History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 94

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 94

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).

December 23. 1863, they engaged the Re-

641

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

bels at New Market, and drove them out of that town. Christmas Day they crossed Bey's Mountain and joined battle with a largely su- perior force of the enemy, and, after hard fight- ing all day, being surrounded at two different times, they were compelled to cut their way out.

The 10 days following New Year's Day, 1864, were the most dreary days in the his- tory of the regiment : they and their comrades of the other regiments and army lay on the bills about Mossy Creek, half starved. A bushel of cornmeal was issued to a brigade of men for a day's rations. Horses died by the . hundreds from starvation. It stormed fear- fully, and the men were without shelter. There was but one blanket for every two men, and they were but scantily clothed for such severe weather.

On January 27, 1864, the regiment joined the forces of General Sturgis and gave battle to Morgan's and Armstrong's divisions of Wheeler's cavalry, at Fair Garden, Tennessee, defeating them and drivits them across the French Broad River.

On June II, 1864. the Seventh, with the force under General Burbridge, began the pur- suit of Morgan's force, which had invaded Kentucky, and at daylight of June 12th, at Cynthiana, Kentucky, attacked, driving the Rebels in confusion from the field. The left wing, led by Company H, and commanded by Colonel Garrard, charged the enemy's right, broke through and reached the rear of the Rebel line before it gave way on the center or left, captured the bridge over the Licking River, on the Rebel line of retreat, taking posi- tion on the opposite bank, with the rallying cry of- "Rogersville," killed, wounded and cap- tured a large number of the same enemy who defeated them at Rogersville, Tennessee, No- vember 6, 1863. The regiment followed Mor- gan into the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, until forage and supplies failed, when they returned. They had marched 272 miles in six days and nights.

The regiment was ordered to join General Sherman's armyy, then moving on Atlanta, and

by July 26th arrived at that fated city, partic- ipating in all the movements around Atlanta, scouting and doing picket duty, until Novem- ber 6th, when they were ordered to Nashville, where they arrived November 17, 1804.

On November 28, 1864, the Seventh was ordered to join the National forces, then re- treating in the direction of Nashville, and at Duck River the regiment was surrounded by the enemy, and were compelled to cut their way out. At the battle of Franklin, Tennes- sec, the Seventh held the left of the line. In December, 1864, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Sixth Division, Cavalry Corps, commanded by General Wilson.

On December 15th the regiment partici- pated in the great battle of Nashville, and, charging by squadrons, drove the enemy in its front a mile and a half, and captured four , pieces of artillery, with men and horses. On the second day of the battle the regiment was actively engaged ; and in the pursuit of Hood's - army, on December 17th, marching by a de- tour to cut off the Rebel rear guard, they struck the Rebel center at Franklin, and, charging into the town, found it swarming with Rebels, who were fleeing and endeavor- ing to hide from their pursuers. The Rebel officers were unable to bring their men into line, and hundreds of them were taken prison- ers, including 700 officers and men, 2,700 Rebel wounded, and a large number of Na- tional soldiers wounded in the hospital at Franklin.

On Christmas day. 1864, the regiment en- gaged the Rebel rear guard at Pulaski, drove them from that place in disorder, and captured three pieces of artillery. an ammunition train, etc. The pursuit ended on December 27th. when the rear guard of the defeated army of Hood crossed the Tennessee.

The Seventh then went into winter quar- ters at Gravelly Springs, Alabama, where they remained until March 22, 1865. At that date the cavalry corps commanded by General Wil- son, started on the last great raid of the war. This force numbered about 18,000 men, the finest and best equipped body of cavalry of

642

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY.

the war. They moved southward with irre- sistible momentum, driving the few scattered fragments of the Rebel army like chaff before the wind. The object of the expedition was to cut off communication between the Rebel armies of the East and West. The line of march of the Seventh regiment lay through Jasper, Georgia, Plantersville, Alabama, where 300 prisoners were taken, Selma, Ala- bama, where a large number of prisoners were taken; at this place, on April 3rd, the regi- ment had 3,000 Rebel prisoners in their pos- session. On April 12th they passed through Montgomery, the capital of Alabama: April 15th, through Tuskegee, Alabama. April 16th the regiment attacked Columbus, Georgia, at night, and captured the same, and on the 18th moved down the railroad toward the Ander- sonville prison pen ; and on the 20th, while skirmishing with the enemy, a Rebel officer appeared with a white flag, announcing the surrender of Lee at Appomatox, and end of the war. The pursuit was at once stopped, and the forces which a short time before had been engaged in deadly conflict joined hands and bivouacked on the same field.

The regiment went into camp at Macon, Georgia, on April 25th, and remained there until May 5th, when they were ordered to At- lanta, where they arrived May gtlı.

On May 13th 18 men from Company H were detailed to guard Jefferson Davis, the President of the defunct Confederacy, who had been captured in woman's attire, endeavor- ing to effect his escape. He was taken to Au- gusta, Georgia.

On May 22nd the regiment was ordered to Nashville, where they arrived June 6th, completing a ride of 1,500 miles on horseback.

June 30th the "River regiment" was mus- tered out of the United States service, and Company H arrived at Marietta July 6, 1865.

The total number, including recruits, in the regiment during its service, was 1.400; when mustered out it numbered 840, showing a loss of 560 men by casualties of war.

Company B, Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel William D. Hamilton, mustered December 2. 1863. brevet brigadier general April 18, 1865; Lieu- tenant Colonel William D. Hamilton, October 30, 1863, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel Thomas P. Cook. December 2, 1863, discharged September 9. 1864; Lieutenant Colonel William Stough, October 1. 1864, mustered out with regiment ; Major William D. Ham- ilton, December 6, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel ; Major Thomas P. Cook, October 30, 1863, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major William Sims, October 30. 1863, resigned June 21, 1864; Major John Williamson, December 2. 1863, resigned July 28, 1864; Major Henry Plessner, December 7. 1863. discharged January 13, 1865; Major Elijah Hoague, July 13. 1864, resigned March 9. 1865; Major William Stough, September 8, 1864. promoted to lieutenant colonel: Major L. H. Bowlus, October 1, 1864, mustered out with regiment ; Major John W. Macumber, February 10. 1865. mus- tered out with regiment; Major James Irvine. May 31, 1865. mustered out with regiment; Major Joseph B. Daniels, February, 1864. mustered out with regiment ; Surgeon C. M. Finch, October 5, 1863. mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon William McMillen, March 26. 1863. mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon James C. Thorpe, October 5. 1863, discharged April 18, 1864; Assistant Surgeon Charles H. Pinney, April 22, 1864. mustered out with regiment; Chaplain Ezekiel S. Hoagland, January 18, 1863, resigned August 20, 1864.

OFFICERS OF COMPANY B.

Captain John Williamson, mustered November 16, 1862, promoted to major; Captain Joseph B. Daniels, December 2. 1863. promoted to major ; First Lieutenant Joseph B. Daniels. November 6, 1862, promoted to cap- tain; First Lieutenant Richard B. Mason, December 22, 1863. deceased June 25. 1864: First Lieutenant James Stonehawker, July 30, 1864. mustered out with regi- ment : First Lieutenant Allen J. Alexander. February 10. 1865, honorably discharged March 25, 1865: Second Lieutenant Richard B. Mason, February 2, 1863 pro- moted to first lieutenant ; Second Lieutenant James Stonehawker, October 10. 1863, promoted to first lieu- tenant ; Second Lieutenant Allen J. Alexander, De- cember 22, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Edward Ashley, May 31. 1865, mustered out with regiment; Second Lieutenant Bishop Martin, May 31, 1865, mustered out with regiment.

Company B was from Washington Coun- ty. They were raised in the fall of 1862, 111- der the authority of Governor Tod, to make three new regiments of cavalry, the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth. Captain William D. Ham- ilton, of the Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer

643

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Infantry, then stationed at Winchester, Vir- ginia, had been sent to Ohio to recruit another company for that regiment. He had secured 50 men, when his regiment, with others, was captured by "Stonewall" Jackson, on the 15th of September, 1862. Governor Tod then or- dered Captain Hamilton to proceed at once to organize a cavalry regiment, to be called the Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

The fifty recruits above referred to formed a nucleus for the new organization, which ren- dezvoused at Zanesville. and on December 1, 1862, seven companies were ready for mus- ter. Three companies, however, were trans- ferred to the Tenth Cavalry. then organizing at Cleveland, to complete that regiment. The four remaining companies were ordered to Camp Dennison. They were designated as the First Battalion of the Ninth Cavalry, were equipped and drilled until April 23, 1863. when they were ordered to Lexington, Kentucky. The battalion under command of Captain Hamilton, numbering 300 men, were soon ac- tively engaged driving out raiders and ma- rauders who were so frequently coming down from the Kentucky and Tennessee mountains into the Blue Grass region.

On June 15, 1863, they joined an expedi- tion designed to penetrate into East Tennessee and find out the situation of the loyal inhabi- tants of that region. The whole force con- sisted of about 2,000 mounted men, of which 200 were from the battalion, including Com- pany B. Crossing the Cumberland River on the night of June 16th, they were soon at Pine Mountain Gap, a Rebel stronghold. Here the garrison was surprised and captured without firing a shot, and they passed on to Big Creek Gap, the Ninth Cavalry Battalion in the ad- vance. The Rebel force at this gap evacuated and fled.

The objects of the raid were accomplished without further opposition, and they returned to London, Kentucky. The battalion on July 5th was ordered to move out after John Mor- gan : but Morgan having passed the battalion was ordered to watch and embarrass the prog- ress of the Rebel general Scott, who was re-

ported moving to support Morgan. The battal- ion joined a hastily gathered force at Camp Dick Robinson, and went in pursuit of Scott, who had passed with his con n and to the right. They then had a running fight for 10 days ; the battalion marching at the rate of 57 miles in 24 hours, the men living chiefly on black- berries gathered at the roadside while the horses were resting.

On August Ist the battalion went from Stanford to Glasgow, Kentucky, and were there assigned to a cavalry brigade for General Burnside's advance into East Tennessee. The capture of Knoxville was effected without much opposition, and Major Hamilton was appointed provost marshal of the city, and the First Battalion assigned to patrol and guard duty on the approaches of the city.

The Second Battalion was organized No- vember 6th, and the Third Battalion Decem- ber 16, 1863, thus completinig the regiment. The two battalions were filled to their maxi- mum, and together with 100 recruits for the old battalion, were rendezvoused at Camp Den- nison and furnished with horses, equipped with sabres and Smith carbines, and carefully drilled until February 6, 1864, when they were ordered by water to Nashville, Tennessee. Ar- riving at Louisville they were disembarked to follow some guerrillas, who were reported to be making trouble in Kentucky. They marched through the country to Nashville without opposition. The regiment was then attached to the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and ordered to Athens, Alabama, for field duty along the Tennessee River.

Colonel Hamilton at this time went to Knoxville with orders from the First Battal- ion to join the regiment. The severe cam- paign through which the First Battalion had passed, ending at Knoxville, rendered an en- tire new equipment necessary. For this pur- pose they were ordered to Nashville, and af- ter considerable delay waiting for horses, they were again ready for active service. Capt. Jospeh B. Daniels was now placed in command of the First Battalion and so remained until the end-toward the last being in command of

644

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

the entire regiment. The battalion now moved to Pulaski, Tennessee, and occupied that place about six weeks, Captain Daniels being in command of the post. Several move- ments were undertaken against the Rebel cav- alry under Wheeler and Forrest, for which the whole regiment combined, but were not permanently united until all of the battalions reached Athens, in April, 1864.

On the night of April 13, 1864, a com- pany of the Ninth, which with others had been sent out to look for stock, was surrounded in a barn where they were sleeping. The at- tack was made by an Alabama regiment, and after a short struggle, two officers and 39 men were captured. The remaining three compa- nies soon came to the rescue, but not in time to rescue their comrades.

The non-commissioned officers and men thus taken were sent to Andersonville prison. Eight months after, a report from Orderly Sergeant Kennedy showed that 25 of their number had died from brutal treatment.

The two officers taken were Capt. Joseph N. Hetzler and Lient. Frank H. Knapp, who were sent to Columbia, South Carolina. Lien- tenant Knapp, after two efforts to escape, in which he was retaken by the aid of blood- hounds, finally succeeded in reaching Knox- ville, Tennessee, after traveling three weeks, principally at night, securing food and assis- tance from the negroes. At one time he heard the hounds on his trail, and again would have been captured but for the generous assistance of a negro, who, after giving him something to eat, said: "Now. bress de Lord. massa Yank, you jist trust to me and we'll fool dem dogs. You trot along fust, den I'll come too. steppin' in your tracks. Go 'bout half a mile. den you come to some watah; you take right through dat. den I'll kep on t'other way. See dem doos is used to huntin' niggers, dev knows dle smell, and likes to follow de black man's foot." "But," said the lieutenant, surprised at this singular offer, "the dogs will catch you and probably tear vou to pieces." "Oh, mas- sa," said he, "let dis nigger alone for dat, I'se fooled dem dogs afore for de Yanks, and,

bress de Lord. I'll try it again. Now trot along, massa, for I hear dem dogs a comin.' " Shortly after crossing the pond the lieutenant heard the hounds howling in the direction taken by the negro, and he was no longer dis- turbed by them. He afterward joined the regiment at Savannah, Georgia, in January, 1865. Captain Hetzler remained a prisoner until near the close of the war, when he was exchanged.

Another battalion of the Ninth was sent out in the vicinity of Florence, to guard the river, thus, for a distance of fifty miles, the Tennessee was patroled by the two battalions of the regiment, having frequent skirmishes with the enemy.

On May 5, 1864, the regiment arrived at Decatur. Alabama, and on the 8th the place was attacked by the enemy. The Ninth moved out beyond the works a mile and a half, to de- velop the enemy's strength. The country was about equally divided between timber and lev- el, open land. The Rebels formed on the open ground, and, as the Ninth swing around the timber, a battle ensued, in which the Rebels were driven back in confusion. The regiment lost one man killed and three severely wound- ed. Front this time until June Ist, cavalry skirmishes were of daily occurrence.

The Seventh Illinois Infantry having been driven from Florence to Pulaski, the Ninth went to reinforce that regiment. After driv- ing the enemy beyond Florence, they returned to Decatur.

The Ninth was engaged on various expe- ditions in the region about Atlanta up to the fall of that city, immediately before the evac- nation being attached to the cavalry division under Colonel Garrard, on the extreme right of General Sherman's army. The First Bat- talion was engaged in the battle of Jonesbor- ough.

Four hundred men of the Ninth were now ordered to Nashville to procure horses. On the night of September 2, 1864, while the train containing the men was passing Big Shanty, Georgia, it was thrown from the track and six cars demolished. The enemy. concealed

645

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

beside the track, opened fire on the wreck; the fire was returned, and the cowards fled. One man was killed and three wounded by the ac- cident, and two killed and five wounded by the enemy's fire. Failing to procure horses at Nashville, the regiment proceeded to Lon- isville, and having received fresh horses re- turned to Nashville en route to the front.

This battalion arriving at Nashville found the Rebel general Wheeler within 12 miles of the city, and they were sent out with other forces to meet and drive him back. They en- countered him at various places during the next 10 days until he was finally compelled to retire beyond the Tennessee. They soon received orders to report at once to Marietta. Georgia, to join the regiment which was to form a part of one of Sherman's new cavalry divisions in the "March to the Sea." The I of his command. On the Ioth the Rebels 1In- battalion found Marietta burned, and pressing on rapidly arrived at Atlanta November 17th. and found it evacuated, having marched 80 miles in 36 hours. They proceeded on to McDowell, 17 miles southward, where they joined the balance of the regiment. They now numbered 700 effective men. From this | time on they were busily engaged covering the march of the infantry, making false march- es to deceive the enemy, and fighting almost daily, until December 4th, at Waynesborough, when a general engagement occurred, in which the Ninth made the second charge that broke the Rebel lines.

Arriving at Savannah, they were sent on an expedition during the progress of the siege. to destroy railroad communication with the city. Capt. Joseph B. Daniels, with the First Battalion, was ordered to approach and burn the bridge, and engaging the enemy with their Spencer carbines drove them to cover and burnt the bridge.

The army remained at Savannah after its evacuation until the latter part of January, 1865, at which time 150 men of the Ninth. that had been left with the army of General Thomas, and who participated in the battle of Franklin and Nashville, joined the regiment.

On the night of February 3, 1865, the cav-

alry division crossed the Savannah River at Sister's Ferry, 40 miles above the city, and entered upon the march through the Carolinas. On the 6th the Ninth, having the advance, en- gaged the enemy at a swamp near Barnwell. The men were dismounted and wading the swamp under cover of the timber, drove the enemy from their position. As they pro- gressed through the Carolinas, the forage and grain grew scarce and together with wearing service in the swamps, rendered a great many horses unfit for service, and as a consequence many of the cavalrymen were dismounted. These were organized into a "dismounted command." On the night of the 9th of Marchf General Kilpatrick went into camp with the Third Brigrade and the dismounted men, about three miles in advance of the remainder der General Hampton dashed in upon the camp, and captured the wagons, artillery and many of the officers and men before they had time to dress themselves. The dismounted men, however, opened a close and heavy fire upon the Rebels, who were pillaging the camp. A sharp fight ensued, during which the artil- lerymen recovered their cannon, and opened on the enemy. The Second Brigade soon ar- rived, and the Rebels were forced to retire. The loss of the Nationals was 25, and the Rebels. 75 killed in this short but desperate contest.

In the battle of Averysborough, on March 15th, the Ninth supported the right flank of the Twentieth Corps, and was in the thickest of the contest, and at the battle of Bentonville. North Carolina, March 18th to 21st, the final contest of the grand army under General Sher- man. General Kilpatrick's entire command oc- cupied the left flank. The enemy being de- feated, they occupied Goldsborongh, and re- mained there until April roth. They entered Raleigh after a slight skirmish April 14th. On the morning of the 18th, part of the Rebel army occupied the village of Chapel Hill. General Wheeler's Rebel cavalry covered the approach to the town, occupying a swamp through which the road passed. At daylight

.646

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

the regiment was ordered to effect a crossing if possible. Arriving at the swamp, the sec- ond battalion was ordered forward, dismount- ed, through the water. They advanced under cover of the cypress timber until the enemy came within range of their Spencer carbines. A spirited engagement ensued, in which the enemy were driven from their position, leaving a captain and staff-officer of General Wheeler, and three men dead on the field.

Orders in the meantime arrived from Gen- eral Sherman suspending hostilities.

After the surrender the command was or- dered to Concord, North Carolina, where it remained until the last of July.

On August 2, 1865, the regimental colors and property were turned over at Columbus, Ohio, and the regiment was mustered out of service.

Company F, Second Virginia Volunteer Car- alry.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel William M. Bolles, mustered September 16, 1861, resigned June 25. 1862; Colonel John C. Pax- ton, July 18, 1862. honorahly discharged; Colonel Will- iam H. Powell, May 18, 1863, promoted to brigadier general: Lieutenant Colonel John C. Paxton, Septem- ber 16. 1861, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel Rollin L. Curtis, August 19. 1862, resigned October 25, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel William H. Powell, Decem- her 5. 1862, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel David Done. May 18. 1863. resigned July_5. 1864; Lieutenant Colonel John J. Hoffman, July 14, 1864, mustered out : Lieutenant Colonel James Allen, No- vember 26, 1864: Major Rollin L. Curtis, October 2, 1861, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major John J. Hoffman. October 2. 1861. promoted to lieutenant colonel : Major Henry Stembach, February 5, 1862, mus- tered out ; Major William H. Powell, August 19, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel : Major John McMahon, January 2, 1863; Major James Allen, April 29. 1864, promoted to lieutenant colonel ; Major Charles E. Ham- bleton, July 14. 1864, mustered out; Major Edwin S. Morgan, November 26, 1864; Adjutant John P. Merrill. Octoher 25, 1861, resigned June 5. 1862; Adjutant Eli- jah F. Gillon. November 5. 1862, resigned September 7, 1864; Adjutant Earl A. Cranston, November 12, 1861, resigned June 2, 1862: Adimant George E. Downing, October 25, 1861, resigned May 1. 1862: Quartermaster Sayres G. Payton, October 2. 1861, mustered out; Quartermaster William Holden, October 23, 1861, re- signed March 13, 1862; Commissary George S. South, January 2, 1863. mustered out at expiration of term; Surgeon Thomas S. Neal. October 25, 1861, resigned

February 9, 1864: Surgeon Matthew McEwen, January 17. 1863: Assistant Surgeon Lucien L. Comstock, No- vember 6, 1861, promoted to surgeon of Eighth West Virginia Infantry; Assistant Surgeon Ozias Nellis, March 6, 1863, mustered out at expiration of term; Assistant Surgeon Edward L. Gillian, May 18, 1863; Chaplain Charles M. Bethauser, October 2, 1861. re- signed October 12. 1862.

OFFICERS OF COMPANY F.

Captain Arthur D. Eells, November 22, 1861, re- signed May 6, 1862: Captain Oliver H. P. Scott, June 26, 1862. resigned December 23, 1862: Captain George Millard. April 1. 1863, mustered out at expiration of term ; Captain Henry F. Swentzel, November 26, 186.4. promoted from Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry to Company E, and from Company E to Company F; Captain George W. Gilmore; Captain Ed. A. Rosser, promoted from Company B: Captain E. S. Fisher ; Captain Oliver C. Ong: First Lieutenant Oliver H. P. Scott, November 22, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant William M. Fortescue, June 26, 1862, pro- moted to captain of . Company I; First Lieutenant George Millard. November 5. 1862. promoted to captain ; First Lieutenant Lloyd B. Stephens, April 1, 1862, re- signed July 13. 1864: First Lieutenant Charles C. Clise, November 26. 1864: Second Lieutenant William M. Fortescue, November 22, 1861, promoted to first lieu- tenant; Second Lieutenant George Millard, June 26, 1862, promoted to first lientenant; Second Lieutenant Lloyd B. Stephens, November 5, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant : Second Lieutenant Oliver C. Ong. April I, 1863, mustered out: Second Lieutenant Elisha T. Fisher, November 26, 1864.

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 94

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