History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 55

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man, faithful in the discharge of all the social duties of life-a good citizen in all respects. He was always a brave man, and a patriot who gave his life for his adopted country.

If Sandusky county shall ever perform her sacred duty in honoring her soldiers with a monument to them, the name of Michael Wegstein should have a prominent place, and justly and truly record the fact that of all the men the county gave to the Seventy- second regiment, he, an honest, brave, and patriotic man, was the first to die in battle.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL HERMAN CANFIELD,

of Medina county, was the next offering of life on the field of battle from the Seventy- second regiment. He was a scholar, a graduate, a lawyer, and left a good and lu- crative practice to enter the service. By his efforts a company was enlisted in the eastern portion of the State. A few minutes after Captain Weigstein fell, Lieutenant-Colonel Canfield was shot through the breast while riding in front of his command, on the morning of the 6th of April, 1862, in the battle of Shiloh, and died on the 7th of the same month.

MAJOR EUGENE ALLEN RAWSON.

Among the noble men who have earned the gratitude of a Nation, by giving their strength and their lives to its defence, few there are whose memory deserves to be more warmly cherished than he whose name stands at the head of this article. While at school at Homer, New York, and just about finishing his academic course, preparatory to entering Yale College, the President's first call came for volunteers, and young Rawson, not stopping to count

the cost of the sacrifice he was about to make, joined the Twelfth New York regi- ment as a private. In that capacity he took a noble part in the battle of Bull Run, evincing great coolness and bravery. When the fortunes of the day went against General McDowell's army, and when, in the confusion that followed, regiments were thrown into disorder and scattered, he and a tried companion sought the protection of a tree, from behind which they loaded and fired until his friend fell dead by his side.

In December, 1861, he was appointed adjutant of the Seventy-second Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry by the Governor of Ohio, and was accordingly transferred to it by the War Department. He could have received no transfer more agreeable to his feelings, and none more complimentary. The Seventy- second was chiefly raised in his own county, and was composed in a great measure of those who had been the companions of his boyhood. Entering upon the duties of his new field, he at once exhibited a peculiar fitness for the position to which he had been called, and, from his previous experience in the service, was of great advantage in the early training of the regiment. He left Fremont with the regiment in January, 1862, when it moved to Camp Chase, preparatory, to setting out to its final destination, Paducah and the Southwest. When, joined to the Army of the Tennessee, the Seventy- second disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, the men composing the command were mostly sick, suffering terribly from the effect of their transit and with the disease peculiar to that Southern climate, to which they were unused. Major Rawson's natural buoyancy of spirit, and cheerful, sprightly manner could not otherwise than revive the drooping spirits of the boys, amongst whom, in their hour of calamity, he went about "doing good." On Friday preceding the

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battle of Shiloh, Major Crockett, with company A and company B, was sent forward by Colonel Buckland on a reconnaissance to ascertain the reason of the unusual firing heard in the direction of the picket line. Advancing some distance and failing to discover the cause, Major Crockett separated his little command, moving himself with one company to the left, while he sent company B, accompanied by Adjutant Rawson, to the right. Major Crockett's company, after proceeding but a little way, was met by a superior force of rebel cavalry. The Major and some of leis men were captured, while the balance barely made good their retreat. Company B, continuing its course to the right, unconscious of the fate of their gallant Major and his men, were confronted at a distance of a mile or two farther by the same cavalry which had so summarily disposed of their companions, now largely reinforced. Comprehending at a glance their situation, they discovered at once that retreat was impossible, and that the alternative remained to surrender or attempt to hold the enemy at bay until reinforcements should arrive. The latter course was unhesitatingly adopted. Choosing an elevated piece of ground, covered sparsely by trees, they prepared for the attack.

Their position placed the enemy in front, the ground being unfavorable for a flank movement. Making a fallen tree their breastwork, those forty men, who had never before stood face to face with an enemy, who, for the first time were required to point a gun or pull a trigger-held in check, for hours, six hundred rebel cavalry, by emptying the saddles of the advance until, to their great relief, a volley in the rear of their enemy announced the arrival of part of the Seventy-second regiment, led by Colonel Buckland, who, becoming alarmed at their long absence,

hastened to their rescue at a double quick, and arrived just in time to defeat a charge the rebels had drawn sabre to make.

Although Major Rawson was not in command of the detachment, yet owing to the feeble health of Captain Raymond, the conduct of the 'defence devolved principally upon him. Under his direction a volley of only ten guns was fired at one time, so that a sufficient reserve should remain to mete out with steady aim another and still another volley, if the dashing chivalry should choose to follow up their advance after receiving the first round.

After the fight was over, the enemy's dead of men and horses counted, and the few wounded prisoners cared for, all, both officers and men, were lavish of the praise they bestowed upon their young adjutant. Without a musket himself, he picked up that of a wounded comrade, and fired his rounds with a composure that did no discredit to his exploit at Bull Run.

When the battle opened on the 6th of April, two days afterwards, and the rebels came like an avalanche upon our unsus- pecting troops at Shiloh, Buckland's brigade responded to the beat of the long-roll with such alacrity that they stood in the very front of Sherman's division, ready to meet the corning shock before the enemy had gained rifle distance of their position. Colonel Buckland being in command of the brigade, the command devolved upon Lieutenant- Colonel Canfield. Major Crockett, the only other field officer of the regiment, being a prisoner, by common consent Adjutant Rawson assumed his position for the occasion. At the first or second fire Lieutenant-Colonel Canfield fell mortally wounded, and he alone remained to command and cheer the undaunted boys who stood steadfast amid the storm of leaden hail that mowed through their ranks, until Col-

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onel Buckland, seeing the disaster that had befallen his own brave regiment, put himself at their head, and led them through the fight. The horse of our young adjutant was shot from under him, and another that had been sent forward for him being captured before it reached him, his duties were no less bravely or efficiently performed on foot.

The history of the Seventy-second; of the part it bore in the three days' fight at Pittsburg Landing; in the siege of Corinth; in. the pursuit of Forrest through Tennessee; of its marches, skirmishes and battles from Memphis to Vicksburg; of its pursuit of Johnson, under Sherman, to Jackson; of its return to Memphis, and of the part it enacted in the great expedition of General Sherman into Mississippi-is the history of Major Rawson. After the Seventy-second had re- enlisted as veterans, and after the main body, composing Sherman's expedition, had moved southward, a small force, consisting of not over sixteen hundred men, was sent out on the venturesome expedition of making a feint into the enemy's country, who were holding a position on the bank of the Tallahatchie, to intercept and defeat the crossing of the reinforcements moving to the support of General Sherman. Of this comparatively small force the Seventy- second formed a part under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Eaton and Major Rawson, Adjutant Rawson having been promoted to the rank of Major by the unanimous recommendation of the officers, and in accordance with the known feeling of the regiment, although he stood not in the regular line of promotion.

Arriving at the Tallahatchie River in the evening, and finding the enemy encamped in large force on the opposite bank, they lit up their camp fires in such profusion as to deceive the rebels into the belief that they were a body of some six

or eight thousand strong. So well did they play their part that they kept the enemy beguiled and at rest until time enough had elapsed for General Smith to cross the river above, at the point chosen, without interference. The object of the expedition attained, they were ordered to return to Memphis. But they were in the enemy's country, out of reach of reinforcements, numbering less than sixteen hundred, with the rebels in strong force on the opposite side of the river. To render less hazardous their retreat it became necessary to burn two bridges. Colonel Eaton received the order from the general in command to execute the task. Dividing his regiment, he marched before morning with the main body to the one supposed to be the most strongly guarded, assigning to Major Rawson two small companies with which to proceed to the other, where it was thought but few would be found to offer resistance. The reverse proved to be the case. The Major it was who encountered the largest force. Having arrived at the bridge Major Rawson sent his pickets across to reconnoiter. No sooner had they gained the opposite side than from a point out of sight, came dashing up a large body of rebel cavalry, who commenced firing on the pickets. Veterans as they were, they knew too much to run across the bridge, where they would be sure to receive the raking fire of the rebel carbines. So they jumped over the sides into the water. This gave them the protection of the bank, as they well knew the trusty rifles of their companions would make a near ap- proach to the bank a place where a rebel would hardly venture to "make ready, take aim, fire," even at the command of a major- general himself. A brisk little fight ensued- the bridge was destroyed without the loss of a man on Major Rawson's side, while more than one rebel grave marks the site where the old bridge

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stood-the commanding rebel general's own son being one of the slain.

From the badly managed expedition, of which the Seventy-second formed a part, sent out from Memphis under General Sturgis, which ended so sadly at Guntown and Ripley, in Mississippi, Major Rawson reached Memphis with such of the officers and men of his regiment as were saved from the general disaster, marching over eighty miles, without food or rest, in less than forty-eight hours. The Seventy-second, acting as a rear guard of the fleeing troops, valiantly beat back the pursuing foe until out of ammunition, and their supply train destroyed by the rebels, they were forced to make good their escape by flight, which they did, but two hundred and fifty of the regiment being captured. Scarcely rested from the terrible scenes and suffering through which they had passed, the regiment, now over half reduced in number, in command of Major Rawson, started again, under General A. J. Smith, to encounter the same foe. Coming up to the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, Major Rawson was mortally wounded at Oldtown Creek, six miles beyond, while gallantly leading a charge against the rebel lines. Borne from the field he was conveyed back to Memphis.

Major Rawson was the son of Dr. La- Quinio and Sophia Rawson. He was born at Fremont on the 14th of March, 1840; was married to Miss Jennie Snyder, an amiable and accomplished young lady of Courtland county, New York, on the 31st of August, 1863, while absent from his regiment on a short furlough. He died at Memphis, Tennessee, on the 22d of July, seven days after he received the fatal wound, aged twenty-four years. Embalmed, his remains were sent to his home-Fremont-and with appropriate funeral services were interred in Oakwood cemetery, followed thither by a very large

concourse of his friends and fellow-citi- zens, who loved the boy, and mourned the death of the young hero and patriot.

At a meeting of the officers and soldiers of the Seventy. second Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, held at Memphis, Tennessee, the 28th day of July, 1864, for the purpose of expressing their feelings in regard to the death of Major Eugene A. Rawson, Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Eaton was elected chairman, and Lieutenant J. Wells Watterson, regimental quartermaster, secretary. The meeting was called to order and the following members appointed a committee on resolutions: Lieutenant A. B. Putman, company A; Lieutenant J. F. Harrington, company A; Sergeant Corwin Ensminger, company C; Sergeant Abraham Eldridge, company I; Corporal Samuel Persing, company A. The following resolutions were presented and' unanimously adopted by the meeting:

WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God to remove from us our brother officer and soldier, Major Eugene A. Rawson, by death on the zed of July inst., of wounds received on the 15th inst., while bravely leading his regiment in a charge against the enemy's lines at the battle of Oldtown Creek; and

WHEREAS, We, the officers and soldiers of the Seventy-second Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, desire to express in a suitable manner our respect for the noble dead, and our deep regret for his untimely fall, therefore

Resolved, That in the death of Major Eugene A. Rawson our regiment has lost a brave, heroic, and devoted officer and soldier, the nation one of her most ardent patriots and defenders, his family a dis- tinguished member, his friends and brothers in arms a dear and valued companion.

Resolved, That we declare our conviction that the life of the deceased, while connected with the Seventy- second Ohio, has been one of unwearied devotion to duty and to the service of his country, and whether in the quiet camp or the toilsome march, or in the blaze and fury of battle, he alike ably, patiently, and heroically performed with untiring energy all that fell to his lot; and when struck by the fatal ball, was found at his post fearlessly offering his life that his country might live.

Resolved, That we tender the family and friends of the deceased, and especially the young wife who has thus early been called to mourn the death of her

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husband, our deepest sympathy and condolence in this, their sad bereavement.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be fur- nished the friends of the deceased; also a copy to the Fremont Journal and Sentinel and the Courtland County Journal, of Homer, New York.

C. G. EATON, Chairman. J.

WELLS WATTERSON Secretary.

KESSLER AND BELDING.

And yet 'tis true Sweet romance follows after Grim visaged, bloody war.

John J. Kessler was a promising young man of Fremont, Ohio, who volunteered in company F (Captain Bartlett). He became a second lieutenant, was promoted to first lieutenant and then to captain. He was then chosen aide on General Rosecrans' staff, in which capacity he did good service in the battle of Chickamauga.

Captain E. B. Belding, of Medina county, Ohio, volunteered in battery A, First light artillery, and was on duty in the same battle. The two men had become acquainted, although in different branches of the service. Belding was that day on horseback doing duty, when his horse was wounded in one hind leg by a ball from the enemy, and became frantic and almost unmanageable. While struggling with his horse Captain Belding found it necessary to put both hands to the bridle, which movement brought his hands and wrists close together. While the horse was struggling and turning round, a rifle ball struck the upper part of his hand and passed through both wrists. Notwith- standing this wound the Captain managed to use one thumb and finger on the rein to keep the horse in a circle, for if he had dashed off straight in his then condition, the rider would have been thrown or dashed against a tree. While the horse was circling Belding freed himself from the stirrups but still held one rein of the bridle when assistance, in the form of a single man,

came up, to whom he surrendered the horse. Captain Belding was then in a very unsafe position, where the enemy's fire from the front was cutting down wounded men who were under orders retiring to the rear for safety and surgical aid. He started to the rear to find a surgeon. When the shock of the wound gave way to reaction, he found himself weak from pain and loss of blood, but he continued walking, and sitting down occasionally to rest. He finally concluded that he could not hold out and sat down upon a log, faint and with the desperate conclusion that he could not move any farther, and would there await his fate.

Captain Kessler fortunately discovered hits in this condition, rode up to him, dis- mounted, placed Belding on the horse and took him back to a ravine where a surgeon was at work among the wounded. Here Captain Belding's wounds were hastily bandaged, and soon after he obtained an ambulance which took him back and into the hospital.

This incident produced a friendship between the two men, for Belding believed he owed his life to Kessler's kindness. Kessler had two sisters at home, whose pictures Belding happened to see although he was ignorant of their relationship to the Major. One of them struck his fancy and he told the Major if he could find that girl he would marry her. "I don't know about that," replied the Major; "that is a picture of my sister Louise, now in Fremont. She may have something to say about that." "We shall see," said the Captain. About a year after, Captain Belding, while on a furlough, found Fremont, accidentally, of course, and found the Kessler House, then the leading hotel in the city. Of course Captain Belding recognized the girl whose picture he had seen and fancied. When the war was over, as was very natural, Captain Belding must

Gen'I McPherson

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see his brave friend who had saved his life. Major Kessler told his sister the story of their acquaintance, and, Captain Belding was warmly welcomed by Major Kessler and by his family.

Well, what next? married, of course. A fine, bright youth, the exact miniature of Captain Belding, called Willie, with father and mother, make a most happy trio for a family. A more thoroughly devoted, trustful, and affectionate husband cannot be found than Captain Belding, and himself and wife are as happy as human faith and affection can render roan and women, and this forms what Bob Ingersoll says is the best heaven he has ever found.

But what of Major Kessler? The ex- posures and hardships of the war hurried consumption upon him, and, like hundreds of thousands of other brave men, he came home to linger and hope a little while. He sleeps in our beautiful Oakwood cemetery, where a fine and well deserved monument marks the spot where the brave and good man is at rest. Often you may see fond friends lingering there, and every returning annual decoration day sweet, beautiful flowers are seen, giving fragrance to the last resting place of the remains of John J. Kessler. Captain Belding and his noble wife are among the first to visit Major Kessler's grave, and there drop the sweetest flowers, and bedew them with the tears of gratitude and affection.

MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON.

The only Federal major-general who perished on the field of battle was James B. McPherson. His ability as a commanding officer has been variously estimated. His career, brilliant and crowded as it was, was prematurely cut off before his capacity had been fully tested. One

fact, however, is significant. He gained, in an unprecedentedly short time, the con- fidence of commanders justly celebrated for their accurate estimates of men. With the meager field experience of one campaign, he was given command of as noble an army as ever marched to defend the Union. Every man in that army admired him for his superb gallantry, and for his open, generous heart. The feeling of friendly affection and admiration was not confined to the tented field. Those here, who knew him from childhood, and called him "Jimmie," those who had been his play-fellows and knew his boyish fancies, watched his career and applauded his triumphs with affectionate interest. The Army of the Tennessee and his friends at Time have fittingly shown their appreciation of a noble friend and, gallant general, by seeking to preserve in moulds of imperishable bronze, the features of his handsome body. He is idolized by his old neighbors at Clyde. The story of his life, from childhood to the gallant but fatal exploit on the field before Atlanta, is a familiar topic of conversation.

James Birdseye McPherson was born at Hamer's Corners (now Clyde), November 14, 1828. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and married, in New York, Cynthia Russell, a native of Massachusetts, and came to Ohio, the first time, in 1822, on foot, his travelling companions being Norton Russell and James Birdseye, whose name was given to the first-born as a mark of friendship. Mr. McPherson entered land and built a cabin. A year later his wife joined him and the pair began housekeeping. He was a blacksmith, but found it difficult to earn a livelihood on account of the sparse settlement of the country and scarcity of money. He was constitutionally nervous and excitable, but had the reputation of being a skilled tradesman, until overthrown by the nervous dis-

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order which eventually terminated his life.

James was known among the mothers of the backwoods settlement, as a "good baby," happy, good-natured, healthy. He seemed to enjoy being petted, but was not peevish when neglected. Tall Chief once visited the homely McPherson residence, during one of his strolls from the Seneca reservation, four miles south. After fondling the babe, then just beginning to prattle, the Indian was asked by the proud mother what he thought of her boy. "Fine boy, fine boy," was the prophetic reply of the red-skin. "Be big man." This remark, which only amused the mother at the time, was recalled after the fall of Vicksburg. The child grew into a healthy and strong boy, full of spirit and never idle. He delighted in, and always sought the praise of his parents and neighbors. An incident is told which shows that that caution which, in after life, characterized all his actions, was the product of maturer years. When seven or eight years old, he visited his uncle, Norton Russell, whom he found in the field cutting corn. The boy was anxious to help, and was finally permitted to, but cautioned to be careful and not try to cut more than one stalk at a time. The future general soon became impatient. He raised the heavy knife high over his head and said: "Uncle, I am going to cut like men do." A half-dozen stalks of corn tumbled to the ground, but a severe wound of the knee punished the lad's rash- disobedience.

It was the father's desire that his son should have a good education, but financial embarrassment prevented sending him away. James, however, attended district school, which was held in a log house occupying almost exactly the same spot now occupied by the base of his statue. Here he mastered, by the age of thirteen, the common branches taught at that time, and became a good writer. While not in

school, his time was employed on the farm. But at the age of thirteen there came a crisis; his father was no longer able to work, and James felt called upon not only to earn his own living, but also to give assistance to his mother, struggling against poverty. He obtained a situation as store boy in the establishment of Robert Smith, at Green Spring, five miles south of his home. He has himself described this first farewell to his home and mother. "The whole family were in tears when he bade them good-bye; and taking up his little bundle, commenced his journey of five miles, afoot and alone. After walking boldly forward for some distance, he looked back and saw them all at the door, watching and weeping. To shut out the painful sight he clutched his bundle tighter and ran as fast as his young feet would carry him, until he reached the woods, when he sat down and wept abundantly. Then he took up his bundle again and came on to Green Spring."

Here is exhibited that tender sympathy and affection which were such important elements of his character. Even in the blaze of military triumph, home and mother occupied his first thoughts.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 55

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