History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 35

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office on his own responsibility, hence he entered upon it with fear and trembling, almost certain he would fail inside the first six months. The outfit of type was purchased of the Franklin foundry, amounting to eight hundred and twenty-three dollars. A six- column Washington hand press and a half- medium Wells' jobber was purchased second-hand of other parties, for two hundred and thirty-seven dollars. This comprised the outfit. On Saturday, August 10, 1867, the first number of

THE BELLEVUE GAZETTE

saw the light. The interest taken by the business men in the success of the paper is shown by the material aid they accorded it. C. A. Willard, a leading business man, solicited all the subscriptions. Business men pledged one thousand two hundred dollars, deposited in Sinclair's bank, to be paid at the first issue, and taken in advertising during the first year, which was conscientiously done, and made the capital used by the energetic, intelligent, and careful management of Mr. Brown, insuring success.

At the time the first number was printed, an all-absorbing interest gathered around the press. Indeed, the room was full, and as the clean, handsome twenty-four-column sheet was taken off the press, Mr. Willard's rhapsody was beyond expression. Peter Brady, present village mayor, was present, and as deeply interested as any until, in looking over the church notices, the blunder was discovered of dubbing him Rev. Peter Brady, pastor of the Catholic church. This was too much, and any idea that the editor may have had that Mr. Brady was a member of the clerical profession was immediately dispelled then and there. Proper correction being made, the printing of the edition proceeded.

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Under Mr. Brown's careful management and the fulfillment of every anticipation the citizens may have had as to the benefits the village would derive from the paper, it proved an unbounded success, and all fears on his part of a failure were dispelled like clouds before the morning sun. In the course of the next three years Mr. Brown purchased a Hoe cylinder railroad press at a bargain, one which originally belonged to Dan Rice, and was used to print his show bills. This enabled him to branch out in the business. He, therefore, engaged in furnishing ready- prints for other offices, and introduced steam. Business increased on his hands until Mr. Aiken, the originator of the ready-print method of publishing newspapers, made him a very advantageous offer to accept the management of a new establishment in Cincinnati, which he did, and ultimately became, as he is now, the sole proprietor- only another example of what pluck, energy, and good management will do.

Mr. E. J. Hammer bought the Gazette when Mr. Brown went to Cincinnati, en- tering upon its management July 1, 1874. Mr. Hammer was not a large man, but had large ideas, aspiring to greater things than the conduct of a one-horse country paper. Although that was very well done, yet his more ambitious views led him to unite with George B. Pratt to start the Norwalk Chronicle, which, being a county paper, was a step, at least, in the direction of excelsior. He finally turned the Gazette over to his father, Rev. George Hammer, of Van Wert, Ohio. The old gentleman, though very kindly disposed, had little or no practical skill in the publishing business, hence found it an elephant on his hands. In the spring of 1877, he sold it to Messrs. C. D. Stoner and S. C. Thompson, under whose care the paper throve, finding a cordial, generous support among the people of the community, whose at

tachment for an old friend was proof against mismanagement of the former proprietors, as well as the machinations of enemies. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Thompson retired from the paper, and C. D. Stoner conducted it until the following year, when he associated with himself Mr. C. R. Callighan, a promising young man, under the firm name of Stoner & Callighan, who continue the publication with a fair degree of success.

At the time, Mr. K J. Hammer had started the Chronicle, and therefore contemplated the sale of the Gazette, as well as removal to Norwalk, H. F. Baker, son of Hiram Baker, one of the early pioneer settlers in Lyme township, proposed to buy it, but, unable to agree upon the price, he decided to purchase new material and start another paper. He had really no experience in the printing business, but his son, H. L. Baker, had mastered some of the intricacies of the trade in the Gazette office, and having a natural tact for it, they together hoped to make their venture a success. This determination was acted upon; an office was opened in the new Union block, and on Thursday, October 21, 1875, the first number of

THE BELLEVUE LOCAL NEWS

was issued. The paper flourished from the start. Being managed with full average ability, and by those brought up in the community, well versed in all its lore, it represents the local interests of the town with greater intensity than any other has been able to do. In April, 1878, Mr. Baker purchased the old Burlington stone building, contiguous to the new city hall, and tearing down the old front, rebuilt of brick in the same style of the city hall, which together make as fine a block among the many fine business houses as the town can boast. The proprietors put steam presses and engine info their new quarters and are conducting a flourishing business.

J.BMCPHERSON

THE MCPHERSON MONUMENT AT CLYDE, OHIO.

CHAPTER XXII. MILITARY HISTORY.

The War of 1812-Mexican War-Volunteers of the War of the Rebellion, with Brief Histories of Regiments Recruited in whole or in part in Sandusky County.

T HE war of the Revolution was history, the Indian wars in which Wayne's memorable campaign occurred, the mem- orable battles at sea, the battles of Tippe- canoe and the Thames under Harrison, the last gun fired by Jackson at New Orleans had ceased to reverberate, Packenham had surrendered, and the War of 1812 brought to a glorious termination by American valor, before Sandusky county, as a civil and political organization, came into existence.

Although the county was not organized until several years after the close of the War of 1812, a number of the soldiers of that war were pioneer settlers and aided in the organization. Amongst these we are able to give the following names, not doubting that there were others whose names cannot now be obtained. Among those soldiers of the war with England commonly designated as the War of 1812, who are known to have been here when the county was organized, we give the following: David Gallagher, Jeremiah Everett, Thomas L. Hawkins, Charles B. Fitch, Captain Jonathan H. Jerome, Israel Harrington, Josiah Rumery, and James justice.

The county, however, embraces ground rendered memorable by the War of 1812, and such localities as Fort Stephenson, in the present city of Fremont, and Ball's battle ground, in Ballville township, are places of which our people are proud, and from which they still inhale the inspiration of true patriotism. The war with Mexico offered the. citizens of the county their

first opportunity to display their zeal in the military service of the country. In the spring of 1847, a company of infantry was promptly recruited by Captain Samuel Thompson, a veteran who was wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane, in the War of 1812. The members of this company were:

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captain Samuel Thompson.

First Lieutenant Isaac Knapp. Second Lieutenant George M. Tillotson.

Second Lieutenant Lewis Leppelman.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Orderly Sergeant Isaac Swank.

Sergeant Thomas Pinkerton.

Sergeant Michael Wegstein.

Sergeant James R. Francisco.

Corporal John Williams.

Corporal John M. Crowell.

Corporal Benjamin Myers. Corporal Edward Leppelman.

Musician Charles Everett.

Musician Grant Forgerson.

PRIVATES.

William Scothorne, David Beery, C. D. Bishop, David Mowry, Joseph Stout, John Quinn, David Sane, David Beagel, John Beagel, Charles Faught, Charles Dennis, Samuel Faught, Timothy Wilcox, Franklin Dirlam, Frank Rathbun, Hosea Maxham, Henry McMillen, George A. Wheeler, Byron Wheeler, David Westfall, Albert Stinson, W. L. Engst, George Smith, Henry Swint, Sebastian Smith, John Deterly, Christian Steblin, Jacob Gugle, Jacob Fuller, Alexander Hartdrink, G. F. Wisner, L. D. Bunce, John Linebaugh, Darwin Clark, David Morton, Martin Zeigler, George Newman, William Parrish, Elias Shawl, Lewis Barkimer, Levi Hufford, Holly Newton, Elias Lowens, John McConnel, Samuel Hartly, John Stull, David Garret, Monroe Coffin, Erastus Honeywell, John G. Bartow, John J. Clark, Henry Lovejoy, Evan Davis, George Beem, Barzillia Inman, Holly Seeley, Theodore Fitzgerald, Frank Robbins, Charles Michael, Jacob Yanny, John Davis, John Fabing, James Van Pelt, Henry Fisher, Daniel Bender, George W. Kershner, Frederick Grider, Frederick

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Weiker, Jacob Sabley, Lewis Newcomer, Patrick Dougherty, Richard Cowper, Thomas Mason, Charles Cook, Charles Fitch.

After Captain Thompson had enlisted the required number of men for his company, he was ordered to report at Cincinnati. The company travelled by wagons from Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, to Perrysburg, where canal-boats were furnished for their further movement. Thence they were transported through the Miami Canal to Cincinnati on the same boats. They arrived at Cincinnati in due time, and in June, 1847, were mustered into service in the Fourth regiment of Ohio Volunteers, then forming in that city.

The Fourth regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which this company, C, now formed a part, were:

Colonel Charles H. Brough. Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus Moore. Major William P. Young. Surgeon Oliver M. Langdon. Assistant Surgeon Henry E. Foote.

The regiment was transported

by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to a place called Carleton, eight miles above New Orleans. From New Orleans the regiment was transported by steamer to Brazos Santiago, Texas, thence it marched to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. From the mouth of the Rio Grande the regiment moved by water transportation to Matamoras; thence to Vera Cruz, where the regiment was incorporated into, and became part of Brevet Major-General Joseph Lane's brigade.

At Vera Cruz Captain Thompson returned home, on account of age and disability, and from that time the command of the company devolved upon Lieutenant Knapp through the entire war.

The company, with the brigade, left Vera Cruz on the afternoon of Sunday, September 19, 1847. At this time General Lane's brigade consisted of a battery of five pieces from the Third regiment

United States artillery, under Captain George Taylor, also a battery of two pieces from the Second artillery, under First Lieutenant Henry C. Pratt, Lewis's cavalry, Sinlon's battalion, Fourth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, and Fourth regiment of Ohio volunteer infantry, commanded by Colonel Charles H. Brough. A part of the road between Vergara and Puentade Marino, lay through sand ridges almost destitute of verdure, and the soldiers were obliged to push the artillery carriages up many of the steep ascents, on account of the large, deep ruts which had been formed. General Lane and his staff accompanied the brigade. About night-fall the brigade halted for the night at a little hamlet called Santa Fe. Here were found signs of the ravages of war, in the blacked and charred remains of the beautiful little hamlet. It had been the scene of a fight on the 25th of March, 1847, between Harney, with his dragoons, and a body of Mexicans. At this place the command camped for the night.

The brigade marched thence with various interesting incidents, to the National fridge. This bridge is an ancient structure, and a brief description of it will be interesting to the general reader, and especially so to those who have an interest in what the volunteers from Sandusky saw on their march, as well as where they went. The National bridge of Mexico is a magnificent structure, and crosses the Rio Antaiqua, a swift stream which rises near the base of Mount Orizaba, and rests on a number of arches. The mason- ry is of the most durable character. It was finished in the year 1776, and at that date, 1847, near three-quarters of a century after its completion, showed no sign of decay or displacement. At the middle of the bridge is a monument giving the date of its commencement and its completion, and by it are stone seats for weary

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travelers. There is a strong wall on each side of the bridge, running the whole length of it, which is between three and four feet high. Midway between the east and west ends of the bridge there is a high rocky eminence on which a fort was built by the Mexican empire. The bridge was formerly called Puente del Rey, or the Bridge of the King, but after Mexico became a republic the name was changed to Puenta Nacional, or National Bridge, and was a point of great military importance during the revolutions in Mexico. This bridge, with surrounding scenery, travelers say without doubt forms one of the most sublime landscapes in Mexico. The brigade of which the Sandusky volunteers formed a part, arrived at the National bridge about the 23d of September, 1847. The bridge was then under the control of the American forces, but the possession of it had cost several severe struggles and the loss of more than a hundred brave men. Finally Colonel Hughes, in command of a battalion of Maryland, District of Columbia troops, after a hard struggle obtained possession of the fort at the summit of the rocky elevation, and thenceforward there was no more trouble from that fort. This action took place on the 9th of September, and about two weeks before General Lane's brigade arrived at that point.

The ascent of this eminence, which was necessary to dislodge the Mexicans, was, if possible, more difficult than that of Lookout Mountain. Historians say that the only way the men could get up, was to pull themselves up by clinging to the roots and branches of the shrubs which covered the rocks on the sides of the steep acclivity.

The brigade pushed forward, passing the battle ground of Cerro Gordo, and reaching the city of Jalapa on the afternoon of the 30th of September, 1847.

Although it would be interesting to describe minutely the marches, incidents, country, and scenery through which our Sandusky boys passed, still such narration would involve a portion of the history of the Mexican War, and would hardly be pertinent to our history of the county-still, to show the true state of affairs, and why Lane's brigade was urged on to Pueblo, it is proper to say, that when General Scott advanced upon the city of Mexico, which is seventy miles from Pueblo, he left Colonel Childs, of the artillery, at Pueblo with a body of men to guard the city, and protect the sick who were in the hospitals to the number of eighteen hundred men. The force left under the command of Colonel Childs numbered in all three hundred and ninety-three men. The cured from the hospitals afterward swelled this force to the number of fourteen hundred effective men.

Everything was quiet about Pueblo while Scott was fighting at the city of Mexico, but as soon as the Mexicans there were overcome, they turned their attention toward Pueblo. On the 24th of September a large body of Mexicans came into Pueblo, and commenced the siege of that place which lasted until the lath of October, when General Lane arrived with his column.

On the 22d of September, 1847, Santa Anna arrived at Pueblo from Mexico, with a considerable force, and assumed command of the Mexican forces, which at this time amounted to eight thousand men. Childs was summoned to surrender, but politely declined to do so, saying that Americans were not inclined to do such things. And he did not surrender, but held the fort until the arrival of Lane with his brigade, which, after a fight in the streets of Pueblo, drove the Mexicans away, and relieved Colonel Childs.

The Fourteenth Ohio regiment re-

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maimed at Pueblo until after the treaty with Mexico was ratified. On the 2d of June, 1848, the regiment left Pueblo on the return home. They reached Cincinnati in the latter part of July, where they were discharged, and Company C, homeward bound, travelled to Tiffin by railroad, thence to Fremont by wagons, to be warmly and thankfully received by their friends. Although the company lost few in battle, there were few sound men in the ranks when they reached home. Nearly all were greatly enfeebled by the diseases incident to Mexico and army life, and chronic diarrhea carried off a number after reaching home, and enfeebled many during the remainder of life.

Captains Amon C. Bradley and J. A. Jones also recruited a number of men in Sandusky county for the Mexican war. It has been ascertained that the following named were enlisted in the company of Captain Jones, whose company, however, was chiefly composed of men from Huron county, their headquarters being at Norwalk:

Matthew H. Chance, John Stahl, George Momeny, John Griffin, Nathan Griffin.

The following other named men were volunteers from Sandusky county, and went into service, but whether in Captain Bradley's or Captain Jones' company, cannot be determined by the information within our reach, to wit:

Jesse Herbster, Ephraim Herbster, Amos Crain, Frederick Noss, Michael Oberst, Amos Cumings, Aitkin Morton, George Fafer, George Parrish, Joseph F. Francis, Henry S. Francisco, and Andrew Kline.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, gave offense to the leading statesmen of the South.

The baneful teachings of Calhoun had planted deeply and widely in the minds of the Southern people the political heresy that the several States of the Union were

each sovereign, and had the right to secede, and to be the judge of their cause for seceding, and when they might respectively exercise the right. Not only did this doctrine prevail in the South, but the Northern Democracy, under the same, had for years given at least tacit assent to the teachings of Calhoun as the true theory of our Government. The Republican party rejected this theory, and claimed that we were a Nation, that for National purposes the Government of the United States must necessarily be supreme and the States subordinate.

The right and wrong of slavery in the Southern States, and the question of its extension into the territories which were soon to become States, had for years been debated in Congress, by the press of the country, by orators on the stump, and by lecturers on the platform, until the public mind had become profoundly agitated on the subject, both North and South.

The election of Abraham Lincoln dem- onstrated that the institution of slavery could not be extended, and Southern statesmen whose influence had dominated the Government so long, saw plainly that without an extension of their peculiar institution, their power was destined to pass away, and that the sentiment of freedom would dominate in all departments of the Government. They clearly foresaw that such a condition, coupled with the growing and aggressive anti-slavery sentiment in the free States, would not only take from them the ascendency in the Government and the benefits of its patronage, but threatened the very existence of their own peculiar institution of slavery in the States where it existed. Hence, we see, political convictions, State pride,, love of power, and a tremendous force of self interest in the ownership of slaves, all converging to drive them to the terrible resort of a conflict of armed force.

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It is unnecessary here to recite all the steps taken by the enemies of the Union anterior to the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln.

Fort Moultrie, when surrounded by scowling, deadly foes too numerous to be re- sisted, had been wisely abandoned by Major Anderson, who was compelled to transfer his feeble force to Fort Sumter in the night of December 26, 1860.

John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, had resigned his post on the 29th of the same month.

Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Inte- rior, had left his post with a heavy defalca- tion of eight hundred and seventy thousand dollars in his department.

The Star of the West, carrying rein- forcements and supplies to Major Anderson at Fort Sumter, had been fired upon by the rebels and compelled to turn back.

General Twiggs, commanding the United States military forces in Texas, had, on the aid of February, 1860, treacherously, traitorously, turned over to the State of rebellious Texas, all the forces under his command, being nearly half the then regular army of the United States, with all the property and military stores in that State, amounting to near two millions of dollars in value.

The ship Star of the West, which, after its return from the abortive attempt to reinforce and provision Fort Sumter, was dispatched, laden with supplies for the army of the frontier, went into the harbor of Indianola unsuspicious of the extent of the rebellion, and became an easy prey to the exultant rebels.,

The defensive fortifications located within the seceded States, mounting over three thousand guns, and having cost more than twenty millions of dollars, had been seized and appropriated by the Confederates- all under the eyes of President Buchanan, without a hand raised to prevent the rob-

bery of the Nation, or to punish treason to the Government.

There it no doubt but the naturally weak President, by accepting the doctrines of Calhoun, and by pledges to administer the Government according to the requirements of Southern statesmen, was fettered and bound hand and foot, and all his powers to save the Union were paralyzed. Hence he stood stupid, amazed, and helpless while the Union was crumbling, betrayed, and robbed, and an opposing confederacy formed with the purpose of overthrowing the Constitution of the fathers, and subjugating the North by armed force.

While the later events above noticed were being enacted, and on the 11th of February, 1861, Abraham Lincoln left his home at Springfield, Illinois, for Washington City. The story of his journey, how the people honored him on the way, how at Harrisburg his friends, having good ground to believe he would be assassinated at Baltimore if he should pass through there at the appointed time, started him on his journey through that city twenty-four hours in advance of the contemplated time, that he should escape from the assassins lying in wait for their opportunity; how he arrived at Washington; how he was inaugurated, his pleading with the rebels to desist and accept his most generous offers for peace consistent with the existence of the Union, are all too familiar to the people to need particularizing here.

On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation for seventy-five thousand volunteer militia to be furnished by the several States according to population. The apportionment to Ohio was thirteen regiments, of seven hundred and eighty men each.

The intelligent people of Sandusky county had watched all the events preceding this proclamation, with a burning, pat-

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riotic indignation. And now, when this proclamation came to them, they fairly leaped into the service. The first opportunity offered was to form two companies of the Eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three months. Hundreds of able-bodied men of Sandusky county offered to volunteer, but the quota for Ohio was so suddenly filled that they were denied the coveted privilege of serving their country under this first call.

The Eighth regiment Ohio volunteers was first organized as a three months' regiment, at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, and sent to Camp Dennison for equipment and drill, April 28, 1861. It was subsequently reorganized for three years, and left camp for West Virginia July 8, 1861, the following named officers and companies having been mustered into the service:

FIELD AND STAFF.

Colonel Herman G. DePuy, Erie county. Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Park, Lorain county. Major Franklin Sawyer, Huron county. Adjutant Joseph R. Swigout, Crawford county. Quartermaster Herman Reuss, Huron county. Surgeon Benjamin Tappan, Jefferson county. Assistant Surgeon Samuel Sexton, Hamilton county. Chaplain L. N. Freeman, Erie county.

Surgeons B. Tappan, resigned; Thomas McEbright, resigned; Joseph L. Bunton.

Assistant Surgeons-S. Sexton, resigned; T. Culver, resigned; Freeman A. Tuttle and James S. Pollock.

Chaplains-Rev. L. N. Freeman, resigned, and Alexander Miller.

Adjutants-Lieutenant Joseph R. Swigart, transferred to General Kimball's staff; Lieutenant David Lewis, promoted to captain, and Lieutenant John W. DePuy. Quartermasters-Lieutenant Herman Ruess and Lieutenant E. F. Dickinson, promoted to captain.

The regiment was composed of ten companies: Company A, from Seneca county; Company B, Cleveland; Company C, Crawford county; Company D, Huron county; Company E, Erie county; Companies F and G, Sandusky county;

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 35

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