro- tected by a large bayou, several lagoons and marshes. Two

causeways, each about twelve feet wide, led through the marshes to solid ground, but they were commanded by the trenches and batteries of the enemy.

The division of A. J. Smith was on the right, and no assault was attempted.

The division of Steele was on the left, beyond the bayou, with one of the narrow causeways leading through the marsh to dry land. Steele reported that the position in his front was impregnable, and his division was massed on the left centre, in rear of the division of Morgan.

The enemy then withdrew from his right, and massed his troops in front of Morgan.

Morgan L. Smith occupied the right centre, Morgan the . left centre.

On the twenty-eighth of December Morgan L. Smith was severely wounded, and his division was placed under the com- mand of A. J. Smith.

General Sherman regarded two lines of attack as practicable; the one in front of Morgan's division, and the other in front of the division of Morgan L. Smith. Of one of these practicable routes Sherman says:

"Meantime the Sixth Missouri infantry (division of M. L. Smith), at heavy loss, also crossed the bayou, but could not ascend the steep bank. Right over their heads was a rebel battery, whose fire was in a measure kept down by sharp-shoot- ers posted behind logs, stumps, and trees, on our side of the bayou. The men of the Sixth Missouri actually scooped out with their hands caves in the bank, which sheltered them against the fire of the enemy, who right over their heads held their muskets outside of the parapet vertically and fired down."

It was over such ground that an assault was ordered to be made after a reconnoissance, as we are told, by General Sher- man.

Morgan's front was like that of Steele's original position, with the addition that Morgan had the bayou to overcome. His troops had to advance under fire, through a morass knee deep with tangled weeds and water, or over the narrow cause- way, less than twelve feet wide.

Five brigades were under the immediate command of Morgan. The ground was such, that it was impossible to send more than two-each of four regiments,-to the assault.

In his official report written four days after the action was fought, Sherman says: "It was near twelve o'clock (noon) when Morgan was ready." *

* * "The assault was made, and a lodgment effected on the hard tableland near the county road, and the heads of the assaulting columns reached different points of the enemy's works, but then met so wither- ing a fire from the rifle pits, and cross fire of grape and can- nister from the batteries, that the columns faltered, and finally fell back to the point of starting, leaving many dead, wounded and prisoners in the hands of the enemy.

"General Morgan's first report to me was that the troops were not discouraged, though the losses in Blair's and de Courcy's brigades were heavy, and that he would renew the assault in half an hour, but the assault was not renewed."

In twenty minutes time, the brigades of Blair and de Courcy, in killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, lost about one thou- sand eight hundred men. Despite that, the troops were of good heart, and on any ground upon which a battle could have been fought, would have advanced to the assault with a cheer.

Morgan did mass two brigades to renew the assault, but after

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making a reconnoissance, which showed the field strewn with the dying and the dead, and observing the confident calm along the lines of the enemy, who would not fire on the newly massed columns, although within easy range, he determined not to double the sacrifice, when there was no possibility of success; ordered the brigades to retire, and reported the fact to Sherman in person.

In his report, Sherman says: "I assume all the responsibility, and attach fault to no one, and am generally satisfied with the high spirit manifested by all." "I attribute our failure to the strength of the enemy's position, both natural and artificial, and not to his superior fighting; but as we must all, in the future, have ample opportunities to test this quality, it is foolish to discuss it." "The only real fighting done during the assault, was done by Morgan's and Steele's divisions, and at the time of the crossing of the Sixth Missouri." The following is quoted from the Memoirs of Sherman:

"There was no bungling on my part, for I never worked harder, or with more intensity in my life; and General Grant, long after, in his report of the operations of the siege of Vicks- ·burgh, gave us all full credit for the skill of the movement, and described the almost impregnable nature of the ground."

Napoleon was once asked, "What qualities make the ablest general?" His reply was, "He is the best general who makes the fewest mistakes." And he might have added-there never was a general who did not make mistakes. After the return of the army from the capture and destruction of Post Arkansas, Grant reenforced it with additional troops, and still more by his own presence. He captured Vicksburgh, but he did not attempt to do so from the direction of the Yazoo. He crossed to the Louisiana bank of the river; marched past Vicksburgh on the opposite side; run transports past the enemy's batteries in the night; recrossed the Mississippi and captured Vicksburgh. That was generalship, not a mistake; but it is a mistake to select the enemy's strongest point of defence for assault.

After the repulse at Chickasaw, General John A. McClernand assumed the command of the army, now styled the army of the Mississippi, which was organized into the First and Second corps. The command of the first corps composed of the divis- ions of A. J. Smith and Osterhaus, was assigned to Morgan; and the second, composed of the divisions of Steele and Stuart, to Sherman, successor to Morgan L. Smith.

McClernand embarked his army, and under the convoy of Porter's gun-boats, proceeded to Post Arkansas, called Fort Hindman, by the enemy. .

The fort was defended by seven thousand five hundred men, and is thus described by Morgan in his report: " Post Arkan- sas is situated on a bluff, about twenty-five feet above the water, on the left bank of the Arkansas, and two hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. The fort (since destroyed by order of Major General McClernand) was a little above a bend, and oblique to the river, facing southwest and northeast. On the southern face of this fort were two strongly constructed case- mated works, riveted with iron bars. Each casemate contained one nine inch gun, and both commanded the approach from down the river. In the southwestern section there was a nine inch traverse gun in barbette, and there were ten other guns in barbette. During the action on the eleventh of January, 1863, seven of the thirteen guns were utterly destroyed by the com- bined fire of the gun-boats; and four twenty pounders of Fos- ter's battery-Osterhaus' division-which opened fire on the fort at a range of eight hundred yards. Fragments of shell

from the gun-boats and twenty-pounders were found within the casemates."

The field upon which the action was fought is a parallelogram of about one thousand yards square. The southern face rests upon the river, the east or northeast is formed of the east face of the fort, and a broken line of rifle pits, protected by wooden traverses, and running in a northeasterly direction about seven hundred and twenty yards to a small bayou which, on the day of battle was twelve feet wide and eighteen inches deep, across which were several easy fords. Across the bayou, beyond the extreme left of the enemy's line is a forest with undergrowth, amid which is a slight elevation, which flanks the line occupied by the enemy's rifle pits. Had General Sherman succeeded in turning the enemy's left, as contemplated by the original plan of General McClernand, and planted a battery upon that eleva- tion, it would have enfiladed the enemy's rifle pits and driven him from his cover in twenty minutes.

It will be remembered that Post Arkansas is on the left bank of the river. By land it is five, and by water twelve miles from Fletcher's landing, on the right bank. At the fort the river turns abruptly to the left, and runs for three miles in a south - easterly direction nearly parallel to its own channel below the fort; so that from Fletcher's on the right bank to Smith's on the right bank, across the bend, is only three miles, and Smith's is three miles from the fort.

By direction of General McClernand, Morgan sent Lindsay's brigade with a section of ten, and a section of twenty-pounders under Captain Foster, and Captain McBride's cavalry company to land at Fletcher's and push across to Smith's, and from thence to establish a chain of videttes to the bank opposite the fort.

As soon as the guns of the fort were silenced, Lindsay caused his guns so to be placed in position as to enfilade the enemy's rifle pits, and the battery of artillery, and the infantry in the field in their rear.

The handling of these guns was admirable. The fuses were cut so as to explode the shells at estimated distances; and this unexpected raking fire filled the enemy's trenches with dead; silenced the field artillery behind them, and largely contributed to the result of the day.

Morgan's corps occupied the left, and that of Sherman the right of the Union line, and both bore themselves gallantly.

In his report, General McClernand spoke in terms of com- memdation of the technical and strategic skill displayed by General Morgan during these operations, which closed his ser- vices in the civil war. His health was seriously broken, and he resigned.

In 1864 General Morgan returned to the practice of the law. The next year he was nominated by acclamation as the Demo- cratic candidate for governor, against General J. D. Cox. The majority against him was under thirty thousand, while it was over one hundred thousand two years previously.

He was three times nominated by acclamation, and three times elected to Congress from the district composed of the counties of Knox, Licking, Coshocton, and Muskingum. His majority over Mr. Delano was two hundred and seventy-one. his seat was contested and he was ousted in Mr. Delano's favor during the second session of the Fortieth Congress. He was ie- nominated in 1868, and was elected by over sixteen hundred majority. He was again nominated in 1870, and carried the same district by over two thousand one hundred majority.

Knox county was then transferred to the ninth district, com-

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posed of the counties of Knox, Morrow, Delaware, Union' Marion, and Hardin.

Morgan, for the fourth time, was nominated by acclamation, and was only beaten by about four hundred votes; although three weeks afterwards Grant carried the same district by two thousand two hundred.

While in Congress Morgan served on the committees on Foreign Relations, Military Affairs, and Reconstruction; and in the Forty-second Congress received the votes of the Demo- crats for speaker, against Blaine, Republican. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, and declares his purpose not to be again a candidate.

NEAL, GEORGE D., carriage manufacturer, corner Front and Main streets, Mt. Vernon, Ohio. A native of Mt. Vernon, was born September 20, 1844, and was educated in the public schools of this city. His first business engagement was with the firm of J. W. Weaver, wholesale and retail grocer, as sales- man, where he served about three years, and then was in the employ of James George & Son one year. He then entered the employ of S. H. & L. W. Jackson, carriage manufacturers, to learn carriage trimming, and remained with them until the dissolution of the firm, after which he served other firms as journeyman at carriage trimming until 1871, when he estab- lished himself in the carriage business, in which he still con- tinues. In 1877 he added to the carriage business that of ship- ping green fruits, cider, and vinegar, and in favorable seasons he ships about five thousand barrels of apples, and about five hundred barrels of vinegar. In the carriage business he carries a stock of about four thousand dollars, and manufactures all kinds of double and single carriages and light wagons, and does a business of from ten to twenty thousand dollars per . year, and employs from eight to ten hands in the different departments. He occupies the commodious buildings erected by himself expressly for the business, which consists of a two- story brick building, thirty-two by sixty-three feet, with a two- story frame addition, twenty by thirty feet. Residence at No. 27 East Vine street.

NEIBEL, GEORGE W., Milford township, deceased, was born in Licking county, in 1829. He came to Knox county with his parents, and was reared on a farm, and always fol- lowed it as his occupation. He married Miss Mary A. Twist, February 29, 1852; she is the daughter of Peter and Catharine Twist, nee Beardsly. She was born in New York, and came to Ohio about 1834, with her parents. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject of this notice enlisted in com- pany B, One Hundred and Forty-second regiment Ohio Na- tional guard. After his return home he was taken sick with lung disease, from which he died, April Ir, 1866. They had one child, John H., born June 4, 1854. He is a man of ster- ling qualities, is well read, and highly esteemed by the com- munity. He was married to Miss Ida A., daughter of David H. Speelman, November 18, 1880. They reside on the farm where he was reared.

NEIDERHOUSE, JACOB, Union township, farmer, post office, Rossville, born in Switzerland, in 1829, and came to this country in 1852. He settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where he lived fourteen years, and 1867 settled in Union township, where he now is. He was married in 1854, but his wife only lived three

years. His second marriage was in 1858, to Miss C. Frederick. They have nine children-Mary, John, Robert, Samuel, Caro- line, Lavina, Edward, Cora, and William. Mary married Dan- iel Kirk, and moved to Coshocton county, where she now lives.

NEFF, PETER, Gambier, Knox county, Ohio .-- Resident twenty-one years, and has been engaged for many years in the developement of the county for petroleum, and in the manufac- ture of Diamond Black. See his pamphlets, and the Ohio State Geological Survey, etc.

NEWELL, JAMES, deceased, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1782. He married Miss Polly Fleming, July 11, 1811, who was born in Pennsylvania, July 17, 1792. Mr. Newell located in Clinton township in 1819. He died De- cember 7, 1848, aged sixty-six years, and his wife, April 15, 1850, aged fifty-eight.

NEWTON, REV. CHARLES H., Mt. Vernon, deceased, was born at Warren, Washington county, Ohio, in September, 1820. He received a classical education at Marietta college, in which institution he graduated in 1845. Determined to lead a ministerial life, he entered Lane Theological seminary at Cincin- nati, where he graduated in 1848. Immediately thereafter, on June 15, 1848, he was married to Miss Catharine Walter, of Walnut Hills, near Cincinnati. He took charge of the congre- gation of the Presbyterian church at New Richmond, Ohio, in 1848, where he remained six years, giving great satisfaction to the people, and doing much good. From New Richmond he removed to Delaware, Ohio, in October, 1855, where he re- mained for about fourteen years, very much beloved by his peo- ple, until he was chosen chaplain of the Ohio penitentiary, at Columbus, in 1870. As chaplain he was very popular, and his kind words and wholesome advice will long be remembered by those whose transgressions forced them to become inmates of that institution.

During his chaplaincy, Mr. Newton suggested and aided the . officers of the penitentiary in introducing many reforms into the government of that institution, which were of great practical good to the inmates. His system of prison reform has been adopted in the government of nearly every institution of the kind in the United States.

From Columbus Mr. Newton came to Mt. Vernon in June, 1874, and had charge of the Presbyterian congregation up to the time of his death. He also preached to the congregation at Millwood.

He died at his residence in Mt. Vernon, August 8, 1878, after about a week's sickness. His disease was paralysis of the heart. The funeral took place on Saturday, August 10, 1878. The memorial services were held at the Presbyterian church on the next morning, Sunday, August 11th. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. William E. Moore, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, of Columbus, assisted by the Rev. William Thompson, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church, in this city, and by the Rev. Iarns, of the Baptist church. Dr. Moore preached from the words: "For mne to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

NEWTON BROTHERS, corner West High street and pub- lic square, Mt. Vernon, Ohio .- Walter M. and Frank B. New- ton, are sons of the Rev. O. H. Newton, who was at the time of his death pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Mt. Vernon, and had occupied that pulpit for several years previously. Rev. Mr. Newton was at one time chaplain of the Ohio penitentiary,

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and during his chaplaincy started the prison reform movement that has since met with great success in all the prisons of the country. During his father's chaplaincy W. M. Newton served as assistant clerk in the office of the prison, and his brother, F. B. Newton, attended school.

The family came to Mt. Vernon in 1874, when W. M. entered the employ of T. B. Mead as salesman, with whom he remained two and a half years. He then formed a partnership with J. M. Tompkins, with whom he did business one year, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Tompkins, and formed a part- nership with his brother, F. B. Newton, and the business has since been conducted under the firm of Newton Brothers. They commenced with a stock of about two thousand dollars and have met with marked success. They now carry a stock of about two thousand five hundred dollars. This firm is a new one; the partners are young and energetic, of good business habits, with moral characters beyond reproach; and they merit succcess and will win a rank among the mercantile men worthy of respect and honorable to themselves.

NIXON, ANDREW, farmer, Berlin township, post office, Shaler's Mills, was born in Jefferson county, in 18ro, and was married to Mary Scarlet. They had one son, Michael, a resi- dent of Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Nixon has deceased. Mr. Nixon's second marriage was with Jane Knight (Culberson), who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1816. They have one son, Edwin, who was born in 1862, and is living with his parents.

NICHOLS, JOHN, farmer, Pike township, post office, Democracy; born in Howard township, this county, in 1839, and was married in 1860 to Mary Hammel, who was born in Pike township in 1838. They have five children: Celesta A., born in 1861; Nancy Emogene, in 1864; Ardella F., in 1867; Permelia, in 1869, and John H. in 1873.

He was elected justice of the peace in 1876, and was re- elected in 1879, and is a very active Democrat of this township, always looking to the best interest of the township and county. He was engaged in the war about sixty days.

His father, John Nichols, deceased, was born in 1800, in Loudoun county, Virginia. He came to Ohio in 1813, located in Mt. Vernon, and was married in 1820 to Sarah Davis, who was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and came to Mt. Ver- non in 1812. They had the following children: Martha, Sarah, Daniel (deceased), Peter, Jesse, Amos, Louisa, Rebecca (de- ceased), John, Jonas, and Drusilla. Mr. Nichols died in 1868, and Mrs. Sarah Nichols in 1879. They were among the earlier settlers of Mt. . Vernon, moved to Howard township, and re- mained there until 1860. Jesse, Daniel, and Jonas were . oldiers in the late war. Daniel died from the effects of his service in the army. Jonas was a member of the Ohio Na- tional guard.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 158

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096