History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 50

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 50

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greeted all along the journey homeward by crowds of grateful people. A feast was pre- pared at Zanesville, and at Cleveland the Mayor and military committee welcomed the remnant of the heroie old regiment home. It was mus- tered out July 13, 1864, by Capt. Douglas. The hundreds of brave boys left on the bloody battle-fields of the "Sunny South," in unknown graves, or in hospital cemeteries, speak in unmistakable language of the part borne by the noble Eighth Regiment in the war of the rebellion.

When the first two companies raised in the county were dispatched to the field, the rapid enlistment of volunteers continued. Two companies, B and E, for the Forty-second Regiment, were raised almost entirely in the county. Besides these, there were some thir- teen Medina men in Company I, of the Forty-second, enlisted by Porter H. Foskett, of Medina, who was afterward commissioned Captain. There was also a squad of twenty Medina men in Company G, and, when the offieers for this company were elected, the men from this county were permitted to eleet the First Lieutenant, and T. G. Loomis was the man ehosen. All these men were enlisted for the Forty-second Regiment, in process of form- ation at Camp Chase, to be under the command of Col. J. A. Garfield. The officers of Company B were : William H. Williams, Captain ; Henry A. Howard, First Lieutenant ; Joseph Laekey, Seeoud Lieutenant. Those of Company E were : Charles H. Howe, Captain ; George F. Brady, First Lieutenant ; A. L. Bowman, See- ond Lieutenant. The members of Company B were noted for their hilarity and drollery, and even in battle, as the shot and shell were falling like hail around them, and loved comrades were dropping at every discharge of the enemy, the irrepressible waggery of some member would burst out, eausing momentary laughter along the line. While in Columbus, a verdant volun- teer was arrested, and brought before a moek

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court-martial for trial, for attempting to break guard. The trembling fellow was convicted, and sentenced to be shot at sunrise. About this time, the court was dissolved by Sergt. Beach, and the frightened convict released. Andrew Huntington devised and exhibited an elephant, formed by two meu with an army blanket. Ly- man Thomas became a talented serio-comie orator, and entertained the camp with frequent stump speeches ou polities, love and war.

The Forty-second Regiment received orders, on the 14th of December, to proceed to Ciucin- nati ; thence, by boat, to Catlettsburg, Ky., where it arrived December 17, 1861. The regi- ment proceeded to Louisa, and thence to Green Creek, and, on the 31st of December, the whole command advanced, and, by the 7th of January, 1862, encamped within three miles of Paintville, and the following morning took possession of the village. The next evening, Col. Garfield, with the Forty-second and two companies of the Fourteenth Kentucky, marehed against Humphrey Marshall's fortified position, near Paintville, but found the place evacuated. The command, after an all-night's march, reached camp shortly after day break. On the 9th, Col. Garfield, with about 1,200 men, of whom about 600 were cavalry, proceeded to attaek Mar- shall, who, with 3,500 men, infautry and caval- ry, and three pieces of artillery, was massed near Abbott's Hill. The advance line of skirmish- ers was fired upon by the enemy's piekets ; but Garfield took possession of the hill, bivouack- ing for the night, and continuing the pursuit the next morning. The enemy was overtaken at the forks of Middle Creek. Maj. Pardee was ordered to take 400 men, cross the creek, and attack the enemy's center. At the same time, a body of troops under Lieut. Col. Mou- roe, was directed to strike the right flank. The battle at once became hot, as the enemy num- bered nearly four times the attacking force. The position was held until re-enforcements ar- rived, when the enemy fell back, and during the

night retreated, leaving a portion of his dead upon the field. Prestonburg, Ky., was occu- pied on the 11th, but on the 12th, the command was ordered to Paintville, where it remained until the 1st of February, when the troops were transported by boat to Pikeville. On the 14th of March, the enemy's stores and camp at Pound Gap were destroyed, and soon afterward the Forty-second was engaged in several skirmishes with guerrillas. While in this neighborhood, eighty-five members of the regiment died of disease. On the 18th, the regiment was ordered to Louisville, where it encamped on the 29th. With 314 men fit for duty, the Forty-second was attached to Gen. Morgan's command. It was ordered to Cumberland Ford, where it was brigaded with the Sixteenth Ohio, the Four- teenth aud Twenty-second Kentucky, Col. J. F. De Courcey commanding. On the 5th of Juue, Morgan's entire command was ordered forward, and was uuopposed until Rogers Gap was reached, when a series of skirmishes oc- eurred between the Forty-seeond and the eue- my. Morgan continued to advance, the object- ive poiut being the important position of Cum- berland Gap, which was seeured on the 18th, the Forty-secoud being the first to plant its flag on this stronghold. From this point the regi- ment engaged in skirmishes at Baptist's Gap, at Tazewell, and assisted in opposing the advance of Kirby Smith into Kentucky. On the 6th of August, the brigade fell back slowly from Taze- well to Cumberland Gap before a heavy force of the enemy, and, at one time, Company E, of the Forty-second, while eseorting a forage train, was nearly surrounded by the euemy, but by gallantry saved the train without loss of men. The Gap was evacuated, and the force slowly retreated, and finally crossed the Ohio River at Greenupsburg, the Forty-secoud acting as rear- guard during the retreat. This retreat was a memorable one to the regimeut. The food was scanty and in poor condition ; the men were ragged and filthy, many being without shoes.

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

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It was the only regiment that brought through its knapsacks and blankets. It remained at Portland, Ohio, two weeks before clothing and camp equipage arrived. On the 21st of Octo- ber, it proceeded to Charleston, Va., by way of Gallipolis. November 10, it proceeded down the Ohio, first to Cincinnati, thence to Memphis, where it arrived on the 28th. For several months prior to this date, the regiment had re- ceived over 200 recruits, and could turn out on parade nearly 900 men. The division to which it belonged, was re-organized and denom- inated the Ninth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps. The Forty-second, together with other troops under Gen. Sherman, sailed down the Mississippi, December 20, landing at Johnston's plantation, on the Yazoo. On the 27th, the regiment was ordered on the advance against the strong defenses of Vicksburg, and continued to skirmish with the enemy until dark. On the morrow, the attack was resumed, and finally Col. . Pardee ordered a charge, which resulted in cap- turing a piece of woods, and pushing the enemy into their works. An assault was ordered the following morning, and the Forty-second was assigned a position on the extreme right of the column. The troops were met by a terrific storm of shot and shell, and were driven back, but maintained their organization. The posi- tion of the enemy could not be taken, and, after a hard fight, the army finally retired, and moved to Milliken's Bend. Early in January, 1863, the troops were ordered to Arkansas Post ; whence they proceeded to invest Fort Hindman, De Courcey's brigade being held in reserve. Several unsuccessful charges were made by the Union troops, and finally De Courcey's brigade was ordered to join Sheldon's brigade in the as- sault on the strong works of the fort, the Forty- second leading the advance. The assault was hardly begun, when the enemy surrendered. Seven thousand prisoners and large quantities of guns and stores were captured. The troops were conveyed by water to Young's Point, where

they landed on the 24th of January, 1863. At this point, the regiment was detailed for work on the canal. It was ordered to Milliken's Bend on the 10th of March, where, for four weeks, it was under training for the coming campaign. The Forty-second was among the advance troops in the movement toward the rear of Vicksburg. It was ordered to Rich- mond, La., and, having reached the river some thirty miles below Vicksburg, was embarked on the transports which had passed the batteries at the latter city, and conveyed to Grand Gulf. From this point it was ordered to Port Gibson, and in the middle of the night had a slight en- gagement with the enemy. The Thirteenth Corps bivouacked for the night near Magnolia Church, and, at daybreak, was ordered to ad- vance. The Ninth Division, on the left flank, engaged the enemy until 4 o'clock, P. M., the Forty-second Regiment, in the meantime, being under a heavy artillery fire, from 7 A. M. until 9 A. M., when it was ordered to charge, but, meeting with unexpected obstacles, the division commander ordered it to retire. At 12 o'clock M., in company with two other regiments, it was ordered to assault a strong position held by the rebels, but, after a gallant effort failed, and was ordered back. A third charge was ordered at 3 o'clock, P. M., one of the three assaulting regiments being the Forty-second. The coveted position was carried with great spirit, and, dur- ing the entire engagement, the regiment sus- tained a heavier loss than any other in the en- tire corps. On the 2d of May, the regiment was ordered with other troops to the rear of Vicksburg, and, while on the way, engaged the rebels at Champion Hill and Big Black, with slight loss. It participated in the fierce charges on the strong earth and stone works about Vicks- burg, on the 19th and 22d of May, the regiment being well on the advance, and losing heavily, especially on the 22d. From the 10th until the 27th of June, it remained near this place, supporting a number of batteries ; but at the

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

latter date it was moved to Big Black Bridge. Immediately after the capitulation of Vicks- burg, the regiment was ordered forward to as- sist in the reduction of Jackson, but afterward returned to the former place, where it remained until ordered to the Department of the Gulf. It reached Carrolltown, near New Orleans, on the 15th of August, and, on the 6th of September, was ordered out on the Westeru Louisiaua Campaign. Soon afterward, the Ninth and Twelfth Divisions were consolidated, and the brigade thus created was assigned to the com- mand of Brig. Gen. Lawler. The brigade moved to Vermillion Bayou, thence to Opelousas, and a few days later to Berwick Bay. On the 18th of November, it moved to Brashear City, in- tending to go to Texas ; but the following night was ordered to Thibodeaux, and then, by way of Donaldsonville, reached Plaquemiue Novem- ber 21. Here the winter was passed by the Forty-second, and, on the 24th of March, 1864, it was ordered to Baton Rouge, and was detailed to guard the city. On the 1st of May, in an ex- pedition toward Clinton, La., au equal foree of the enemy was eugaged by the Forty-seeond and other troops for seven hours, and fiually driven five miles through cauebrakes and across the Comite River. Fifty-four miles were marched in eighteen hours by the infantry. The regi- ment was transported by boats to the mouth of Red River, and then up to Simmsport, where, from five regiments, including the Forty- sec- ond, a provisional brigade was formed and as- signed to the command of Col. Sheldon. Soon afterward, the regiment was marched to Mor- ganza, La., with Gen. Banks, and from this point several expeditions and skirmishes were engaged in. Here the Forty-second was attached to the First Brigade, Third Divisiou, Nineteenth Corps. When, in September, 1864, the best companies of the Thirteenth and Nineteenth Army Corps held a competitive drill at the last-mentioned place, Company E, of the Forty-seeond, brought con- spicuous honor upon Ohio and the regiment to

which it belonged by winning the first prize. The victory was all the more surprising, as the competitors were largely from the well-drilled Army of the Potomac. On the 15th of July, the brigade was ordered up the river, and, hav- ing landed at the mouth of White River, seut a small detachment into Mississippi, which marched fifteen miles in ten hours, and captured two small parties of rebels. The brigade passed up White River to St. Charles, where it worked ten days on the fortifications, and then made an expedition sixty miles into the inte- rior of the country. It returned to Morganza on the 6th of August, and one month later moved agaiu to the mouth of White River. Companies A, B, C and D were ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 15th of September, and ou the 30th were mustered out of service. The period of enlistment of the remaining companies not having expired, they were ordered to Du- vall's Bluff, Ark. No further service of note was seen, and, on the 25th of November, Com- panies E and F were mustered out, as were also the remaining four, December 2, 1864. One hundred and one men, reeruits of the regiment, whose term had not expired, were organized iuto a company, and assigned to the Ninety- sixth Ohio. Thus was the military career of the Forty-second terminated. Its battle-flag hangs, with the other tattered banners which Ohio cherishes so proudly, in the Capitol at Columbus. It was borne through eleven bat- tles and many more skirmishes, but was never in the hands of an enemy. The killed aud wounded number in all one officer and twenty men killed, and eighteen officers and three hun- dred and twenty-five men wounded.

It must not be understood that the four or more companies already mentioned contained the only troops furnished by Medina County, prior to the time when the Seventy-second took the field. Boys from the county had enlisted in companies raised in ueighboring counties, in distant counties in the State, or in adjoining

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IIISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

States. A few of the companies belonging to regiments raised in other counties contained as high as twenty volunteers from Medina County. One of these was the Twenty-ninth, In some regiments, more than one company contained Medina County boys. One of these was the Nineteenth, another the Twenty-ninth, and yet another the Sixty-fourth. The following regi- ments also contained men from this eounty : Twenty-third, Thirty-seventh, Twenty-second, Fifty-fifth, Sixty-fifth, Eighteenth, Sixty-sev- enth, Sixtieth, Forty-first, Sixth Battery, First Artillery, Third Michigan Infantry, and others .*

The next regiment, in order, after the Forty- seeond, that contained as much as a company of Medina County boys, was the Seventy-sec- ond. No one company was wholly from Me- dina, but. when the regiment was first organized, during the last three months of 1861, Company K, and portions of other companies of the Sev- enty-second, were recruited mostly in this eounty. Afterward, when the regiment, after being ordered to Camp Chase, did not contain the maximum number of men, Company K was broken up and distributed among the other companies, and a new company, originally in- tended for the Fifty-second, was assigned to the Seventy-seeond, and designated Company K. Thus, the Medina boys, instead of being together, were seattered among several com- panies. In February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to report to Gen. W. T. Sherman, at Paducah, and while here was brigaded with the Forty-eighth and Seventieth, and assigned to the command of Col. Buckland. Early in March the army was concentrated at Fort Henry. Separating from the main army, which proceeded to Savannah, Sherman's division was ordered to Eastport, Miss., to eut the Mem- phis & Charleston Railroad, and thus pre- vent the rebel Gen. Johnston from re-enforc- ing Beanregard. The plan was foiled by heavy

* This record is taken from the Assessor's books of 1862, and was published in the Medina Gazette soon after its preparation.

rains and high waters, and, after remaining on board the boats sixteen days, Buckland's bri- gade disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, and encamped near Shiloh Church. While at the Landing, on the boats, the troops suffered severely from siekness, and were greatly reduced in numbers. On the 3d of April, in a recon- naissance, the Seventy-second exchanged shots with rebel pickets, and on the following day Companies B and H were advaneed to recon- noiter the lines of the enemy. An engagement with rebel cavalry occurred, and Maj. Crockett and two or three men of Company H were cap- tured, and several wounded. Company B was surrounded by a heavy force of the enemy, and, after fighting desperately for about an hour, was saved by the timely arrival of Companies A. D and F. having lost four men wounded. On the morning of the 6th, Buckland's brigade withstood three successive attacks of great fury from heavy masses of rebel infantry, and, after holding its position for two hours, was ordered to retire, maintaining its organization in the meantime, while many other portions of the army were broken and confused. It took its position on the right of the new line formed, and held a prominent portion of the line in the next day's battle. The Forty-seeond lost two officers killed, three wounded and one missing ; and thirteen men killed, seventy wounded and forty-five missing. Among the killed on the 6th, was Lieut. Col. Herman Canfield, of Me- dina County, a talented man and a brave and capable officer. Prior to his departure for the field, he had taken an active and prominent part to seeure the enlistment of men, and was iden- tified with every important movement in the eounty to encourage a feeling of determined re- sistanee to the rebellion. His death was a seri- ons loss to the county. The Seventy-second was present at the siege of Corinth, during which time Col. Buckland was returned to the regiment, and Gen. J. W. Denver assigned to the command of the brigade. Ragged and

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IIISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

dirty, the regiment, on the 21st of July, entercd Memphis, and soon afterward was posted at Fort Pickering, where the brigade was broken up and re-organized from different regiments, and assigned to the command of Col. Buckland, and the division to Gen. Lanman.

After a varied experience, once with Rich- ardson's guerrillas at the bridge over Wolf River. near Moscow, on the 9th of January. 1863. the regiment was ordered to Corinth, Soon afterward, Buckland's brigade was as- signed to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and im- mediately thereafter the Seventy-second was ordered to White Station to do picket duty, and work on the fortifications, arriving on the 31st of January. On the 14th of March, it proceeded down the Mississippi River, and on the 2d of April encamped four miles above Young's Point. Here it began work on the canal, and on the 2d of May commenced its march for the rear of Vicksburg, reaching the river, opposite Grand Gulf. It crossed the river on the 7th, and the next day moved to Jackson, where it participated in the battle of the 14th, and on the 18th reached the Federal lines before Vicksburg. It engaged in the as- sault on the rebel works on the 19th and 22d of May, and during the succeeding siege was posted about half a mile up the river above Vicksburg. It participated iu preventing Gen. Joe Johnston from re-enforcing Pemberton, and, after the surrender of Vicksburg, engaged the enemy at Jackson, pursuing the rebels to Brandon, where it had a skirmish, destroyed a portion of railroad. and then moved back to Big Black to rest and refit.

From this time until the 2d of January, 1864, the regiment engaged in various move- ments and skirmishes, once a four days' scout to Mechanicsville. At the above date, the reg- iment re-enlisted. On the 23d of February, it received its veteran furlough and moved north to Fremont, Ohio, receiving there a cordial welcome from the citizens. On the 5th of April

it moved to Clevelaud. From this point, on the 8th of April, it proceeded by rail to Cairo, arriv- ing on the 10th, and was ordered to advance to Paducah, Ky., which place was threatened by an attack from Forrest. A slight skirmish occurred on the 14th, and on the 22d the troops were ordered to Memphis. From this point, until May 9, the regiment participated in an expedition against Forrest, but fouud no ene- my in force to oppose it. On the 1st of June, the Seventy-second was one of twelve regi- ments in another expeditiou against Forrest. On the 10th, the enemy was encountered, and the cavalry commenced a lively skirmish at Brice's Cross Roads, Mississippi. The infan- try was ordered forward on the double-quick, and, without any attempt to form in battle array, was hurled against the enemy, one regi- ment at a time, and badly cut up. To add to the general confusion, an attempt was made to move the wagon-train across Tishomingo Creek, but failed, when a retreat was ordered, which ended in a panic. No attempt was made to cover the rear to secure an orderly retreat, but the troops stampeded like frightened cattle, and fell back twenty-three miles to Ripley, leaving a portion of their wagon-train which fell into the hauds of the enemy. The remain- der of the train had been destroyed, and thus the troops were left without rations and ammunition. At Ripley, au attempt was made to re-organize, but failed, and the officer in command, surrounding himself with cavalry, started for Memphis, leaving the infantry, as he expressively remarked, "to go the devil." The only thing now for the infantry to do to avoid falling into the enemy's hands, was to outmarch the rebel cavalry, which, flushed with success, was rapidly moving upon them. Nine officers and one hundred and forty men of the Seventy-second reached Germantown on the morning of the 12th, having marched the re- markable distance of one hundred miles in forty-one hours, without a morsel of food.

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Many of these men were utterly broken down, and could scarcely stand or walk. They were conveyed by rail to Memphis. Of the Seventy- second, eleven officers and two hundred and thirty-seven men were killed, wounded or cap- tured, and but few of the latter ever rejoined the regiment. Soon after this disastrous event, the regiment was assigned to the First Bri- gade, Mower's Division, Sixteenth Corps, Gen. McMillan commanding the brigade, and, on the 22d of June, was ordered on an expedition in the direction of Tupelo, Miss. The enemy was encountered on the 11th of July. and, in the battle which followed, the Seventy-second was hotly engaged, but, with the help of the remain- der of the brigade, drove the enemy from the field in a rout. In another attack from the enemy near Tishomingo Creek, the Seventy- second was engaged, and its commanding offi- cer, Maj. E. A. Ranson, fell, mortally wounded. A precipitous charge drove the enemy from the field. The loss to the Seventy-second in this expedition, was two officers and nineteen men wounded. After this and until the 16th of November, the division under Mower made several efforts to reach Price, who was march- ing north, but, after long marches, attended with great suffering and privation, for hun- dreds of miles through rivers and swamps, in weather varying from warm to intenscly cold, it was found impossible to catch Price, and the infantry turned back, and reached St. Louis at the last-mentioned date. After a brief rest, the division, then under Gen. J. A. McArthur, was ordered to join Gen. Thomas at Nashville, and soon afterward the Seventy-second en- gaged the enemy and lost eleven men killed and wounded. At Nashville, the regiment par- ticipated in a charge, and three hundred and fifty of the enemy were captured, together with six pieces of artillery. It took part in the fight of the 16th of December, and participated in the charge on Walnut Hill. In this engage- ment, McMillan's brigade, though numbering

but twelve hundred men, captured two thou- sand prisoners and thirteen pieces of artillery, losing, in the meantime, one hundred and sixty men. At Eastport, the troops subsisted several days on parched corn. Early in 1865, the division passed down the river to the Gulf, and invested Spanish Fort, which was evacu- ated on the 8th of April. The regiment also participated in the capture of Fort Blakely. After occupying several positions and doing garrison duty in Alabama and Mississippi, the regiment finally reached Meridian, Miss. In June, forty-one men were discharged. The re- mainder were mustered out at Vicksburg, Sep- tember 11, 1865, and immediately embarked for Camp Chase, Ohio, where they were paid and discharged.

The One Hundred and Third Ohio Infantry was the next regiment that contained as much or more than a company of Medina County boys. Two companies, one commanded by Ly- man B. Wilcox, and the other by William H. Garrett, were recruited mostly in this county. The regiment was ordered into Kentucky to check the advance of the rebels under Kirby Smithı. But the enemy retreated, and, after following him three days without success, the troops were ordered back to Snow's Pond, where sickness soon prostrated half the regi- ment. The brigade commander was Q. A. Gilmore. After repressing outrages committed by rebel cavalry, the troops proceeded to Lex- ington, and, on the 29th of October, to Frank- fort. Here the regiment remained until April 5, 1863, when it marched to Stanford and Camp Dick Robinson. Here an effort was made to punish daring and marauding bands of guerrillas, that for several months had kept the country in a fever of alarm. The troops ad- vanced to Somerset and Mill Springs, the enemy falling back before the advancing lines. The rebels continued to retreat without concentrat- ing, though in considerable force. The Cum- berland River was crossed with difficulty, and,

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 50

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014