USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 39
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COMPANY K. (Eighty-one men.)
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain S. A. Barron. First Lieutenant W. C. Biddle. Second Lieutenant T. W. Egbert.
It was at the same time also announced that the regiment would be armed with Minnie rides, which were then daily ex- pected at camp.
REGIMENTAL COLOR PRESENTATION.
On Friday, January 17, 1862, it was announced that the next day, Saturday the 18th, would be a lively day at Camp Croghan. A picnic for the soldiers had been prepared by the ladies of Fremont and vicinity, to be served out to them at 12 o'clock of that day: There was
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also notice that on the same day at 2 o'clock P. M., a beautiful regimental color, worked by the ladies, would be presented to the regiment by Homer Everett, on be- half of the ladies, and to Captain Weig- stein's company (German) through the Rev. Henry Lang, a beautiful National silk flag, thus completing the stand of . colors for the regiment.
The picnic and flag presentation took place according to announcement, and the following extracts from the San- dusky County Democrat, published on Friday, the 24th day of January, 1862, will show what was done and the manner of the ceremonies on that occasion. These extracts will also awaken in the minds of the surviving soldiers of the Seventy-second regiment, and of the men and women who participated in the cere- monies, many pleasing and many sad thoughts of persons and events connected with the regiment and the men who went out with it.
PRESENTATION OF COLORS TO THE SEVENTY-SEC- OND REGIMENT.
The presentation of a stand of colors to the Sev- enty-second Regiment took place at Camp Croghan on Saturday last, and was witnessed by a large num- ber of citizens from town and country. The day was very favorable, and the occasion was one of deep and heart-felt interest to all, but more especially to the soldiers, their families, sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers, and sweethearts, who there greeted each other with words of counsel, encouragement, and affection, while their hearts were stirred by those feelings and anxieties which none but they can know.
Through the enterprising liberality of the ladies of Fremont, a picnic dinner was served up at 12 o'clock, of which the soldiers partook with a hearty relish. They will never forget the kindness of the ladies, as evinced in this as well as other acts intended to pro- mote their comfort.
After dinner, the chaplain of the regiment, Rev. Mr. Poe, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Bushnell, Lang' and Phelps, distributed to each officer and private in the regiment, a copy of the Testament and Psalms.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr. Bushnell. Homer Everett, Esq., on behalf of the ladies, then presented the regimental flag-a splendid one-pref- acing the presentation by the following address, for
a report of which, as well as the other addresses which follow, we are indebted to Mr. J. Burgner, teacher of the Fremont high school :
MR. EVERETT'S ADDRESS.
"COLONEL BUCKLAND :- The ladies of Fremont have observed your untiring energy and labor, and your exertions in enlisting and organizing the Seven- ty-second regiment-the Fort Stephenson regiment. They are always patriotic, always quick to observe merit ; and they have observed, sir, how you have proved yourself willing to give up, for a time at least, the enjoyments of an ample competence, a pleasant home, a dear family, and all the enjoyments of social life amongst us, and exchange them for the labors, the trials, and the dangers of a command like yours. They have observed, sir, how, when our county had sent to the service Captains Tillotson, Haynes, Crowell, Bartlett, and Amsden, furnished with men for the service, and had furnished many to other commands to fight the battles of this country, that when more help was called for, you came forward, and by the exertion of your widely extended personal influence, your personal efforts, your zeal, your stir- ring appeal to the hearts and patriotism of the peo- ple, which touched in them a deeper chord than had been touched before, you impelled them to come for- ward and enroll themselves under your command, and they have observed that, under difficulties which would have prevented others from succeeding, by your perseverance the Seventy-second regiment is formed, and now ready for the field of action. Ob- serving all these merits in you, they have determined to give proof of their appreciation and approval of these virtues, and to that end they have determined to present you with such proof as may be ever pres- ent to you and your command, reminding you, and stimulating you to high and noble action; and, sir, as a means of this expression on their part, have bid me present to you this beautiful regimental ban ner.
" You will see, sir, upon its azure field, that beauti- ful, rich likeness of the soaring eagle, and that motto, 'The Seventy-second, Fort Stephenson regiment ; ' and, sir, it is an apt and beautiful inscription. Let the one be ever suggestive to you and to the noble men under your command, of fearless and lofty senti- ments; while the other, by its historic recollections and associations, will inspire you to emulate, in deeds of valor and daring, the cherished hero of Fort Stephenson. Sir, the ladies, in presenting this to you, would have me say : ' Men of the Seventy-sec- ond regiment, of Fort Stephenson, officers, privates, and all : The ladies of Fremont have not been inat- tentive to your merits. They know well that every one of you has sacrificed much and will suffer much in the cause of our country ; and they wish me to as- sure you, each and all, that these sacrifices, these labors on the altar of the country, are seen and ap- preciated by them, and will be remem ed, too.'
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" Colonel Buckland, in your regiment are those of extended relations amongst us. Fathers and broth- ers, sisters, wives, and lovers, who refused and could not consent that their dear ones should go forward under any other commander, relying upon your jus- tice, your courage, your kindness, and your reputa- tion for all the qualities that fit you for the command, have consented that under you they may go and fight for the restoration of the Government that our fathers gave us, over the rebellious territory.
"Sir, what higher expression of approbation of your character could we give? What greater re- sponsibility, sir, could you receive? Your regiment, sir, is composed of those who, by the ties of kindred, acquaintance-father, brother, sister, wife-extends to every heart and hearthstone through put our county. Not only so, but many of the other counties adjoin- ing, and in distant portions of the State More than this, your regiment embraces men who have come from Germany, from France, from Ireland, and per- haps from other foreign lands, whose connections and sympathies stretch across the wide Atlantic itself. And, sir, the happiness of all this connection, by this voluntary act on the part of our people, is, for a great measure, committed to your hands; and these sympathies and sentiments on the part of the ladies, permit me to assure you, are entertained by all the people as far as the Seventy-second regiment is known.
" Take, then, that beautiful banner; and the ladies bid me say that it is presented to you and to all the members of the Seventy-second regiment; and when you go hence, if it shall be your fortune to do serv- ice, remember that the sympathies of all this people will follow you, and let that banner always be speak- ing to you of their happiness and your responsibili- ties. Let it be a beacon light, an assurance of the affection, respect, and confidence of the people who have given all these dear ones into your hands with such implicit confidence and trust. And when you are brought upon the soil of the enemies of this Gov- ernment, whether upon the march, or in camp, or in the front of battle, remember, whenever that banner is unfurled, that the cords of affection in your regi- ment reach back to us; and that every heart in San- dusky county will thrill with the fortune of the Sev- enty-second regiment; and if it be its fate to be in- jured and to fall, every household in Sandusky county will shed a tear over its loss.
"Colonel Buckland, take this banner, and remem- ber that the prayers of this extended connection will follow you through every trial, every day and every moment while you are in the service of the country, for your own welfare, and the welfare, safety, and honor of the Seventy-second, Fort Stephenson Regi- ment."
REV. MR. LANG'S ADDRESS.
The flag of the German company, the gift of the German ladies of Fremont, was next presented to
the regiment by Rev. H. Lang, who spoke as follows : "COLONEL BUCKLAND: It has fallen to my lot to present you this day, this standard, bearing the National colors. It was in the first instance the gift of the German ladies of Fremont to the German company of your regiment. In behalf of those ladies, and also of that German company, I bequeath it to you and your regiment, the noble band of pa- triots whom you have gathered around you to assist in fighting the battles of your country. You will perceive, sir, that it is a true pattern of the old noble ensign of '76; and I believe that the patriotism of those who bequeath it, as well as those who receive it, is of the old stamp of '76. The German com- pany of your regiment, Colonel, will take care that not a leaf of the laurels of the German revolutionary heroes shall be disgraced by their cowardice, their treachery, or their want of bravery. I am proud, sir, of my German countrymen, who have, al lover the land, rushed to the rescue. You will remember Sigel, Blen ker, Willich, and other noble German patriots. You will expect bravery from this company as well as from the rest of your regiment, and be as- sured, sir, you may depend upon them as long as you lead them to battle for the Constitution and the Union. The officers of the German company of your regiment have seen severe military service in Mexico. They have smelt Southern powder once be- fore, and they are going to try it again. They will stand by your side in every contest. Give them an opportunity, sir, and they will show themselves worthy of your trust.
"Accept then, this Star Spangled Banner; bear it on to victory and triumph; and be assured, sir, that my prayers and the prayers of this whole community shall follow you to the field of danger and honor; and, if called into actual service, see to it that not one star of this glorious constellation shall fall under the feet of those that have forgotten that they who take the sword shall perish with the sword. May you return with this flag after glorious deeds of mill itary honor, and may history inscribe upon its broad stripes: 'The Ohio Seventy-second was as true as the patriots of '76.' God speed you, sir, and let this be the war cry in your regiment: 'The sword of God and our country."
On account of the throng it was impossible to ob- tain a verbatim report of
COLONEL BUCKLAND'S RESPONSE.
"I tender my heartfelt thanks to you, the noble donors of these flags, and also the thanks of the Seventy-second regiment, which I have the honor to represent; and I know that I express not only my own feeling, but the feelings of the officers and men under my command. when I say to you that, so far as bravery and courage will do it, we have pledged ourselves here to-day to sustain the honor of the flags which you have done us the honor to present to us.
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
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I heartily concur in the remarks made by my friend, Lang, in behalf of my German fellow-soldiers. It is true that incidents are recorded everywhere in the history of this country, in every war, proving that the Germans have been among the bravest, most loyal, and patriotic of our countrymen. They were such during the Revolution, and in the present war we have a Sigel, a Blencker, and a host of German patriots; and wherever the fight has been the hottest, there have been our German fellow-countrymen ;--- . and nobly have they sustained the German character by their courage and patriotism. They are friends of liberty the world over, and when they are fighting under the stars and stripes, they are fighting under the emblem of liberty known wherever civilization has made any headway. They are here now, and we rely upon those in our regiment, as well as in others, to help sustain the honor of the regiment and the honor of the colors you have this day pre- sented to us. I am well aware of the great responsi- bility I myself have assumed as colonel of this regi- ment; and I feel that I am not competent to the task; not so well qualified for the position as I wish I were. But all I can say in reply to that is, that I consented to supply that place, and that I will de- vote all my energies and abilities, whatever they may be, to advance the interests, the comforts, and the glories of the Seventy-second regiment. It is per- haps the greatest undertaking of my life, and I have pledged myself and my all to sustain the honor of this regiment. More than this I cannot do. I know it is one thing to propose what we will do, and an- other thing to accomplish that promise when the day of trial comes; and it would be useless for me to de- tain you here to-day with any promises. All I have to say is, look to these praying men who are sur- rounding me, and ask yourselves if you have any fears of the result. I say no! you cannot. I believe, yes I have full confidence, that we shall some day return marching under these glorious banners; and when you come to examine them you will not find anywhere on them a single stain of dishonor. However much they may be shattered and torn, they will be untar- nised so far as honor is concerned. If I shall be mistaken, then I shall consider that my efforts have been in vain; but I have no fears, so far as the of- ficers and men under me are concerned. When they bear in mind by whose influence these banners have been conferred to-day, they will be prompted to deeds of bravery, and the presence of these flags will have an influence on every act and every duty which shall be performed by the Seventy-second reg- iment. Whenever they go into the battlefield and behold these banners, the glorious stars and stripes under which our fathers gained their independence, and under which our men are now in the field fight- ing for the honor and glory of this country-I say whenever they go into battle under these banners, they will go in with a shout, remembering the beauti-
ful donors, and be encouraged to acts of heroism by the recollection that they are fighting not only for themselves and the regiment, but for the honor of the ladies who have presented these banners to them. Therefore, ladies, I say I have no fear but that when these banners are returned to you, which I hope they will be, they will be returned covered with honor, and that there will be no spot of dishonor anywhere within their folds.
" Mr. Everett has referred particularly to the part I have taken in getting up this regiment. I wish in re- ply to that barely to remark that I owe very much to the officers and men who have taken hold with me and worked so faithfully and energetically in this cause. I do not wish to assume to myself the whole honor of getting up the Seventy-second regiment; it does not belong to me. I only say I have done what I could, and I will give honor to those who have done what they could. We have raised a regiment where it was thought none could be raised. It has been well remarked that many of these men have left families and kindred at home. They have made greater sacrifices than I have made. Some can not well leave their families; and I wish now on this occa- sion to ask you to look well to the families of the men who have assembled here to do battle for our country and for your benefit. In our absence let them not suf- fer for want of the necessaries of life. I will not detain you longer, but will return you the heartfelt thanks of the whole regiment for these beautiful flags.
"And now, fellow soldiers! Attention battalion! I propose that the whole battalion give the donors three hearty cheers. " (Cheers by the regiment.)
In the afternoon of Friday, the 24th of January, 1862, the Seventy-second left Camp Croghan, and travelled by railroad to Clyde, Ohio, and thence by the same conveyance to Camp Chase.
The soldiers were apparently in good spirits and cheerful. But the very heart- strings of social life and love throughout the county quivered with suppressed an- guish while the men cheered, and the women waved them on to duty. The Infinite God alone can ever know and measure the secret anguish that found relief in tears shed in secret, and the inarticulate prayers which followed the march of the brave boys of the regi- ment, as they took their departure for three years to expose their lives to all the chances of war.
Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, H, and I
.
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were formed almost entirely of citizens of Sandusky county; company G, with a small portion of companies H and A, were recruited in Erie county, and com- pany K was mostly recruited in Medina county, while a few men in companies C and E were of Wood county, Ohio.
As the regiment did not, when it left Fremont, contain the maximum number of men, company K was broken up, and distributed among the other companies, and the officers of that company dis- charged. A company originally recruited for the Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, was assigned to the Seventy-second at Camp Chase, and denominated com- pany K, which made the regiment full.
* The regiment was fully equipped in February, and was ordered to report to General Sherman at Paducah. Here it was assigned to a brigade composed of the Forty-eighth, Seventieth, and Seventy- second Ohio regiments, and Colonel Buck- land placed in command. The Seventy- second proceeded with Sherman's division to Fort Henry on the steamer Baltic, by way of the Tennessee River. This move- ment was early in March, 1862. From Fort Henry the main army proceeded to Savannah, but Sherman's division was or- dered up to Eastport, Mississippi, for the purpose of cutting the Memphis & Charles- ton Railroad, and thus prevent General J. S. Johnson from reinforcing Beau- regard. Heavy rains and consequent high water defeated the plan, and after a deten- tion of sixteen days on board of the boats Buckland's brigade disembarked at Pitts_ burg Landing, and encamped near Shiloh Church.
From the long confinement on the transports and bad water at Shiloh, the troops under General Buckland suffered
greatly in health, and the Seventy-second was weakened and greatly reduced in numbers. On the 3d of April Buckland's brigade was engaged in a reconnoissance, in which the Seventy-second met the rebel pickets, and exchanged shots. On the next day (the 4th of April) companies B and H were ordered to reconnoiter the front of the picket line. These com- panies became separately engaged, and Major Crockett and two or three men of company H were captured, and several were wounded. Company B was sur- rounded, but it fought for an hour against great odds, and was saved by the fortu- nate arrival of companies A, D and F, which were sent forward to their relief. Company B lost four men wounded.
All this time the rebels were massing near Shiloh, and preparing to sweep away the Union forces there, by an unexpected attack in force. But General Buckland, by reconnoitering, had felt the enemy, and was too vigilant to be prepared for an at- tack at any moment, so far as he was concerned. Whatever has been said, or may be said about our forces being sur- prised at Shiloh, sure it is that General Buckland was not surprised. His brigade was ready, from the time of Crockett's capture, and all that prudence and bravery could do, General Buckland did to be ready for the enemy at any and every moment. He felt sure from the 3d of April, that the rebels intended an attack in force on the army at Pittsburg Land- ing, and acted accordingly. And when, on the morning of the 6th of April, 1862, the onset came, he was up and ready. His brigade met the enemy on that memor- able morning, and withstood the furious onset of three successive lines; and not- withstanding the defection of the brigade on his left, he held his position for two hours, when General Sherman ordered his brigade to retire. Therebels bad advanced
* For the following account of the services of the Seventy-second regiment we are indebted to Reid's Ohio in the War.
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on the left, and threatened to cut off the retreat, but Buckland's brigade made a rapid detour to the right through a dense wood, and at II o'clock was in posi- tion to the right of the National line. The regiment was constantly at the front, and acted with great bravery and coolness throughout the day, and on the 7th effect- ively participated in the charge which finally swept the enemy. from the field, and that night rested in the camp from which it had been ordered to retire the day before. In this action the regiment lost Lieutenant-Colonel Canfield mortally wounded, and two company officers killed, one of them being the brave cap- tain of the German company, H, and one officer missing. Thirteen men were killed, seventy were wounded, and forty- five were missing. The Seventy second participated in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Monterey.
At the siege of Corinth the Seventy- second bore a conspicuous part, and al- though its losses in the action were not great, it suffered great loss by disease and consequent disability. During the siege General J. W. Denver assumed command of Buckland's brigade, and Colonel Buck- land returned to the command of his regiment.
After the evacuation of. Corinth, Sher- man's division moved along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, in a westerly di- rection, and on the 2 1st of July, 1863, en- tered Memphis. When the regiment ar- rived at Memphis it presented a dilapida- ted condition; the men were worn, sick, weary, and ragged, having drawn no cloth- ing since the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Here the Seventy-second was brigaded with the Thirty-second Wisconsin, Ninety- third Indiana, Ninety-third Illinois, and the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois. This brigade was designated the First brigade of the Third division. The di-
vision was placed under the command of General Lanman, while Colonel Buckland command d the brigade under the new organization.
On the 26th day of November the reg- iment marched toward Wyatt, on the Tal- lahatchie. The rebels retreated, and Sher- man's forces were ordered back to Mem- phis. When the Memphis & Charleston Railroad was reached, the regiment was ordered to Moscow, to hold the bridge over Wolf River. Here the regiment fell in with Richardson's guerillas, but expe- rienced no loss. It remained at Moscow about two weeks, in the performance of picket duty there, until the 9th of January, 1863, when it was ordered to Corinth. The march to Corinth was made by way of Bolivar and Purdy. In the night next after arriving at Corinth, the weather be- came intensely cold, from which the men suffered severely. Here Buckland's bri- gade was assigned to the Sixteenth Corps, and was concentrated near Memphis.
The Seventy-second reached White's Station, nine miles east of Memphis, on the 31st of January, 1863, and was en- gaged in picket duty, and in work on the fortifications. It moved to Memphis on the 13th of March, embarked on the steamer Champion, and on the 14th pro- ceeded down the stream.
The regiment had been reinforced by about forty nine-months recruits, which, with returning convalescents, somewhat increased its effective strength. On the 2d of April the regiment went into camp four miles above Young's Point. Here it was for a time engaged in working on the canal, and in preparations for the coming campaign. It commenced its march for a position in the rear of Vicks- burg on the 2d of May, 1863, moved seventy miles southward, through Louisi- ana, and reached the Mississippi opposite Grand Gulf. It crossed the river on the
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7th of May, and on the 8th moved toward Jackson, Mississippi, and was in the battle there on the 14th of May. The next day the regiment continued the march toward Vicksburg, and arrived there on the 18th.
The regiment took a part in the assault on the rebel works at Vicksburg, on the 19th and 22d days of May, and then be- gan the labors of the siege The position of the regiment was on the right of Tut- tle's division, and within a half mile of the Mississippi River, and north of Vicksburg.
On the 22d of June the Seventy-second formed part of the force ordered to Big Black River to intercept Joe Johnson, who was attempting the relief of Vicks- burg. After this the Seventy-second was thrown out on the advance picket-line, and continued to hold that hazardous po- sition until the surrender of Vicksburg.
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