History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 106

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 106

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At Berryville an incident occurred which exemplifies his bravery. The brigade was or- dered by General Ilayes, then in command, to lie down to escape a destructive fire of the en- emy. But in disobedience to the protestations of their soldiers, General Hayes and Colonel

Devol remained standing at their posts where they could watch changing movements.

Colonel Devol was always found with his regiment, nad indeed was in one more engage- ment than his regiment. His rank during the greater period of the war was that of col- onel, but on several occasions he was thrown in in command of a brigade. This was the

case

Cedar Creek,

when General

Hayes' brigade was under his com- mand. At this battle the Army of West Virginia, under command of General Crook, to which this brigade belonged, was held as a flanking column. But General Devol, in the excitement of progressing battle, lost his place and was not a little surprised to find himself urging on with characteristic energy a strange command, engaged in the thickest of the fight. This is an episode of the war which General Hayes delighted to tell. Few officers can claim the honor of having been in as many fights as their command, but Cedar Creek places the colonel of the Thirty-sixth one ahead of his regiment. Colonel Devol was brevetted bri- gadier-general July 20, 1865.

During the war he had the singular good fortune to escape with only two slight wounds. and his robust body suffered but little from disease. He enjoyed the friendship and cor- dial respect of his associates in office and his men. He was always jealous of the fame of his regiment and always ready to protect its standing.

When the time for which the Thirty-sixth enlisted had expired. General Devol was found ready to re-engage in the service of the Un- ion, and the regiment cheerfully went with him.

At the conclusion of hostilities in 1865 the rank and file of our volunteer soldiery felt that they had accomplished that for which they had suffered the pains and dangers of war, and were anxious to return to their families and farms. High salaried officers were accused of selfishly detaining the troops; but General Devol was entirely free from any accusation in this regard. Through his management and influence the regiment with which he went into

708

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

service and in which he had a warm interest was one of the first Ohio regiments mustered out of the service.

The war over, he returned to Waterford, and in 1866 he purchased the mercantile es- tablishment of Charles Bowen, where for a number of years he devoted himself closely to business. He never had an ambition for polit- ical preferment, but was by no means indif- ferment to the duties of citizenship.

He was appointed by General Hayes, while Governor of Ohio, one of the trustees of Ath- ens Asylum for the Insane. The relations between President Hayes and himself were the most cordial since their acquaintance in the Rebellion.

General Devol was a leading member of the Beverly Presbyterian Church, was superinten- dent of the Sunday-school and a valuable sup- porter of religious and moral movements in the community. He acquired a handsome com- petence, and used it liberally both in public improvements and in answering the prayers of multiplied charities. General Devol remarried April 3, 1867, Harriet E. Bowen, by whom he had four children, George H., Mary B., Flor- ence W., and Ermine B.

GEN. BENJAMIN DANA FEARING, the youngest son: of Henry Fearing, Esq., and Eliza Dana Fearing, was born at Harmar. Ohio, October 10, 1837. He was a grandson of Hon. Paul Fearing and Benjamin Dana, who was the son of John Winchester Dana and Hannah Pope Dana, the daughter of Gen. Israel Putnam, and through his mother a lin- eal descendant of the fourth generation from Gen. Israel Putnam. His early life was spent in his native place. He graduated at Mariet- ta College in 1856, at the age of 19. During the five years following his graduation he was in business, first at Cincinnati and afterward at Philadelphia. While on a visit to Cincin- nati in the spring of 1861, news came of the firing upon Fort Sumter-then the call of the President for troops. There was a meeting of the citizens at the old stone church on Wal- nut Hills, to organize. He was at the meet-

ing, and among the first to offer himself in re- sponse to the call of the President. The next day he selected from the companies being formed the one which he thought would soon- est be ready, and telegraphed his father, "Have joined the Zouave Guards. Leave for Colum- bus on 18th, at 6 A. M." The next day, the 19th of April, found him speeding away as fast as the iron horse could carry him to the forefront of the battle. It seems a singular coincidence that 'twas on the same day of the same month, 87 years before, that his ancestor, General Putnam, "left his plow in the furrow," and hurried off on flying hoof to Concord to repel the British and enter upon the war of the Revolution. Upon the organization of regi- ments at Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, the Zou- ave Guards became Company D of the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With this regiment they went to Washington, and thence into Vir- ginia, under General Schenck. Here they remained, doing service until their term of en- listment had expired. Then they were entitled to their discharge, but as a battle seemed im- pending they, by a unanimous vote, resolved to remain and share in it. On the day of the battle of Manassas they were detailed as skir- mishers. At 4 o'clock A. M. they had brisk work with the enemy's cavalry, driving them over Cut Run, and to the banks of Bull Run where the line of battle was developed. In the subsequent events of the day, its wild and ter- rific experiences of battle, carnage, panic, rout and disaster they bore their full share.

During his three months' service Fearing received his first promotion, being made fourth corporal of his company. After the battle of Manassas, the adjutancy of the Thirty-sixth Ohio was offered him by Hon. William P. Cutler, then member of Congress from his dis- trict. The offer was again pressed upon him at Columbus when being mustered out at Camp Chase, but was declined as he then expected to join the National Guard regiment at Philadel- phia.

He accompanied them into West Virginia, and there served in the double capacity of act- ing adjutant general to General Slemmer and

709

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

as adjutant to Major Andrews, then in com- mand of the Thirty-sixth. Here he remained for three months, devoting himself assiduous- ly to the drill of officers and men, often spend- ing 18 hours a day in this service. The high standing, this regiment subsequently attained was no doubt largely due to the drill and dis- cipline learned in this their early campaign in West Virginia.

General Slemmer, appreciating the value of his services, and recognizing his zeal and abil- ity, recommended to the Governor of Ohio the appointment of Fearing to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth Regiment. Major Andrews started for Columbus with the recommenda- tions, but at the headquarters of General Rose- crans he was met by Capt. George Cook of the Fourth regulars, who had already been ap- pointed to the command of the regiment. Fearing continued acting as adjutant at Som- erville with Colonel Cook until he received the appointment of major of the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He reported at once to Colonel Heildbud at Camp Putnam, and entered upon the duties of his command.

Immediately after the organization of this regiment, although as yet without equipments of any kind, it was transferred to Camp Denni- son. The regiment had been in this camp but a short time when orders came from General Grant at Fort Donelson to "move at once and report to General Sherman at Paducah, Ken- tucky." and at the same time the inquiry "How soon ?" The superior officers being absent Major Fearing replied, "In an hour;" and so prompt were his movements that his regiment was the first of all the nine ordered from Ohio to arrive at Paducah. He went thence with the main army up the Tennessee River.

While General Sherman was conducting an expedition for the destruction of railroad bridges near luka, Mississippi, a heavy show- er flooded Yellow Creek so as to render his return impossible. Fearing reported the dan- ger and asked permission to build a bridge of boats. This was done with so much expedi- tion and skill as to secure the highest com- mendation of his commander, and General

Sherman ever afterward "entrusted him with a large share of the bridging operations over railroads, over streams and in the construction of corduroy-roads through the great swamp lands."

At the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, Col- onel Hildebrand being in command of a bri- gade, and the lieutenant-colonel absent, the command of the regiment devolved upon the major. The regiment was stationed at Shiloh Church, its line being across the main Corinth road. This Sherman regarded as the most important point of his position. Of this Fearing was aware and realizing the necessity of maintaining his post fie held it with unyield- ing tenacity. The repeated charges of the en- emy in their desperate efforts to capture Tay- lor s Battery A, of Chicago, he repulsed with great gallantry, and thus held the battery till orders came for its withdrawal. The general commanding commended the regiment for its brave and determined maintenance of the posi- tion at the church, and for its gallantry in de- fense of the battery.

The official report of the brigade com- mander says: "Maj. Benjamin D. Fearing, who commanded the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was cool and brave, and acquitted himself with as much skill as an old officer of larger experience, and was not ex- celled by any other field officer, who came with- in my observation."

Maj. E. C. Dawes, of the Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, himself a participant in the fight, a gallant officer of cool and accurate judgment, writes: "I think the conduct of Major Fearing at Shiloh the most creitable to him and valuable to the cause of anything in his long service. The Seventy-seventh Regi- ment held the key point in Sherman's first line of battle, and maintained this position long enough to enable McClernand's and Hurlburt's divisions to get into action, and Major Fear- ing by his reckless personal courage held the Seventy-seventh Regiment. The conduct of the major and of the Seventy-seventh Regi- ment in that hell of fire has never been appre- ciated."

710

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

The casualities of the regiment, amounting in total to 168 officers and men killed and wounded, tells the story of its fightinig. In the disasters which befell the regiment on the next day, the major was in a subordinate position, Lieutenant-Colonel DeHass being then in com- mand.

While at Fort Pickering after the capture of Corinth and the return of the regiment . to Memphis, Major Fearing received the appoint- ment of lieutenant-colonel of the Ninety-sec- ond Regiment then being organized at Camp Putnam, Ohio. The first service of this regi- ment was in the Kanawha Valley, where it had a "stirring period of marching and fight- ing."

In January, 1863, he joined the Army of the Cumberland at Nashville. In March he was made colonel of the regiment, Colonel Van Vorhes being compelled by sickness to re- sign. At Murfreesborough he was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps under General George H. Thomas. On the 24th of June he went to the relief of Wilder at Hoover's Gap. On the night of the 18th of September he made the march to Chickamauga. His regiment formed a part of the famous "Turchin's bri- gade" and with it passed through the terrible fighting on the 19th and 20th. In this battle he was severely wounded, a minie ball passing through the front part of his right and thick part of his left thigh. On the following day the enemy captured the hospital to which the wounded had been removed, but Colonel Fear- ing and four of his officers were saved by the coolness of his colored servant who carried them to an ambulance and drew them through a continuous fire to a point within the protec- tion of our lines.

As soon as the condition of his wounds would admit of partial duty he was detailed upon court-martial at Cincinnati and Louis- ville. During his absence his regiment, under command of Lieut .- Col. Douglas Putnam, a soldier and officer of spirit kindred to his own. made its memorable record in the storming of Misionary Ridge. He returned to his regi- ment at Ringgold, Georgia, in March, 1864.

In May he went south, and with Turchin's brigade "fought through that wondrous cam- paign, a hundred days' continuous fighting." He was in the "March to the Sea." At Sa- vannah upon the recommendation of his corps commander. Gen. J. C. Davis, he received a commission from President Lincoln as bri- gadier-general by brevet, bearing date of De- cember 2, 1864. "for gallant and meritorious services during the campaign from Chatta- nooga to Atlanta, and from Atlanta to Savan- nah." He was assigned to the command of Col. Daniel McCook's "fighting brigade." Sec- ond Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. At the battle of Bentonville, when the enemy had bro- ken the Union left and center, General Davis ordered General Fearing to move to the left and "check the enemy's advance," if it "cost him his whole brigade." The charge was glorious. The check was made. The action was terrible. Fearing's horse was shot under him, and a minie ball tore away the thumb, the fore- finger, and part of his right hand. Van Horne, in summing up the history of the battle, says: "That the battle turned upon the action of the brigades of Mitchell, Vanderveer and Fearing, there can be no doubt. The two former did not give an inch of ground to the enemy, though thrown into single lines and compelled to fight in front and rear. The action of Fear- ing's brigade was not less important, as it dis- turbed and defeated General Johnston's com- bination to utilize for complete success his first advantage. General Fearing was brought in complete isolation for some time, without de- fenses, and when his right flank was struck by the enemy with such force as to shatter it, he charged his front upon his left, rallied his shattered troops and held the ground essential to the stability of the new line. The latter dispositions and resistance by the whole com- mand gave a symmetry and brilliancy to the conflict which have seldom found expression in such urgent improvision."

At the close of the war. General Fearing was mustered out of service at the age of 27 years, having as a private taken part in the first, and as a commander of a brigade in the

711

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

last, great battle of the war. He was then of- fered the rank of major in the regular army, but declined. The battles in which he partic- ipated are memorable in the history of the war : -Manassas, the battles of West Virginia. Shiloh, Catlin Mountain, Iuka. Corinth, Car- thage, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Catlitt's Gap. Lane's Church, Chickamauga, Chatta- nooga, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Etowah, Altoona Pass, Pine Knob. Kenesaw, Nicajack, Peach Tree Creek, Chat- tahoochee. Utoy Creek, Rough and Ready. Jonesborough, Atlanta, Savannah, through the Carolinas, Averysborough and Bentonville.

For some years after the war, General Fearing was engaged in business in Cincinnati, but being compelled to withdraw from active labor, he returned to his old home in Harmar, where he resided, devoting himself to literary pursuits, to his friends, and to caring for his health, rendered precarious by the wounds of Chickamauga and Bentonville.

COL. JESSE HILDEBRAND was of German extraction, his ancestry coming to this country sometime between the years 1700 and 1730. He was born in Pennsylvania, near the New York State line, on the 22nd day of May, 1800, and was the first white child born in that por- tion of the State, the so-called "Corn" or "Planter" Indians then occupying the soil. His mother being an invalid, the child was placed in the care of an Indian woman, who tenderly cared for him, and became so attached to her charge that she was loth to give him up when the mother's health again permitted her to take charge of him. When he was about two years of age, his parents sold the farm and removed to near Pittsburg, but only re- mained there a short time when they pushed on farther west, finally arriving at Marietta, Ohio, where they found their future home. His parents both lived to an advanced age.

Our subject early in life developed a strong predilection for a military life. and would have entered the regular army had it not been for his love for, and care of, his moth- er. He was noted as a "drummer boy" and

when about 18 became drum major of the reg- iment at Marietta. He was a personal friend of President jackson, who commissioned him an officer of militia. He was for many years a brigadier-general of militia, and subsequent- ly became major-general. General Hilde- brand always had a fine staff completely uni- formed and equipped during this period of his military career.

Colonel Hildebrand, although a Democrat, believed thoroughly in the supremacy of the national to State authority, and in the hour of the Nation's peril did not hesitate as to his duty. In October. 1861, he began to raise the Seventy-seventh Regiment for the active ser- vice of his country. He was appointed and commissioned its colonel, and in January, 1862. he left Marietta in command of a full regiment and was soon at the front. The bri- gade of which he was in command, met the first attack of the enemy at Shiloh, and in that action distinguished himself for gallantry and courage, and for his persevering efforts in ral- lying his men in the face of danger. General Sherman, who witnessed Colonel Hildebrand's conduct on this occasion. enthusiastically de- clared him to be the bravest man he ever knew. He afterwards engaged in a severe march through Tennessee and Northern Mississippi. finally arriving at Memphis. His regiment had become sadly reduced by battle and disease and in August. 1862, was detailed for service at the military prison, Alton, Illinois, Colonel Hildebrand becoming commandant of the post, where he remained until his death. The un- usnal hardship and exposure to which he had been subject while in the field finally resulted in pneumonia, and at 2:30 o'clock P. M., Sat- urday, April 18, 1863. the brave soldier passed away.

The news of his death caused universal sorrow here in Marietta where he was so well and favorably known. A committee of ar- rangements for his funeral was appointed consisting of Mayor Whittlesey, George M. Woodbridge, John Marshall, Ilenry Fearing, L. W. Reppert, I. R. Waters, J. B. Hovey. and Maj. William B. Mason, Seventy-seventh

712

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and appropriate res- olutions to the memory of the deceased were adopted. The funeral, services were held at the Putnam Street Methodist Episcopal Church and the remains were followed to Mound Cemetery, under military escort, by his family, the clergymen, members of his staff when gen- eral, members of the Seventy-seventh Regi- ment present and a large concourse of citizens.

When the news of Colonel Hildebrand's death reached General Sherman, he sent his widow a letter of condolence, which contained the highest testimonial to Colonel Hildebrand's worth as a soldier and a man. A portion of the letter appears herewith :

I could recall many little scenes of our camp life to illustrate the honest, fearless character of Colonel Hildebrand, the interest he took in his men. always with them doing his duty like a brave soldier, as he was. never complaining, never talking of turning back. He was not the man to dream of peace until it should be won fairly and honestly.

In civic life Colonel Hildebrand was wide- ly known. For a number of years he was a mail contractor and owned the stage line be- tween Marietta and Zanesville. In October, 1850, he was elected sheriff of Washington County and served two years.

Colonel Hildebrand was married in 1826 to Mrs. S. Perkins Fowler, and was the father of seven children. Eliza, the eldest, now Mrs. Henry E. Marks, resides in Washington, D. C. Her husband entered the service in the late war as lieutenant from that district. Arius Gilead, the second, died in Washington in 1876, and is buried in the Congressional Ceme- tery in that city; Elodiannas, the third, died in infancy; W. W., the fourth, entered the service as a private, but while on his way to the front was injured by a railroad accident and brought home to Marietta injured for life; Frances Isabel, the fifth, resides at the old home; Anna Maria, the sixth, died in child- hood; Cynthia E., the youngest, now Mrs. Henry J. Bradford, lives in Marietta. Her husband was a naval officer and served all through the war. He died in the service Sep- tember 10, 1873. at the age of 35.

COLONEL EBENEZER BALDWIN ANDREWS was born at Danbury, Connecticut, April 29, 1821. He was the youngest of six sons of Rev. William Andrews, for many years the pastor of the Congregational Church in Dan- bury. After spending a year at Williams' College, he entered the sophomore class in Marietta College, and graduated in 1842. Among his fellow students he was a leading man, noted for geniality and humor, and uni- versally popular. After a short time spent in teaching, he pursued a course of theological study at Princeton. In 1846 he became pas- tor of the Congregational Church at Housa- tonic, Massachusetts, and afterward he was settled over a church in New Britain, Connec- ticut.

In 1851, coming to Marietta, to deliver the address before the alumni at commencement, he made such an impression as an orator and a man of culture, that he was elected to the chair of natural science in Marietta College. Professor Beach, one of his pupils, writes thus :

In his college work Professor Andrews early be- came specially interested in geological investigations, and during his stay here the study of geology was made very prominent. His teaching in this depart- ment was suggestive and stimulating. His students were sure to think geology a great and living science. During a series of years he conducted his senior classes on exploring expeditions which will not be forgotten by any who participated in them. The writer remem- bers with much interest the explorations made by the class of 1850. through the wildest parts of Washington County, and which occupied five days. The enthusiasm of the professor, as well as his unfailing good humor and his rich resources of wit and anecdote made it a memorable journey to the young men who followed him.

When in 1861, we were plunged into civil war, Professor Andrews was appointed major. of the Thirty-first Ohio Regiment. He se- cured his release from his college duties, and engaged in the service of his country. He served with his regiment in West Virginia and on the Potomac, and, after Antietam, was made its colonel. Flis military life is best set forth in the following extracts from com- munications from those who served with him, and were familiar with his career as an army officer.

713

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Gen. B. D. Fearing, who was the first ad- jutant of the Thirty-sixth Ohio, says :

Few are familiar with the embarrassments that surrounded those entrusted with the recruiting and organizing of infantry during the late civil war. Briefly, they may be summed up thus. The public had to be stimulated to the point of encouraging enlistment. Constant thought and labor were required to foster the effort made to popularize enlistments. Extended correspondence had to be carried on with the military committees of the different counties in the district. with the officers recruiting for the regiment, and with many of the families of the men enlisted. As the com- panies arrived at the camp of instruction, all their wants, and there were not a few. had to be provided tor without any delay. As the companies arrived at the camp in detachments under the recruiting officers -and not infrequently they reached the camp during the night time -- it was a very exhaustive work to care for them and see that they did not suffer. This Major Andrews did. in the care of the Thirty-sixth Regiment, as those friendly to the soldiers, and the military com- mittees of Washington County are prompt to testify. In accordance with the custom in those early war days. the recruiting officers were instructed to have the en- listed men bring nothing to camp with them except what they were willing to abandon, when furnished with the government outfit. I remember well how much perplexed and embarrassed Col. William R. Put- nam. commandant of the camp of instruction at Mari- etta, was, when it was reported to him hy officers of the companies after the first night in camp, that the men were actually suffering from the chill of the night.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 106

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490