USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133
At daylight on this morning Lieutenant O. P. Norris and fifty-two men of company B of the regi- ment were captured by the rebels while on picket. Of these fifty-two stalwart men thirty-six died of starvation and exposure at Andersonville prison. Campbell's Station was selected by General Burnside as the point at which to give battle to General Long- street. In this engagement the One Hundred and Eleventh occupied the front line, directly in front of two batteries of rebel artillery, and was for six hours exposed to the shells of the enemy's concentrated fire. The loss in killed and wounded was only eight, as the enemy used percussion shells, which mostly fell in the rear of the first line. The regiment marched with the coinmand into Knoxville, a dis- tance of six miles, having been three nights without sleep, food, or rest, and having participated in three separate engagements. It passed through the iege
of Knoxville, occupying the fort on College Hill, and lost six men killed and wounded. After Gen- eral Longstreet's retreat it took part in the skirmishes at Blain's Cross Roads, Danville, and Strawberry Plains, and occupied an outpost six miles in front of the city when General Schofield fell back the second time on Knoxville.
It protected the crossing of the Second division at Strawberry Plains on the 21st of January, 1864, los- ing one man killed. On the 9th of February, Gen- eral Schofield arrived at Knoxville and took coin- mand of the department. On the 24th of February the Second division marched to Strawberry Plains ; on the 27th crossed the Holston River, and march- ing some distance, counter-inarched at night as far back as Mossy Creek. On the 14th of March the regiment moved to Morristown, East Tennessee. On the following day it was on the picket-line, and had a brisk skirmish with the rebel cavalry. The One Hundred and Eleventh was moved back to Mossy Creek, where it remained until the 26th of April, when it marched to Charleston, on the Hiwas- see River, a distance of one hundred miles. This it accomplished in four days, arriving at Charleston on the 30th. From this point it marched to Red Clay, Georgia, arriving on the 6th of May. At this place the army of the Ohio united with the left wing of General Sherman's army to participate in the Atlanta campaign. It marched to Tunnel Hill on the 7th of May, and on the following day skirmished into a position in front of Buzzard's Roost. On the 9th, in the advance on Rocky Face Mountain, the regiment was assigned the front line of the skirmishers, and during an advance of three-quarters of a mile lost nine men killed and wounded.
On the 12th of May the One Hundred and Eleventh marched through Snake Creek Gap, and arrived in front of Resaca on the evening of the 15th. The brigade made a charge on the enemy's works on the following day. Being unsupported by artillery, the charge was unsuccessful, and the loss heavy. The One Hundred and Eleventh had but seven com- panies engaged, three companies being in the rear guarding transportation. Out of the number en- gaged, seven men were killed and thirty wounded. The regiment took part in the second day's fight at Resaca, but being in the supporting column, it sus- tained no losses. After an unsuccessful assault at midnight upon the National lines, the rebels evacua- ted. On the 16th of May the regiment participated in the pursuit; had a skirinish with the rebel cavalry the 20th, and captured six prisoners. On the 27th a brigade of rebels made an advance on the National lines. The One Hundred and Eleventh was ordered out on the double-quick, made a charge, and broke the rebel lines. In this engagement the regiment lost fifteen men killed and wounded.
It took part in the entire campaign against At- lanta. It actively engaged in the siege of Kenesaw,
332
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
the battles at Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Dallas, on the Chattahoochie River near Nicojack Creek, Decatur, Peachtree Creek, and in the seige of Atlan- ta, and the skirmishes at Rough-and-Ready, Love- joy's Station, and Utoy Creek. It started on the Atlanta campaign with three hundred and eighty men, and of this number lost, in killed and wounded, two hundred and twelve. On the 8th of September the regiment went into camp at Decatur, Georgia, and remained until the morning of the 4th of Octo- ber, when the movement against General Hood's forces commenced. During the stay at Decatur the regiment made a reconnoissance to Stone Mountain, where it encountered rebel cavalry, and lost a few of its men. The One Hundred and Eleventh marched rapidly to Allatoona Pass, and to within eighteen miles of Chattanooga, where the corps was ordered into Alabama in pursuit of General Hood's army. It marched south as far as Cedar Bluffs, on the Coosa River, where, in a skirmish with rebel cav- alry, one officer and threc men of the One Hun- dred and Eleventh were captured on picket. From this point the regiment marched to Rome, Georgia, where a brisk skirmish took place. From thence it moved to Resaca, where it arrived on the Ist of No- vember, 1864.
At Resaca the regiment took the cars and was moved to Johnsonville, on the Tennessee River, eighty-five miles west of Nashville, to protect that place against a rebel raid. It remained at Johnsonville until the 20th of November, when it was again moved by rail to Columbia, Tennessee, to assist in checking General Hood's advance. It par- ticipated in the skirmishes at Columbia, and was de- tailed to remain in the rear to guard the fords of Duck River while General Thomas' army fell back on Franklin. The regiment guarded a wagon train to Franklin, and was twice attacked. Each time it repulsed the enemy. The regiment at night marched by the outpost of General Hood's army in bringing up the rear. It arrived at Franklin on the morning of the 30th of November, and was immediately as- signed to the front line of works, on the left flank of the Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, to the right of the Franklin turnpike. In the fight of that day the regiment, out of one hundred and eighty men engaged, lost twenty-two men killed on the field and forty wounded. Many were killed by rebel bay- onets. The contest was so close that once the flag of the regiment was snatched from the hands of the color sergeant, but the bold rebel was instantly killed. The troops on the immediate left of the One Hun- dred and Eleventh fell back during the charge, and the rebels, holding this part of the line for an hour, poured an enfilading fire along the line of the whole brigadc. Owing to the large losses of officers in this and previous engagements, a detail from other regi- ments was necessary to command the companies.
On the morning of the Ist of December the One
Hundred and Eleventh marched back to Nashville, where it was assigned a position on the line of de- fenses on the left. It was severely engaged during both days of fighting in front of Nashville. In a charge on the second day it captured three rebel bat- tle flags and a large number of prisoners. The loss was seven killed and fifteen wounded. The regiment took part in the pursuit after General Hood. It was marched to Clifton, Tennessee, where, on the 17th of January, 1865, it took transports to make the cam .. paign of North Carolina. It passed through Cin- cinnati January 23, and arrived at Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia, on the 3Ist. From Alexandria the regiment took an ocean steamer for Fort Fisher, where it joined the army under General Terry, and took an active part in the capture of Fort Anderson, and in the skirmishes at Moseby Hall and Goldsbor- ough. After the surrender of General Johnston the regiment was moved to Salisbury, North Carolina, where it remained on garrison duty until ordered home for muster out. It arrived at Cleveland on the 5th of July, 1865, and was mustered out on the 12th.
The One Hundred and Eleventh re-enlisted as vet- erans in February, 1864, in East Tennessee; but, owing to the demand for troops in the field, the veteran furlough could not be granted. Again (in October, 1864), after the Atlanta campaign, more than two-thirds of the regiment re-enlisted as vet- erans; but, after General Hood's campaign to the rear, the order to furlough it was revoked. The One Hundred and Eleventh numbered one thousand and fifty men when it entered the service, and received eighty-five recruits. Of these men two hundred and thirty-four were discharged for disability, disease, and wounds; two hundred died of disease contracted while in the service; two hundred and fifty-two were killed in battle or died of wounds, and four hundred and one were mustered out.
The regiment was on a steamer being transported from Alexandria to Fort Fisher, January or February, 1865. The boat, in a violent storm lay rolling in the troughs of the immense waves, while rounding Cape Hatteras. The stoves in the upper cabin upset and fired the boat. Captain McCord, while others left the cabin, remained and with great coolness and activity collected blankets, overcoats, and other woollen gar- ments at hand, and by great efforts smoth- ered the fire and saved the boat. "But for this act," says company Commissary Robert Long, "the boat would have per- ished."
At the battle of Franklin the One Hun-
333
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
dred and Eleventh was complimented for gallant conduct, in holding the right of the turnpike, while other regiments gave way. Here the One Hundred and Eleventh saved the important position by its firm- ness and pluck.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REG- IMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
To this regiment of Ohio volunteers, Hoffman's battalion, Sandusky county fur- nished the following named soldiers:
COMPANY C.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Philetus W. Norris. First Lieutenant Amon C. Bradley. Second Lieutenant George Carner.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Sergeant Lewis D. Booth. Sergeant George W. Hollenback. Sergeant James L. Camp. Sergeant Shelly A. Gish. Sergeant Styles Rich. Corporal Nathan Tefft. Corporal Jonathan L. Smith. Corporal Charles N. Mallery. Corporal Emery Bercaw.
Corporal Samuel M. Alexander.
Corporal Meron M. Starr.
PRIVATES.
Israel H. Bittner, Josephus Gaver, Rodolphus La- gore, James Williamson.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY .*
That we may more fully understand the history of the One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Ohio National Guard, it will be necessary to commence this narrative with the formation of the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from which the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth was formed. The Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was recruited in Sandusky county in the fall of 1863, under the militia law of Ohio, the object being the protection of the borders of the State from raids and inva- sion. The regiment held its first meeting
at the court-house in Fremont, to elect officers and transact other business. Na- thaniel Haynes was elected colonel; C. G. Sanford, lieutenant-colonel; Jacob Fickes, major; W. B. Dimick, quartermaster; J. L. Greene, adjutant ; I. H. Burgoon, ser- geant-major ; Peter Beaugrand, surgeon; S. B. Taylor, assistant surgeon; Wesley Vandercook, hospital steward; Theodore England, quartermaster-sergeant; Fergu- son Greene, commissary sergeant.
A general meeting for parade and drill was held in Fremont the same fall. The regiment was ordered into camp at Camp Lucas, Toledo, Ohio. Transportation was obtained by railroad to Toledo, where they arrived on the 18th of September, 1863, remaining about one week.
Early in the spring of 1864 the regi- ment was called into service by John Brough, Governor of Ohio, to serve for the term of one hundred days unless sooner discharged. The time named in the proclamation was the 2d of May, 1864, and so anxious were the boys to be on hand at the appointed time that by 12 o'clock noon, of the 2d, every company was reported for duty. They were camped on the old fair ground, where they re- inained until the 7th of the month, drilling during the day, and at night they were quartered in the court-house, engine-house and the different halls of the town. Marching orders were received on the evening of the 6th, and at 10 o'clock on the morning of the 7th the regiment was in line ready to start for the depot, which they did at II o'clock, and after waiting, finally started at 2:30 P. M.,-Lieutenant- Colonel C. G. Sanford commanding, the colonel having been left behind on account of an accident, which befell him while rid- ing down Front street. The destination was Sandusky City. Further than that no one knew. This suited the boys so far as ra- tions were taken into account, they having
* To Sergeant-Major I. H. Burgoon we are in- debted for many of the facts in the history of this regiment.
334
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
foraged there during the fall of 1863. Most of them, however, were anxious to get into active service, and see more of the country. They arrived at Sandusky at 5 P. M., via Clyde. The several companies were distributed in various places about the town, A and F in the court-house, D and I in Massey's block, C and H in the armory, K and G in council-room, B in a lumber-room. Company E did not go with the command. It was disbanded at Fremont on account of being composed mostly of minors. May 8 was Sunday, and the boys put in the time going to church and seeing the sights. The citizens provided them with supper which was re- ceived and relished with thanks. As no particular provision had been made for rations the men were getting short, and stood very much in need of a warm meal, On Monday, May 9, the Eighty-second battalion, from Van Wert, Ohio, the Seventy-first battalion from Ottawa, and the Ninety-fifth from Defiance were consoli- dated with it, making the regiment over one thousand strong. It received orders to report at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, but on account of not getting trans- portation did not get started until 10 A. M., on the 11th.' The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States on May 15 and 16, and on the 17th the organ- ization was completed. The battalion from Van Wert was thrown out, and four companies from Wayne county assigned in their stead. These four companies were under the command of Lieutenant-Colo- nel I. Robinson, from Wooster, who, for some reason not known to the writer, was relieved, and J. H. Carr, his adjutant, placed in charge by the consolidation at Cleveland. Companies I and K were dis- banded, their officers either given command in other companies, or sent home. The men were distributed and attached to other companies. Lieutenant-Colonel Sanford
was also relieved, which the men regretted very much, as he was a genial gentleman, and they had become very much attached to him. After so many changes the newly fledged regiment was named the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio National Guard, and as finally organized, was officered as follows: .
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel Nathaniel Havnes.
Lieutenant-Colonel I. H. Carr.
Adjutant J. L. Greene, jr.
Quartermaster H. J. Kauffman.
Surgeon Peter Beaugrand.
Assistant Surgeon S. B. Taylor.
Sergeant-Major I. H. Burgoon.
Quartermaster Sergeant Ferguson Greene.
Commissary Sergeant Theodore England.
COMPANY A.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
· Captain A. Beideer.
First Lieutenant David W. Hardy. Second Lieutenant Jesse W. Fleckinger.
COMPANY B.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain M. J. Tichenor.
First Lieutenant W. M. Bacon. Second Lieutenant Emanuel Sanders.
COMPANY C.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Harry C. Shirk.
First Lieutenant Thomas I. Robinson.
Second Lieutenant Samuel B. Hughs.
COMPANY D.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Abram Gift.
First Lieutenant Henry McGill. Second Lieutenant David Hoitzer.
COMPANY E.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain W. K. Boone. First Lieutenant W. H. Fleck. Second Lieutenant Benjamin F. Baltzley.
COMPANY F.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Charles Thompson. First Lieutenant Charles Baldwin. Second Lieutenant George J. Krebs.
335
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
COMPANY G.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain I. H. Jennings. First Lieutenant John Lichty.
Second Lieutenant C. S. Long.
COMPANY H.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Jacob Thomas. First Lieutenant W. J. Havens.
· Second Lieutenant Solomon Warner.
COMPANY I.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain A. C. Anderson. First Lieutenant W. H. Goodson.
Second Lieutenant Sidney Sinclair.
COMPANY K.
Captain Hanson R. Bowlus. First Lieutenant Jonathan Loveberry. Second Lieutenant Philip Overmyer.
On the 18th marching orders were re- ceived, but owing to a lack of arms suffi- cient to equip the whole regiment they were detained and did not get away from camp until 2 P. M., of the 19th. They left the Cleveland depot at 5 P. M., via Cleve- land & Pittsburg and Pennsylvania roads to Harrisburg, and from there via North- ern Central to Washington, where they arrived at 12 o'clock Saturday night, May 21. They were marched to some old army barracks near the depot, where they were quartered until 2 P. M., Sunday, when they took up their line of march down Pennsyl- vania avenue and over Long Bridge to Arlington Heights, in Virginia, but ow- ing to some misunderstanding they were marched over Aqueduct Bridge to George- town, then up the Potomac on the Mary- land side, several miles to Chain Bridge, where they recrossed to the Virginia side to Fort Ethan Allen, the place which was designated as the home of the regiment for the coming three months. They arrived at the fort at 10 o'clock Sunday night, and turned into quarters on the bare ground in an open lot, after a march of some dozen or more miles - pretty good for the first march.
In justice to the men it ought to be mentioned here that the regiment was applauded and congratulated frequently while in transit, as being one of the most orderly and civil which had passed through. On inspecting the location it was found that they were posted in one of the largest and strongest among the forts on the line of defence around Washington.
The ordnance consisted of forty can- non, a dozen or more mortars, some large enough to throw a twenty-two inch shell, a large store of small arms, magazines filled with ammunition, and a garrison of two thousand men, seated on the highest hill which could be found in the vicinity, with a commanding view of the surround- ing country. From the top of the parapet encircling the fort could be counted a dozen or more flags floating in the breeze, from the top of so many flag staffs, show- ing the location of so many forts, and each in supporting distance from the other. A nice brook of clear water on either side wended its way down among the ravines toward the Potomac, with innumerable springs in the valleys, several in close proximity to the fort. The 23d, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th, were spent in getting settled and putting things to rights in the fort and on and about the parade ground.
May 30th Grant Holcomb, a member of company G, died. This was the first death in the regiment. He was taken sick while in Washington, but bore up until his arrival here, when he was sent to the hospital and died, having been sick one week. His remains were forwarded to his home near Fremont, Ohio. The writer cannot refrain from inserting a few lines written by one of his comrades on the occasion.
Then weep not, friends, though he is gone,
A righteous cause has called him hence;
He died as heroes die-alone;
He died in freedom's just defence.
336
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
On fame's eternal camping ground He occupies a tent of glory ; Though now he is lost, he will be found When e very thing shall pass away.
Then sleep, brave soldier, take thy rest 'Til God shall call thee from the tomb; Then, with the saints and martyrs blest, Arise to thy celestial home.
From the Ist day of June until the roth, the time was passed in the usual routine of camp life. About this time the regi- ment began the practice of artillery drill on the guns and mortars in the fort, in which they became proficient in a very short time, so much so that the regiment was complimented very highly by General DeRussey, the commandant of this de- partment, and, by him, placed on record as the best drilled regiment on the line of the defenses. The writer will relate an exercise of drilling which he witnessed one afternoon by a squad of Fremont boys among which he remembers our genial friend Captain Charley Thompson, and Lieutenant Baldwin. They fired six shots from a thirty-two pound Parrot, at a target stationed "at a distance from the fort of one and one-third miles, cutting off the tree against which the target rested, at the second fire, and dropping four balls out of six within twenty feet of the target. This would be hard to beat by the oldest and most experienced of gunners.
On the morning of the 11th the boys were called out in double-quick, in antici- pation of a raid from rebel cavalry, but luckily for the cavalry they did not put in an appearance. One hundred men were detailed daily to work on the tomb proofs of the fort, and the rifle pits surrounding it. This was not very desirable for the boys, as the sun's rays would dart down on them day after day, making them long for the cool, shady breeze of some friendly and familiar shade tree in the corner of the hay or wheat field at home. This work continued through the months of
June, July, and August; and, with the early and unseasonable hour at which the regiment was called out (usually at 3 A. M.), and the miasms arising from the Potomac, caused a great deal of sickness. On June 23 they recorded the second death- Jacob Schuster, of company H, whose re- mains were sent home to Green Spring, Ohio. On the 30th they were mustered for pay, which the boys were very anxious to get, but did not have the pleasure of seeing until after being mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, several months later. On July 3 Silas Bowlus, a member of company K, died. His remains were sent home, several miles from Fremont, Ohio.
On the 4th Charles Risley died. He was a member of company G. His re- mains were buried near Fort Ethan Allen.
This being the glorious Fourth of July, it was decided to celebrate it in some ap- propriate manner, as they had been taught from childhood, even if no better way than to steal away and go swimming in some creek or stream running by the homestead. Aftergetting permission from headquarters, companies A, C, D, E, F and K marched down to Colonel Lee's headquarters, a distance of three or four miles, where several other Ohio regiments joined in an old-fashioned celebration, consisting of music, speeches, etc., after which the boys tramped back over a dusty road, hungry and tired, feeling that the fewer celebra- tions the better humor they could be kept in, and the better they could enjoy them.
On the 5th they recorded the death of David Marion, of Ottawa county. His remains were sent home, near Port Clin- ton, Ohio.
July 6th, George Karbler, of company G, died. His remains were buried at Fort Ethan Allen.
Early on the morning of the 8th the camp was thrown into considerable excite- ment by a report from the outer picket
337
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
posts that the enemy were concentrating their forces near Brownsville, which turned out, as do a great many reports in the army, as unreliable. However, it had a tendency to show the efficiency of the men, and the promptness with which they could be got ready for action in case of necessity. Four companies were quickly · detached from our command and dis- patched to Fort Marcy to strengthen that garrison and give them a helping hand in case of an assault. But happily once more for the rebels, they did not come.
On July 9 Joseph Field died and his remains were sent home. He was a mem- ber of company B.
On the night of July 11th and morn- ing of the 12th, the long looked for enemy made its appearance on the Maryland side of the Potomac, and in front of forts Stevens and Slocum. Early on the 12th the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth regi- ment, from the garrison, was dispatched across the river to strengthen those forts, while the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth was left to take care of matters at home, and as no enemy ventured in reach of their guns, all they had to do was to keep quiet and look on.
On the morning of the 18th, at 1 o'clock, Jerome Seibert died. He was a very worthy young man. His father came and took his remains home, to be buried near West Fremont. Here the writer wishes to introduce, by way of quotation, a beau- tiful poem written to his memory by a lady friend :
Carefully fold his cold arms O'er his heart, forever stilled. Gently close his loving eyes, Never vet with anguish filled. O, gently speak and softly tread, For Jerome, our noble boy, is dead.
Only three short months ago He went at his country's call; And, oh! how little we realized That our Jerome, too, could fall,
Can it be that death so soon Has called away our brave Jerome?
Yes, it has, his brow is cold; Hushed the music of his voice. Never more with songs to make Every heart that thrills rejoice; Yet his songs in Heaven will be From all earthly passions free.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.