History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 52

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

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T IHE events of this great war have passed into history. The youthful student in our public schools, born since its close, is bewildered with the recital of its gigantic proportions. The son listens with wonderment at the tale of bloody strife, from the lips of the surviving father. The mother nar- rates the anguish and long years of anxiety suffered in those dark days. All are familiar, through written records and word of mouth, with the causes which led to that strife, its fierce continu- ance, its glorious termination, and the fruits left for the enjoyment of coming generations.

The causes of the war are briefly stated as fol- lows by Ridpath, in his common school history :

"The most general cause of the civil war in the United States was the different construction put upon the constitution by the people of the North and the South. One party held that the union of the States is indissoluble ; that the States are sub- ordinate to the central government; that the acts of Congress are binding on the States, and that all attempts at nullification and disunion are disloyal and treasonable. The other party held that the national constitution is a compact between sover- eign States; that for certain reasons the union can be dissolved; that the sovereignty of the nation belongs to the individual States; that a State may annul an act of Congress; that the highest allegiance of the citizen is due to his own State, and that nullification and disunion are justifiable and honorable.

"A second cause of the war was the different system of labor in the north and the south. In the north, laborers were freemen; in the south they were slaves. In the south the the- ory was that capital should own labor; in the north that both capital and labor were free. The north hated slavery; the south fostered it."

This difference of opinion led to the formation of two great political parties. There was a diver- sity of opinion in the north, as well as in the country at large; but when the south took desper- ate and active measures to dissolve the Union, all

this was changed. In the language of an able writer of that day:

"The cannon which bombarded Sumter awoke strange echoes, and touched forgotten chords in the American heart. American loyalty leaped into instant life and stood radiant and ready for the fierce encounter. From one end of the land to the other-in the crowded streets of cities and in the solitude of the country, wherever the splendor of the stars and stripes, the glittering emblems of our country's glory, meets the eye- came forth shouts of devotion and pledges of aid, which give sure guarantees for the perpetuity of American freedom.'"

Licking county shared this outburst of loyalty, and party lines for the time were swept aside. Her people arose above all sectional differences, and the language of Reid, in his admirable history of "Ohio in the War," will apply to the people of Licking county :

"They counted their sons and sent them forth. They fol- lowed them to the camps. They saw them waste in inaction and die of disease. Then they saw them led by incompetents to needless slaughter. Stricken with anguish, they still main- tained their unshaken purpose. They numbered the people again and sent out fresh thousands. They followed them with generous gifts. They cared for the stricken families, and made desolate lives beautiful with the sweet charities of a gracious Christianity. They infused a religious zeal into the contest. They held their soldiers to be soldiers in a holy war; they truly believed that through battle and siege and reverse, God was waiting in His own good time to give them the victory. They saw the struggle broadening in its purposes as in its theater. They did not shrink while unseen hands were guiding them to ends they knew not of. After a season the war came very near to each one of them. Almost every family had in it one dead for the holy cause; by almost every hearthstone rose lamenta- tion and the sound of weeping for those that were not."

The duty of the historian, however, would fall short of its accomplishment did not he reveal, im- partially and with candor, the fact that, notwith- standing the first outburst of patriotism, a large portion of the people of Licking county grew faint

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of heart when actual warfare stared them in the face, and withdrew the sympathy and encourage- ment that had followed their sons to the field. A larger portion blindly heeded the dictation of par- tisan leaders, and allowed party fealty to warp their earlier convictions of duty to their country. Many were outspoken in their opposition to the govern- ment in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion. They discouraged enlistments, encouraged desertions, and in their general bearing seemed cast down by Union victories, and correspondently elated by Union de- feats. But when the final victory crowned the Union arms, and the supremacy of the Government was completely established, these men acquiesced in the general result, glad that the war was over and that their wavering and unstable convictions, all torn up by conflicting partisan elements during four long years, could now settle into that peaceful calm so acceptable to all citizens.

The federal enrollment of men in Licking county, subject to military duty for the years 1863 and 1864 was four thousand eight hundred and eighty. She furnished three thousand one hundred and sixty volunteers, who were mustered into the service of the United States for duty outside the State, besides the most of three hundred and sixty- eight men who were drafted, and four hundred and four men who served within the State, in the de- fence of Cincinnati, making a grand total of three thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, being over eighty per cent. of the whole number of her inhab- itants capable of bearing arms, and making an army of soldiers greater than that of Washington when he crossed the Delaware. The numbers may be briefly stated in tabular form as follows:

Volunteers in 1861 1307

Volunteers in 1862 970

Recruits to the close of the war 392

National guards, one hundred days' service

491

Drafted men in 1862 361

Drafted men in 1864

"Squirrel Hunters," defence of Cincinnati

404

Total

3932

Many natives of Licking county enlisted in other counties and in other States who are not embraced in the above estimates.

There was scarcely a battlefield of the war not represented by Licking county. The blood of her gallant sons bathed southern soil everywhere be-

tween the Ohio river and the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic.

Licking county's participation in that war was eloquently pictured in the oration of Judge Samuel M. Hunter, delivered on decoration day, 1880, at Cedar Hill cemetery. He said:

"How well do we remember when Captain McDougal's com- pany of the old Third Ohio, the first gift of Licking county to the Union, marched down Third street that chill April day, nineteen years ago! Sumter had been fired upon, and the rebel- lion had been inaugurated. Who does not remember the solemn faces and streaming eyes of the people, as that little column filed down the street to take their place in the army of the Union? I see before me to-day faces and forms who were in that devoted band. It was they who were plunging into the great unknown; it was they who enlisted under the banner of a nation which had long been unused to war. They were the first,-but they were quickly followed by the other companies and regiments, which marched down the same street, and took their places in the army of the Union, -some to the east, some to the west, but all with their faces to the south, and their homes behind them.

"There were boyish faces and forms in those ranks; but the years roll on, and those who were boys then, are men of middle age now. They were leaving family, friends and comforts. Their one thought was of home-their one impulse to battle for. and save the Union. And so the long months and years of that dark time went by. Call on call was made for fresh sacrifices, and fresh lives to offer up upon the altar of our country. The young lads who watched McDougal's company march away, grew up and themselves took their places in the army of the Union; until ere the war was over, Licking county herself had placed a small army in the field.

"And wherever the soldiers of Licking county have marched, wherever they have camped, and wherever they have fought, her sons have been in the foremost line of battle, their arms have held up the flag of the Union the highest, and their names to-day are inscribed among the brightest on their country's roll of honor. Her sons have fought, and their blood has been poured out on nearly a hundred battle-fields, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande. And in all that struggle, this county has never been called upon to blush for their honor, nor to share in their dishonor. Her sons have felt the scorching fires of Ma- nasses ; they joined in the wild cry of victory at Fort Donel- son; they helped win and wear the laurels at the siege of Vicksburgh, they stood the brunt of battle under the low spread- Ing branches of the forest of Shiloh; they fought among the clouds at Lookout Mountain; they pined and wasted in the prisons of the South ; their blood has dampened the soil all over Virginia, and with Sherman, they "marched down to the sea." And when her ragged and decimated companies and regiments came back to her, their honor was only second to the honor of those who left their bones on the field where they fell."

In the following pages a brief historical sketch of the companies that were wholly recruited in the county is given, together with a copy of the or- iginal muster-in rolls.

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The history of the companies must necessarily be the same as that of the military career of the regiments to which they were attached, and the writer has largely drawn from the admirable ac- counts given of Ohio regiments in the book entitled "Ohio in the War."

The copies of the muster rolls are taken from those on file in the adjutant general's office in Co- lumbus. There may be clerical errors in the copy as well as in the original, which will be readily de- tected by those readers who are familiar with the names and dates of enrollment. The additions of recruits and the casualties are not given, as it would be impossible to do so within the limits of this work.

Following the list of companies mention is made of the detachments and recruits that went into other organizations, also other matters of interest pertaining to the military history and present mili- tary spirit of the county.

It will not be out of place to mention here the valuable services rendered by the "Military Com- mittee of Licking county"-Joseph White, Michael Morath, Colonel Andrew Legg, Dr. John N. Wil- son, and Noah Wilkins.

The successful progress of enlistments, the care of the sick and wounded at home and in hospital, and the aid given to soldiers' families are largely due to the energy, capacity, and patriotism of these gentlemen.

Too much cannot be said to the praise of the · noble women of Licking county in their patriotic and Christian work for the cause. They forwarded great supplies of sanitary goods to the camps and hospitals in the field, and they soothed the sorrows of the widows and orphans at home.

WIDE-AWAKE COMPANY .- During the excitement of the presidential campaign of 1860 semi-military organizations were formed all over the country, bear- ing the name of "Wide-awakes." A Wide-awake company was organized in Newark, composed of young men enthused with the wide-spread presenti- ment of a coming storm and a determination to maintain with the sword the result of the ballot. The company was commanded by Captain Leonidas McDougal, and met for drill in the upper story of the building on Third street, lately occupied by the American printing establishment. The members

wore capes, carried torches, and paraded the streets during political mass meetings.

When the war broke out the Newark Wide- awakes almost to a man enlisted in the service of their country, and marched away under their gal- lant leader-Captain McDougal. It was a notice- able coincidence that the officers of the Wide- awakes became the officers of old company H of the Third Ohio volunteers, the first of Licking county's spontaneous and generous contributions to the grand army of the Union.

Upon one occasion the citizens gave a supper and ball in honor of the Wide-awakes. Captain McDougal was called upon for a speech, and his only response was that he could not make a speech, but he knew how to command a company of Wide-awakes. Future events proved his quali- fications as a commander when he led the boys through the fiery ordeal at Perryville, and gave his own life blood in defence of his country.

COMPANY H, THIRD OHIO INFANTRY .- This was the first company organized in Licking county for the war of the Rebellion and its ranks were speedily filled in response to the first call of the President for volunteers.

The people of Newark well remember the wild excitement created in our streets when the dread news came of the first shot fired upon our flag at Sumter. Patriotism arose to fever heat; the young men quickly enrolled their names and prepared to march speedily away to the defence of their coun- try; the beating of drums on the public square was heard day after day, and name after name was inscribed upon Licking's first muster roll.

The company was recruited by Captain Leon- idas McDougal. Leroy S. Bell was commissioned first lieutenant and Frank P. Dale second lieuten- ant. It was mustered in the service of the United States with the Third Ohio infantry for three months service, on the twenty-seventh of April, 1861, and went into camp, first at Columbus, and afterwards at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, where it drilled constantly during the month of May.

Before orders were received for the field its three months term of enlistment had expired, and the men enthusiastically re-enlisted for three years The regiment was re-organized on the twelfth day

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of June, and soon after was armed and equipped for the field. On the twentieth it was ordered to Grafton, Virginia, then the seat of war, and on the twenty-second crossed the Ohio river in time to claim the honor of being the first three years' regi- ment to leave the State. The regiment reported to General Mcclellan at Grafton and was assigned to General Schleich's brigade, consisting of the Fourth and Ninth Ohio infantry and Loomis' Mich- igan battery. It soon proceeded to Clarksburgh, where camp equipage was supplied and prepa- rations made for an active campaign.

From Clarksburgh it advanced with the army to Buckhannon, Virginia, and was at Rich Mountain in July. It continued to operate in West Virginia through the summer and fall months, having fre- quent skirmishes with the enemy.

In October Captain McDougal in command of two companies scouted the country as far as Mar- shall, the rebels having deserted their camps at Big Springs. At this time the first campaign of the company ended; a campaign of peculiar hardships to the new soldier, filled as it was with hard marches through the mud, amid pelting rain storms severe drilling and some fighting. In November the regiment moved down the Ohio river to Louis- ville and encamped near the city. It was here assigned to General O. H. Mitchell's division of the army of the Ohio. In December it marched for Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and went into winter quarters at Bacon creek, or Camp Jefferson, as it was styled.

In February, 1862, the regiment broke camp and marched over roads deep with mire through Bowling Green, and were the first troops to reach the vicinity of Nashville after the surrender of Fort Donelson. From Nashville the Third Ohio moved southward with General Mitchell's column and participated in the brilliant campaign which resulted in the capture of Murfreesborough, the occupation of Shelbyville and other Tennessee towns. It also took part in the sudden descent of the Union troops into the heart of the south in the vicinity of Huntsville and Decatur. At Bridge- port the regiment charged under the impetuous Mitchell, and drove the enemy across the bridge.

During the summer of 1862, Company H. passed a season of comparative inactivity. Hunts-

ville was the rendezvous of the regiment, from which point detachments were sent out on scout- ing and foraging duty.

In August company H., with its regiment, joined in the race northward after Bragg. The march to Louisville was one of extreme severity; the weather was hot; thick, stifling dust covered the roads; the water courses were dried up, and the soldiers endured peculiar hardships and privations. The wary enemy evaded blows at every piont. Murfreesborough, Nashville and Bowling Green were passed, and on the twenty-fifth of Septem- ber the old Third Ohio again entered Louisville. After a few days' rest the army again moved south- ward until the bloody battle ground was reached. Here the Third Ohio bore a conspicuous part. In the beginning of the action it took position in an open field on the right of the Perrysville road. The rebel attack was fierce and deadly, but not- withstanding its exposure the Third stood its ground, and returned volley for volley until over one-third its number had fallen dead or wounded. It was here that the gallant Captain McDougal fell, facing the foe, and Company H lost a loved and brave commander. Captain Leonidas Mc- Dougal was the son of Stephen McDougal, esq., an old resident of Newark, and the brother of Mrs. Luke K. Warner. His memory will ever be cherished by warm friends in Newark, who will always remember his admirable traits of character, his generous and chivalrous impulses, and his in- tense patriotism which led him to take the first step and lead the first band of volunteers from Licking county in that memorable war. His re- mains were brought from the battle-field, and interred in Cedar Hill cemetery.

After the battle of Perryville the regiment moved in pursuit of Bragg as far as Crab Orchard, Kentucky, and then once more marched to Nashville.

The battle of Stone River followed late in De- cember, in which the Third Ohio bore a conspicuous part, losing heavily in the overwhelming tide of battle on the first day. On the second day it was posted on the extreme left, and at the last of the battle advanced in a double quick movement, cap- turing the rebel line of works with many prisoners. The regiment rested in camp until April, 1863,

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when it was detached to take part in the celebrated raid into Alabama, under Colonel Streight. The command was mostly mounted, and penetrated into the heart of the confederacy. It destroyed immense stores and munitions of war, but was so close pressed by overwhelming numbers that most of the command was finally captured near Rome, Georgia, but not until it had fought desperately with severe loss. The men were taken to Belle Isle and Libby Prison near Richmond, where they suffered all the horrors of prison life until May, 1863.

The men were paroled, but the officers, includ- ing the chaplain and surgeons, were retained and incarcerated in Libby Prison. Here the daring Colonel Streight made his escape, and after many days and nights of wandering found his way into the Union lines. After its exchange the Third Ohio performed duty in Ohio in quelling disloyal uprisings at home. It also entered in the pursuit of John Morgan.

In August it was ordered to Nashville, and served in Tennessee and northern Georgia until the expiration of its term of service. The officers of the Third Ohio being retained in prison, no effort was made to re-enlist the regiment as vet- erans, therefore at the end of its first three years' term, June 23, 1864, the men were mustered out. However, many of its members re-enlisted in other regiments, and served gallantly to the close of the war. Nineteen men of company H, during its term of service, laid down their lives in defence of the country. Sixteen of the number now rest in Cedar Hill cemetery, who died during and since the war.

MUSTER IN ROLL OF COMPANY H, THIRD REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captain Leonidas McDougal, June 13, 1861. First Lieutenant Leroy S. Bell, June 13, 1861. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

First Sergeant Frank P. Dale, June 13, 1861. Sergeant David L. Bush, June 13, 1861. Sergeant Lawrence Shields, June 13, 1861. Sergeant John W. Ulem, June 13, 1861. Sergeant John C. Roney, June 13, 1861. Corporal Henry Haughey, June 13, 1861.

Corporal Thomas Haughey, June 13, 1861. Corporal William Freckleton, June 13, 1861. Corporal Rees E. Darlington, June 13, 1861.

Corporal James Burns, June 13, 186r.

. Corporal Allen W. Ball, June 13, 1861. Corporal George A. Ball, June 13, 1861. Corporal John L. Morris, June 13, 1861. Musician James M. Hughes, June 13, 1861. Musician John P. Laird, June 13, 1861.

Wagoner James Fleming, June 13, 1861.

PRIVATES.

James Avery, June 18, 1861.

William Archer, June 13, 1861.

Albert Asher, June 13, 1861.

William H. B. Armstrong, June 13, 186r.

Rufus V. Buskirk, June 13, 1861.

Patrick Brady, June 13, 1861.

Daniel Bray, June 13, 1861. Lewis Bedell, June 13, 1861.

Joseph Backus, June 13, 1861.

William H. Burdick, June 13, 1861.

Henry F. Brown, June 13, 1861.

Albert A. Bowers, June 13, 1861.

Edward Babbitt, June 13, 1861. William H. H. Cramer, June 13, 1861.

George W. Caffee, June 13, 1861.

George P. Clarke, June 1$, 1861. George W. Colville, June 13, 1861.

David Clouse, June 13, 1861.

William W. Caffee, June 13, 1861.

James Drake, June 13, 1861. David Dunnavan, June 13, 1861.

Thomas Dewar, June 13, 1861.

Jesse A. DeMuth, June 13, 1861. George W. Darling, June 13, 1861.

Israel Flannigan, June 13, 1861. John Gibson, June 13, 1861. Henry Gibson, June 13, 1861.

Ernest Grasser, June 13, 1861.

Frank A. Haughey, June 13, 1861. Frederick J. Heeley, June 13, 1861.

Richard Hughes, June 13, 1861. Andrew Hyatt, June 13, 1861. Daniel Harbaugh, June 13, 1861. William Ingman, June 13, 1861. William Jones, June 13, 1861. Nathan Jewett, June 13, 1861.

William Jackson, June 13, 1861.

Albert K. Knight, June 13, 1861. Wesley H. Lemley, June 13, 1861.

James Loveland, June 13. 186L. James Lees, June 13, 1861. John I. Lunceford, June 13, 1861.

Albert Munson, June 13, 1861. Henry McCarty, June 13, 1861. John C. Morgan, June 13, 1861. David R. McCracken, June 13, 1861.

James McDonald, June 13, 1861.

Charles M. Moore, June 13, 1861. Edward Mochler, June 13, 1861. John McCreary, June 13, 1861. James Moran, June 13, 1861. Samuel Martindale, June 13, 1861.

Jacob F. Mills, June 13, 1861.

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John M. Nichol, June 13, 1861. Walter C. Noble, June 13, 1861. John W. Orndorff, June 13, 1861. Isaac Pence, June 13, 1861. John A. Palmer, June 13, 1861. George Poncer, June 13, 1861. Henry Park, June 13, 1861. William Redhead, June 13, 1861. Benjamin Richards, June 13, 1861. Franklin Richards, June 13, 1861. Isaac Rhoe, June 13, 1861. Reiland Spellman, June 13, 1861. Benjamin S. Smith, June 13, 1861. Thomas F. Smith, June 13, 1861. John Smith, June 13, 1861.

Thomas Stewart, June 13, 1861. James M. Stout, June 13, 1861. James P. Scroggs, June 13, 1861. Wilson Simmons, June 13, 1861. James H. Sigler, June 13, 1861.

John B. Thompson, June 13, 1861. John F. Thompson, June 13, 1861. Nathaniel W. Tally, June 13, 1861. Owen Tierney, June 13, 1861. Byron W. Violet, June 13, 1861. George L. Wells, June 13, 1861. William S. Wyrick, June 13, 1861. Henry S. Woodruff, June 13, 1861. Charles Williams, June 13, 1861.

COMPANY E, TWELFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFAN- TRY-Company E, of the Twelfth Ohio infantry, was recruited at Newark, by Captain Andrew Legg. It moved to Camp Dennison and was mustered into the service for three years, on the twenty-eighth of June, 1861. The regiment left Camp Dennison July 6th, and reached the seat of war on the four- teenth. The battle of Scary Creek was fought on the seventeenth of July, with a loss of five killed and thirty wounded in the regiment. In a few days the regiment entered Charleston, West Vir- ginia, and from that place it moved to Gauley bridge.

On the thirteenth of August, eight companies marched to Camp Piatt, thence to Clarksburgh, West Virginia, and were assigned to General Ben- ham's brigade. They then proceeded southward engaging in numerous skirmishes, but finally join- ing the other two companies on the sixteenth of October. After several attempts to engage in bat- tle, the Twelfth was transfered to General Cox's brigade, December 10th, and went into winter quarters at Charleston.

On the third of May, 1862, the company left Charleston and joined Scammon's brigade. It

was ordered to the army of the Potomac August 15th, and arrived at Alexandria on the twenty- fourth. In the meantime, Captain Legg had re- signed, June 20, 1862. The regiment met the enemy at Bull Run bridge, August 27th, and was defeated with a loss of nine killed and sixty-eight wounded. On the seventh of September, the company advanced into Maryland, and on the fourteenth it engaged in the battle of South Moun- tain, taking part in three bayonet charges, and with the regiment captured three battle flags, a large number of small arms and over two hundred prisoners, with a loss of sixteen killed and ninety- one wounded. On the seventeenth, the Twelfth was engaged at Antietam with a considerable loss. After the battle it marched for West Virginia, via Hagerstown and Hancock, Maryland, but on arriving at Hancock it moved into Pennsylvania to work against Stewart's cavalry. Stewart having retreated, the Twelfth returned to Hancock and arrived at Clarksburgh, West Virginia, October 16th. On the fourth of December the company marched to Fayette Court House, West Virginia, and went into winter quarters. Here it was assigned to the Second brigade, Third division, Eighth army corps. The brigade, under Colonel White, repulsed the ene- my's attack on Fayette Court House, May 19, 1863. The Twelfth marched against the enemy at Piney creek on the thirteenth of July, but the rebels re- treated and the regiment returned to Fayette Court House. On the seventeenth, the brigade was or- dered to Ohio to assist in capturing John Morgan, and after guarding fords for several days it returned to Fayette Court House. On the fourth of No- vember the Twelfth marched against Lewisburgh, but was unsuccessful. On the ninth of December, however, it made another move on Lewisburgh, as a diversion for General Averill, with a slight loss.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 52

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826