History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 64

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co.
Number of Pages: 600

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 64

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Almost every family had in that war one dead for the holy cause ; by almost every hearth- stone, was heard lamention for those that were not. And yet there were those, in that dark and trying hour, who aforetime had been exalted to places of honor, who so får forgot the inevitable result as to aid treason, in trying to induce the people to pause, declaring the war a failure and a crime, and used their influence against the government, pretending to favor peace on any terms, save the blood of sons, husbands and fathers. But the patriot heart of father, mother, sister and wife, beat too strong, and they heeded not their traitorous counsel. And by a vote more decisive than had ever been known in the history of American elections, rejected the tempter. Thenceforth the position of Ohio has been a watchword to the Nation. And we refrain from giving the names of those traitors, preferring to leave them to the worst company we know of- themselves. This will doubtless be the decision of every historian.

The State which contributed such leaders in the Cabinet, such Generals in the field, and an army of three hundred and ten thousand soldiers to follow them, may well be pardoned for desiring her achievments separately recorded, that find- ing themselves grouped together, those who come after us may trace their career with State, as well as National pride. And teach their sons to emulate such as Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Rosecrans, Mitchell, McPherson, McDowell, McClellan, Buell, Gillmore, Steedman, Hazen, Scheuch, Stanton, Chase, Wade, Dennison, Todd and Brough, and nearly every one of the two hundred and thirty military organizations.

They may see how by the aid of these, the army grew into shape and power, how it was led "always to honor," often " to victory," and finally to glorious success. "This was Ohio in

the war."

Within twenty four hours after the President of the United States called for troops, the State Senate had matured, carried through the several readings, and passed a bill, appropriating one million of dollars for placing the State upon a war footing, and for assisting the General Government in meeting the shock of the Re- bellion. On that memorable 15th day of April, 1861, Ohio's Capital was wild with the excitement of the call, to arms! And on the 16th. the feeling was even more intense : troops were arriving, the telegraph and mails were bur- dened with exhortations to the Legislature, to grant money and men, to any extent. The very air was laden with the clamor of war, and the swift haste of the people to plunge into it; and on the 17th, every pulse was at fever heat.

The Senators of Ohio, as a last effort, passed the Corwin constitutional amendment. The eight who had the foresight to recognize that the 17th of April, 1861, was not a time to be striving to add security to Slavery. were Buck.

Cox, Garfield, Glass, Monroe, Parish and Smith.

Governor Dennison's message on that mo- mentous occasion concluded as follows : " But as the contest may grow to greater dimensions than now is anticipated, I deem it my duty to recommend to the General Assembly of this State, to make provisions proportionate to its means, to assist the National authorities in re- storing the integrity of the Union, in all its am- plitude, as the only means of preserving the rights of all the States, and in insuring the per- manent peace and prosperity, of the whole country. I earnestly recommend, also, that an appropriation of not less than four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, be immediately made for the purchase of arms and equipments, for the use of the volunteer militia of the State. I need not remind you of the pressing exigency for the prompt organization and arming of the military force of the State."

The Senate, under the leadership of Mr. Garfield, matured and passed a bill, defining and providing punishment, for the crime of treason against the State of Ohio. It declared any resident of the State who gave aid and com- fort to the enemies of the United States, guilty of treason against the State, to be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary at hard labor, for life. With the passage of these bills, all semblance of party opposition to the necessary war measures, disappeared from the proceedings of the Legislature.

Mr. Vallandingham visited the Capital and earnestly remonstrated with the Democrats, for giving their sanction to the war ; but the patri- otic enthusiasm of the crisis, could not be con- trolled by party discipline. Under the leader- ship of Speaker Woods, a bill passed exempting the property of volunteers from execution for debt, during their service. Then, as within a few days it became evident that far more troops were pressing for acceptance than were needed to fill the President's call for thirteen regiments. the Legislature acceded to the sagacious sugges- tion of the Governor, that they should be re- tained for the service of the State. The bill authorized the acceptance of ten regiments, pro- vided five hundred thousand dollars for their payment, and a million and a half more, to be used in case of invasion of the State, or the ap- pearance of danger of invasion.

The first company from Muskingum county was raised by Captain John C. Hazlett, the bril- liant young Prosecuting Attorney of the county. The President's call for 75,000 troops, to serve three months. had scarcely flashed over the wires, on the 17th day of April. 1861, when Cap- tain Hazlett began to recruit his company, and on Wednesday. the 19th, having filled his quota, took his company to Columbus, and was assign- ed to the First Ohio Infantry. Alex. McD. Mc- Cook. Colonel commanding, and on Thursday, the 20th. started for Washington, D. C. At Vienna. a station on the B. & O. Railroad, in Virginia, they were fired on by a battery, in am-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

bush, and four of their number were killed. Af- ter assisting in fortifying the Capital, they pro- ceeded to Bull Run, and took part in that fearful conflict, losing, however, only three killed and several wounded.

At the expiration of their three months, Com- pany H was brought back to Columbus and mustered out, most of the members re-enlisting in other organizations. Captain Hazlett imme- diately began recruiting another company, first known as A, then E Company, Second O.V. I., and it was while commanding this company at the battle of Stone River. December 31, 1862, that he received the wound from which he sub- sequently died.

In August, 1861, the regiment began to re-or- ganize for three years service. the organization being completed in October, and was subsequent- ly brigaded with the First Kentucky, or Louis- ville Legion, the Sixth Indiana, First Battalion of the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, and Battalions of the Sixteenth and Nineteenth Infantry, forming the Fourth Brigade of the Second Division, and was subsequently under General Grant, mov- ing on Fort Henry. This regiment marched in company with General Buell's army, in pursuit of Braggs' Rebel army, then on its way to Louis- ville, the history of which is too well known, even if we intended to recite the important move- ments. to repeat. The army of Ohio, under Gen- eral Buell, was placed under General William S. Rosecrans, who immediately organized it, and named it the Army of the Cumberland. General W. Sill commanded the Division in which the First was brigaded ; he was superseded by Gen- eral R. W. Johnson, and the name of the Divi- sion changed to the Fourteenth Army Corps, Second Division, right wing, Army of the Cum- berland. The principal battles in which they were engaged were Stone River, Tullahoma, and Liberty Gap.

The company and regimental organization of Ohio troops being given at the close of this chap- ter, that portion of the record is omitted here.

The Second O. V. I. was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Fayetteville, and Huntsville-formed a part of the Fourteenth Army Corps, under General Thomas, up to At- lanta. participating in all the marches and bat- tles of that distinguished corps ; it was in the bat- tle of Stone River that its Colonel was killed at the head of his regiment. and Major Maxwell and Captain Hazlett were wounded.

THE THIRD O. V. I .- From Clarksburg, the Third Ohio advanced with the army, nothing of interest occurring until the 5th day of July, when the regiment lay at Buckhannon. Virginia. A scouting party of fifty men, under Captain O. A. Lawson, of Company A, was sent out by General Schleich to reconnoitre the road leading to the Rebel position, at Rich Mountain. Proceeding cautiously, the little band, upon approaching Middle Fork Bridge, discovered that it was oc- cupied by the enemy. A gallant, but unsuccess- ful effort was made to dislodge the Rebels. In this first drawing of blood, the detachment lost

one man killed, and five wounded. Gathering up the wounded, the party returned to camp. In the hurry the dead soldier was not found, but a few days later, upon the general advance of the army, the body of Sergeant John was found, and decently buried by his comrades ; he was the first man of the Third Ohio to die in battle. The regiment bore an honorable part in the battle of Rich Mountain-Elk Water Creek-resisting General R. E. Lee's advance, as they appeared on the Huntsville road, and in all subsequent movements of that period, resulting in the re- pulse of the Rebel army, and its retirement to Mingo Flats. After a few days rest, the Na- tional forces resumed their movements. The first encounter of any importance, was at Perryville, Kentucky. In this ill-starred affair, the regi- ment bore a brave part ; it took position in an open field, at the Perryville road, protected only by a rail fence. The rebel attack was fierce and deadly, but, notwithstanding their exposure, the Third stood firm. and returned volley for vol- ley, until more than one-third of its number had fallen, dead or wounded. In the opening of the battle, Color Sergeant, William V. McCombrie stood a little in advance of the color guard, bear- ing the regimental standard proudly aloft. His exposed and marked position instantly brought upon him a fierce fire, from the enemy, and the gallant fellow was killed. Five others shared the same fate, until a sixth rushed forward and caught the colors ere they touched the ground. This last gallant hero was a beardless boy of seventeen, named David C. Walker, of Com- pany C, who successfully carried the flag through the remainder of the action, and was rewarded for his bravery by being made Color Sergeant on the battle field, by Colonel Beatty. Before the close of the battle, the regiment was ordered to withdraw to the second line, which command it executed in good order, though sorely press- ed by the enemy. It remained in its last posi- tion until night put an end to the unequal conflict. While in line, General Rosecrans rode up to the regiment and thanked it in the name of the army for its gallant conduct. He said : "You stood in that withering fire like men of iron." Its loss in this battle was 212 officers and men killed and wounded. They were in the battle of Stone . River, on the right of the center, and then on the extreme left, amid terrible fighting, and were sub- sequently taken prisoners by the rebel, General Forrest, and endured great hardships en route from Rome to Atlanta, via. Knoxville, to Rich- mond, Virginia ; when on Belle Isle they re- mained in the open air for ten days, when they were paroled ; but the officers, including the Chaplain and Surgeons, were incarcerated in Libby Prison, and underwent its loathsome hor- rors. An exchange being ordered, the Third Ohio was included in its provisions, and return- ed to Ohio, and until August 1, 1863, was en- gaged in quelling local trouble. At that time it received orders to report to General Gordon Granger, at Nashville, Tennessee, for duty, and was soon again armed and equipped, and order-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

ed to join its old brigade, under General John Beatty, at Stevenson, Alabama, and took part in the engagement at Anderson Gap, and a number of others, and when the term of service expired, June 23, 1864, reported at Camp Dennison, and was mustered out. After a brief visit to their homes, the great majority of the men and officers re-entered the service in other regiments "for the war" and performed gallant service up to the end of the strife, many of them laying down their lives a willing sacrifice for their country.

THE NINETEENTH O. V. I .- This regiment was among the organizations which sprang into existence at the sound of the guns at Fort Sum- ter. It was composed of recruits from seven coun- ties : Company A, from Canton, Stark county ; B, from Youngstown, Mahoning county ; C, from Warren, Trumbull county ; D and I, from Ash- tabula ; E and H, from New Lisbon, Columbiana county ; F, from Geauga county ; G and K, from Akron, Summit county ; for which record, see Volume II .; page 134, Ohio in the War, 1868, by Whitelaw Reid, and note that no company is credited to Muskingum county, whereas, the mil itary records at Columbus, and numerous mem- bers of this regiment now living, certify that com- panies E and K were recruited and mustered at Camp Goddard, at Zanesville, Muskingum coun- ty. Lieutenant S. Lentz, of Company E, died of typhoid fever, February 9th. 1862 ; also, Ser- geant August Johns, same disease, in Columbus. Over two hundred were in hospital, having measles and typhoid fever. Among the hard fought battles in which this regiment participated, was Stone River, which the Nineteenth Ohio, and Ninth Kentucky, were the first to cross. The Nineteenth entered the battle with four hundred and forty-nine men, and lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, two hundred and thirteen-nearly half. Returning to Chattanooga, it was almost immediately sent with Sherman toward Knox- ville. This march was one among the severest during the war. The men were ragged and al- most shoeless, and left their footprints in blood on the snowy ground. They re-enlisted, January 4, 1864, as veteran volunteers, and by the 16th reached Chattanooga, where the papers were pre- pared-the three years' regiment was mustered out, and the veteran Nineteenth mustered in. The regiment then returned to Ohio, reaching Cleveland, February 16th, 1864, and returned soon after, reaching Knoxville the 24th of March. May 6th, Sherman's entire command entered on the Atlanta campaign. ' The Nineteenth Regi- ment was sent to Parker's Gap, to hold that pass. On the 20th it rejoined its brigade, at Cassville. Captain Charles Brewer, of Company E, was killed in the fight at New Hope Church ; Major Nash lost his left hand ; Captain Smith, of Com- pany G, was severely wounded in the head, and forty-four men were killed and wounded. In the action at Lovejoy Station, Captain Agard, Com- pany K, was severely wounded in the shoulder, and seventy-nine men killed and wounded. It captured the enemy's front line of works, and held them for three days, and until Sherman's

army returned to Atlanta. It served faithfully in the many trying marches and sanguinary con- flicts, and returned to Columbus, Ohio, Novem- ber 22d, and was discharged at Camp Chase, November 25th, 1865, after nearly five years of service.

TWENTY-FOURTH O. V. I .- This Regiment or- ganized at Camp Chase, near Columbus, in the latter part of June, 1861. Company B reported from Zanesville. The regiment took part in most of the skirmishes between Pittsburgh Landing and Corinth, and was one of the first regiments to enter the latter place, and was with the army in pursuit of the enemy in North Mississippi, and North Alabama, and in July, of the same year, camped at McMinnville, Tennessee. In Decem- ber, 1862, General Rosecrans advanced from Nashville. The Twenty-fourth was reduced by sickness, and other losses, to thirteen officers and three hundred and forty men. With this strength it went into the battle of Stone River. The loss of the regiment, in this battle, was one-fourth of the entire strength with which it went into it. It participated, also, in the battles of Woodbury, Tennessee, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, etc. The colors of the regiment were presented to the State, to be placed in the archives for preservation, Colonel A. T. M. Cockerill turning them over with a few pertinent remarks. In response, Governor Brough said :

"Colonel, Officers, and Soldiers of the Twen- ty-fourth-I thank you, in behalf of the people of the State of Ohio, not only for the colors, but for having borne them so nobly and gallantly, as you have, throughout the three years' service. They come worn and tattered, but there is not a rent in them that is not honorable, and an emblem of your bravery and gallantry. No regiment that has gone from Ohio has endured hardships with greater cheerfulness, or more nobly discharged its duty. Yes, sir," turning to the Colonel, "no matter what the future may bring forth, no regi- ment can occupy a better position than the one you have had the honor to command. I shall place these banners in the archives of the State. as historic mementoes, worthy of any people. Again, soldiers, I thank you.

THIRTY-SECOND O. V. I .- This regiment was sent to the field from Camp Dennison. The date of the commissions of the field officers was July 26th, 1861. They reported to Brigadier General Reynolds, commanding the District of Cheat Mountain, headquarters at Huntsville, and were assigned to the command stationed at Cheat Mountain Summit, Colonel Kimball, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, commanding the post. The Thirty-second had been hurried to the field with- out military discipline-hardly organized. Upon the rugged heights of Cheat Mountain, amid the wild scenery of the Alleghanies, the regiment learned its first lesson in the art of war. They led the advance against Greenbrier, Virginia, through the mountains and pines, at midnight. and remained at Greenbrier during the fall of 1861, watching the movements of the enemy, then

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commanded by the rebel General, Robert E. Lee. They were in General Milroy's command, taking the advance of the expedition which resulted in the capture of Camp Alleghany, Huntsville, Mon- terey and McDowell.

In Fremont's pursuit of Jackson, up the Shen- andoah Valley, the Thirty-second bore its part, and participated in the battle of Cross Keys and Port Republic. In the defense of Harper's Fer- ry, the regiment lost some brave and gallant men. In August, 1863, it accompanied Stephens' expe- dition to Monroe, Louisiana, and McPherson's expedition to Brownsville, Mississippi, in Octo- ber, of the same year, and was with Sherman in February, 1864. at Meridian, losing twenty-two men at Bohers' Creek, Mississippi, at which last affair Captain M. A. McAllister was severely wounded while gallantly leading the advance. When their term of service expired, more than three-fourths of them re-enlisted as veterans, join- ing the army at Cairo, Illinois, on the 21st of April, 1864, with its ranks largely augmented by recruits. The Thirty second was identified with the movements of the Seventeenth Army Corps, in Sherman's advance against Atlanta, and par- ticipated in the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, Nicojack, near the Chattahoochie River, also, in the battles before Atlanta, and lost more than half its number in killed and wounded. After the fall of Atlanta, the Thirty-second moved with the army in pursuit of Hood, after which, it rejoined General Sherman, and accompanied him on his "March to the Sea."

COMPANY A, FIFTEENTH O. V. I .- This com- pany was recruited at New Concord, during July and August, 1861, for three months service. When this term expired, Captain R. W. P. Muse resigned. and Sergeant James C. Cummins was tendered the position, which he accepted, and, by order of the Governor of Ohio, reported to Colonel Moses R. Dickey, who had been au- thorized to organize an infantry regiment at Mansfield. Richland county, Ohio. Captain Cummins, and his one hundred men, arrived at Camp Bartley on the evening of September 6th, and the company was mustered into the United States service "for three years, or during the war," three days later. The company were mostly young men-aye, in their "teens"-from the best families of eastern Muskingum and the western part of Guernsey counties ; and not a few had left college, store, and shop -- thirsting for military glory -- not anticipating the hardships and dangers incident to a three years' campaign of war.

Early in October, 1861, they left for Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, where they received their arms and equipments, and proceeded to the rendezvous for the Army of the Ohio, at Mumfordsville, Kentucky. Here, the Fifteenth was brigaded with the Forty-ninth Ohio, and Thirty-second and Thirty-ninth Indiana Volun- teers, an organization that remained unbroken, to the close of the war, and was known as "Wil- lich's Brigade." Its gallant commander, Brig- adier General August Willich, was one of the

German exiles of 1847, who entered the War of the Rebellion early in the struggle, as Colonel of the Thirty-second Indiana. This regiment participated in the first advance of the Army of the Ohio -- breaking camp, February 14th, 1862, to move South. At the reorganization of the Western Army, the brigade was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and took part in all of its campaigns. In the fall of 1863, when the call for veteran volunteers was issued, nearly ev- ery member of Company A re-enlisted. They were then given a furlough of thirty days, and arrived home February 11th, 1864. On the 15th of March, following, the company returned to Columbus, Ohio, and with the regiment filled up by recruits, embarked for - -- , Tennessee, about the close of that month. The Army of the Cum- berland was being reorganized for the campaign into the heart of the Confederacy, under General Sherman. The company participated in that wonderful march down to Atlanta, and back to Nashville, and thence, to the mountains of East Tennessee, and remained there until the spring

of 1865. In June, following, General Wood's Division, to which the Fifteenth was attached, was ordered to Texas, and, passing down the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Mississippi rivers, crossed the Gulf of Mexico, and arrived at their destination about the middle of July. During the summer, the regiment was quartered at San Antonio, doing guard duty, where they received their order to be mustered out, and reached Co- lumbus, Ohio, December 25th, 1865-being mustered out the next day-having served four years and five months. Of the one hundred men mustered at Mansfield, in 1861, but thirty- five remained at the close of the war, in 1865. Eight were killed on the field of battle, or died of wounds received there, twelve died from dis- ease, in hospitals, and forty-five were discharged for disability. The company had added fifty- seven recruits during its service.

The company participated in the battles of Shiloh, Tennessee ; siege of Corinth, Mississip- pi; Stone River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee ; Middleton, Tennessee ; Liberty Gap, Tennessee ; Chickamauga, Tennessee ; Mission Ridge, Chat- tanooga, Tennessee ; Rocky Face, Resaca, Pick- ett's Mills, Pine Top, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's Station, Georgia ; Franklin, Nashville, and Columbia, Tennessee.

SIXTEENTH O. V. I .- This regiment was or- ganized under Colonel John E. De Courcey, at Camp. Tiffin, near Wooster, Ohio, on the 2d day of October, 1861, and mustered in the same day ; reached Camp Dennison November 28th, and, on the 19th of December, was ordered to Lex- ington, Kentucky, and, the following January, reported to General S. P. Carter, at Somerset, Kentucky. At this point, the regiment was en- gaged in repairing and building military roads, to facilitate the transportation of supplies to Gen- eral Thomas' forces, at Mills Springs, where a battle was fought by General Thomas, on the

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19th of January ; the regiment being ordered up during the fight, though it was unable to reach the ground, on account of a flood in Fishing Creek.

On August 6th, the Sixteenth was ordered to relieve the Fourteenth Kentucky, at Tazewell. About ten A. M., of that day, two companies (B and E) of the regiment were sent forward as advance pickets. Companies F and D were or- dered to the right of the Main Hill road, on the same duty. Companies C and G were held in reserve. At eleven A. M., a heavy skirmishing commenced at the front, and continued until the enemy appeared on the front and right, in force. Companies D and F were compelled to fall back. Companies B and E were cut off from the main force by a rebel brigade, and most of them cap- tured. Companies C and G were ordered up, as a support, but were also overwhelmed, and compelled to fall back to a position on the left of the road. They were now re-enforced by strag- glers from other companies, and held the enemy in check for two hours, when the ammunition was exhausted. They fell back to the main line, where the National forces were massed. Toward night, the National army retreated into the in- trenchments, the enemy following them to within three miles of the Gap.

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History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 64

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co. Number of Pages: 600

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co.
Number of Pages: 600